St Columba’s late penalty sees them to Leinster glory

MULLINALAGHTA (Longford) 1-8 KILMACUD CROKES 1-6

St Columba's, Mullinalaghta created history when they became the first Longford club to win the Leinster Club SFC title when defeating Crokes in Sunday's final at O'Connor Park, Tullamore.

The game concluded in great drama when the Longford champions were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Aidan McElligott was deemed to have been fouled by Cian O'Sulllivan and Gary Rogers converted from the spot.

That made it 1-7 to 1-6 with Aidan McElligott added an insurance point for Mullinalaghta while Crokes' disappointing day finished with Cian O'Sullivan being dismissed on a second yellow card.

The afternoon had started in promising fashion for Crokes with Pat Burke getting a goal in the fifth minute following good work by Shane Horan and Stephen Williams.

A fine point from Callum Pearson, off his left, in the 12th minute made it 1-1 to 0-2 for Crokes but the Longford men, with wind assistance, got the next three points, Rian Brady, Donal McElligott and David McGivney (free) all on target to lead 0-5 to 1-1.

Paul Mannion's free in first-half added time brought the sides level by the interval, 1-2 to 0-5.

Crokes got the opening three scores in the second-half through Craig Dias, Callum Pearson and a Mannion free.

However, without the injured Dara Mullin the attack failed to really click into gear and at times over-elaboration cost the Stillorgan side.

With four minutes of normal time remaining Crokes were 1-6 to 0-6 ahead before St Columba's staged a late surge to claim a historic victory.

SCORERS - Mullinalaghta: R Brady 0-4 (0-1f), G Rogers 1-0 (1-0 pen), D McGivney 0-2, A McElligott, D McElligott 0-1 each. Kilmacud Crokes: P Burke 1-1, C Pearson, P Mannion (0-2f) 0-2 each, C Dias 0-1.

MULLINALAGHTA: P Rogers; S Cadam, P Fox, C Brady; F Mulligan, S Mulligan, D McElligott; A McElligott, J Keegan; G Rogers, J McGivney, B Fox; J Matthews, R Brady, D McGivney.Sub: M Cunningham for F Mulligan (48).

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; L Flatman, R McGowan, A McGowan; C O’Connor, C O’Shea, c O’Sullivan; C Dias, C Casey; S Horan, P Mannion,S Cunningham; P Burke, S Williams, C Pearson. Subs: A Jones for Flatman (bc, 17), K Dyas for Wiliams (48), M Vaughan for Pearson (56), N Nolan for R McGowan (64).

REF: D Gough (Meath).