GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Carrickmacross 2-5
Latton 1-4

Last year's defeated county finalists, Latton, are out of this year's championship when they shipped a four points defeat at the hands of a lively Carrickmacross in Inniskeen on Saturday evening last. Latton cause though was not helped by the fact that they were reduced to 14 players 18 minutes into the first half when Francis Coyle was dismissed following an off the ball incident with Stephen Gollogly. The game as a contest never rose to any great heights yet did produce some passage of good football but this was overshadowed by the attritional nature of some of the exchanges especially in a free riddled, bad tempered first half. The game saw the return to active services for Carrickmacross of James Conlon who lined out at full forward and proved problematic for the Latton defence but he too did not finish the match as he was sent off on a second yellow card with about five minutes of normal time remaining. The fiery nature of the exchanges started in the opening minutes after Latton had opened a two points lead but by the 11th minute Carrickmacross were in front when Stephen Gollogly crashed home a penalty. Latton equalised shortly after that but a second goal for Carrickmacross by Andy Callan two minutes before the break gave them a four points lead at half-time. Within five minutes of the restart though, Latton had cancelled out that goal to reduce the deficit to the minimum when Shane Coyle blasted home. Latton however were not to score again for the remainder of the match while Carrickmacross registered just three points in a four minute spell midway through the half. Thereafter it was a case of missed chances and a plethora of mistakes on both sides as defences dominated with Latton keeper Sean Farmer taking off a point-blank save to deny Sean Downey going into the final 10 minutes. The Carrickmacross defence stood strong during the entire match with James McGeown and Gary McEnaney repeatedly seen to good effect. Peter O'Hanlon and Mark McNally in midfield had a battle royal with Owen Lennon and Aidan Farmer while up front Carrickmacross did generate that little bit more penetration although they were operating with 15 players for the greater part of the game. Kieran Duffy at centre back for Latton had an excellent match with his surging runs in the second-half a feature of play. Owen Lennon and Aidan Farmer beavered away in midfield but up front Latton were not afforded the time or space they needed by a vigilant Carrickmacross defence and struggled for scores. Prior to the start of the match a minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the late Roseleen Shannon whose remains had been interred in Scotshouse on Saturday morning. Latton looked the more lively side in the early minutes as they opened the scoring after just 25 seconds with a point by Bernard O'Brien. Three minutes later Owen Duffy put Latton two in front at the end of a move that was started by keeper Sean Farmer and helped on with an excellent long-range pass by Kieran Duffy. The tension that was evident threatened to boil over at this stage with an incident in the sixth minute that saw Mark Downey, Carrickmacross and Bernard O'Brien, Latton booked with Andrew Callan also picking up a yellow card for a foul on Owen Lennon. Carrickmacross though were settling at this stage although they were wide from two chances in quick succession before Mark McNally came on a strong run down the right to place Stephen Gollogly who was grounded as he was about to shoot but he slotted home the penalty with aplomb to put Carrickmacross into a lead they never subsequently relinquished. The final minute of the opening quarter saw Hugh McElroy equalise from a free after he himself had been fouled, again Kieran Duffy central to the move and another great run by Duffy two minutes later set up Bernard O'Brien but he was just off target. Latton now suffered a setback with the dismissal of Francis Coyle in the 19th minute and play was rather fragmented at this stage. Carrickmacross now began to enjoy the benefit of the extra man though with Stephen Gollogly pointing a free for a foul on James Conlon. Gollogly then centred from a '45 which broke loose in the Latton area with Andrew Callan showing great opportunism to drive the loose ball home for a four points lead. Kieran Duffy again drove Latton forward and Hugh McElroy pulled back a point to reduce the deficit to three. Two minutes into stoppage time Andy Callan converted a free for a foul on James Conlon to leave the half-time score Carrickmacross 2-2 Latton 0-4.
Both sides were off target from scoreable frees in the opening minutes of the second-half before Latton grabbed a real life line when Kieran Duffy started a move that was helped on by Stephen Fitzpatrick and Bernard O'Brien to place Shane Coyle close in and he gave Niall McCarthy no chance to reduce the deficit to the minimum with five minutes played. The next score however did not materialise until the 16th minute as both sides vied for outfield superiority but it was eventually Carrickmacross who again made the extra man pay and they registered three unanswered points between the 16th and 19th minutes from Andy Callan in the 16th minute, following good work by Paddy Lonergan and Eoin Sherry, Mark Downey in the 18th minute, Stephen Gollogly the instigator, and substitute Paddy Lonergan in the 19th minute, again Gollogly the provider. Andy Callan saw another effort fall short to the keeper with Owen Duffy wide from a free at the other end and Latton keeper Sean Farmer taking off a point-blank save to deny Stephen Gollogly. Latton to their credit battled on with Kieran Duffy driving them forward repeatedly but they were unable to find the range again and Carrickmacross were winners by four points at the end of a most disappointing contest.
Teams and Scorers: Carrickmacross: Niall McCarthy, John McNally, James McGeown, Cillian Cromwell, Neil McEnaney, Gary McEnaney, Eoin Sherry, Peter O'Hanlon, Mark McNally, Ronan McMahon, Stephen Gollogly 1-1 (1-0p,0-1f), Mark Downey 0-1, Andrew Callan 1-2 (0-1f), James Conlon, Sean Downey. Subs: Paddy Lonergan 0-1 for R McMahon, Paul Conlon for N McEnaney, Ciaran Ward for S Downey.
Latton: Sean farmer, Francis Coyle, Eddie Lennon, Owen Coyle, Paul Fitzpatrick, Kieran Duffy, Thomas Connolly, Owen Lennon, Aidan Farmer, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Owen Duffy 0-1, Dermot O'Brien, Shane Coyle 1-0, Hugh McElroy 0-2 (1f), Bernard O'Brien 0-1. Subs: Kevin Hughes for D O'Brien, Ruairi Ward for T Connolly, Karl Conlon for K Hughes, Brendan Lennon for B O'Brien. Referee: Kevin Murtagh (Toome). Tweet

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