Tempers boiled over as Dromard came back to score a 12-points a-piece Longford SFC draw with St Mary’s Granard.
A game of incident in Emmet Park, Killoe were the weather threatened but never impacted this second round Longford senior championship game.
The first point of note was both teams playing the opening seven minutes with a clash of jerseys. Both sides wore blue, Dromard’s gold band the only distinguishing factor.
With seven minutes on the clock and after a contentious 45, which the officials disagreed on. Referee Fergal Kelly ordered Dromard to turn their jerseys inside out.
By that stage David Callaghan had converted a third minute free to give Granard the lead.
7 minutes into Dromard and Granard both teams wearing blue! and the referee made Dromard turn their shirts inside out. pic.twitter.com/wzEr8ROpBF
— Shannonside FM (@ShannonsideFM) August 4, 2023
Conor McGauran breached the Granard defence on nine minutes, good keeping from Thomas Gallagher prevented the goal.
Aaron Farrell kicked Dromard level on 10 minutes, Michael Hynes and Francis McGee exchanged points within 60 seconds.
Jamie Brady Hynes and Farrell exchanged points within a minute as the scores sat three points apiece on 13 minutes.
The game than saw a delay after referee Fergal Kelly ended up badly winded having got in the way of a kick-pass. Taking the ball full-on in the midriff.
Matt Duffy put Dromard ahead on 19 minutes for the first time in the game.
It was then the turn of Dromard keeper Sean McNerney to make a great save stopping Michael Hynes low driven shot.
Aaron Smyth equalised for Granard. Francie McGee put Dromard back ahead six minutes before the break. McGee then fisted a point one minute before half-time.
Black card opens door for Granard
Matt Duffy took a black card just before the half-time whistle. Granard would capitalise on this in the second-half.
While Dromard moved three clear two minutes after the break through Joe Hagan, Granard took control.
A Jordan Martin free and points from Paul Smyth and Mark Tully had Granard level on 37 minutes. Jamie Brady Hynes converted a free to move Granard ahead just as Matt Duffy returned from his black card.
A Paul Smyth free moved Granard two points ahead on 42 minutes. Frankie McGee pulled it back to a one point game within a minute with an excellent score.
Granard moved three clear on 47 minutes as Jamie Brady Hynes converted two frees. Frankie McGee converted another free to make it a two point game, 60 seconds later.
Dromard came close to a goal with eight minutes remaining. A slick four hand-pass move put Matt Duffy in on goal. Duffy scuffed his shot somewhat as Gallagher was able to claw it away.
Fionn Hourichan sent over an excellent point to make it a one point game on 53 minutes, before both sides kicked two wides each.
Joe Hagan equalised on 59 minutes, but there was still plenty of drama.
Declan Hynes was shown a red card for an off the ball incident noticed by the umpire. As the ball had already been placed Paul Smyth converted a free to move Granard one point clear.
Frankie McGee blew a free to level the game but converted the resulting 45 to level the game, four minutes into injury time.
A melee broke out involving the majority of the players, just before the restart, but just one yellow card was flashed. There was time for no further drama as the game finished 12 points a-piece.
In the nights other match, Longford Slashers cruised to a 2-24 to four point victory over Ballymahon.
The Longford senior football championship continues this weekend.
