Granard opened the Longford championship with a statement 10-point win over Colmcille.
St. Mary’s under new manager Pat Flanagan, where sharper, springer and all over better to this deserved opening day win.
A flurry of opening scores saw Granard lead three points to two after 10 minutes.
Two from Brendan Martin either side of Barry McKeon inside the first five minutes, edging Granard ahead.
Eoin O'Hara and Keelan Hudson exchanged points inside seven minutes. Declan Reilly levelled the game on 11 minutes.
Jamie Brady Hynes saw his goal bound effort bravely saved by Noel Farrell as Granard took control. However, David Gallaghan and Jordan Martin moved Granard two clear on 21 minutes.
Dylan McCabe reduced the gap to one on eight minutes before half-time. Colmcille’s final score of the half.
A Darren Gallagher 45 and point either side of a Brady Hynes point saw Granard lead eight points to four at half-time. St. Mary’s having kicked six first-half wides.
However, the expected Colmcille fire didn’t materialise as Granard snuffed out the flame from the restart. A brilliant Ben Blessington goal three minutes after restart setting the tone.
Granard fire from second-half traps
Blessington firing under Farrell into the net to stump Colmcille. Liam Sullivan added a point a minute later, making it 1-9 to four points.
Barry McKeon sent over a 35th minute free. However, surprisingly Colmcille wouldn’t change the scoreboard for another 25 minutes.
Eoin O’Hara and Cian O’Donnell moved Granard 10 points clear before Jamie Brady Hynes finished the contest on 52 minutes.
A brilliant fast break away from St. Mary’s saw Colmcille’s Dylan McCabe spill a high ball. Jamie Brady Hynes pounced to fire home a goal.
Cathal Reilly’s aggressiveness brought Colmcille more into the contest, but his side recorded a remarkable six second-half wides.
Barry McKeon converted a two-point free as the clock struck 60 minutes. McKeon again stuck a two-pointer to make the score respectable.
Alas, Paul McKeon was penalised for not releasing after the whistle. Darren Gallagher converted the advanced 2pt free as Granard won out 2-13 to nine points.
Scorers: Granard: Jamie Brady Hynes 1-1, Ben Blessington 1-0, Darren Gallagher 0-4 1’45, 1 2pf, Brendan Martin, Eoin O’Hara 0-2 each, David Gallaghan, Jordan Martin, Liam Sullivan, Cian O’Donnell 0-1 each.
Colmcille: Barry McKeon 0-6 1f, 1 2pt, 1 2ptf, Keelan Hudson, Declan Reilly, Dylan McCabe 0-1 each.
