Robbie Smyth shines as Abbeylara end 18-year wait in Longford

Abbeylara 2-10 Colmcille 1-07 (AET)

Robbie Smyth scored 1-04 as Abbeylara won the Longford SFC title for the first time since 2006, defeating Colmcille.

After the hurt of losing four finals in a row Smyth (who was joint-captain) led by example and put in a player of the match performance. Though he was sent off at the end of extra-time for a second yellow card.

Credit to both teams for the football they produced despite the lashing rain for most of normal time.

Both defences were on top in the opening 10 minutes. Colmcille captain Barry McKeon got the first score of the game in the ninth minute. He followed that up with a point from a tight angle before a free from Jack Macken gave Colmcille a three point lead after 12 minutes.

A pointed free from Robbie Smyth was Abbeylara's first point of the game. Jason Kelly followed up with a point to cut the gap to one point in the 16th minute.

As the rain lashed down both sides struggled to get scores. Ruairi Harkin got a point for Colmcille in the 27th minute; their first in 15 minutes. Smyth replied with a great point for Abbey. Cathal Reilly fired over a neat score to give Colmcille a two point lead going in at the break - 0-05 to 0-03.

Points from Caolan Lynch and a Ciaran Scanlon free in the 33rd minute saw the sides level for the first time. There was a swirling wind in the second half and Colmcille kicked two wides before Macken kicked over his second point in the 42nd minute.

Kelly levelled for Abbey in the 45th minute but two minutes later Colmcille got the goal; good work from substitute Eoin Hawkins ended with Fergal Sheridan finding the net from a tight angle.

Abbey’s response was terrific; substitute Connor Berry set his first cousin Smyth up and he fired a powerful shot to