Late Mulvihill goal guides Longford into semi-final

16.01.10 | Longford 1-10 Wicklow 1-8 | By Liam Cosgrove

There may have been frustration aplenty in recent weeks as the big freeze decimated sporting fixtures across the county but there was plenty to like about Longford's narrow victory over Kildare in the quarter finals of the Leinster Vocational Schools Senior 'A' Championship last weekend.

Played in typically inhospitable weather conditions for this time of year, a small but vocal gathering that huddled together inside the stands at the Carrickedmond GAA grounds on Saturday afternoon were treated to a competitive and, at times, inspiring affair for such an early season encounter of this type.

Forwards Kyle Fitzmaurice and Thomas Mulvihill with take much of the plaudits when the Longford management sit down this week and plot the downfall of their semi final opponents Meath this Saturday.

With home advantage, the onus was very much on Longford to start the brighter and that they did.

Two minutes in, Keith McGuire slotted over and just minutes later one point could easily have become four had Bernard Dempsey opted to shoot for goal himself and not found the hands of Kildare corner back Shane Kenna when trying to pick out McGuire.

That miss looked to be a costly one when Dean O'Regan and Stephen Ellis edged Kildare ahead with a couple of sweetly-taken scores.

Little did the Lilywhites know, however, that those two efforts would be their last of the opening half hour as Longford gradually awoke from their slumber to devastating effect.

First, Mulvihill pointed with a high looping strike 25 yards out. Then, in the 18th minute Fitzmaurice refused to give up on what seemed a lost cause when he waded past a clutch of flimsy-looking challenges to stroke over from the acutest of angles.

Not even the loss of full forward Keith McGuire, due to injury, disrupted the home side. Oisin Farrell, who enjoyed a fine game at centre half back found the dangerous Mulvihill 30 yards from goal and within the blink of an eye the umpires arms were aloft to signal another Longford point.

Not to be outdone, strapping midfielder Darren Gallagher and half forward James McGivney posted etched their own names on the scoresheet deep into first half stoppage time to leave the four points between the sides at the break.

Kildare were clearly rattled and the half time whistle appeared to be their best bet of regrouping and deciding on a 'plan b'.

Yet, within the space of 16 seconds Longford were again causing mayhem in their defensive backline as McGivney stroked over for his second and his side's seventh of the contest.

Fitzmaurice and Johnny Burne then exchanged frees as indiscipline began to creep into proceedings.

Just as his fellow midfielder Darren Gallagher had done in the first half, Trevor English smashed a delightful score over the Kildare posts in the 39th minute while Fitzmaurice added another for good measure a minute later.

That, it seemed, was that. Two quick-fire points however from Fionn O'Gorman and Ryan Burke kept Kildare hopes alive as the deficit was reduced to four once again.

But with time very much against Kildare, the tendency to take chances and leave themselves open at the back grew ever greater as the game developed.

And so it proved when substitute Pedro Byrne released Mulvihill down the right. Unmarked and with seemingly little danger confronting him, Mulvihill almost burst the net when finding the top left hand corner of Martin O'Connor's goal.

It was a bitter blow to the visitors who for a brief spell had looked like mounting a fightback of sorts. To their credit they continued to plug away and Stephen Ennis followed by a Fionn O'Gorman effort brought them to within five.

Midfielder Gavin Farrell was moved into the forward line in a desperate but belated attempt to salvage matters and the burly number nine did manage to cause a few Longford hearts to skip a beat when winning his side a penalty late on.

Ryan Burke calmly slotted home but it was no more than a parting consolation as Longford edged over the line to book a semi final date with Meath.

LONGFORD: Sean Percival; Anthony Baxter; James Madden, Adrian McLoughlin; Chris Carberry, Oisin Farrell, Dan Moran; Darren Gallagher (0-1), Trevor English (0-1); Ciaran Murphy, Thomas Mulvihill (1-2), James McGivney (0-2); Kyle Fitzmaurice (0-3, one free), Keith McGuire (0-1), Bernard Dempsey.

SUBS USED:- Pedro Byrne for Keith McGuire (19 mins), Kevin Shine for Ciaran Murtagh (44 mins), Shane Donoghue for Anthony Baxter (50 mins), Danny Carberry for Bernard Dempsey (54 mins), Simon Cadam for Adrian McLoughlin (59 mins).

KILDARE: Martin O'Connor; Paddy Cartin, James Walsh, Shane Kenna; Shane Delaney, Ross Carew, Karl Smith; Johnny Burne (0-1, free), Gavin Farrell; Ryan Burke (1-1), Adam Lee, Fionn O'Gorman (0-2); Stephen Foley (0-1), Dean O'Regan (0-1), Stephen Ennis (0-2).

SUBS USED:- James Dunn for Karl Smith (38 mins), Josh Gunne for Adam Lee (58 mins).

Copyright Longford Leader