Longford hurlers produce encouraging performance despite defeat

07.02.10 | Wicklow 3-22 Longford 3-9

Longford's hurlers may have been beaten by 13 points by Wicklow in the Kehoe Cup Shield semi-final at Arklow on Sunday last but still they can take a lot of positives from their performance as the preparations continued for the start of the National League Division 4 campaign at home to South Down on February 21st.

Wicklow are a stronger hurling county who compete in the Christy Ring Cup but yet the midlanders showed that they have some quality players in their team as they challenged their opponents right to the end.

And in corner-forward Joe O'Brien, Longford have a hurler of some class and he was ever willing to take on the Wicklow defence as he drilled home 1-4 to end up as his team's top scorer.

Wicklow had eased into a commanding 2-10 to 0-7 lead at half-time but still the midlanders refused to throw in the towel and on three occasions during the second half they rocked the home side with goals from Joe O'Brien, Eoin Donnellan and substitute Martin Murphy, who showed that there was still fight and defiance in Longford to the end with his goal three minutes from time.

Wicklow's centre-half-forward Jonathan O'Neill opened the scoring for Wicklow with a point from a free after just a minute but then Longford took a surprise lead as full-forward John Newman and Joe O'Brien whipped over two sweet points.

And during the course of the game there was also a splendid brace from Gareth Ghee and scores also from Brendan Stakem and John Minnock.

Jonathan O'Neill, who was Wicklow's chief marksman with an impressive 1-9, set his side on the road to victory in the sixth minute when he crashed the ball to the net after being set up by corner-forward Chris Kavanagh, who also had a big hand in the win with 1-4 to his credit.

Points by Kavanagh, Jonathan O'Neill and midfielder John Connors stretched Wicklow's lead to 1-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes, but Longford showed that they were in no mood to surrender as Joe O'Brien (free) and Gareth Ghee replied with three super scores for the midlanders.

Robert Ryland, Thomas Stakem and Brendan Stakem were also catching the eye for Longford at this stage.

But Wicklow always seemed to have that bit more in the tank and they were able to step on the gas when needed. Yet two more Longford points by Brendan Stakem and Joe O'Brien before half-time left the midlanders trailing by 2-10 to 0-7 at the break.

Longford continued to show defiance in the second half. In the eight minute Seanie Stakelum brought yet another good save from Wicklow's keeper Ted Kennedy, but on this occasion the quick-thinking Joe O'Brien was following through to whip the ball to the net from close range.

The margin between the teams was down to seven points. Two points for Wicklow by Jonathan O'Neill and corner-forward Thomas Doyle were met with a point by Joe O'Brien.

Wicklow kept edging ahead but Eoin Donnellan rocketed a free to the Wicklow net after 63 minutes to narrow the gap slightly to 2-20 to 2-9.

Wicklow struck back for a goal from impressive wing-back Geoffrey Bermingham almost immediately but despite the defeat Longford can build on this encouraging display under the guidance of manager Tom Lynam.

Scorers - Wicklow: Jonathan O'Neill (1-9), Chris Kavanagh (1-4), Geoffrey Bermingham (1-1), John Connors (0-2), Thomas Doyle (0-2), TJ Hennessy (0-2), MA O'Neill and Ray Nolan (0-1 each).

Scorers - Longford: Joe O'Brien (1-4), Garrett Ghee (0-2), Eoin Donnellan 1-0), Martin Murphy (1-0), John Newman, Brendan Stakem, John Minnock (0-1 each).

WICKLOW: Ted Kennedy, Colm O'Neill, Graham Keogh, Willy Collins, Geoffrey Bermingham, Billy Cuddihy, Mark Collins, MA O'Neill, John Connors, Jack Tanner, Jonathan O'Neill, Ray Nolan, Thomas Doyle, Joe Murphy, Chris Kavanagh.

SUBS USED:- Eoin O'Neill for G. Keogh; Nick Skelton for M. Collins; Nigel Driver for J. Tanner; TJ Hennessy for J. Murphy; Philip Dunne for C. O'Neill.

LONGFORD: Patrick Cullen; Robert Ryland, Thomas Stakem, Fergal Daly; Rory Donnellan, Sean Browne, John Lynam; Brendan Stakem, Seanie Stakelum; Eoin Donnellan, John Minnock, Gareth Ghee; Joe O'Brien, John Newman, Mark Cassidy.

SUBS USED:- Eanna Daly for P. Cullen; Martin Murphy for J. Newman; Niall Ward for G. Ghee; Stephen Lynam for M. Cassidy; Daniel Kiernan for R. Ryland.

REFEREE: Paud O'Dwyer (Carlow).

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