Longford claim second victory on the trot
 


06.03.10 | Longford 2-14 South Down 1-14
 
| Thomas Kelly reporting from Pearse Park
 


Longford hurlers notched up their second win of the campaign on Saturday evening last at Pearse Park, claiming a hard fought victory over South Down who battled to the very end in a valiant effort to stop Longford claiming the points.

Longford now face Monaghan in the next round, where victory could see them book their place in the final stages.
 
When Declan Tanner struck for the games first goal it seemed to settle the side and when tanner hit his second goal in the second half that was curtains for the South Down outfit.

Impressive performances from Paddy Cullen, Eoin Donnellan, and a return to form from Gareth Ghee along with the consistent Tanner and sub Joe O’Brien ensured Longford battled to a well earned victory.
 


South Down got the game off to a flyer with the first score after just thirty seconds, Aidan Brown tapping over a close range effort. That lead was doubled just two minutes later when Liam Morgan slotted over a close range free.

Longford hit their first score of the game six minutes in, Eoin Donnellan landing a huge long range effort.
 
South Down made it a two-point game with ten minutes on the clock, John Brown firing over a massive `65, while two minutes later Brown made it two strikes from two with a long range free.

Longford hit back in spectacular fashion though with fifteen minutes on the clock, Declan Tanner smashing the back of the net after a surging run which took the Offaly man twenty plus yards, Longford now on level terms for the first time.
 
South Down retook the lead with twenty minutes on the clock, centre back John Brown again on target with a super long range point from the middle of the field.

Longford levelled things up once again just one minute later, Gareth Ghee on the scoresheet with a long range free while soon after Longford took the lead for the first time, Eoin Donnellan again popping up to split the posts with a fine strike.
 


Longford then managed to go into overdrive and in particular Gareth Ghee, who hit three excellent points on the trot (one free), which meant his side were four points to the good with ten minutes of the half remaining.

Paul Sheehan pulled one back for the visitors but Declan Tanner replied with a fine point on the turn to keep the hard fought four point lead. South Down didn’t lie down and pulled it back to a two point game before the end, Paul Sheehan and Michael McGrath firing over, leaving the scoreline 1-7 to 0-8 in favour of the Longford men.
 


South Down started the second half the same way they started the first, Liam Morgan hitting the first score of the half after thirty seconds, which left just one point between the sides.

South Down then had the chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty, but John Brown couldn’t find the net as the diving Paddy Cullen excellently saved his shot. Soon after it was a draw game as Paul Sheehan tapped over a close range free.
 


Eoin Donnellan managed to steady the Longford ship with a well struck `65 with four minutes gone in the second period. With twelve minutes elapsed South Down pulled it back to a draw once more, Paul O’ Neill sending a long range free on it’s way.

Eoin Donnellan was again on target with sixteen minutes gone, the Slashers man landing a wonderful point on the run, which put Longford ahead once again.
 
Paul O’Neill was on the scoresheet for South Down with seventeen minutes on the clock, the centre forward slotting over a close range free. One minute later Longford regained the lead, substitute Joe O’Brien making an immediate impact with a fine point on the turn.

Things were all level though with twenty minutes gone, Paul O’ Neill again on target with a close range free, Longford’s ill discipline being punished by the deadly O’ Neill.
 
Joe O’Brien soon replied for Longford, the Clonguish man firing over from a tight angle to hand the lead back to the home side once more.

Longford doubled their lead with ten minutes remaining, Declan Tanner raising the white flag with a point from play. Gareth Ghee again found range with two super points on the run, one from play and the other a magnificent long range free.
 

Declan Tanner managed to hand Longford victory with sixty five minutes on the watch, the full forward hammering home from close range following a pin point ball from Joe O’Brien.

South Down didn’t drop the heads and managed to rack up a further 1-1 through Paul Sheehan and Niall Conway who crashed home from close range. It was too little too late however as Longford claimed a deserved victory with three points to spare.  
 


LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen (Wolfe Tones); Brendan Stakem (Wolfe Tones), Tomas Stakem (Wolfe Tones), Fergal Daly (Clonguish); Rory Donnellan (Longford Slashers), Robert Ryland (Banner, Offaly), Ciaran Finnucane (Clonguish); Eoin Donnellan (Longford Slashers, 0-4, one `65)), John Lynam (Wolfe Tones); Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers, 0-6, three frees), Sean Browne (Wolfe Tones), John Newman (Salthill); John Minnock (Clonguish), Declan Tanner (St. Rynagh’s, Offaly, 2-2), Mark Cassidy (Wolfe Tones).


SUBS USED:- Joe O’ Brien (Clonguish, 0-2) for J. Minnock (53 mins) and Eoghan Kavanagh (Longford Slashers) for R. Donnellan (70 mins).
 


SOUTH DOWN: Damien Kearns; Liam Deegan, Brian McAleenan, Paul McClousker; Martin Armstrong, John Brown (0-3, one `65, one free), James McGrath; Liam Morgan (0-3), John Murphy; Eoin Donnelly, Paul O’Neill (0-3, all frees, Paddy Beirne; Paul Sheehan (0-4, two frees), Niall Conway (1-0), Aidan Brown (0-1).

SUBS USED:- Eoin Galway for P. Beirne (49 mins), Kevin Fagan for N. Conway and Joe Cosgrove for J. McGrath (both 57 mins), Niall Conway for J. Cosgrove (67 mins).

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