Hurlers suffer first defeat away to Monaghan

14.03.10 | Monaghan 2-13 Longford 1-12 | Thomas Kelly Reporting from Inniskeen, Monaghan

Longford hurlers fell to their first defeat of their national league division 4 campaign on Sunday last, Monaghan proving too strong for the blue and gold with a late flurry of scores eventually downing the battling Longford men. Played in the splendid Pairc Grattan with weather conditions perfect.

Longford were carried by the outstanding Gareth Ghee throughout, with the talismatic Slashers man back on form with a fine 1-9 to his name come the final whistle.

The turning point came with just forty five seconds gone in the second half, Monaghan awarded a goal when Paddy Cullen was adjudged to have carried a Brian McGuigan effort over the line, much to the bemusement of Cullen and indeed most people in the grounds.

Longford did battle back from this setback and managed to stay in the game until the last puck of the ball, when Monaghan managed to sneak a goal in the seventy-second minute.

Longford will also be disappointed with the fact that eight of Monaghan’s thirteen points came from the hurl of Michael McHugh, who had had field day firing over frees thanks to Longford’s indiscipline.

Monaghan got the scoring underway with just over a minute on the clock, Michael McHugh scoring his first of eight frees with a close range effort in front of the posts.

Longford drew level with their first score after three minutes, Gareth Ghee on target with a fine long range free dead centre. Longford then moved ahead two minutes later, Ghee again on target with a close range strike from play.

Longford rallied to register their third score on the trot, John Newman doing the damage this time with a fine point on the turn from thirty metres. Monaghan replied with their first score for six minutes, Michael McHugh making no mistake when firing over a close range free, while one minute later the sides were level when Trevor Hilliard landed a huge point from just inside the sideline following a fine catch from a Paddy Cullen puck out.

Longford responded well though and managed to clock two scores on the trot, John Minnock first up with a close range point while Gareth Ghee struck his third point of the half with a free, that with fifteen minutes gone.

That two point lead didn’t last all that long however as Michael McHugh capitalised on rugged Longford defending to tap over two close range frees within three minutes of each other.

With ten minutes of the half left Gareth Ghee put Longford ahead once again with a close range effort following a breaking ball of big John Newman. And less than a minute later Ghee and Newman linked up once again to produce the games first goal with Ghee smashing a scorcher into the top corner of the Monaghan net from around twenty five metres, an unstoppable shot from the man of the match, which handed Longford a four point lead with the tail end of the half to come.

The half managed to produce two more scores following the goal, one for each side, with Brian Phelan on target for Monaghan while Ciaran Finnucane landed a sky scraping effort for Longford which meant the sides went into the break at 1-7 to 0-6, Longford claiming a well deserved four point lead into the interval.

Monaghan wasted little time in trying to get back into the game with just forty five seconds elapsed in the second half when they struck their first goal, Brian McGuigan’s controversial effort adjudged to have crossed the line. Monaghan drew the game level once again with two minutes gone, Michael McHugh keeping his 100% record up with a massive long range free.

Longford moved back into the lead with forty minutes on the clock, chief marksman Gareth Ghee splitting the posts with a placed ball. Monaghan so nearly got their second goal in five minutes through Ronan Meegan, but the corner forward could only watch as his rasping shot ricocheted off the Longford crossbar. Monaghan did again draw level with forty-three minutes gone, Michael McHugh again sending a free flying over from long range.

Monaghan then took the lead for the first time since the opening minute with forty-seven minutes elapsed, Michael McHugh punishing Longford fouling with another pointed free which sailed over the black spot. Gareth Ghee replied for Longford six minutes later with a super point on the turn, with John Newman again creating the chance for the Slashers man.

Longford regained the lead with fifty-four minutes on the clock, Gareth Ghee popping over a point from play, his seventh of the contest. Monaghan again drew level though soon after with wing forward Michael Lennon firing over his first score of the game while Michael McHugh handed Monaghan the lead with a massive free from just inside the sideline and outside the `65 metre line.

With seven minutes left Monaghan extended their lead to two points, Sean Leonard on the scoresheet when picking up on a scramble and firing over form close range. Monaghan were then three points to the good one-minute later, wing back Johnny McAnespie capping a fine performance with a fine strike from distance.

Gareth Ghee managed to set up a tense finish with two points on the trot but Longford were unable to add to their tally and were then caught on the counter when Monaghan struck for the killer second goal, Michael Lennon on hand to strike from close range, which proved to be the last puck of the game.

However all is not lost for Longford as it seems a good bet that both Longford and Monaghan will make the finals, where the blue and gold can then try and make amends for this disappointing defeat.

MONAGHAN: Gerard Ruddy; Peter Treanor, Paul Murphy, Aidan Kerr; Declan Crowe, Aidan Óg McAnespie, Johnny McAnespie (0-1); Brian Phelan (0-1), Trevor Hilliard (0-1); Michael Lennon (1-1), Sean Leonard (0-1), Kevin Boylan; Ronan Meegan, Michael McHugh (0-8, all frees), Brian McGuigan (1-0).

SUB USED:- Dermot Boyle for K. Boylan (43 mins).

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, 0-1); Eoin Donnellan (Longford Slashers), Seanie Stakelum (Longford Slashers); John Lynam (Wolfe Tones), Sean Browne (Wolfe Tones), Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers, 1-9, five frees); John Minnock (Clonguish, 0-1), John Newman (Salthill, 0-1), Mark Cassidy (Wolfe Tones).

SUB USED:- Eoghan Kavanagh (Longford Slashers) for M. Cassidy (45 mins).

REFEREE: Garrett Duffy (Antrim).