Hurlers back to winning ways with victory over Leitrim
 
21.03.10 | Longford 3-10 Leitrim 1-8
 
Longford hurlers bounced back from their disappointing defeat against Monaghan last weekend with a comprehensive victory over neighbours Leitrim at Pearse Park. Longford controlled the game form the start and never looked in trouble. Gareth Ghee was once again chief marksman with an end tally of eight points.
 
Longford dominated the first half with Gareth Ghee to the fore with four points while Eoin Donnellan also chipped in with four points. Leitrim did manage to hit the first goal of the game with thirty two minutes on the clock, Liam Burns credited with the strike. Half time score showed Longford ahead 0-14 to 1-4.
 
Longford aimed for goals in the second period to kill the game off and this proved fruitful with John Newman hitting two while wing back Rory Donnellan also raising a green flag with a fine finish. Longford then racked up points through Ghee while several others got in on the act. All in all it was shooting practice for the Midlanders and this victory will give them plenty of confidence going into the latter end of the league.
 
Longford struck for the first score of the game two minutes in, Gareth Ghee tapping over a close range free. That lead was doubled two minutes later when Eoin Donnellan landed a point from play while Longford were three points to the good with five minutes on the clock, Gareth Ghee firing over from fifty metres.
 
Leitrim finally got off the mark after some six minutes, Ian Bermingham slotting over a free. Longford wasted little time in replying and had their fourth point with seven minutes gone, Offaly man Declan Tanner splitting the posts from play. Leitrim registered their first score from play with eight minutes gone, Keith Connolly tapping over following a surging run.
 
Longford went on to notch up their fifth point of the half with eleven minutes gone, Seanie Stakelum marking his home return with an excellent point. Keith Connolly replied for Leitrim with his second point from play which left just two point between the sides despite Longford dominating the opening quarter.
 
Longford seized the initiative though soon after and managed to tally up five points on the trot, with Gareth Ghee (3), Eoin Donnellan and Seanie Stakelum on target for the blue and gold in their first half purple patch. A shell shocked Leitrim replied with their first score for fifteen minutes, Ian Bermingham slotting over another close range free, which left six points between the sides with seven minutes of the half remaining.
 
Robert Ryland and Eoin Donnellan landed two scores in quick succession for Longford before corner forward Liam Burns hit the first goal of the game for the away side with a neat finish from close range, which brought Leitrim to within five points of the blue and gold. Longford recovered from the goal though and managed to register two point on the trot with the Donnellan brothers on target; Eoin landing a monster effort from his own half while Rory showed his shooting prowess when firing over form range, meaning the half time score read a handsome 0-14 to 1-4 in favour of Longford.
 
Longford continued the second half where they left off in the first, Gareth Ghee off the mark for the second period after five minutes with a fine point from play. Seamus Hannon, who had been away with the footballers the last few weeks, marked his return with a long range point from play, which also capped off a fine work man like display. With eight minutes gone in the second period Rory Donnellan popped up in the forward line once again, but this time he powered home a goal with the confidence of a forward, making the score 1-16 to 1-4.
 
Leitrim got their first score of the half with ten minutes on the clock, Ian Bermingham proving successful once again with a placed ball. One minute later and Eoin Donnellan showed his accuracy with another fine trademark long range strike. Ian Bermingham managed to split the Longford posts once again with the Longford backs punished by his free taking abilities.
 
Longford went on to register 1-1 in the space of a minute, Gareth Ghee landing a free while John Newman raised the green flag with a close range strike. Leitrim hit back with a point from wing back Sean McWeeney but Longford responded in emphatic fashion with another goal, John Newman proving too hard to handle in and around the small square with the Wolfe Tones man crashing home from close range once again.
 
Leitrim grabbed their final score of the game after thirty three minutes when Ian Bermingham landed his fifth free of the contest while Longford register two final scores through Gareth Ghee and Anthony Corcoran, which handed Longford a fine victory in this ill tempered derby which seen no less than five players red carded.
 
LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen (Wolfe Tones); Brendan Stakem (Wolfe Tones), Tomas Stakem (Wolfe Tones), Fergal Daly (Clonguish); Rory Donnellan (Longford Slashers, 1-1), Sean Browne (Wolfe Tones), Robert Ryland (Banner, 0-1); Seamus Hannon (Wolfe Tones, 0-1), Eoin Donnellan (Longford Slashers, 0-5, two frees); Seanie Stakelum (Longford Slashers, 0-2), Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers, 0-8, six frees), Ciaran Finnucane (St. Briget’s); Declan Tanner (St. Rynagh’s, 0-1), John Newman (Wolfe Tones, 2-0), Stephen Lynam (Wolfe Tones).

SUBS USED:- John Minnock (Clonguish) for C. Finnucane (42 mins); Anthony Corcoran (Clonguish) for S. Browne (60 mins).
 
LEITRIM: Paul McKiernan; Kevin McGrath, Niall Guckian, Shane Guckian; Sean McWeeney, Michael Poinard, Kieran Boyle; Vinny McDermott, Keith Connolly (0-2); Pauric McWeeney, Conor Burns, Ian Bermingham (0-5, all frees); Liam Burns (1-0), Mark Hayes, Mick Burns.

SUBS USED:- Dan O’Brien for P. McWeeney (61 mins); Gary Coone for L. Burns (64 mins).
 
REFEREE: Fergus Smith (Meath).

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