County minors defeated by Galway

20.03.10 | Galway1-15 Longford 0-4 | By Tommy McLoughlin

Longford's return to the Connacht Minor Football League after a lengthy absence began with a defeat against Galway at Duggan Park in Ballinasloe on Saturday evening last.

The Longford team that started showed seven changes from the side that defeated Wicklow in the Leinster Minor League the previous weekend.

Longford matched Galway in the opening 10 minutes albeit under pressure with the scoreline reading 0-2 apiece with the scores coming from Padraig McCormack and Diarmuid Cooney.

But in the second quarter Galway's superiority told as their slick forward unit got on top and piled on the scores to establish a commanding 1-13 to 0-2 lead at half-time.

Longford made three changes at half-time and made a determined effort to claw their way back into the game but were unable to get the scores needed to put sufficient pressure on this strong Galway team with Kyle Fitzmaurice and Robbie Smyth (free) firing over consolation points.

On this Saturday Longford face Mayo in another tough assignment in Charlestown, throw-in 5pm

LONGFORD: Colm Farrell (Longford Slashers); Darren O'Reilly (St. Vincent's); Sean Goldrick (Longford Slashers), Darragh Bennett (Killoe Og); Chris Carberry (St. Dominic's), Conor Clarke (Longford Slashers), Dylan Quinn (St. Vincent's); Darren Gallagher (Granard/Ballymore), James McGivney (Northern Gaels); Eoin Keane (Clonguish Og), Padraig McCormack (Killoe Og, 0-1), Diarmuid Cooney (St. Vincent's, 0-1); Kyle Fitzmaurice (Ballymahon/Forgney, 0-1), James Noonan (St. Vincent's), Tom Madden (Longford Slashers ).

SUBS USED:- Adrain McLoughlin (Wolfe Tones), Robbie Smyth (Northern Gaels, 0-1, free), Mark Hughes (Killoe Og) and Darren Farrelly (St. Vncent's).

GALWAY: J Keane, P Ezergalis, D Cunnane, C Kelly, M Loughnane, M Kelly, P Varley, F O Curraoin, E O hEocha, N Quinn, N Walsh, F O Beara, C O Neill, P O Griofa, S Maughan.