Longford hurlers clinch place in league final

28.04.10 | Longford 4-11 Fermanagh 1-15 | By Deniese O'Flaherty

Three first half goals set Longford on their way to the National Hurling League Division 4 Final at the expense of Fermanagh in Lisnaskea on Sunday last and will now meet Monaghan in the title decider on April 10th.

Longford knew they had to avoid defeat in order to qualify for the final and once they took a stranglehold on the game they looked like they weren't going to loosen their grip.

Credit to Fermanagh who gave Longford a good game, despite being down to 14 men from early on after full-forward Brendan McGarry was sent off for two bookable offences.

It wasn't a vintage Longford performance but they had several top performers all over the field. Corner back Fergal Daly was immense throughout while Sean Browne put in a fine display at centre-half-back.

Midfield dominated proceedings while in the forward line Joe O'Brien was a threat throughout with John Newman also proving a handful. Substitute Conor Egan also played his part when he was introduced in the 26th minute.

They say goals change games and the four that Longford got came at crucial stages in the game. The first came in the 24th minute when Joe O'Brien found the net with a cracking effort, it was the first time Longford took the lead, and they never relinquished it, though Fermanagh made them work hard.

The first half was end to end stuff, at times scrappy but also entertaining. It started at a slow pace but gradually picked up speed as the scores went over.

The home side started the game well and within the first four minutes had two points registered on the scoreboard; two very good long range frees from John McGoldrick.

Longford had a chance to get their first score in the fifth minute but Gareth Ghee decided to go for goal with a free and the ball was stopped on the line by the Fermanagh defence. Three minutes later they got their first score; a great point from Declan Tanner after some good work from Seanie Stakelum.

The game was all square in the 10th minute when Ghee pointed a free from about 65 metres out. But two points in quick succession from Brendan McGarry and wing back Shea Curran restored Fermanagh's two point advantage.

That lead was down to one when Joe O'Brien got his first score of the game. Fermanagh were dealt a blow in the 15th minute when McGarry was shown a red card for a second yellow. Referee Eamon Hasson was a little card happy throughout the game, with some questionable bookings for both sides.

Longford used their numerical advantage well and in the 24th minute raised the green flag for the first time. Gareth Ghee provided the pass and Joe O'Brien struck an unstoppable shot past Fermanagh keeper Peter McEvoy. Three minutes later and O'Brien got his second goal of the game and it seemed to deflate the home side.

Ghee added another point in the 30th minute to stretch his side's lead to six points. Minutes later that was extended to nine; John Newman finding the net after Conor Egan's shot was parried by McEvoy.

As half-time approached Fermanagh began to cut into Longford's lead and four points without reply left just five between the sides going in at the break; 3-4 to 0-8.

Points were traded between Gareth Ghee and Karl Kehoe in the opening minutes of the second half before Eoin Donnellan landed two superb points, his second was a free from about 70 metres out. That was to be the last part he played in the game because two minutes later he received his second yellow card of the game and was given his marching orders.

It was now an even playing field with both teams down to 14 men. A free from Paul McGoldrick and another from John Duffy cut the deficit to six points with 16 minutes of the second half played but Longford hit back with a point from Joe O'Brien.

O'Brien then forced a fine save out of McEvoy in the 51st minute, when a goal looked to be on for the corner-forward. McGoldrick fired over another free two minutes later before Longford got their fourth goal of the game; Ghee and O'Brien involved in the move which Newman finished. There was now eight between the sides with 15 minutes of the game to play.

Fermanagh went up the other end of the field and Kehoe forced a good save out of Paddy Cullen. That was followed by a lovely score by McGoldrick, his seventh of the game but Longford hit back with a point from John Newman. The full-forward was on the mark again two minutes later, getting his second point of the game.

A goal from Sean Corrigan followed quickly by a point from Andrew Breslin got Fermanagh to within six points of Longford as the game entered the final ten minutes. Gareth Ghee responded with a free before McGoldrick fired over another point but that was to be the last score of the game. Try as they might Fermanagh just couldn't register any more scores as Longford held out for a deserved win and a place in the Division 4 Final against Monaghan on Saturday week.

LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen; Robbie Ryland, Thomas Stakem, Fergal Daly; Rory Donnellan, Sean Browne, Ciaran Finnucane; Seanie Stakelum, Eoin Donnellan (0-2); Gareth Ghee (0-4,2f), Declan Tanner (0-1), Stephen Lynam; Joe O'Brien (2-2), John Newman (2-2), Mark Cassidy.

Subs:- Conor Egan for M Cassidy (26 mins); John Lynam for R Ryland (half-time); Enda Corcoran for D Tanner (55 mins); Eanna Daly for P Cullen (60 mins); Paul Barden for F Daly (63 mins).

FERMANAGH: Peter McEvoy; Barry Smyth, Fergus Bannon, Colm Rice; Shea Curran (0-1), Cathal McGarry, Francis McBrien; Ryan Bogue, John Duffy (0-1); David Slevin, Karl Kehoe (0-2), Paul McGoldrick (0-8,6f); Sean Corrigan (1-1), Brendan McGarry (0-1), Peter Timoney.

Subs used:- Rory Porteous, Andrew Breslin (0-1) and Mark Slevin.

Referee: Eamon Hasson (Derry).

Copyright Longford Leader