Wee County maintain their winning ways over Longford

26.05.10 | Louth 3-14 Longford 3-8 | By Longford News

Longford footballers bowed out of the Leinster Junior Championship after the holders Louth defeated them in a high-scoring and entertaining clash at Drogheda last Wednesday evening. 


After crashing out of the Senior Championship to Peter Fitzpatrick's side three days previously and losing last year's junior decider to the Wee County, the midlanders will be well and truly sick of the sight of the famous red jersey after this latest defeat.

Three first-half goals did the trick from Louth's point of view as Michael Rogers, twice, and Niall Conlon struck at crucial junctures, earning the Reds a 3-7 to 1-5 half-time lead.

And although Longford closed the gap down to two points again in the third quarter, the hosts had plenty to spare by the finish to book a semi-final date with Kildare at the same venue on June 9th.

One of the stars of last year's triumph, Niall Conlon, opened the scoring after 20 seconds, nipping in from the right channel with a typical burst of pace before firing over.

Longford's best attacker on the night, Jamsie Martin hit back straight away, but Louth stamped their authority on proceedings, plundering 1-3 without reply in a fruitful seven-minute spell.

The impressive duo of James Califf and Paddy O'Boyle opened their respective accounts before Michael Rogers found the net for the first time in the 10th minute.

Califf sent a free-kick high into the danger area, which Mark Larkin slapped back to the big Geraldines man to apply a neat low finish past James McKenna.

Califf, from a free, and Larkin made it 1-5 to 0-1 as Louth threatened to run away with the tie, but to Longford's credit they eventually started to find some traction.

A well-taken goal from corner-forward, Ciaran Williams, following a fumble by Conor McGuinness, sparked the revival and the midlanders quickly added points from Mark Connor (free), Declan Farrell, Jamsie Martin (free) and Connor once again to draw level at 1-5 apiece with just over six minutes left to the break.

Louth's response was swift and decisive, however, as Stephen Fitzpatrick picked out Rogers with a pin-point delivery and the full-forward showed admirable composure again to rattle the net once again.

Califf added another free and Paddy O'Boyle fisted over, but there was even better to come for Louth before the interval when Fitzpatrick drove forward and slipped Niall Conlon through on goal.

The final pass was just ahead of the O'Connell's man, but he improvised nicely to volley the ball against corner back James Kenny and that was enough to deceive 'keeper, James McKenna and make it 3-7 to 1-5 in the Reds' favour at half time.

Both sides lost their way in the opening stages of the second period, but it was Longford who recovered first as Martin and Williams reduced their arrears to six points, but the gap was down to just two when Declan Farrell grabbed their second goal and Niall Sheridan added a point.

But like their first-half burst, that purple patch proved a false dawn for the visitors as Louth upped the tempo again.

Bernard Osborne, Larkin and Califf quickly put the gap back out to five points and Louth continued to set the pace as David Bracken and Califf made sure of Louth's place in the next round.

There was still time for the robust figure of Niall Sheridan to bang home a consolation goal for Longford, but Louth had the last say with another free from Califf and a third point of the evening for Nick's sharpshooter, O'Boyle.

LOUTH: Craig Lynch; Shane Brennan, Jamie Faulkner, Padraig Bannon; Stephen Fitzpatrick, Conor McGuinness, Liam Shevlin; Sean O'Neill, James Califf (0-6, four frees); David Bracken (0-1), Paddy O'Boyle (0-3), Bernard Osbourne (0-1); Niall Conlon (1-1), Michael Rogers (2-0), Mark Larkin (0-2, one free).

Subs used:- JJ Quigley for S Brennan (43 mins); Wayne Reilly for M Larkin (56 mins).

LONGFORD: James McKenna (Sean Connolly's); James Kenny (Ballymahon), Justin Nally (Ballymahon), Enda Ledwith (Abbeylara); Martin Brady (Sean Connolly's), Joe McCormack (Killoe Young Emmets), Francis Kavanagh (Colmcille); Niall Mulligan (Longford Slashers), Kieran Gill (Fr. Manning Gaels); Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe Young Emmets), Jamsie Martin (Dromard, 0-3, two frees), Declan Farrell (Colmcille, 1-1); Ciaran Williams (Clonguish, 1-1, point from free), Niall Sheridan (Abbeylara, 1-1), Mark Connor (Ballymahon, 0-2, one free).

Subs used:- Kevin Diffley (Ballymahon) for K Gill (14 mins); Trevor Smullen (Ballymahon) for M Connor (half-time); Cathal Conefrey (Dromard) for N Mulligan (half-time); Shane Cox (Legan Sarsfields) for R McGoldrick (39 mins); Trevor Clendenning (Longford Slashers) for J Martin (56 mins).

Other members of the county junior squad togged out in Drogheda were as follows:
Pat Farrell (Killashee St. Brigid's), James McEntire (Abbeylara), Mark Duffy (Fr. Manning Gaels), John Sheridan (Dromard), David Cassidy (Fr. Manning Gaels), John O'Shea (Carrickedmond), John Lenehan (Carrickedmond), Shane Powell (Ardagh St. Patrick's), Francie Brady (Killoe Young Emmets) and Johnny Kane (Fr. Manning Gaels).

Referee: Damien Maher (Westmeath).