Donegal hurlers fend off spirited Longford fightback

05.06.10 | Donegal 3-13 Longford 1-15 | By Longford Leader

Two Michael McGhee goals helped Donegal to victory in the Lory Meagher Cup first round clash over Longford at O'Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Saturday last.

That was a bad blow for team manager Tom Lynam who will have to lift his players for the second chance in the qualifier against South Down at Pearse Park this Saturday but Longford (whose most notable absentee in the defeat last weekend was Declan Tanner) are quite capable of coming through the back door and might well end up meeting Donegal again in the Croke Park final on Saturday July 3rd.

Donegal led by 12 points at one stage, almost contrived to lose it as their second half performance bore little resemblance to their first as nervousness gripped their legs and Gareth Ghee, who scored 1-8 in all, almost brought the midlanders an unexpected reprieve.

In the 27th minute, Kevin Campbell stood over a free from just outside the 21-metre line. Opting to go for goal, his shot was true, but Longford goalkeeper Eanna Daly made a superb save, as he did for Campbell's second bite of the cherry from the subsequent rebound.

However, as bodies piled in, the ball eventually slithered over the line by the base of the post and it was McGhee who emerged from the clutter of players with the pats on the back.

Then, seven minutes later, the same player was on target for a second Donegal goal. This time he was smartly fed by Lee Henderson, and having dropped the shoulder McGhee made the space for himself to shoot again. Once more Daly can consider himself unlucky having made the initial save, but was powerless to prevent McGhee making the most of the rebound.

Andrew Wallace's side were, initially, also extremely well served by Danny Cullen, who lined up at half-forward and popped over scores for fun to ease his side through the first half. The scars might still be evident from their defeat in the final of the competition last season to Tyrone, when Donegal let a nine-point lead slip, and last Saturday's game was almost as tragic.

Although Conor Egan opened the scoring for Longford inside of three minutes, Donegal soon found their stride. Danny Cullen scored half-a-dozen first half points, including two exquisite long range frees from the halfway-mark from either sideline.

Lee Henderson also added three points in the opening 35 minutes, while Enda McDermott and corner-back Mark Patton were also on the mark.

Longford did plug away and Joe O’Brien, Eoin Donnellan, Gareth Ghee and Egan’s second of the day did given them occasional moments of optimism, but Donegal led comfortably 2-11 to 0-5 at half-time.

Joe O’Brien brought a fine save from Donegal goalkeeper Paul O’Brien at the start of the second half, but Longford were soon to spin off a number of scores.

On 46 minutes, from a long ball in by Seamus Hannon, Ghee levered himself some room with a shove in the back and when the ball came his way and he tucked it into the bottom corner as Paul O’Brien advanced off his line.

Longford, with a mountain to climb, were back to seven points down, 2-12 to 1-9 with their driving force Ghee and O’Brien on target with McDermott the only Donegal point scorer in a problematic third quarter for the home county.

Henderson did stop the famine, but when Ghee knocked over close and long-range frees, the margin was down to three. Seamus Hannon could have levelled but for a brave save from Paul O’Brien, but two more Ghee points narrowed the gap to the minimum of margins. But Enda McDermott knocked home a stoppage time goal from Paddy Hannigan’s ball in to get Donegal through to the next round.

DONEGAL: Paul O’Brien; Mark Patton (0-1), Colm Breatnach, Justin McGhee; Joe Boyle, Jamsie Donnelly, Barry Friel; Ardal McDermott, Paddy Hannigan; Michael McCann, Danny Cullen (0-6, three frees), Lee Henderson (0-4); Enda McDermott (1-2), Kevin Campbell, Michael McGhee (2-0).

Sub:- Sean McVeigh for Campbell (49 mins).

LONGFORD: Eanna Daly; Brendan Stakem, Thomas Stakem, Fergal Daly; Conor Egan (0-2), Sean Browne, Ciaran Finucane; Seamus Hannon, Seanie Stakelum; Eoin Donnellan (0-1), Robert Ryland (0-1), John Newman; Gareth Ghee (1-8, six frees, one '65), Joe O’Brien (0-3), Paddy Cullen.

Subs:- Brian Stakelum for E Donnellan (half-time); Stephen Lynam for S Browne (43 mins), John Minnock for J Newman (58 mins).

REFEREE: Martin Mulholland (Derry).