Goal crazy Longford thrash South Down

12.06.10 | Longford 5-13 South Down 1-13 | By Padraic O'Brien

On the evidence of this emphatic win over South Down in the Lory Meagher Cup Qualifier at Pearse Park on Saturday last, the Longford hurlers would appear to have a great chance of reaching the All-Ireland Senior 'D' Championship Final at Croke Park on July 3rd under the guidance of manager Tom Lynam and his fellow mentor Michael O'Rourke who have put in a lot of hard work this season.

The return of Neil Casey (back from Canada), Martin Coyle (recovered from injury) and Declan Tanner for the South Down showdown was certainly a big boost and Longford are right back into contention for the title.

Rory Donnellan was another player who did not feature in the Donegal setback and Longford can now look forward with considerable confidence to the quarter-final clash against the Birmingham-based Warwickshire side on Sunday next with the eventual winners advancing to meet Leitrim in the last four of the Lory Meagher Cup.

Three first half goals, all scored by full-forward Joe O'Brien, proved to be the decisive factor in the comfortable win over a disappointing South Down side who trailed by 3-8 to 0-7 at the break and never looked like staging a dramatic comeback on the changeover.

Longford were on top in most of the positions on the pitch and were particularly prominent in attack with the dangermen O'Brien and Gareth Ghee inflicting most of the damage. O'Brien ended up with 4-1 to his credit while Ghee fired over a total of eight points – four of which materialised in the first quarter of the contest.

Declan Tanner raced through to land the opening score in the 2nd minute, shooting over the bar when a goal was there for the taking, and then Ghee converted a free before setting up O'Brien for a well struck goal in the 4th minute.

A further point followed from Ghee before South Down eventually opened their account when their chief marksman Paul O'Neill was on target in the 10th minute. Another brace of points from Ghee (the second a clear-cut goal chance) left Longford leading by 1-5 to 0-1 with just 12 minutes gone on the clock.

Although South Down managed to close the gap with three points in a row through Liam Deegans, Paul O'Neill and Kieran Courtney, two goals in a space of a minute from the lethal Joe O'Brien put Longford in complete control entering the second quarter of the game.

Trailing by 3-5 to 0-4 after just over 19 minutes of play, there was really no way back for South Down and the sides shared six points during the remainder of the first half.

Neil Casey, Declan Tanner and Joe O'Brien got the Longford scores while Paul Sheehan (free), Kieran Courtney and Paul O'Neill (free) were on target for the visitors.

Ten points clear at the break, Longford went even further ahead with a point from Gareth Ghee (free) along with a fortunate fourth goal for Joe O'Brien in the 48th minute and it was becoming embarrassing for a poor South Down outfit who were now 4-9 to 0-7 behind.

But the losers went on to enjoy their best spell of the game which yielded five points (three frees) between the 49th and 57th minutes with John Brown, Paul O'Neill (3) and Colm O'Neill getting the scores while Longford's solitary reply came from Neil Casey who shot over the bar after receiving the ball from prominent centre-half-back Seamus Hannon.

However, the home county regained the upper hand to register a further 1-2. The goal was a cracking effort from substitute Eanna Daly in the 63rd minute while the points came from Gareth Ghee frees - the first of which was a glorious strike from near the sideline.

South Down battled it out to the bitter end and grabbed a late consolation goal when a Kieran Courtney free ended up in the back of the net in the 66th minute. The sides exchanged a point apiece in the closing stages with Gareth Ghee on target for Longford while Paul O'Neill brought the scoring to a close in the 70th minute.

LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen; Benny Stakem, Sean Browne, Ciaran Finnucane; Conor Egan, Seamus Hannon, Rory Donnellan; Martin Coyle, Eoin Donnellan; Seanie Stakelum, Neil Casey (0-2), Declan Tanner (0-2); Gareth Ghee (0-8, four frees), Joe O'Brien (4-1), John Newman.

SUBS USED:- Brian Stakelum for E Donnellan (49 mins); Stephen Lynam for S Stakelum (55 mins); Eanna Daly (1-0) for J O'Brien (59 mins); Karl Murray for N Casey (64 mins); John Minnock for M Coyle (66 mins).

SOUTH DOWN: Gary McMullan; Willie McCartan, Paul Kelly, Paul McCusker; Kevin Fegan, John Murphy, John Brown (0-1, free); Noel Burns, Kieran Courtney (1-2, goal from free); Aidan Brown, Paul O'Neill (0-7, three frees), Paul Sheehan (0-1, free); Liam Deegans (0-1), James McGrath, Ian Galway.

SUBS USED:- Colm O'Neill (0-1) for K Fegan (11 mins); Martin Armstrong for P McCusker (50 mins); Gary Courtney for L Deegans (55 mins).

REFEREE: Tony Carroll (Offaly).

Report Copyright Longford Leader