Longford hurlers reach semi-finals of Lory Meagher Cup

20.06.10 | Longford 2-22 Warwickshire 2-12 | Ray Donlon reporting from Birmingham

Longford successfully booked their spot in the semi-final of the Lory Meagher Cup Hurling Championship, where they play neighbours Leitrim next weekend, when they registered a ten points victory over English outfit Warwickshire on Sunday at the Páirc na hÉireann grounds looking over Birmingham Airport in the West Midlands.

For the second time this year, Longford faced their Irish exiles, When Longford last played Warwickshire on May 22nd last, also played in Birmingham, the exiles recorded a three points victory on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-9.

The Longford hurlers once again had to make the short forty minute flight over the Irish Sea when making the one-day round trip on Sunday, Longford were without the services of Long-time county hurler, Eoin Donnellan who tied the knot last weekend, and we congratulate him and his new wife - while his brother Rory was also unavailable.

Longford booked their spot in last Sunday's quarter final when registering an impressive 5-13 to 1-13 victory over South Down on Saturday last at Pearse Park.

The game was played on a warm sunny Sunday's afternoon in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd of around 100, thankfully no Vuvuzela's could be heard around the West Midlands GAA grounds.

Longford opened the scoring after less than one minute when Gareth Ghee was on the mark with a long range free while less than a minute later Neil Casey pointed from play and the visitors went ahead by three points on four minutes when Joe O'Brien pointed from play.

Warwickshire opened the scoring on six minutes when Mark Lyons was on the mark with two well pointed frees. Longford's next score came on twelve minutes when again Ghee was on the mark with a well taken long range free.

Warwickshire levelled the sides for the first time on thirteen minutes with points apiece coming from Shane O'Hanlon (play) and Mark Lyons (free).

Gareth Ghee was then once again on the mark for Longford with two well struck points on the trot. Kevin Codd then pointed from play for the exiles while Ghee was on the mark moments later once again for the boys in 'blue and gold', another fine point from free.

Trevor Walsh then landed over the bar a fine effort from play for Warwickshire. However, Longford went ahead once again by two points when Declan Tanner fired over a long range effort from play.

Warwickshire went in front for the first time in the contest when Kevin Codd was bang on target from a close range free for a well struck goal.

However less than a minute later Longford it brought it back to a draw contest when Gareth Ghee pointed from free while Warwickshire went in at the break one point ahead with a late first half point from Mark Lyons, 1-7 to 0-9 the score reading at the break.

Longford opened the scoring on the changeover when notching the first five scores with three points on the trot coming from Gareth Ghee while Joe O'Brien was also on the mark with two fine points from play.

Kevin Codd notched their first score of the second half on forty-seven minutes when their chief marksman pointed from play.

Longford replied with the next two scores of the game with a well taken pointed free from Neil Casey while Joe O'Brien hit the back of the net for Longford's first goal.

Des Kelly pointed from play for Warwickshire while Codd slotted over a well taken free. Gareth Ghee was once again on the mark when notching two points on the trot.

Kevin Codd somewhat narrowed the margin once again for the Birmingham boys when registering two pointed frees.

However, Longford widened the margin when notching the next six scores on the trot with the star of the show Gareth Ghee recording a further 1-4 while Ciaran Finnucane was also on the mark with a fine point from play.

Warwickshire did manage a late goal when Kevin Codd was on target from the penalty spot. However, Longford had done enough to record a ten points victory and a spot in the semi-final next weekend against Leitrim.    

LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen (Wolfe Tones); Brendan Stakem (Wolfe Tones), Sean Browne (Wolfe Tones), Ciaran Finnucane (Clonguish, 0-1á); Conor Egan (Birr), Seamus Hannon (Wolfe Tones), Robert Ryland (St. Bridget's); Martin Coyle (Wolfe Tones), Seanie Stakelum (Longford Slashers); Brian Stakelum (Longford Slashers), Neil Casey (Clonguish, 0-3), Declan Tanner (St. Rynaghs, 0-1); Gareth Ghee (Longford Slashers1-14, ten frees), Joe O'Brien (Clonguish, 1-3), John Newman (Wolfe Tones).

SUB USED:- Stephen Lynam (Wolfe Tones) for S. Stakelum (65 mins).

WARWICKSHIRE: Richard O'Brien; Mel Guinan, Kieran Boxwell, Chris Brough; Paddy Breen, John Healy, Mark Lyons (0-5, four frees); Paul Murphy, Peter Healy; Stephen McCarthy, Kevin Codd (2-4, four points frees, one goal free, one goal penalty), Trevor Walsh (0-1); Shane O'Hanlon (0-1), Des Kelly (0-1), James Dwyer.

SUBS USED:- Seamus Brough (50 mins); Liam Boxwell (65 mins).

REFEREE: Pat Casey (Waterford).