Deadly Cian Darcy shoots 1-11 for Longford in easy win over Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup

Longford . . . 2-22    Lancashire . . . 0-10

With impressive newcomer Cian Darcy leading the charge in the attack, the Longford senior hurlers (minus the unavailable Paddy Lynam) produced a powerful second half display to destroy Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup Round 1 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last. 

A member of the Tipperary teams who won the Minor and U-21 All-Ireland titles in 2016 and 2018 respectively and who also played with the county senior hurlers, class act Darcy clocked up the tremendous total of 1-11 and could be the key to unlocking possible Tier 5  championship glory for the midlanders.

Cian is eligible to line-out with Longford under the parentage rule (his mother Hilda Kiernan Darcy is a native of the county) and he fired over seven points (4 frees) in the first half as the home side held a slender 0-10 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Another Darcy point followed direct from the throw-in at the start of the second half and after David Buckley shot over the bar to extend the advantage, a decisive turning point materialised when Lancashire were reduced to 14 players after their full-back Conor McCormick was sent-off.

The already booked McCormick was branded with a black card for a cynical foul on Micheal Mulcahy and up stepped the deadly Darcy to blast an unstoppable free into the back of the net.

That was game, set and match to a now rampant Longford outfit, who had established a commanding 1-12 to 0-8 lead, and they made good use of the extra man in adding another 1-10 to their most emphatic tally during the remainder of the match with Buckley scoring the second half goal in the 57th minute which was created by Darcy.

Lancashire were completely outplayed on the changeover and were restricted to just two more points, the first of which did not arrive until the 68th minute through substitute Ethan Costello.

The landslide margin of 18 points separated the sides in the finish and this result is a big boost for Longford manager Adrian Moran with his fierce desire to deliver a Lory Meagher Cup triumph for the county that was last achieved back in 2014.

The only negative was the arm injury sustained by the captain Johnny Casey which forced him to retire in the closing stages of the first half as Longford now prepare for a trip to Birmingham to play the National League Division 3B champions Warwickshire in the Round 2 fixture on Sunday April 21.

Cathal Mullane was also to the fore in attack against Lancashire with four points (all from play) to his credit.

Longford created another couple of goal chances in the second half through Tipperary duo Buckley and Darcy, such was the superiority they enjoyed in a great start to the championship campaign.

LONGFORD: Pat Burke (Ringtown, Westmeath); Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers); Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard), Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones); Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard, 0-2), David Buckley (Longford Slashers, 1-2); Maitiu O’Donohoe (Wolfe Tones Mostrim, 0-1), Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonagh’s, Co Tipperary, 1-11, goal and 6 points from frees), Oisin Gately (Clonguish Gaels); Micheal Mulcahy (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Cathal Mullane (Wolfe Tones, 0-4), Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-1).

Subs:- Adam Quinn (Wolfe Tones) for J Casey (injured, 31 mins); Charles Flynn (Ringtown) for J Rabbitt (58 mins); Daire Regan (Longford Slashers) for Diarmaid Caslin (61 mins); Keelan Cox (Longford Slashers) for M O’Donohoe (63 mins); Darragh Caslin (Longford Slashers) for D Buckley (63 mins).

LANCASHIRE: James Doyle; Andrew Morgan, Conor McCormick, Alex Gallagher; Eoghan Kelly, Peter Boylan, Cormac Kenny; Finn Henry, Jamie McFayden (0-1); David Lynch (0-5, 2 frees), Shane Nugent, Christopher Convery (0-1); Conor Levingstone, Billy Donnellan, Eoghan Clifford (0-2). 

Subs:- Eamon Kearns for C Convery (39 mins); Ethan Costello (0-1) for B Donnellan (51 mins); Brian Slattery for J McFayden (57 mins); Hugh Lane for F Henry (60 mins); Seon Leonard for A Morgan (61 mins).  

Referee: James Judge (Mayo).