Longford ladies cruise to a very easy win over Kilkenny and now face Carlow

Longford . . . 4-10    Kilkenny . . . 0-4 

The Longford ladies senior football side cruised to a very easy win over a weak Kilkenny outfit in the opening round of the TG4 Leinster Junior Championship in Dunmore on Sunday last. 

Longford held a commanding 1-8 to 0-2 lead at the break with Kamille Burke scoring the goal and the one-way traffic continued on the changeover with the wide margin of 18 points separating the teams in the finish.

Clodagh Lohan (2) and Grace Shannon accounted for the second half goals and while Pat Tiernan’s charges could afford the luxury of squandering several chances, it will be a far tougher task against the Division 4 league champions Carlow in the Round 2 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next, throw-in 2pm.

Carlow are enjoying a great run of results this season and they maintained that momentum with an excellent 2-8 to 1-8 win at home to a fancied Louth team last weekend.

Longford are away to Louth in the remaining group stage fixture on Friday night May 3 with the top two teams contesting the Leinster Junior title decider.

Kilkenny got off to a flying start with a fine opening point from Ailish O'Neill but minutes later an excellent run from Grace Shannon ended in a great strike from distance for Longford's first score.

The visitors continued to press Kilkenny with two fine points from Clodagh Lohan and two more points from Grace Shannon. For the first goal a brilliant move with a number of slick passes ended in Kamille Burke finishing the ball to the top corner of the net.

Niamh Brady kept her tally for the season ticking over with three well taken points from frees to leave Longford in a strong position at the break.

In the second half the midlanders were in complete control and pushed on with the always lethal Clodagh Lohan scoring a couple of cracking goals. In another fine move between Lohan and Grace Shannon, the latter added to her tally with a great finish to the Kilkenny net.

Lohan and Shannon got another point apiece to round off the scoring for Longford.

Kilkenny got two consolation scores through Sarah Corcoran and Caitlinn Moore but Longford were well on top with Orla Nevin, Katelyn McKeon and Eimear O'Brien particularly prominent.

KILKENNY: Katie Fitzpatrick; Riona Crowley, Sarah Smith, Leah Brett; Jennifer O’Keeffe, Ailbhe Galway, Amy Ring; Kelley Comerford, Ruby Roche; Ellen Lawlor, Sarah Corcoran, Hollie Brennan; Caithlinn Moore, Ailish O’Neill, Rebecca Roche.  

LONGFORD: Riane McGrath (Killoe); Leah Shannon (Carrickedmond), Eimear O’Brien (Longford Slashers), Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers); Joanne Whyte (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Orla Nevin (Longford Slashers), Caoimhe McCormack (Carrickedmond); Sian Gallagher (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Shauna Hagan (Dromard); Clodagh Lohan (Grattans, 2-3), Grace Shannon (Longford Slashers, 1-4), Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish); Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 1-0), Niamh Brady (Killoe, 0-3, frees), Anna Hayden (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh). 

Subs:- Fumni Talabi (Mostrim) for J Whyte; Elle Lynn (Mostrim) for A Hayden; Maria Reehill (Killoe) for N Brady; Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond) for G Kenny; Megan Glennon (Clonguish) for K Burke.