16 shooter Cian Darcy a major difference as Longford conquer Cavan

Longford . . . 0-25   Cavan . . . 1-19  

If the Longford hurlers succeed in winning the Lory Meagher Cup this year then the major acquisition of the deadly accurate Cian Darcy will prove to be a master stroke by the management team. 

There was just no stopping the former Tipperary senior hurler with the sharpshooter firing over the tremendous total of 16 points as the title favourites Cavan were conquered in the crunch Round 4 clash at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday last.

This was a must win match for gutsy Longford who showed the greater urgency to come out on top and they were never headed on the way to a richly deserved victory in this highly entertaining local derby.

Leading by 0-12 to 1-5 at the break and who stretched their advantage with a point apiece from Darcy and Oisin Gately in the early stages of the second half, the midlanders had to withstand a determined comeback from wind assisted Cavan.

A second yellow card for midfielder Paddy Lynam, who was sent-off in the 59th minute, left Longford in trouble and the sides were all square (0-21 to 1-18) when Nicky Kenny landed his fourth point for Cavan in the 66th minute.

A home win looked the likely outcome at this late stage but the inspired visitors enjoyed a new lease of life during the rest of the game with four points in a row from Darcy (two frees), David Buckley and Reuben Murray to clinch a great result.

A win (or a draw) for Longford in their remaining group fixture against unbeaten Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday (throw-in 1pm) will put them through to the Lory Meagher Cup Final at Croke Park on June 1st but missing from the sideline at the weekend will be the manager Adrian Moran.

Westmeath native Moran and the Cavan boss Ollie Bellew (Antrim) will be suspended after receiving red cards from the referee following a nasty brawl in the closing stages of the first half as tempers boiled over in the heat of the championship battle.

Deadly Darcy, who is eligible to play for the Longford hurlers on the parentage rule with his mother Hilda hailing from the county, fired over seven points (all frees) in the first half while the other scores came from Karl Murray (a cracking strike from the centre-half-back), David Buckley, Paddy Lynam, Reuben Murray and Joe Rabbitt.

Reuben was through for a goal in the 11th minute but his point-blank effort was very well saved by the Cavan keeper Conor Gallagher while the Longford netminder Pat Burke came to the rescue when he stopped a shot from Cillian Sheanon in the closing stages of the first half.

A well taken goal from midfielder Sheanon in the 23rd minute kept Cavan in contention but highly charged Longford were in no mood to let a crucial victory slip from their grasp as they added another 13 points to their impressive total in the second half.

Nine of those scores were registered by class act Cian Darcy, including one from open play, and with Reuben Murray landing another couple of vital points late in the game a very positive result was achieved in moving a step closer to possible championship glory.

CAVAN: Conor Gallagher; Shane Briody, Gavin Fitzpagtrick, Enda Shalvey; Diarmaid Carney, Liam O’Brien (0-6, 4 frees, 1 ‘65’), Matthew Hynes; Dillon Mulligan (0-1), Cillian Sheanon (1-0); Thomas Leonard (0-1), Jack Barry (0-1), Nicky Kenny (0-4); Sean Keating (0-3), Mark Moffett, Canice Maher (0-2). 

Subs:- Brian Fitzgerald (0-1) for M Moffett (half-time); Philip McCabe for D Carney (42 mins); John Carney for M Hynes (57 mins); Rory Farrell for T Leonard (stoppage time). 

LONGFORD: Pat Burke (Ringtown, Westmeath); Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes), Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard); Adam Quinn (Wolfe Tones Mostrim), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones); Paddy Lynam (Oliver Plunketts Mullingar, 0-1), Cathal Mullane (Wolfe Tones); Oisin Gately (Clonguish Gaels, 0-1), David Buckley (Longford Slashers, 0-2), Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard, 0-1); Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-3), Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonagh’s, Co Tipperary, 0-16, 15 frees), Micheal Mulcahy (Longford Slashers). 

Subs:- Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers) for D Caslin (half-time); Ronan Courtney (Wolfe Tones) for M Mulcahy (56 mins). 

Referee: James Judge (Mayo).