Major games for Longford minors, seniors and hurlers

Another hectic GAA inter-county schedule awaits this weekend with Longford involved in three major matches as the much congested split season continues.

While the main attraction is undoubtedly the Leinster Minor Football Final against Dublin at O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Monday evening next (throw-in 7.30pm), the county senior footballers and hurlers are also in championship action. 

Following their excellent 0-25 to 1-19 victory away to Cavan last weekend with the deadly Cian Darcy firing over the tremendous total of 16 points (15 frees), the Longford hurlers are just a step away from reaching the Lory Meagher Cup title decider at Croke Park on Saturday June 1. 

That target will be achieved with a win (or a draw) against unbeaten Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday (throw-in 1pm) with the manager Adrian Moran showing a fierce desire to deliver some silverware for the success starved hurlers. 

The spotlight will be firmly focused on the Longford footballers at the same venue on Sunday in a most intriguing clash against neighbouring rivals Leitrim in Round 2 of the Tailteann Cup (throw-in 2.30pm).

The pressure is mounting on the manager Paddy Christie in the wake of the nightmare defeat against Kildare in Newbridge on Saturday evening last with the landslide margin of 20 points (3-15 to 1-11) separating the sides in the finish. 

Longford badly need a win to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage in the Tier 2 championship and could be hard pressed to repeat the result that materialised in Division 4 of the National League in early March.

On that occasion at Pearse Park the outcome was a fairly comfortable six points win for the home county who made good use of the extra man advantage after key Leitrim attacker Ryan O’Rourke received a black card with just six minutes gone in the game. 

Longford built up a commanding 1-5 to 0-0 lead during that defining period and managed to consolidate their tight grip on the match despite a black card for Paddy Kiernan in the early stages of the second half.

Leitrim tried hard to close the gap but whatever hopes they had of avoiding defeat were dashed when their midfielder Jack Gilheany was sent-off in the 53rd minute for a second yellow card offence. 

Andy Moran’s charges will be really fired up to make amends for the league defeat and got their Tailteann Cup campaign off to a good start with a hard earned 0-17 to 0-12 win over Waterford in Ballinamore on Saturday evening last. 

Pride of place in Longford GAA at this moment in time clearly rests with the magnificent U-17 footballers who showed remarkable spirit in battling back to beat Louth by a single point in a very exciting finish to the Leinster minor championship semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park last week. 

Under the driving force of their inspirational manager Enda McGahern, the Longford lads sprang a major shock when they defeated Dublin 3-8 to 1-9 in the group stage fixture at Allen Park and will be quietly confident of repeating that fabulous feat in the much eagerly awaited provincial final. 

Longford last reached the Leinster minor final back in 2015, losing out to Kildare at Croke Park, but were triumphant in 2002 (v Meath) and 2010 (v Offaly) at GAA headquarters with the county winning this prestigious competition for a fourth time

Tullamore is now the venue on a Monday night but the major prize is still the same. No matter what happens this talented team are guaranteed a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals on Saturday June 8th against the Ulster champions or runners-up.

Pictured is James Hagan (Clonguish) on the attack for Longford against Louth. Action from the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor (U-17) 'A' Football Championship semi-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Tuesday evening last week. Longford emerged victorious by a point, 0-11 to 0-10, in advancing to meet Dublin in the provincial title decider at O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Monday evening next, throw-in 7.30pm. LIVE on TG4

Photo: Syl Healy