Longford hurlers hold out for a draw against Fermanagh to reach the Lory Meagher Cup Final

Longford . . .  3-18  Fermanagh . . . 2-21

After building up a commanding nine points lead (3-11 to 1-8) at the break, the Longford senior hurlers were under a lot of pressure in the second half as a fired up Fermanagh side came storming back to snatch a draw in a tense and exciting thriller at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last.  

This result in the remaining group fixture was good enough to get Longford a place in the Lory Meagher Cup Final at Croke Park on Sunday June 2, ahead of Cavan on the head-to-head regulation after the neighbours finished on the same number of points in the table. 

That excellent win at Breffni Park the previous week proved to be a decisive factor and the midlanders will now face Fermanagh again in the quest to win this Senior Championship title for the first time since 2014.

The loyal home supporters were very relieved indeed to hear the sound of the final whistle on Saturday and the success starved county hurlers are just a step away from lifting the Lory Meagher Cup at GAA headquarters in a couple of weeks time.

Former Tipperary senior hurler Cian Darcy is making a major difference since he played his first game for Longford against Lancashire in the opening round of the Tier 5 competition on April 13th and he produced another man of the match display in clocking up the fantastic  total of 1-11 (five scores from play).

With suspended manager Adrian Moran watching the game from the press box, Longford made a brilliant start to race into a 2-3 to 0-1 lead with just six minutes gone in the game.

Cracking goals from David Buckley and Ronan Courtney propelled Longford into control and they ended up in a strong position at half-time with Darcy also finding the back of the Fermanagh net following a terrific catch and shot in the 26th minute.

Darcy registered five points (3 frees) in the first half while Reuben Murray, Evan Tully, Oisin Gately (2), Buckley and Paddy Lynam also shot over the bar with the impressive home side on top in most positions on the pitch.

Fermanagh were given a glimmer of hope with a goal from Tom Keenan in the closing stages of the first half but they were a completely different proposition in outscoring Longford by 1-13 to 0-7 in the second half of this action packed marvellous match.

Longford would surely have lost but for the quality of Cian Darcy who fired over five more super points (three from open play) on the changeover with Cathal Mullane and Joe Rabbitt also getting their names on the scoresheet.

The gap was closed to the minimum of margins when Fermanagh substitute Cahir McManus scored a goal in the 66th minute and the equaliser materialised at the end of normal time when another replacement Daniel Teague landed a point in a nerve-wracking frantic finish. 

LONGFORD: Pat Burke (Ringtown, Westmeath); Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers, captain), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes), Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard); Adam Quinn (Wolfe Tones Mostrim), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones); Paddy Lynam (Oliver Plunketts Mullingar, 0-1), Cathal Mullane (Wolfe Tones, 0-1); Oisin Gately (Clonguish Gaels, 0-2), David Buckley (Longford Slashers, 1-2), Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard, 0-1); Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Cian Darcy (Kilruane McDonagh’s, Co Tipperary, 1-10, 4  frees, 1 ‘65’), Ronan Courtney (Mostrim, 1-0). 

Subs:- Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers) for E Tully (50 mins); Darragh Caslin (Longford Slashers) for R Courtney (68 mins).

FERMANAGH: Chris McKernan; Dylan Bannon, Rory Porteous, Ciaran Duffy; Aidan Flanagan, Ryan Bogue, Odhran Johnston; Luca McCusker (0-2), Jimmy Tormey (0-1); Tom Keenan (1-0), Caolan Duffy (0-3), Barry McPhillips; Sean Corrigan (0-5), Danann McKeogh (0-5, 1 free, 1 ‘65), Brian Teehan (0-2).

Subs:- John Paul McGarry (0-1) for J Tormey (38 mins); Daniel Teague (0-2) for B McPhillips (38 mins); Cahir McManus (1-0) for T Keenan (60 mins); John Duffy for S Corrigan (stoppage time). 

Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).