Longford hurlers face Fermanagh in the battle for Lory Meagher Cup glory

The Longford senior hurlers will grace Croke Park this Sunday when they take on Fermanagh in the Lory Meagher Cup Final with the firm belief that a rare success can be achieved.

The Tier 5 Senior Championship title decider (LIVE on TG4 YouTube) is the curtain-raiser at GAA headquarters (throw-in 12.15pm) with the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard finals also on the programme and it is a major occasion for all involved. 

In his third third season in charge, Westmeath man Adrian Moran from the Ringtown club has assembled a strong squad as Longford seek Lory Meagher Cup glory in their fierce desire to make amends for the bitter disappointment of the defeat in the 2022 final against Louth. 

A massive addition is the acquisition of former Tipperary senior hurler Cian Darcy on the parentage rule and the extremely talented attacker is eligible to play for his adopted county as his mother Hilda (née Kiernan) is a Longford native. 

Winner of the man of the match award when he played a leading role in the All-Ireland Minor hurling title triumph for Tipperary back in 2016, Cian clocked up the impressive tally of 1-11 when he made his debut for Longford against Lancashire in the opening round of the current Lory Meagher Cup campaign. 

Deadly accurate from both frees and open play, Darcy has registered the magnificent total of 3-54 in the five group fixtures (averaging 12 points per game) and was particularly outstanding in the crunch clash against Cavan at Breffni Park when he fired over 16 points  (15 frees) in that vital victory. 

Darcy scored 1-10 in the subsequent draw against Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park a couple of weeks ago and this result was good enough for Longford to make it through to the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup final.

The counties will meet again in the title decider at Croke Park and on the evidence of the group clash there is little separating the sides in the intriguing battle for championship glory.

Relegated from the Nicky Rackard Cup last year, Fermanagh are a well balanced side who showed a lot of character and no shortage of spirit in wiping out a 9 point half-time deficit against Longford in the recent drawn encounter.

Powered by central defenders Ryan Bogue and Rory Porteous; midfielder Luca McCusker and prolific attackers Sean Corrigan, Caolan Duffy and Danann McKeogh, Fermanagh will be hard beaten and have enjoyed a good record against Longford in the recent past - coming out on top when the counties clashed in the 2022 National League Division 3B final in Carrick-on-Shannon. 

While Fermanagh suffered a surprise setback against Warwickshire in the 3B league final this season, let us not forget that it was the Birmingham based exiles who inflicted Longford’s only defeat in the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup Championship.

Cian Darcy will be very much a marked man in the match that really matters at Croke Park on Sunday but he will take some stopping such is his sheer quality at this level.

Established regulars on the Longford team are the Murray brothers Karl and Reuben along with Eamon Allen, Paddy Lynam, Cathal Mullane, David Buckley, Adam Quinn, Evan Tully and inspirational captain Johnny Casey and they will be going all out to make a big impact against Fermanagh.

Injury could possibly rule out livewire corner forward Micheal Mulcahy but the management team can call on the services of a couple of other useful newcomers in Joe Rabbitt and Oisin Gately.

Longford are well equipped to lift the Lory Meagher Cup for the third time in adding to their previous triumphs in 2010 and 2014 and it would be great to see our small county capture some more silverware in the aftermath of what the magnificent minor footballers have achieved in winning the Leinster Championship.   

The Longford line-out against Fermanagh in the recent draw (3-18 to 2-21) in the remaining fixture in the group stage of the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup:

 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).