Longford hurlers make fine winning start against Warwickshire

Longford . . . 4-14    Warwickshire . . . 3-11

Minus a number of regulars, most notably their star man Cian Darcy,  Longford were in control for most of the match and had established a very commanding 14 points advantage (4-13 to 1-8) when Matthew Flynn put Evan Tully through for the fourth goal in the 53rd minute.

Warwickshire were very disappointing up until then but pushed on to dominate the final quarter of the contest and were given a glimmer of hope with a couple of goals in quick succession from Anthony Hands (56th minute) and their chief marksman Jack Grealish, the latter ending up with a total of 2-5. 

Matthew Flynn eased the pressure on Longford when he slotted over a vital point in the closing stages of the match and Cahill’s crew can now look forward with a certain degree of confidence to the away fixture against Fermanagh in Round 2 next Sunday in Kinawley (1pm), switched from Brewster Park in Enniskillen.  

Producing a determined display in showing the much greater urgency, the wind assisted home county led by 1-11 to 0-5 at the break with Reuben Murray firing over seven of the points (5 frees) in the first half and were well on the road to victory when Dylan Hutchinson scored a crucial goal with four minutes gone on the changeover. 

A big boost for Longford was the fortunate opening goal credited to newcomer Declan Hayes with the speculative long range strike from the Tipperary native fumbled over the line by the Warwickshire keeper Conor Cummins in the 31st minute.
That left the midlanders 1-10 to 0-4 ahead and the other points in the first half were scored by Niall Hawes (2), Evan Tully and Dan Crossan with Dylan Hutchinson missing a great chance of a goal in the 20th minute.
However, Hutchinson made amends when he found the net with a low shot in the early stages of the second half and two other goals followed from Ronan Courtney and Evan Tully to clinch a worthy win.
Reuben Murray added two more points to his impressive total (0-9) in the second half and there was a freshness about Longford which suggests that they could do well this season. 

LONGFORD: Joshua Callaghan (Clonguish Gaels); Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard), Oisin Gately (Clonguish Gaels), Kealan Cox (Longford Slashers); Declan Hayes (Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, 1-0), Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers), Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers); Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-9, 7 frees), Martin Farell (Blackrock); Dan Crossan (Clonguish Gaels, 0-1), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones, 1-1), Niall Hawes (Longford Slashers, 0-2); Ronan Courtney (Wolfe Tones, Mostrim, 1-0), Dylan Hutchinson (Wolfe Tones, Mostrim, 1-0), Killian Courtney (Wolfe Tones, Mostrim).

Subs:- Matthew Flynn (Clonguish Gaels, 0-1) for K Courtney (43 mins); Dylan Hennessy (Longford Slashers) for D Hutchinson (53 mins); Matthew Hawes (Longford Slashers) for D Crossan (60 mins); Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes) for N Hawes (66 mins); Gerry Moore (Clonguish Gaels) for D Caslin (70 mins). 

WARWICKSHIRE: Conor Cummins; Donal Griffin, Colm Shalvey, Matthew Keane; Oisin Slattery (0-1), Joe O’Connor, Diarmuid Cahill; Liam Fahy (0-2), Eoghan O’Sullivan; Daniel Doherty (0-1), Jack Grealish (2-5, points from 4 frees and 1 ‘65), Ian Dwyer (0-1); Luke Hands (0-1, free), Anthony Hands (1-0), Kevin Murphy.

Subs:- Eamon McWilliams for K Murphy (47 mins); Robbie Duggan for L Hands (47 mins); Colm Kavanagh for D Griffin (56 mins); Jack Hazley for I Dwyer (68 mins); Shane Prunty for A Hands (70 mins). 

Referee: Adam Kinahan (Offaly).