Longford crash to demoralising defeat against Wicklow

Wicklow . . .  2-15    Longford 0-12 

The new Longford senior football manager Mike Solan is still waiting for his first win in charge of the county who crashed to a demoralising  defeat against Wicklow in Aughrim on Sunday last.  

It was a shattering blow to the slim hopes of keeping alive their promotion hopes in Division 4 of the National      League  and the pressure is  on to restore some pride against bottom of the table Waterford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday  next, throw-in 2pm.  

Long serving  county goalkeeper Paddy Collum marked 100 League and Championship appearances for the Longford seniors by captaining the team against Wicklow. 

Just a couple of points (0-5 to 0-3) separated the sides when the Fr Manning Gaels netminder saved a penalty taken by Eoin Darcy in the 24th minute but the alert Christopher O’Brien latched on to the rebound to  score the crucial first goal .

Wicklow ended up in a commanding 1-10 to 0-6 lead at the break with four of the Longford scores coming from frees converted by Matthew Carey (including a two-pointer).

Oran Kenny landed the opening  point with Dessie Reynolds also on target in the first half but the home side could have been further ahead after a goal attempt hit the butt of the post in the early stages of the game. 

 Whatever chance Longford had of staging a dramatic comeback on the changeover were dashed when Joe Prendergast scored a killer second goal for Wicklow in the 44th minute.  

The visitors now trailed by 2-13 to 0-6  with their consolation scores during the remainder of the second half coming from Matthew Carey (2 frees), Dessie Reynolds, Aaron Farrell,  Iarla O’Sullivan and Jayson Mathews . 

It was a fine display by Wicklow with the counties clashing again in the opening round of the Leinster Championship at Pearse Park on Sunday April 6th. 

Making his senior debut for Longford was Mostrim defender Shane Campbell who was brought on late in the game. 

WICKLOW: C Fitzgerald, M Nolan, C Maguire, M Stone, J Prendergast (1-0), P O’Keane, T Moran, D Healy, P O’Toole (0-1) J Nolan (0-07, 2 tpf), C O’Brien (1-02), K Quinn (0-04, 4f), Andy Maher, Mark Kenny (0-01), Eoin Darcy

Subs:- C Deering for T Moran (43), G Fogarty for A Maher (45), M Ging for M Kenny (51), L O’ Neill for P O’ Toole (62), D Fee for C O’ Brien (65). 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum; Paddy Fox, Sean O’Sullivan, Bryan Masterson; James Moran, Ryan Moffett, Iarla O’Sullivan (0-1); Dessie Reynolds (0-2), Daire Duggan; Keelin McGann, Aaron Farrell (0-1), Jayson Matthews (0-1); Oran Kenny (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-6, 1tpf, 4f), Cathal McCabe.  

Subs:- Daniel Reynolds for K McGann (28 mins); Jack Macken for O Kenny (half-time); Oisin O’ Toole for S O’ Sullivan (41 mins); Darragh O’Connell for A Farrell (65 mins); Shane Campbell for I O’ Sullivan (67 mins): Cian Brady for Dessie Reynolds (72 mins). 

Referee: Eoin Morrissey (Waterford).