Longford hurlers master Monaghan in the build up to the championship

Longford . . . 3-15    Monaghan . . . 2-13

There was nothing at stake in this meaningless match and that was clearly reflected in a low key spectacle at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last.
The sparse attendance watched Longford end their National League Division 4 campaign on a winning note and it was all over as a contest at half-time as a much understrength Monaghan side trailed by 2-11 to 0-4.
It will probably be a different story when the counties clash again in the championship and the midlanders play their opening fixture in the Lory Meagher Cup against Lancashire on Saturday April 12.
Longford manager Diarmuid Cahill opted to rest a few regulars against Monaghan and the home county held a comfortable 1-8 to 0-3 lead after Killian Courtney pounced on the breaking ball to finish the ball in the net in the 25th minute.
Courtney was quick to react after a goal attempt from Evan Tully was well saved by the opposing keeper Hugh Byrne and Tully raced through to score a cracking second goal just before the break.
David Buckley got the third goal following a scramble in the 42nd minute to leave Longford in a commanding 3-11 to 0-6 lead but Monaghan stuck it out to the bitter end and their perseverance was rewarded with a couple of goals in quick succession late in the game.
A free from their chief marksman Niall Garland ended up in the back of the net in the 65th minute and moments later another green flag was raised as substitute Jack Guinan blasted the ball past the Longford keeper Johnny Maher.
Monaghan were reduced to 14 players when Leo Moloney received a black card in the 57th minute and were always fighting a losing battle.

Particularly prominent for Longford was one of the outsiders Martin Farrell who fired over a total of 5 points (all from play) and the newcomer is eligible to play due to the parentage rule but no longer part of the panel is last year’s star Cian Darcy who is sorely missed.

LONGFORD: Johnny Maher (Kilmacud Crokes); Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard), Oisin Gately (Clonguish Gaels), Kealan Cox (Longford Slashers); Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes); Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers, 0-3), Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-3, all frees); Niall Hawes (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Martin Farrell (Blackrock, 0-5), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones, 1-1); Killian Courtney (Wolfe Tones Mostrim, 1-0), David Buckley (Longford Slashers, 1-1), Michael Mulcahy (Longford Slashers).

Subs:- Matthew Hawes (Longford Slashers, 0-1) for K Courtney (30 mins); Dan Crossan (Clonguish Gaels) for N Hawes (45 mins); Dylan Hennessy (St Patrick’s, Limerick) for D Buckley (45 mins); Daire Regan (Longford Slashers) for E Tully (52 mins); Ciaran McNally (Wolfe Tones Mostrim) for M Mulcahy (56 mins).

MONAGHAN: Hugh Byrne; Aaron McGee, Aaron Kenny, Paudie Heavin; Declan Crowe (0-2), Leo Moloney (0-1, free), Oisin Hagan; Rowan McMahon, Conor Boyle; James Brady (0-3), Niall Garland (1-7, 6f), Emmet Walsh; Gareth Mohan, Ethan Flynn, Pauric Malone.

Subs:- Dylan McAree for H Byrne (half-time); Jack Guinan (1-0) for E Flynn (43 mins); Michael Lyons for G Mohan (69 mins); Oran Kiernan for P Malone (70 mins).   

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim).