Longford ladies cruise to a very easy win against weak Kilkenny

Longford . . . 2-18   Kilkenny . . . 0-2 

Far superior Longford cruised to a very easy win over Kilkenny, the undisputed weakest team in ladies football nationwide, in Round 2 of the Leinster Junior Championship at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last.
There was never any danger of the visitors making it a competitive clash in the third tier competition and that is the way things developed with the rampant home county building up a commanding 2-9 to 0-0 lead at the break.
Outclased Kilkenny registered a couple of consolation points late in the second half whereas Longford kept the scoreboard ticking over in adding another 0-9 to their emphatic tally in their quest for provincial glory,
Brian Farrell’s side will make it through to the Leinster final with a win (or a draw) away against Carlow in the remaining group fixture at the Centre of Excellence in Fenagh on Saturday (2pm) in the build up to the separate All-Ireland Junior Championship.
Qualified for the provincial decider are the title holders Louth, who withstood a determined Carlow comeback in holding out for a narrow two-point victory (5-8 to 2-21) in Drogheda.
The Longford mentors availed of the opportunity to make no less than six changes from the team that started against Louth in the opening round with Emily Reilly, Mairead Victory, Funmi Talabi, Aoife O’Brien, Petrina Carrigy and Riane McGrath all featuring in the first 15.
Longford got off to a great start with a goal from Clodagh Logan with three minutes gone in the game and the same player found the Kilkenny net again in the 21st minute to leave the girls in blue and gold in complete control.
Kilkenny’s first score did not materialise until the 53rd minute from a free converted by Louisa Gilmore.
Apart from the chief tormentor Clodagh Logan, another sharp attacker to figure prominently in the scoring stakes was Katie Crawford who fired over the impressive total of 6 points.
Ella O’Reilly and Kamille Burke (2 frees) shared 8 points between them and hopes are high that improving Longford can get the result they require against Carlow to reach the Leinster junior final against Louth.

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers), Emily Reilly (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim); Caoimhe McCormack (Carrickedmond), Mairead Victory (Mostrim, 0-1), Funmi Talabi (Mostrim); Sian Gallagher (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh, 0-1), Aoife O’Brien (Longford Slashers); Ella O’Reilly (Mullinlaghta, 0-4), Katie Crawford (Carrickemond, 0-6), Petrina Carrigy (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh); Riane McGrath (Killoe), Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 0-4, 2 frees), Clodagh Lohan (Longford Slashers, 2-1).

Subs (first half):  Emma Bleakley (Dromard) for C McCormack (22 mins). (second half):- Siobhan Egan (Carrickedmond) for A Cooney; Keeva Gillen (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh) for A Brady; Elena O'Reilly (Dromard) for C Lohan; Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond) for P Carrigy.  

 KILKENNY: Katie Fitzpatrick; Siadhbh Mooney, Ailbhe Galway, Riona Crowley;  Sarah Dunne, Leah Brett, Amy Ring; Ruth Crowley, Sarah Smith; Rionach Butler,   Jennifer Keefe, Louisa Gilmore (0-2, 1 free); Aoibhe Ryan, Laura McDowell,  Kate Purcell.