Cavan cruise to commanding win over Longford

Cavan . . . 3-29   Longford . . . 3-17

The Longford senior hurlers found the going too tough against the superior Cavan side who cruised to a commanding win in the Lory Meagher Cup Round 4 championship clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last.
While the home county got off to a great start with a goal from Micheal Mulcahy in the early of the game, there was just no stopping Cavan when they clicked into top gear and it was all over as a contest the break with the rampant Ulster outfit in a runaway 3-20 to 1-10 lead.
Operating in a higher grade in Division 3 of the National League this season, the star of the show was outstanding attacker Liam O’Brien with the Waterford native clocking up the impressive total of 13 points (6 frees) during the course of this rather one-sided encounter.
Jack Barry, Eamon Og McAllister and Sean Keating scored the Cavan goals in the first half and this was a reality check for Longford who improved on the changeover in a determined bid to close the gap.
The first of a couple of consolation goals was the end result of a well-worked move with Joe Rabbit smacking the ball past the former Longford keeper Conor Gallagher in the 45th minute and another green flag was raised when substitute Ronan Courtney shot to the net in the 52nd minute.
The wide margin of 12 points separated the sides in the finish with Martin Farrell (0-9) the chief marksman for the midlanders who must now beat Monaghan away at the Inniskeen grounds in the remaining group fixture on Saturday (throw-in 2pm) to keep their title hopes alive.

That will determine who meets a strong New York side in the second placed play-off with Cavan through to the Lory Meagher Cup decider at Croke Park by virtue of their victory over Longford who were left to rue the shooting of six wides in the first half but were generally outclassed.

 LONGFORD: Johnny Maher (Kilmacud Crokes); Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes), Diarmaid Caslin (Longford Slashers); Kealan Cox (Longford Slashers), Karl Murray (Longford Slashers), Declan Hayes (Ballingarry, Tipperary, 0-1); Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers), Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-4, 2  frees, 1 ‘65); Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard, 1-1), Martin Farrell (Blackrock, Limerick, 0-9, 6 frees), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones); Alan Devine (Castlepollard, 0-1), David Buckley (Longford Slashers), Micheal Mulcahy (Longford Slashers, 1-1).

Subs:- Niall Hawes (Longford Slashers) for E Tully (injured, 16 mins); Ronan Courtney (Wolfe Tones, Mostrim, 1-0) for D Buckley (42 mins); Sean Tiernan (Longford Slashers) for K Cox (48 mins); Dan Crossan (Clonguish Gaels) for J Casey (63 mins); Matthew Hawes (Longford Slashers) for A Devine (65 mins).

CAVAN: Conor Gallagher; Matthew Hynes, Enda Shalvey, Shane Briody; Dillon Mulligan (0-1), Stephen Sheridan, Diarmaid Carney; Jack McGuinness (0-5) Canice Maher; Liam O’Brien (0-13, 6 frees), Eamon Og McAllister (1-2), Colum Sheanon; Nicholas Kenny (0-2), Sean Keating (1-3), Jack Barry (1-2).

Subs:- Daniel Martin (0-1) for D Carney (47 mins); Cillian Sheanon for M Hynes (54 mins); Tomas Leonard for E McAllister (59 mins); Rian Delaney for N Kenny (63 mins); Mark Moffett for J Barry (63 mins).

Referee: Conor Doyle (Tipperary).