Superior Antrim shatter Longford with four first half goals

Antrim . . . 4-15    Longford . . . 0-5

Understrength Longford found the going far too tough against the title favourites Antrim in the opening round of the Ladies Football All-Ireland Junior Championship watched by a sparse attendance at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last.
With the advantage of the stiff wind, superior Antrim built up a commanding 4-7 to 0-4 lead at the break and there was no way back for Longford who were fuming when a free out should have been awarded for overcarrying in the move that led directly to Nicola Jones scoring a killer second goal in the 25th minute.
Moments later lethal corner-forward Maria O’Neill raised another green flag for the visitors and the home county sorely missed the absence of Sian Gallagher (exams), Caoimhe McCormack (unavailable) and injured captain Eimear O’Brien from the selected team that was published on the match programme.
Three of Longford’s total of 5 points were registered by Clodagh Lohan with Kamille Burke and Lauren McGuire (free) also on target for the midlanders who are now facing a must win match at home to Carlow in Round 2 of the championship on Sunday June 15 to keep alive their hopes of reaching the All-Ireland Junior semi-finals.
Trailing by 0-4 to 0-0 in the early stages of the game in the face of a strong and slick Antrim attack, the first score for Longford materialised when Clodagh Lohan, a constant threat at full-forward, landed a point when a goal was there for the taking in the 11th minute.
The Ulster girls, after hitting the crossbar, were then awarded a penalty with Bronagh Devlin blasting the kick over the bar midway through the first half before a goal eventually materialised moments later with a rasping shot from Maria O’Neill hitting the target.
There was then a brief revival from Longford with a point apiece from Lohan and Kamille Burke to leave the scoreline at 1-5 to 0-3 but Antrim then took complete control to register 3-2 during the remainder of the first half.
Longford’s solitary response came from a free converted by Lauren McGuire approaching the break and Lohan was on the mark again with a couple of minutes gone on the changeover for what proved to be the only score in the second half for the outclassed home county.
Antrim added another 8 points to their most emphatic tally and will be extremely difficult to beat in the battle for the All-Ireland Junior title.

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers), Leanne Keegan (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim); Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish), Emily Reilly (Longford Slashers), Ella Duggan (Clonguish); Aoife O’Brien (Longford Slashers), Shauna Hagan (Dromard); Ella O’Reilly (Mullinalaghta), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond), Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond); Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 0-1), Clodagh Lohan (Longford Slashers, 0-3), Lauren McGuire (Carrickedmond, 0-1, free).

Subs:- Funmi Talabi (Mostrim) for K Crawford (injured, 38 mins); Petrina Carrigy (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh) for C Mulligan (47 mins); Riane McGrath (Killoe) for Ella O’Reilly (53 mins); Emma Bleakley (Dromard) for E Duggan (53 mins); Keeva Gillen (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh) for L Keegan (injured, 55 mins).

ANTRIM: Aine Devlin; Niamh McIntosh, Maeve Blaney, Meave Mulholland; Sarah O’Neill, Ciara Brown, Carla McKenna; Ana Mulholland (0-2), Aine Tubridy; Theresa Mellon (0-4), Omolara Dahunsi (0-2), Aoife Kelly; Bronagh Devlin (0-1, penalty), Nicola Jones (2-0), Maria O’Neill (2-4, 3 frees).

Subs:- Aoife Turley for N Jones (45 mins); Luisne Adams (0-1) for A Kelly (47 mins); Gemma McGroarty for A Tubridy (51 mins); Blaithin Nic Cathail for B Devlin (51 mins); Debbie Boyd (0-1) for Omolara Dahunsi (54 mins). 

Referee: Anthony Campbell (Derry).