LGFA: Rampant Longford in landslide win over London

It was all too easy in Ruislip as rampant Longford stayed on course for a place in the Ladies Football All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-finals unless Carlow score a major surprise win at home to Antrim in the last round this Sunday. 

Longford . . . 4-18   London . . . 0-3

While the Exiles’ ambitions had been extinguished by heavy defeats against Carlow and Antrim, Longford arrived at McGovern Park on Saturday evening last in a confident frame of mind knowing that victory would leave them well-placed to qualify from Group B. 

 Keen to assert themselves from the outset, Shauna Hagan opened the scoring for the visitors inside the opening minute with Kamille Burke adding the first of her goals soon after.

 Kamille didn’t have to wait too long for her second goal and with six minutes elapsed London already trailed by 2-2 to 0-0. 

Burke’s second major was a stunning strike which cannoned into the net via the far post. 

The main Longford threat was coming from full-forward Clodagh Lohan whose electrifying pace was proving a real handful for the London defence. 

Brian Farrell’s side took a commanding 2-8 to 0-0 lead into the break – an advantage which allowed them the luxury of making three changes. 

 Katie Crawford (2) and Sian Gallagher kept the scoreboard ticking over before London  finally opened their account in the 36th minute from a free converted by Emily Bartley.  

 Having been kept scoreless by Antrim in the previous round it was a score as welcome as it was impressive. 

Longford’s response was emphatic as Clodagh Lohan got a goal but back came London with Shauna Munnelly hooking the ball high over the bar.

 Sian Gallagher added Longford’s fourth goal in the 46th minute to make it 4-16 to 0-2. 

 Katie Crawford was denied a fifth Longford goal by a brilliant one-on-one save from opposing  keeper Hannah Dike-Lawlor and London were rewarded for keeping going right to the bitter end when Emily Phelan closed out the scoring with a well-taken point. 

 LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney; Grace Kenny, Leanne Keegan, Ailbhe Brady; Fumni Talabi, Aoife O’Brien, Ella Duggan; Sian Gallagher 1-2, Mairead Victory; Shauna Hagan 0-3, Katie Crawford 0-4, Ella O’Reilly; Kamille Burke 2-3 (0-2 freeS), Clodagh Lohan 1-4, Lauren McGuire 0-2 (1 free).

Subs:- Caoimhe McCormack for L Keegan (half-time); Petrina Carrigy for E O’Reilly (half-time), Ciara Mulligan for A O’Brien (half-time), Keeva Gillen for E Duggan (46 mins),  Riane McGrath for L McGuire (46 mins).

 LONDON: Hannah Dike-Lawlor; Orla Reilly, Leah Harrold, Katie Allenby; Edel Gray, Aislinn Nagle, Anne Spain; Erin Creedon, Caitlin Finnerty; Shauna Munnelly 0-1, Aoibhe Molloy, Ciara Flanagan; Emily Bartley 0-1f, Aoife Ryan, Michelle Harney-Nolan. 

Subs: - Ciara Cottrell for Gray (29 mins), Martha Jordan for Reilly (43 mins), Emily Phelan 0-1 for Bartley (43 mins), Emma Coombs for Flanagan (49 mins), Ellis Moran for Finnerty (49 mins). 

 Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).

The views of Longford manager Brian Farrell

Speaking following the landslide win over London, the Longford manager Brian Farrell said:  

“We came over with a job to do; we had to win here and hope that the result next weekend (Antrim v Carlow) goes our way, but we’ve done our part. 

 “I’m delighted we got the job done. We just hope Antrim can do us a favour. 

 “The girls have put in an awful amount of work this year. There’s been injuries, absentees, girls going away, but they’ll all over here (London) as a group.

  “We told them before the game, if you leave teams like London in games for long enough they’re going to build up confidence, so we had to go at them straight away. 

 “But even at the end, just because you’re that far ahead, we didn’t want to be kicking stupid shots which we didn’t for the most part. 

 “It was a very professional job. We got on top of them early and we kept the foot down. 

 “I’m delighted with the performance; I’m delighted with their attitude. Job done.”

Will you go to Antrim v Carlow game?
“I’ll be going to Carlow to watch it; I’m not sitting waiting for a result. I want to go down and watch it for myself.

What would reaching an All-Ireland semi-final mean?
“At the start of the year we probably couldn’t have hoped for this, but the girls have put in so much work they deserve this – and a lot more.
“When you get to a semi-final stage – if we get that far – you never know what can happen.

Will the Antrim-Carlow result change how you look at the 2025 campaign?
“Probably not. But then again you get to a semi-final, it’s on the day. You never know. You could end up in a semi-final and that’s another thing.
“We’re hoping to get to a semi-final, and if we do we’re going to give it absolutely everything. I know these girls will leave nothing on the pitch.”