Rampant Clonguish cruise to impressive win over Longford Slashers

There was just no stopping the rampant Clonguish side who cruised to a most emphatic 14-point win over Longford Slashers in Round 1 of the Senior Football Championship at Emmet Park in Killoe on Friday night last. 

Clonguish . . . 0-28  Longford Slashers . . . 2-8

It was impressive stuff from the Division 1 and Leader Cup champions in their quest to complete the clean sweep of the senior titles this season and the player of the match was the deadly accurate Michael Flynn.
The flying full-forward Flynn clocked up the grand total of 11 points which included a couple of two-pointers (play and free) with Matthew Carey (0-7) also much to the fore up front for the serious Connolly Cup contenders.
Carey converted a brace of two pointers (play) and this new rule is working well for Clonguish who had established a comfortable 0-14 to 2-2 advantage at the break with regular centre-half-back Andrew Flynn their most notable absentee.
While Slashers side managed to stay in touch somewhat with a goal from a Robbie Clarke penalty in the 20th minute with Ronan Sheahan (junior) also finding the back of the net from a fine finish in the 28th minute, Clonguish pulled right away in the second half in adding another 14 points to their outstanding tally.
Injuries to Robbie O’Connell and second half substitute Tadhg McNevin are a clear cause of concern for Slashers boss Conor Clarke but his team will be expected to get back on track when they meet Fr Manning Gaels in the Round 2 clash at Allen Park this Friday night, throw-in 8pm.
It could have been worse for the sky-blues against Clonguish but for a couple of point-blank saves by their keeper Eoin McGuinness while Paddy Duggan blocked a goal attempt from the inrushing Jack Duggan whose pace was posing plenty of problems for the under-pressure opposing defence.
The highlight of the first half was a brilliantly struck tight angle two-pointer from Michael Flynn in the early stages of this one-sided encounter while Peter Hanley, Jamie Dorr and the dangerous Duggan were also on target for Clonguish.
The opening Slashers scores came from a free converted by Robbie Clarke in the 8th minute while Robbie O’Connell also shot over the bar.
While Slashers made a bright start to the second half with a point from Sean Tiernan in the opening minute, they were then guilty of shooting a few bad wides and it was all too easy for commanding Clonguish with James Hagan, Chris Gordon, Cormac Flynn and prominent wing back Matthew Flynn also getting their names on the scoresheet.
Cormac was denied a goal when his rasping shot hit the crossbar in the 51st minute and Clonguish will be in a confident frame of mind for their next game in the group stage against Mullinalaghta in Monaduff this Saturday evening, throw-in 7pm.

CLONGUISH: Joe O’Brien; Ross Shields, Conor Flynn, Mark Cooney; Alan Mimnagh, Ronan Sweeney, Matthew Flynn (0-2); Jack Duggan (0-3), Peter Hanley (0-1); Chris Gordon (0-1), Matthew Carey (0-7, 2 two pointers), Jamie Dorr (0-1); James Hagan (0-1), Michael Flynn (0-11, 2 two pointers (play and free), 4 frees), Cormac Flynn (0-1).

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Eoin McGuinness; Paddy Duggan, Ronan Sheahan (senior), Ronan Kenny; Robbie O’Connell (0-1), Peter Lynn, Diarmuid Boylan; Daire O’Brien, Sean Morgan; James Shannon, Darragh O’Connell, Diarmuid Sheahan (0-2, 1 free); Sean Tiernan (0-1), Robbie Clarke 1-3, goal from penalty, points from frees), Ronan Sheahan (1-1).

Subs:- Sean Clarke for R O’Connell (injured, 14 mins); Tadhg McNevin and Ruairi Clarke for J Shannon and S Tiernan (39 mins); Micheal Mulcahy for D Boylan (42 mins); Adrian Duffy for T McNevin (injured, 50 mins). 

Referee: Joe McDermott (Young Grattans).