Impressive Longford Slashers hurlers cruise to easy win over Wolfe Tones

Longford Slashers were in impressive form at Allen Park on Saturday evening as they comprehensively defeated the title holders Wolfe Tones by a 17-point margin in the opening round of the Senior Hurling Championship. 

Longford Slashers . . . 4-17    Wolfe Tones Mostrim . . . 1-9 

Two goals from Micheal Mulcahy, and one  each from Sean Tiernan and Stephen Murray, along with six points from Reuben Murray, guided Slashers to this emphatic victory as they produced brilliant hurling throughout the contest.

Wolfe Tones, who will get another chance against Clonguish Gaels, almost got off to a perfect start in the first minute but for a brilliant save from Slashers keeper Adam Murray. Martin Coyle superbly set-up Cillian Courtney who zoomed in on goal but his rasping effort produced a superb save from Murray with the rebound from John Mulhern deflected narrowly wide for a ‘65, which was converted by Dylan Hutchinson for the opening score.

Three Reuben Murray points, two from frees and an exquisite score from play fifty-five metres out on the left, gave Slashers a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes.

The teams then exchanged points with a Martin Coyle free for Wolfe Tones and a Mulcahy response for Slashers.

The Edgeworthstown keeper Maitiú O’Donohoe produced a fine save from a rasping low shot from David Buckley in the 11th minute after the Slashers forward had been set-up by Harry Mulvihill.

On the quarter-hour mark, Slashers were up by six points to three. Johnny Casey and Buckley slotted over points for Slashers with Ronan Courtney responding for the Mostrim side.

The lead could have been bigger only for O’Donohoe producing another fine save from Buckley after a brilliant move involving Tiernan and Reuben Murray.

Buckley, Mulcahy and Tiernan all landed points for Slashers between the 17th  and 21st minutes while Ronan Courtney and James Connell replied for Wolfe Tones in that period.

Three minutes later, Slashers were seven points clear after they found the back of the Tones net. A brilliant run and pass from Mulvihill sent Tiernan clear and he rifled the ball  to the roof of the net. .

Two Reuben Murray frees completed a brilliant last ten minutes of the first half for Slashers as they went in at half-time leading by eight points, 1-11 to 0-6, with Dylan Hutchinson converting a free for Wolfe Tones just before the break. 

Tiernan, and two Mulvihill points, increased the lead in the early stages of the second half before Wolfe Tones were denied what seemed a blatant penalty.  

A mesmerizing run from Ronan Courtney down the right which saw him run along the end-line towards goal but he was abruptly brought to a halt by a challenge from a Slashers defender which should probably have been punished with a penalty.

The reigning county champions battled back to score a goal and two points in a period that saw Buckley firing over Slashers solitary point. 

Evan Tully converted a long-range free, Cillian Courtney ran in behind the Slashers rearguard to catch a long ball to find the Slashers net in the 43rd minute and Hutchinson slotted over a free to leave seven points between the teams.

That was as good as it got for Wolfe Tones as an excellent Slashers side powered to victory with a very strong final quarter. 

Johnny Casey scored Slashers 16th  point in the 47th minute  and a minute later Stephen Murray’s clever lobbed shot over Wolfe Tones keeper Donohoe was cleared off the line by defender Ciaran McNally.

Micheal Mulcahy raised the green flag for Slashers in the 50th minute with a fine finish while Evan Tully and Reuben Murray exchanged frees to leave the Slashers lead at 2-17 to 1-9.

Wolfe Tones almost scored a second goal in the 56th minute but Adam Murray produced an excellent save from a Micheál Savage strike.

In the 59th minute Mulcahy registered his second goal and Slashers third when a Stephen Murray shot from the right was spilled by keeper O’Donohoe and Mulcahy pounced to fire in the loose ball from close range.

The impressive substitute Stephen Murray scored Slashers fourth goal in stoppage time as he flicked a long ball from Casey over the Wolfe Tones keeper to the net.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Adam Murray; Coilin Regan, Stephen Oates, Kealan Cox; John Murray, Daire Regan, Diarmuid Caslin; Reuben Murray (0-06, 5 frees), Johnny Casey (0-2); Darragh Caslin, Harry Mulvihill (0-2), Sean Tiernan (1-2); Micheal Mulcahy (2-2), David Buckley (0-3), Niall Hawes.

Subs:- Rory Maher for C Regan (19 mins); Ronan Kelly for Maher (32 mins); Stephen Murray (1-0) for N Hawes, Paul Leonard for Darragh Caslin (both 42 mins); Matthew Hawes for S Tiernan (53 minutes).

WOLFE TONES: Maitiú O’Donohoe; Ciaran McNally, Micheál Savage, Pearse McNally; Adam Quinn, Evan Tully (0-2, frees), Liam Browne; Dylan Hutchinson (0-03, 1 ‘65’, 2 frees), James Connell (0-1); Adam Connaughton, Martin Coyle (0-1, free), Shane Fahy; Cillian Courtney (1-0), John Mulhern, Ronan Courtney (0-2).

Subs:- John Gaffney for S Fahy (42 mins); Ali Iqbal for R Courtney (51 mins); Ronan Collum for A Connaughton (58 mins).

Referee: John Emmo (Cavan).