Longford LGFA SFC: Dominant Slashers score comprehensive win over Clonguish

Reigning champions Longford Slashers made it two wins out of two with this comprehensive success against Clonguish at Michael Fay Park on Sunday morning last.  

Longford Slashers . . . 3-12   Clonguish . . . 1-10

Slashers, who are chasing seven senior titles in a row this year, were not tested by the side who have pushed them the closest during their remarkable spell of dominance.
Clonguish were missing players due to injury but they will be disappointed with their performance.
Slashers were in control throughout. Clonguish brought their trademark hard work to the table but they lacked a cutting edge in attack.
Two sin-binnings were also costly for Colly Clarke’s side. County and DCU star Clodagh Lohan tormented Clonguish, finishing with 2-3.
Kate Shannon fired over five points (one free) in the first half in an excellent display of shooting.
On the evidence of this display, Slashers will be extremely hard beaten.
They are a slick attacking outfit but this is backboned by very solid defensive work.
Like many successful teams, they do the simple things well and then look to players such as Grace Shannon and Clodagh Lohan to provide that bit of magic.
Grace dominated midfield with a powerful display and chipped in with two points (one free).
Slashers had built up a 1-3 to 0-1 lead by the 14th minute. The goal came from Kara Shannon, who finished clinically.
The second Slashers goal followed two minutes later. Clodagh Lohan went on one of her trademark runs before burying the ball to the net.
Clonguish were denied twice by the uprights before Aoife Darcy pointed a free. Ali Magan found the net in the 24th minute for Clonguish with a well taken goal.
Slashers led by 2-4 to 1-2 but Clonguish could at last point to some green shoots.
Sophia Carey sent over a point in the 26th minute and the talented youngster was one of her side’s better players, finishing with three points.
Clonguish were denied by the crossbar in the 29th minute from Ella Jackson’s shot.
Clonguish then lost county forward Kamille Burke to the sin bin in the 30th minute, following a high challenge.
Caoimhe Lohan was on target with a point to give the home side a 2-7 to 1-3 half-time lead.
Points from Ciara Healy and Sophia Carey in the early stages of the second half left Clonguish five points behind.
Clonguish fashioned a goal chance in the 39th minute. The returned Kamille Burke fed Katelyn McKeon but McKeon opted to take the point instead.
Sophie Carey was on target again for Clonguish in the 41st minute but Slashers replied with a Caoimhe Lohan point in the 43rd minute.
Ella Duggan pointed for Clonguish in the 45th minute to leave her side five points behind (2-10 to 0-8).
Clonguish lost another player to the sin bin when Shauna Burke saw yellow for a foul on Clodagh Lohan.
Their fate was sealed when Clodagh Lohan struck for her second goal in the 51st minute. Grace Shannon’s shot came off the crossbar and Lohan made no mistake from the rebound.
Slashers were now 3-10 to 1-9 ahead and were well on their way to taking the points.
Further points followed from Clodagh Lohan and an excellent long-range score from Grace Shannon.
Clonguish had a Kamille Burke goal disallowed and an Aoife Darcy free was their last score.
Darcy was lively throughout, but overall Clonguish attacks were laboured compared to the pace in which Slashers moved the ball up the field.
Niamh Sheridan wore No.15 for Ciaran Farrell’s side but she was very effective from a deep role.
Slashers could call on the experience of Aoife O’Brien, Clare Farrell and Gemma Reilly as half-time substitutes.
Clonguish have certainly more potential and they will be keen to make life much harder for Slashers, if as expected, the sides meet at the business end (the top four sides contest the semi-finals).
Ciara Sutton and Megan Glennon worked hard in defence for them and the Burke sisters in attack posed questions for the Slashers defence.
For now, at least, the Alison Smyth Cup rests safely in Slashers possession.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Emer Casey; Laura Kenny, Grace Kenny, Emily Reilly; Hanna Farrell, Eimear O’Brien, Orla Nevin; Grace O’Donnell, Grace Shannon (0-2, 1f); Kara Shannon (1-0), Caoimhe Lohan (0-2), Lara O’Connor; Kate Shannon (0-5, 1f), Clodagh Lohan (2-3), Niamh Sheridan.

Subs:- Gemma Reilly for Laura Kenny, Clare Farrell for Hanna Farrell, Aoife O’Brien for Lara O’Connor (all half-time), Maya O’Toole for Emily Reilly (56 mins).

CLONGUISH: Aoife Cooney; Ciara Sutton, Shauna Burke, Maria Kelleher; Megan Glennon, Aoife Magan, Sophia Carey (0-3); Ali Magan (1-0), Ella Duggan (0-1); Shauna Madden, Aoife Darcy (0-4, 3f), Katelyn McKeon (0-1); Ella Jackson, Kamille Burke, Hannah Burke.

Subs:- Ciara Healy (0-1) for Shauna Madden (injured, 20 mins), Madden for Ali Magan (blood sub, 44 mins), Ali Magan back on for Madden (50 mins).

Referee: Joe McDermott (Grattan Og).