No stopping unbeaten Rathcline in the easy win over Longford Slashers

Rathcline cruised to their fourth victory in the Senior Football Championship against a very disappointing Longford Slashers side in the Group B clash at Michael Moran Park on Sunday. 

Rathcline . . . 1-18  Longford Slashers . . . 0-6  

Rathcline had not beaten Longford Slashers since their return to the senior championship in 2019 and fell to a 16 point hammering last time they duo met in the 2022 quarter-final. The tables have most certainly turned with the Lanesboro outfit inflicting a 15 point heavy defeat on the sky-blues. 

Once again, Oran and Shane Kenny led the scoring but it would be remiss to not mention the stars across this Rathcline team who are playing with supreme confidence. They clearly possess the two most in form forwards in the county at present but the Shannonsiders are the only team in the top grade this year not to have conceded a goal.

 Rathcline are an extremely well structured outfit with the towering David Mulvihill a very steady goalkeeper and also is very likely to deny a point or two a game from going over the crossbar.

Kevin Tansey, who regularly operated at the opposite end of the field, is proving to be a tenacious man marker alongside the solid full back Jakub Kajan. Rathcline have also reintroduced Blaine Fallon to the starting line up and he adds an experienced edge to the defence.

Seadhna Ryan, who was often positioned as a sweeper on Longford underage teams, takes up his post at right half back and is in fine form parallel to Harvey Myhill.

Kian Gilmore was a very promising county defender and looks to be back to his best at half forward on this team and put in his best championship display to date with 1-2 on Sunday. His first goal of the season accompanied 10 points shared by Shane and Oran Kenny who were unmarkable inside.

Longford Slashers opened the scoring from the throw-in through Paddy Duggan but could only manage two further scores in the first half through Robbie Clarke and Diarmuid Sheahan frees.

 Conor Clarke’s side were completely overwhelmed at midfield with Garth O’Reilly, Bryn Peters and Michael Morrissey impressing for Gareth Johnston’s charges who led 1-10 to 0-3 at the break.

Sluggish Slashers could only mirror their first half tally in the second period with 3 more scores through Darragh O’Connell and Robbie Clarke (2). 

Shane Kenny blasted the only two pointer of the game from the deck while Oran increased his personal tally to 9 points with two excellent scores. Kian Gilmore, Seadhna Ryan and Bryn Peters pointed the rest for Rathcline who continue to defy the expectations.

RATHCLINE: David Mulvihill; Blaine Fallon, Jakub Kajan, Kevin Tansey; Seadhna Ryan (0-1), Iarla O’Sullivan, Harvey Myhill; Michael Morrissey, Bryn Peters (0-1); Garth O’Reilly, David Rooney, Oisin Kenny; Kian Gilmore (1-2), Shane Kenny (0-5, 1 two pointer free), Oran Kenny (0-9, 3f). 

Subs used:- Cronan Flood, Matthew Heneghan, Chris Brady, James Carroll, Shane Donohoe.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Eoin McGuinness; Ronan Kenny, Ronan Sheahan (senior), Diarmuid Boylan; Sean Clarke, Peter Lynn, Paddy Duggan (0-1); Daire O’Brien, Adrian Duffy; Robbie O’Connell, Darragh O’Connell (0-1), Diarmuid Sheahan (0-1, f), Sean Tiernan, Robert Clarke (0-3, 2f), Ruairi Clarke.

 Subs used:- Ronan Sheehan, Frank McKiernan, Shane O’Connell, Cian McGuinness, James Shannon.

Referee: David Tiernan (Ardagh Moydow).