Longford SHC: Evan Tully earns Wolfe Tones another chance in the draw against Slashers

Wolfe Tones and Longford Slashers must meet again to determine the destination of the JJ Duignan Cup following the exciting draw in the Senior Hurling Championship Final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.  

Wolfe Tones Mostrim . . . 0-19  Longford Slashers . . . 2-13

A Micheal Mulcahy point in stoppage time looked to have won the title for Slashers but the gutsy Edgeworthstown outfit just refused to accept defeat and with virtually the last puck of the game a free converted by Evan Tully left the sides all square in the end.
Tully produced a man of the match performance to fire over a total of 14 points (12 frees) to earn Wolfe Tones a deserved second chance after letting a commanding lead slip from their grasp.
Minus the injured Karl Murray, Slashers were seven points behind in the closing stages of the first half but somehow ended up in front at the break (2-5 to 0-10) when they should have been in trouble following a poor first display. 

The Sky-Blues got right back in contention with a well struck goal from Darragh Caslin in the 29th minute and almost immediately Niall Hawes evaded the advancing Wolfe Tones keeper Micheal Savage to raise another green flag.

Wolfe Tones fell three points behind but boosted by the introduction of Cathal Mullane who was making his return following a long injury absence, the reigning champions survived in a real ding-dong battle and can thank the excellent Evan Tully for forcing a replay this Saturday, throw-in 4.15pm. 
The underdogs Wolfe Tones got off to a flying start to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 with Ronan Courtney and Evan Tully (3 frees) accounting for the early scores.
While Slashers got their opening score from a free converted by Reuben Murray in the 6th minute, the highly charged Mostrim side added another six points to their tally during the remainder of the first half - four from the deadly accurate Tully (3 frees).

Killian Courtney and Liam Browne were also on target while the other Slashers points in the first half came from Niall Hawes, a David Buckley brace (play and free) and Reuben Murray.

The goals from Darragh Caslin and Hawes in the space of a minute changed the direction of the title decider and the highlight of the second half was 7 more scores (six frees) from Evan Tully which included the equaliser and it must be said that Wolfe Tones deserved at least a draw.
Ronan and Killian Courtney added the other points while the 8 Slashers scores in the second half came from Johnny Casey, Micheal Mulcahy (2), Reuben Murray (2), David Buckley (2) and Sean Tiernan

And so the sides must meet again and another close encounter is probably in prospect in the fierce battle for the Duignan Cup.

WOLFE TONES MOSTRIM: Micheal Savage; Pierce McNally, Martin Coyle, Shane Fahy; Jack Belton, Adam Quinn, John Mulhern; James Connell, John Gaffney; Dylan Hutchison, Evan Tully (0-14, 12 frees), Maitiu O’Donoghue; Liam Browne (0-1), Ronan Courtney (0-2), Killian Courtney (0-2). 

Subs:- Cathal Mullane for L Browne (36 mins); Ciaran McNally for J Connell (60 mins). 

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Adam Murray; Kealan Cox, Stephen Oates, Finn Neary; John Murray, Daire Regan, Diarmuid Caslin; Johnny Casey (0-1), Harry Mulvihill; Darragh Caslin (1-0), Sean Tiernan (0-1, free), Reuben Murray (0-4, 3 frees); Micheal Mulcahy (0-2), David Buckley, (0-4, 1 free), Niall Hawes (1-1).

Subs:- Ronan Kelly for J Murray (49 mins); Matthew Hawes for N Hawes (stoppage time). 

Referee: James Clarke (Cavan).