Longford suffer second defeat as Sligo come out on top

Longford suffered their second defeat in Division 4 of the Ladies Football National League after slipping up against Sligo in the Round 4 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday.

Sligo . . . 2-8     Longford . . . 3-2

The result was a blow in the bid to reach the semi-finals and while Sligo were the stronger side, some of the decisions made by the match official infuriated Longford.

Dublin referee Greg O’Neill disallowed a point from a close range free converted by Aoife Darcy who was penalised for apparently stepping beyond the 13-metre mark at a crucial stage in the second half.

The furious Darcy was subsequently shown a yellow card for dissent in the 51st minute and Sligo stretched their lead to a comfortable five points after the accurate Lauren Normanly fired a free over the bar. 

The visitors were also reduced to 14 players when Rachel McGoldrick was dismissed for a yellow card foul in the 59th minute.

Another point (free) followed from Normanly as Sligo ended the game with 13 after Aoibheann Durcan was punished for stopping the impressive Sian Gallagher on another penetrating run. 

A penalty was awarded and up stepped Darcy to finish the ball to the net in the 8th minute of stoppage time but it came too late to salvage the situation.  

Sligo got off to a great start with a goal from McGoldrick and Longford had to wait until the 16th minute for their opening score when a fisted attempt from Gallagher was parried by the opposing keeper Ellen Maguire into the path of Kamille Burke who got a vital touch to raise the green flag.

The home county were finding the going tough and ended up trailing by 1-5 to 1-1 at half-time with the solitary point coming from a Aoife Darcy free in the 25th minute while three of the other Sligo scores were registered by the prominent Lauren Normanly with Ciara Gorman and Blaithin Lavin also on target. 

Longford produced a great move in the early stages of the second half which yielded a cracking goal from wing back Ailbhe Brady to close the gap to the minimum margin but Sligo hit back with a point from Sarah Feeney along with a terrific strike from Sinead Regan that ended up in the back of the net in the 40th minute.

Just before that decisive goal, Longford’s half-time replacement keeper Siobhan Egan produced a fine save to stop a shot from Sligo substitute Denise McGrath before Aoife Darcy converted another free in the 44th minute. 

But the midlanders under the guidance of their new manager Dave Lambert were fighting a losing battle and are facing another difficult task away to Offaly in Round 5 of the National League on Sunday next.

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney (Clonguish); Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers), Emma Doris (Killoe), Riane McGrath (Killoe); Ailbhe Brady (Mostrim, 1-0), Emma Farrell (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Casey McNamara (Carrickedmond); Sian Gallagher (St Brigid’s Gaels Ardagh), Shauna Hagan (Dromard); Aoife Nolan (Rathcline), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond), Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish); Edel Sheehy (Mullinalaghta), Kamille Burke (Clonguish, 1-0), Aoife Darcy (Clonguish, 1-2, goal from penalty, points from frees). 

Subs used (second half):- Siobhan Egan (Carrickedmond), Hannah Burke (Clonguish), Grace O’Donnell (Longford Slashers), Sarah Macken (Colmcille), Eileen Boyle (Ballymore), Aisling Scanlon (Mullinalaghta). 

SLIGO: Ellen Maguire; Cara King, Claire Dunne, Aoibheann Durcan; Tara Breheny, Ciara Walsh, Rachel McGoldrick (1-0); Sinead Regan (1-0), Sarah Cunney; Nisha McDonagh, Ciara Gorman (0-1), Sarah Feeney (0-1); Blaithin Lavin (0-1), Cora Gilligan, Lauren Normanly (0-5, 4 frees). 

Subs used (second half):- Denise McGrath, Ellen Giblin, Jade Gabbidon, Eabha Cawley. 

REFEREE: Greg O’Donnell (Dublin).