Revitalised Longford storm to tremendous win over Antrim

Longford produced one of the most emphatic and progressive displays of the Mike Solan era to record their second win on the trot in Division 4 of the National Football League, overwhelming Antrim with a blistering attacking performance in Roger Casements GAA club, Portglenone on Sunday last. 

Longford . . . 1-27     Antrim . . . 1-14 

Played in picturesque surroundings on the banks of the River Bann, close to Seamus Heaney’s homeplace, this was a performance that will surely build confidence in this young side who will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run when they take on Tipperary at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Sunday, throw-in 2pm. 

With the Portglenone pitch bordered by a graveyard, Seamus Heaney’s ‘The Cure at Troy’ felt an apt reference point. Early in the poem he writes that “history says, don’t hope on this side of the grave.” Longford arrived as 3/1 outsiders, but this was a performance that ignored such warnings — and one that may yet justify Heaney’s later promise that “a further shore is reachable from here.”

The headline statistic tells its own story. Longford’s forwards delivered a remarkable 0-19 in the first half — the county’s highest ever scoring return in a single period — powered by six two-pointers in a devastating exhibition of modern attacking football. Longford demonstrated a previously unseen clinical edge in front of goal with the aid of the breeze on their backs.

Oran Kenny set the tone early and finished with six superb points from play, including two outstanding efforts from beyond the arc. His movement and accuracy repeatedly stretched the Antrim defence and laid the foundation for Longford’s early dominance. 

Yet even Kenny’s contribution was ultimately surpassed by a sensational individual tally from Matthew Carey. The Clonguish sharpshooter amassed 1-9 over the hour — the highest individual score by a Longford player in 16 years, since Frankie McGee’s famous 2-10 against Kilkenny. Carey’s haul included a brace of two-point frees and a calmly converted second-half penalty that extinguished any lingering Antrim resistance.

The visitors had opened the scoring through Adam Loughran, but Longford quickly seized control. Kenny’s early two-pointer ignited a scoring surge that never truly relented. Ryan McQuillan and Loughran tried to keep Antrim in touch - Loughran’s first-half goal briefly narrowed the gap -  but Longford’s response was immediate and clinical.

 Dessie Reynolds added a magnificent two-pointer, Carey continued to punish infringements, and Daniel Reynolds chipped in with a series of well-taken scores as Longford built an imposing 0-19 to 1-4 half-time advantage.

The second half followed a more measured pattern, though Longford never allowed their grip to loosen. Daniel Reynolds added two more from play to finish with four in total, while his brother Dessie Reynolds again balanced defensive assurance with attacking ambition, contributing another effort after a terrific exchange with his younger brother.

Joseph Hagan, making his first start, grew steadily into the contest and typified Longford’s youthful energy with an industrious all-action display that yielded two well-earned second-half scores.

 Cathal McCabe also made an immediate impact off the bench, firing over twice in the closing stages to underline the strength in depth developing within the panel.

At midfield, two of the newer faces delivered encouraging performances. Liam Glennon produced a composed and well-rounded display, rewarded with a fine point, while Ronan Sweeney impressed before injury forced his withdrawal after 40 minutes.

 His departure will concern management given his previous struggles with injuries, but his presence has already had a noticeable structural impact. With Sweeney partnering Glennon, Longford’s kickout platform — an area that had been problematic since Darren Gallagher’s retirement — has shown marked improvement.

That stability has allowed Oisin O’Toole to return to centre half-back, where the Dromard man delivered another commanding defensive display. Behind him, keeper Eoin McGuinness was steady throughout and produced a crucial second half save from Eoghan McCabe that halted any prospect of an Antrim revival.

Manager Mike Solan also cleared his bench, handing National League debuts to Niall Farrelly and Ronan Bleakley — the seventh and eighth Longford players to debut in the competition this season. It is a remarkable indicator of just how youthful this squad has become, arguably one of the youngest in the country, yet one that is visibly growing in confidence with each outing.

With three of their remaining four fixtures at home and only a short trip to Carrick-on-Shannon ahead, momentum is building. Longford will take each game as it comes, but on this evidence they will do so with increasing assurance - and absolutely no fear.

ANTRIM: John McNabb; James McAuley, Joseph Finnegan, Kavan Keenan; Eoghan McCabe, James Lenehan (0-1) , Marc Jordan; Paddy McAleer, Cathal Hynds; Conor Hand, Niall Burns (0-1), Oisin Doherty; Ryan McQuillan (0-3), Adam Loughran (1-2), Dominic McEnhill (0-1f)

Subs:- Pat Shivers 0-4 (2tpf) for C Hand (39 mins); Sean O’Neill for O Doherty (29 mins); Ryan Murray (0-2) for R McQuillan (47 mins), Kevin Small for C Hynds (52 mins); Ruairi Hagan for J  Lenehan (55 mins).

LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s), Ryan Moffett (Killoe Emmet Og), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-3, 1 two-pointer); Liam Glennon (Carrickedmond, 0-1), Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish); James Moran (Killoe Emmet Og), Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 1-9, goal from penalty, 2tpf, 1tp, 2f), Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-4); Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-2), Paddy Moran (Killoe Emmet Og), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-6, 2tp).

 Subs:- Cian Brady (Abbeylara) for R Sweeney (injured, 40 mins); Matthew Flynn (Clonguish) for J Moran (55 mins); Cathal McCabe (Colmcille, 0-2) for P Moran (60 mins); Niall Farrelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for Dessie Reynolds (68 mins); Ronan Bleakley (Dromard) for Oisin O’Toole (69 mins).

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).