First half goals shatter Longford in disappointing defeat against Limerick

Limerick . . . 4-9    Longford . . . 1-11

While Billy O’Loughlin’s side did stage a determined comeback on the changeover the midlanders were left to rue a poor first half performance and will have to improve if they hope to beat Louth in the so crucial Round 2 fixture at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next, February 6.   

Limerick had 1-2 scored after just five minutes, all from midfielder Cillian Fahy, before Longford opened their account in the ninth minute when Oran Kenny converted a mark after debutant Aaron Farrell had missed a goal chance.  

After the early scores Limerick then went 10 minutes without a score until Padraig de Brun pointed for a 1-3 to 0-2 lead with defender Barry O’Farrell getting the second Longford point. 

James Naughton went close to another goal but Limerick did extend their lead when Hugh Bourke lofted over a score after another flowing move.

When Fahy kicked another point, Limerick were 1-5 to 0-4 clear on 20 minutes with Joseph Hagan and Darren Gallagher (free) on target for Longford. 

The gap was closed when Jayson Matthews shot over the bar but Limerick then struck to score two more goals through centre-half-forward Brian Donovan. Both were delightful flowing moves, full of support running from the rampant home side. 

On 25 minutes, Donovan finished to the net after Peter Nash and Fahy had assisted. Then on 30 minutes, he raced in behind the defence and onto a perfectly floated pass from Bourke to again beat the Longford keeper Paddy Collum. 

Longford finished the first half with second scores for both Gallagher (free) and Matthews as Limerick held a commanding seven point lead at the break, 3-5 to 0-7. 

Longford made two substitutions in their attack at half-time, bringing on Darragh Doherty and Robbie Smyth, with Michael Quinn reverting to centre-half-back after starting at centre-half-forward. 

The scores dried up on the changeover with just a point each in the opening 10 minutes of the second half - Josh Ryan with the Limerick score from a free while Doherty replied for Longford. 

James Naughton and Joseph Hagan then exchanged points as Limerick were still seven points clear with 20 minutes to play.

Goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan and corner-back Jim Liston then came to the rescue for Limerick with two goal-line clearances from Oran Kenny and Doherty efforts as Longford went in search of a badly needed goal.

Limerick were also saved by the crossbar in the 60th minute  when Jayson Matthews' goalbound drive crashed back into play while just before that close call Robbie Smyth shot over the bar when a goal was there for the taking. 

Longford eventually found the back of the Limerick net when Darragh Doherty brilliantly punched a goal in the first of five minutes of injury time to cut the gap to just two points.

Robbie Bourke settled Limerick nerves with a fine point in reply and the fourth Limerick goal materialised in the fifth minute of stoppage time when James Naughton finished the ball to the Longford net. 

SCORERS: Limerick: Brian Donovan 2-1, Cillian Fahy 1-3, James Naughton 1-1, Padraig de Brun, Hugh Bourke, Josh Ryan (free) and Robbie Bourke 0-1 each. 

SCORERS: Longford: Darragh Doherty (1-2, one free); Joseph Hagan, Darren Gallagher (frees) and Jayson Matthews (0-2 each); Oran Kenny (mark), Barry O'Farrell and Robbie Smyth 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Donal O'Sullivan; Jim Liston, Sean O’Dea, Michael Donovan; Cian Sheehan, Iain Corbett, Bob Childs; Darragh Treacy, Cillian Fahy; Pádraig de Brún, Brian Donovan, James Naughton; Peter Nash, Josh Ryan, Hugh Bourke.

Subs:- Paul Maher for M Donovan (injured, 5 mins); Adrian Enright  for P de Brun (injured, 42 mins);  Robbie Burke for J Ryan (60 mins); Tony McCarthy for B Childs (injured, 60 mins); Diarmaid Kelly for P Nash (62 mins).

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); James Moran (Killoe), Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Darren Gallagher (Granard), Ryan Moffett (Killoe); Aaron Farrell (Dromard), Michael Quinn (Killoe), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s); Joseph Hagan (Dromard), Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta), Oran Kenny (Rathcline). 

Subs:- Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara) and Darragh Doherty (Mostrim) for Aaron Farrell and P Lynn (half-time); Keelin McGann (Kenagh) for J Hagan (46 mins); Tadhg McNevin (Longford Slashers) for D Gallagher (injured, 52 mins); Ross McNerney (Dromard) for O Kenny (60 mins); Cian Dooner (Killoe) for R Smyth (injured, 64 mins). 

REFEREE: Cormac Reilly (Meath).