Longford hurlers beat Leitrim and now face Fermanagh in the league final
Allianz National Hurling League Division 3B Semi-Final
Longford . . . 1-26 Leitrim . . . 2-13
Played in perfect conditions on a glorious sunny day, the home county recovered from the setback of conceding a goal with just 15 seconds gone on the clock to win with considerable comfort and Adrian Moran’s sharp side now face Fermanagh in the league title decider next weekend.
Leitrim led by the minimum of margins (1-5 to 0-7) midway through the first half but Longford then clicked into top gear to fire over nine points in a row to change the course of the game.
Longford ended up 0-16 to 1-7 in front at the break and whatever hopes Leitrim had of getting back into contention were dashed in the early stages of the second half when corner-forward Emmet Corrigan worked his way through to score a goal for the midlanders with two minutes gone on the changeover.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors a couple of minutes later when they were reduced to 14 players after their top forward Joe Murray received a straight red card.
LONGFORD: Conor Gallagher; Johnny Casey, Enda Naughton, Keelan Cox; Adam Quinn (0-1), David Buckley, Karl Murray (0-1); John Mulhern (0-1), Paddy Lynam (0-8, six frees, 2 65’s); Joe O’Brien (0-6, three frees), Cian Kavanagh (0-2), Evan Tully; Emmet Corrigan (1-1), Cathal Mullane (0-2), Reuben Murray (0-4).
Subs:- Ronan Sheahan for E Tully (26 mins); Aidan Sheridan for J Casey (61 mins); Micheal Mulcahy for J Mulhern (68 mins); Niall Moran for C Kavanagh (69 mins).
Blood sub:- A Sheridan for E Naughton (40 mins); E Naughton for A Sheridan (47 mins).
LEITRIM: Clement Cunniffe; Paul Lenehan, Stephen Goldrick, Shane Crowe; Conor Hackett, Karl McDermott, Kevin Clerkin; Cathal O’Donovan, Senan Keane (0-1); Sean Markham (0-3), Martin Feeney, Gavin O’Hagan (0-4, two frees, one ‘65); Jamie Ward, Joe Murray (1-4, one free), Tadhg Branagan.
Subs:- Diarmuid Kelleher (0-1) for S Crowe (30 mins); James McNabola (1-0) for J Ward (45 mins); Cian Mallon for T Branagan (54 mins); David McGovern for S Keane (62 mins).
Referee: James Clarke (Cavan).