Longford retain O'Bryne Cup crown as super Keelin McGann goal sinks Dublin

Keelin McGann’s beautifully crafted and finished 44th minute goal proved the decisive score as Longford deservedly created history by retaining the O’Byrne Cup for the first time and winning titles back-to-back by getting over Dublin in desperate weather conditions at Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday afternoon.

2024 Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup Final: Longford 1-12 Dublin 0-9

Longford, appearing in their 11th ever O'Byrne Cup Final, had first use of the strong wind at their backs and with the sides deadlocked at 0-3 apiece after 20 minutes, it looked like they had it all to do. 

However, over the closing fifty plus minutes, Longford assuredly moved up through the gears and buoyed by excellent performances from Oisín O’Toole, Iarla O’Sullivan, Darren Gallagher, Joseph Hagan and TG4 man of the match Cathal McCabe, they determinedly outscored the Dubs by 1-9 to 0-6 to seal a thoroughly merited win ahead of the start of their Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign which begins back at the same venue next weekend against Laois.

Longford led by 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time and ten minutes into second half, as the rain cascaded down, they were 1-10 to 0-5 clear, with McGann leaving raindrops dangling from the twine of the Dublin net in the 44th minute. 

All-Ireland champions Dublin, fielding an experimental outfit and seeking an 11th O’Byrne Cup success, enjoyed plenty of possession for a spell after this but their own squandermania coupled by Longford’s stubborn and disciplined defending meant they’d to wait too long for their next score and they weren’t able to make sufficient headway into hauling back the arrears. 

Indeed, the tenacious work of O’Toole, O’Sullivan, Barry O’Farrell, Patrick Fox and the experienced Michael Quinn, following his introduction, meant the Dubs, who rattled in five goals against Wexford in the semi-final, scarcely seriously threatened Paddy Collum in the Longford goal. 

With victories in the previous rounds over Westmeath (0-9 to 0-7) and Meath (2-14 to 1-14), the Longford management of Paddy Christie, Dessie Sloyan and Cosmos Gilmore will be satisfied with their 2024 Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup success. However, the trio, too, will be fully aware of how Longford’s season went into something of a freefall after last year’s O’Byrne Cup Final win over Louth, and no doubt, they and the players, will be doing all in their power to ensure they don’t endure a similar fate in the weeks ahead. Laois away next Saturday is a tricky assignment to start the league with and Longford will need to be up for the challenge. 

Killian McGinnis, one of three late call ups to Dessie Farrell’s starting XV, got the Dubs off the mark with a 3rd minute point. McGinnis came in at right corner forward in place of Luke Breathnach, with Evan Comerford and Liam Howley replacing David O’Hanlon  and Ben Millist who were named as goalkeeper and right cornerback in the team printed in the programme. 

Longford, backed by the strong wind, were 0-2 to 0-1 ahead by the 9th minute as Cathal McCabe, from a tight angle, and Joseph Hagan, following an excellent pass from Iarla O’Sullivan, were on target. Longford ‘keeper Paddy Collum heaved a huge sigh of relief in the 11th minute after his upright were left shaking by a thundering strike from Dublin’s Sean Forker.  

Niall Scully, one of the more recognisable names in the Dubs line-up, levelled proceedings before Longford regained the lead, 0-3 to 0-2, through a McCabe mark that was cleverly orchestrated and set up by Jayson Matthews.  Matthews was getting a lot of space as he wandered away from his number 14 position and in the 17th minute he forced Dublin ‘keeper Evan Comerford into producing a smart save. 

Brian O’Leary converted a Dublin free after a 20th minute foul on Colm Basquel by Ryan Moffett to level proceedings for the third occasion at 0-3 apiece. 

The Dubs failed to score again over the closing 15 minutes plus three of additional time in the opening half as Longford began to assert their dominance and reeled off five points in succession.

Darren Gallagher, who suffered a heavy knock earlier in the game after accidentally colliding with his midfield partner Daire Duggan, curled over two lovely points from frees, with the lively Cathal McCabe (his 3rd point of the match), Daniel Reynolds (fisted effort) and Mark Hughes (following strong tackling and pressure from the Longford forwards) also getting in on the scoring act. It left the reigning O’Byrne Cup champions with a commanding interval advantage of 0-8 to 0-3. 

Immediately from the restart, and with the rain beginning to fall heavier, Longford’s Mark Hughes was fouled and Darren Gallagher confidently dispatched his third free, 0-9 to 0-3. By the 40th minute the deficit was reduced to four points as Dublin raised white flags through sub Luke Breathnach and Killian McGinnis (free). 

An impressive 44th minute Longford move, involving the industrious Hagan and McCabe, was rounded off with a fantastic match winning goal from Keelin McGann. Daire Duggan then powered through for a fine point and with 45 minutes elapsed, Longford were eight points in front, 1-10 to 0-5, a significant lead in the testing conditions. 

Dublin’s inexperience started to show as they wasted a lot of possession and amassed a few wides before Luke Breathnach got their first score in sixteen minutes. McGinnis (free) cut the arrears to six points, 1-10 to 0-7, in the 59th minute before Longford hit back with a fine point from Joseph Hagan. Sub Luke Swan and Colm Basquel (free) grabbed points for Dublin and fittingly it was the back-to-back champions Longford who had the final say with Darren Gallagher kicking his 4th point of the day. 

Scorers

Longford: Darren Gallagher 0-4 (0-4 frees), Cathal McCabe 0-3, Keelin McGann 1-0, Joseph Hagan 0-2, Daniel Reynolds 0-1, Mark Hughes 0-1, Daire Duggan 0-1 

Dublin: Killian McGinnis 0-3 (0-2 frees), Luke Breathnach 0-2, Niall Scully 0-1, Brian O’Leary 0-1 (free), Luke Swan 0-1, Colm Basquel 0-1 (free)

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels);  Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond), Oisín O’Toole (Dromard), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Patrick Fox capt (Mullinalaghta), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Darren Gallagher (Granard), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Keelin McGann (Kenagh), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe), Joseph Hagan (Dromard); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s), Jayson Matthews  (Mullinalaghta), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille)

Subs.: Mark Hughes (Killoe) for D Mimnagh inj (23 mins), Michael Quinn (Killoe) for D Reynolds (46 mins), Ruairí Harkin (Colmcille) for K McGann (70 mins)

DUBLIN: Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams); Liam Howley (Clontarf), Liam Smith (Ballinteer St John’s), Eoin O’Dea (Na Fianna); Kevin Lahiff (St Jude’s), Sean Forker (Castleknock), Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Peter Duffy (Cuala), Ethan Dunne (Skerries Harps); Conor Dolan (Man O War), Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street), Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), Brian O’Leary (Na Fianna), Sean Lowry (St Vincent’s)

Subs: David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna) for E Comerford (half time), Ben Millist (Ballinteer St John’s) for E O’Dea (half time), Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St John’s) for C Dolan (half time), Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan (Skerries Harps) for L Howley (59 mins), Eoin Wilde (Skerries Harps) for B O’Leary (59 mins), Luke Swan (Castleknock) for P Duffy (60 mins), Kieran McKeown (Clontarf) for K Lahiff (67 mins)

REFEREE: James Foley, Carlow