Impressive Longford get the better of the Derry girls to secure second league victory

Hard working and impressive Longford picked up their second successive Lidl Ladies NFL Division 4 victory as they overcame Derry by 0-4 to 0-10 on Sunday afternoon at Eoghan Rua.

Coming on the back of their 3-8 to 0-7 win over Wicklow the previous Sunday, it provides new Longford manager Dave Lambert and his players with an injection of confidence to continue their upward trajectory and they now have a break until their fourth round encounter which is at home to Sligo on Sunday, February 15. 

Despite the inclement weather in the days leading up to the game, great credit must go to the Coleraine club for producing a pitch in excellent condition. Derry enjoyed plenty of possession over the hour and created enough chances to have taken something from the game, but a return of just four points ultimately told the story of where they fell short. 

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It was Longford who settled quicker into the contest, registering the opening two points of the afternoon through Aoife Darcy and Sían Gallagher. Clodagh Moore got Derry up and running with a fine score before a superb pass from Annie Ní Lochlainn released Áine McAllister, who calmly levelled the sides on 13 minutes, 0-2 apiece. 

Aoife Darcy (free) edged Longford back in front shortly afterwards, and Derry were then forced into some desperate defending during the second quarter to prevent the visitors from raising a green flag.

Longford’s Kamille Burke received a yellow card and was sent to the sin bin in the 23rd minute following her challenge on Derry’s Kate Gribbon and a lengthy consultation between the officials. 

Longford finished the half strongly, adding a further brace of points through the accuracy of Hanna Burke to move into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead at the interval. 

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Derry began the second half brightly and were rewarded almost immediately. A strong, direct run from Sarah Heron created the opening, and Clodagh Moore duly split the posts to reduce the deficit. Ten minutes later, McAllister again threatened after getting on the end of a Cara Donnelly delivery. She turned sharply, but her effort was deflected onto the butt of the post and out for a ’45. 

While Derry continued to miss scoring chances, Longford proved far more clinical. Between the 45th and 56th minutes, the visitors registered four unanswered points through Katie Crawford. Aoife Darcy (two frees) and Sían Gallagher to open up a six-point advantage (0-3 to 0-9) and put daylight between the sides. 

Both counties rang the changes during the second, giving their respective benches valuable game time, and excellent last-ditch defending from Longford prevented any late comeback from the Derry girls.

Cara Donnelly added Derry’s final score of the afternoon when she slotted over a free after blocking down a clearance from the Longford goalkeeper. Longford wrapped up the victory as midfielder Sían Gallagher kicked over her third point and left the visitors as six point winners, 0-4 to 0-10, at the final whistle.

DERRY: Thomasina Cassidy; Isla Duggan, Kate Gribbon, Joanne Corr; Sarcha Duggan, Sarah Heron, Amy Rose Mulligan; Leah Brewster, Kate Hargan; Clodagh Moore (0-2), Annie Ni Lochlainn (capt), Niamh Hannon; Aine McAllister (0-1), Jeannette Slevin, Aoife Boorman. 

Subs: Cara Donnelly (0-1 free) for Slevin (35), Aoife Gormley for McAllister (45), Rihanna Doherty for Ni Lochlainn (55), Jemma Shivers for Brewster (55), Niamh McGarry for Boorman (61), Caoimhe Dillon for Corr (61), Erin Dillon for I Duggan (61), Meabh Boylan for Mulligan (65), Eva Ferguson for Hargan (65). 

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney; Brace Kenny, Leanne Keegan, Riane McGrath; Ailbhe Brady, Emma Farrell, Shauna Burke; Sían Gallagher (0-3), Shauna Hagan; Katelyn McKeon, Katie Crawford (0-1), Hannah Burke (0-2); Casey McNamara, Kamille Burke, Aoife Darcy (0-4, 0-3 frees). 

Subs introduced: Rachel Fallon, Eileen Boyle, Elena O’Reilly, Grace O’Donnell, Edel Sheehy

REFEREE: Ciara Gilroy 

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