Longford hurlers mark Reuben Murray’s 100th appearance with fine win over Cavan

Longford made it two wins from two in the Allianz National Hurling League Division Four on Saturday afternoon last in Michael Fay Park when they edged out Cavan by two points, winning by 1-14 to 1-12.

It was a momentous occasion for Longford midfielder Reuben Murray as the victory came on his one hundredth appearance for the Blue and Gold. Reuben joins his brother Karl, current player Johnny Casey, Eoin Donnellan, Paddy Cullen, Joe O’Brien, Sean Browne and Benny Stakem as the eight hurlers to achieve the 100 League & Championship appearances landmark, and the Slashers man contributed two points to Longford’s tally.

Both sides came into the contest with first round victories under their belts as Longford won by three points away to Leitrim while Cavan had six points to spare at home to Warwickshire.

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The match was moved on Friday from Glennon Brothers Pearse Park to the Longford Slashers GAA grounds but thankfully the rain stayed away for the entirety of the match.

Longford were three points to one ahead after nine minutes. For the home side, Martin Farrell scored two points (one free) and Reuben Murray also fired over a free, while Jack Barry slotted over Cavan’s point.

Six minutes elapsed before the next score arrived and it was Barry who split the uprights with a brilliant point from sixty metres out from the left to leave the minimum between the sides.

Longford then reeled off three unanswered points over the next four minutes, as Sean Tiernan pointed, Reuben Murray scored another free, and Farrell registered his third point on the twenty-minute mark to put Diarmuid Cahill’s charges up by 0-6 to 0-2.

In between those Longford points, the visitors had a good goal opportunity in the eighteenth minute when Dylan McKeever directed a shot towards the top right corner but Longford keeper Johnny Maher produced an excellent save to prevent the green flag from being waved.

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However, Cavan responded in splendid fashion as they hit a purple patch that saw them score 1-06 without reply to lead by five points at the interval, 1-8 to 0-6.

Barry with his third point, Sean Keating with 1-3 (two frees), and two points from Jack McGuinness turned the half on its head. Keating’s goal came on thirty-one minutes when he took advantage of a weak puck from Longford keeper Maher and although full-back Seanie Lancaster tried to snuff out the danger, Keating was able to win possession and rattle the net from close range.

The introduction of Evan Tully and Cathal Mullane at half-time galvanised the home team with Mullane producing a master class while David Buckley also put in a tremendous second-half display as Longford came storming back into the contest with an unanswered 1-5.

Ronan Courtney almost opened the second-half scoring but his shot went wide off the Cavan upright, before Tiernan slotted over to begin the Longford scoring spree.

A sumptuous team move produced a stunning goal for the Midlanders on forty-one minutes. Tully picked out Buckley with an exquisite pass and he got the better of his marker; he zoomed in on goal from the right and Buckley had the vision to play a perfect pass to the advancing Mullane and the Wolfe Tones man finished expertly to the back of the Cavan net.

A Farrell free then levelled the contest on forty-four minutes before Buckley edged Longford ahead on forty-six minutes with a point that almost produced a goal, but Buckley’s rasping shot was brilliantly parried over the bar by Cavan keeper Conor Gallagher (the former Slashers and Longford County goalie).

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Cavan were reduced to fourteen players around the fifty-minute mark when McKeever was shown a straight red card, and by the 54th minute two more points from Mullane and a Farrell free had Longford three points clear, 1-11 to 1-8.

Back came the Breffni men as despite their one-man disadvantage, they were back level by the 62nd minute, as two Keating frees and a fine point from Mark Moffet tied the game, 1-11 apiece.

Ronan Courtney with a splendid point and another point from Farrell who was picked out by Buckley had the home side two points clear after 66 minutes and while another Keating free brought Cavan back to within a point, Mullane added the insurance point in stoppage time as Longford held on for a two-point win.

LONGFORD: Johnny Maher; James Connell, Sean Lancaster, Stephen Oates; Dan Crossan, Johnny Casey, John Murray; Reuben Murray (0-2 frees), Harry Mulvihill; Sean Tiernan (0-2), Martin Farrell (0-6, 2 frees), Maitiu O’Donohoe; Stephen Murray, David Buckley (0-1), Ronan Courtney (0-1)

Subs: Micheál Mulcahy for O’Donohoe (inj, 24 mins), Evan Tully for Mulvihill, Cathal Mullane (1-2) for Stephen Murray (both half-time), Killian Courtney for Tiernan (61 mins).

CAVAN: Conor Gallagher; Shane Briody, Enda Shalvey, Stephen Sheridan; Matthew Hynes, Rian Gillen, Jack Barry (0-3); Jack McGuinness (0-2), Daniel Martin; Tomas Leonard, Eamon Óg Mcallister, Dylan McKeever; Mark Moffett (0-1), Sean Keating (1-6), Rian Delaney.

Subs: Philip McCabe for Rian Gillen (48 mins), Philip McKeon for Leonard (67 mins).

REFEREE: Barry Winters (Tyrone).