Longford boss Mike Solan hones in on the positives ahead of difficult Antrim clash

After staging a ‘great escape’ in the deep south last weekend, Mike Solan’s Longford senior football squad make the trip north this Sunday to take on winless Antrim in the third round of the Allianz National Football League Division 4. 

If Daniel Reynolds hadn’t performed his party piece and plundered for the match winning goal deep in added time against Waterford, it could have been an extremely different proposition and an even more arduous trip to Erin's Own, Cargin (Toomebridge) for the Antrim fixture than what it already is. (Another slight uncertainty is that the venue has apparently yet to be officially confirmed!)

However, with the benefit of a win under their belts it will lift confidence somewhat and if Longford are tuned in and focused then this is an assignment they are capable of winning. It certainly won’t be easy - nothing is at inter-county level - but the game is very winnable and Longford must approach it in that frame of mind. 

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Antrim lost at home to Carlow (1-15 to 2-16) and away to Tipperary (1-13 to 1-9) in the opening rounds and they, too, will be desperately battling for points so Longford will have to be very wary of the Saffrons challenge.

After the sucker blow of losing to London at home, Longford bounced back to get past Waterford in Dungarvan by 2-18 to 3-14. 

Conceding 3-14 is certainly something that needs to be addressed but withstanding that, Longford got the win they so desperately craved. 

And not surprisingly, it was the positives that Mike Solan was honing in on in the wake of Sunday’s display. 

He said afterwards, “Waterford stayed in the game and kept it very competitive. The biggest credit I can give to the lads is that we were three points down with maybe two minutes left in extra time and you know we dug it out so that's a huge credit to them.” 

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Longford did put together some decent attacking moves against Waterford but didn’t always translate this to scores.  

Solan admitted, “Quite possibly we should have won by more but should have never really put any points on the board and that's the reality. We left a fair few very scorable chances after us in the first half. We felt we could have been further ahead and I felt at two or three different stages in the second half we were in a good position to kick for home but unfortunately we didn't. Waterford kept coming at us which we also knew would happen.”

He was encouraged by the battling qualities shown by his players during the dramatic finish. 

“We talk to the players all the time about keeping going all the way to the finish. Sometimes I suppose you're saying that and it doesn't come to fruition as a game can be settled a few minutes before the end. 

“But that was right to the end and to be fair to Dan (Daniel Reynolds) there I mean you know when he turns the afterburners on there aren't too many people that can stick with him. He created that goal pretty much out of nothing so you just have to say well done to him.

“Again like every day you come out with a win, it was a real team effort. It's a long way down the road (from Longford) but the journey will be a little bit shorter going back up with the two points in the bag.”

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Elsewhere, Longford preserved their winning sequence in the Allianz National hurling League Division 4 as they accounted for Monaghan by 0-13 to 1-23. With three consecutive victories promotion is a real target for Diarmuid Cahill’s side. 

While a hugely impressive Cnoc Mhuire Granard were crowned Leinster Post Primary Schools Senior Football ‘B’ Champions following their 4-16 to 2-10 win over Gorey Community School. 

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Also this Sunday, Longford ladies, following back-to-back victories over Wicklow and Derry will be looking to their third win  in succession when they play Sligo at 2pm in Gennon Brothers Pearse Park.