Clinical Armagh have too much firepower for brave Longford in All-Ireland Final
ZuCar Ladies Football All-Ireland Minor (U-18) ‘C’ Championship Final: Longford 0-9 Armagh 4-16 . While Longford were bitterly disappointed their campaign was a hugely encouraging one
Longford's hopes of claiming the first ZuCar Ladies Football All-Ireland Minor Championship ‘C’ title were dashed as a clinical Armagh side powered to a convincing 4-16 to 0-9 victory at St Tiernach's Park, Clones, on Saturday afternoon.
The Orchard County were in control from the outset, but it was a devastating spell either side of half-time that ultimately settled the contest.
Armagh outscored shellshocked Longford by 3-3 to 0-1 during that period to open up an unassailable lead (3-11 to 0-6 after 41 minutes) and claim the county's first title at this grade.
Lily McBennett was outstanding throughout, finishing with an impressive personal tally of 0-11, while Caoimhe Gollogly contributed 1-4 despite spending a lengthy spell of the second half receiving treatment on the sideline.
Armagh settled quickly and opened the scoring through frees from McBennett and Gollogly inside the opening ten minutes.
Longford responded through Zara Drake, whose well-worked effort halved the deficit, but scores from Alanna O'Neill and McBennett, who combined brilliantly with captain Anna Lavery to register one of the scores of the afternoon, ensured that Armagh continued to dictate proceedings, 0-4 to 0-1.
Longford vice-captain Mia Kiernan reduced the gap, 0-4 to 0-2, with a well taken point before McBennett converted two further frees to leave Armagh four points clear.
Longford continued to battle, with Shauna Madden going close to finding the net after breaking through the defence and she had to be content with a point.
The Orchard County finished the opening half strongly. Gollogly, O'Neill and McBennett raised white flags to stretch the advantage, 0-9 to 0-3, before Drake and Orla McGann responded with two excellent scores for Longford to keep them within touching distance.
However, Armagh landed a sucker blow on the stroke of half-time when Nicole O'Reilly finished to the net, giving the Ulster champions a commanding seven point advantage at the interval, 1-9 to 0-5.
Longford began the second half brightly and almost found the perfect response.
Madden's well-struck free looked destined for the top corner before goalkeeper Lily O'Neill produced an excellent intervention to tip the effort over the crossbar.
Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished moments later. Armagh produced a ruthless four-minute burst that effectively ended the contest.
Jessica McCreesh fired home a goal after a sweeping move before McBennett added two more points. Moya McGrane then found the net with Armagh's third goal, opening up a commanding 3-11 to 0-6 lead by the 41st minute.
To their credit, Longford continued to battle.
Drake produced another fine individual score before Madden added a point to reduce the deficit, 3-11 to 0-8, but Armagh immediately responded through the ever-reliable McBennett and Gollogly to regain control.
Lauren Maguire chipped in with a well-taken point for the Midlanders during the closing stages, but McBennett continued her superb afternoon by adding three further scores to her impressive tally.
There was still time for one final flourish. Gollogly converted a late free before, with virtually the last kick of the game, she raced through to blast home Armagh's fourth goal and put the seal on an outstanding team performance.
For Longford, the final whistle brought disappointment, but it should not overshadow what has been a hugely encouraging campaign.
While Armagh's physicality, pace and clinical finishing ultimately proved too much, David Tiernan’s Longford side showed plenty of quality throughout the campaign, particularly during their excellent 5-11 to 2-11 win over Limerick in the semi-final, and they can take considerable positives into next season.
LONGFORD: Sarah McDermott; Lauren Killian, Bronagh Reilly, Ally Tiernan; Lauren Maguire (0-1), Orla McGann (0-1), Elizabeth Kearney; Aoibhinn O’Brien, Mia Kiernan (0-1); Zara Drake (0-3), Shauna Madden (0-3, 0-1 free), Emma Feeney; Emma Dowd, Mia Lynn, Ailbhe Mulligan.
Subs: Sarah Murphy for M Lynn (46 mins), Lisa Kiernan for A Mulligan (57 mins), Eva Lynch for E Feeney (59 mins), Leah Kenny for A Tiernan (60 mins).
ARMAGH: Lily O’Neill; Caitlin Carnegie, Mia O’Hara, Erin Melanophy; Anna Lavery (capt.), Moya McGrane (1-0), Aoife Hagan; Cassie Henderson, Emma Hart; Amia Brennan, Lilly McBennett (0-11, 5 frees), Jessica McCreesh (1-0); Nicole O’Reilly (1-0), Alanna O’Neill (0-1), Caoimhe Gollogly (1-4, 0-2 frees).
Subs: Sadhbh McKeever for A O’Neill (46 mins), Jessica Bann for J McCreesh (55 mins).
Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).