13-man Longford come storming back to beat Cavan in the Lory Meagher Cup

Micheal Mulcahy on his way to scoring the killer third goal for Longford against Cavan in the Lory Meagher Cup Round 4 clash at Kingspan Breffni Park Photo: Syl Healy

placeholder image — Micheal Mulcahy on his way to scoring the killer third goal for Longford against Cavan in the Lory Meagher Cup Round 4 clash at Kingspan Breffni Park Photo: Syl Healy

Another crunch clash at home to Monaghan in the remaining group fixture this Saturday

Inspired by captain fantastic Reuben Murray, Longford came storming back to beat Cavan in the Lory Meagher Cup Senior Hurling Championship Round 4 clash at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of reaching the final against Leitrim at Croke Park.

Longford . . . 3-18 Cavan . . . 1-15

The impressive Murray fired over a total of 11 points (8 frees) as Diarmauid Cahill’s charges eventually awoke from a first half slumber to produce a terrific display on the changeover with the aid of the significant wind.

Longford looked in big trouble when they trailed by 0-12 to 0-4 at the break and were reduced to 14 players when Joe Rabbitt received a straight red card in the 28th minute for a foul on Cavan opponent Rian Gillen.

The numerical disadvantage became 13 when David Buckley was dismissed for a second yellow card offence with a couple of minutes gone in the second half but the visitors then enjoyed a new lease of life with the influential midfield pairing of Reuben Murray and Paddy Lynam (who scored 3 points) leading the charge.

Longford were thrown a lifeline when Cavan centre-half-back Stephen Sheridan was sent-off (second yellow card) in the 42nd minute and from there on the course of the game gradually changed with substitute Cathal Mullane getting the vital touch to score the equalising goal in the 54th minute.

Two more points (frees) quickly followed from Reuben Murray with Michael Mulcahy also shooting over the bar to leave Longford leading by 1-14 to 0-14 but Cavan were back on level terms following a soft goal from substitute Sean Keating in the 60th minute.

But the force was firmly with Longford and while some chances were squandered a couple of goals in quick succession from Slashers duo Sean Tiernan and Mulcahy clinched a great victory.

Should Longford win or draw against Monaghan in their remaining group fixture at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday (throw-in 2pm) then a place in the Croke Park title decider will be guaranteed but a defeat could see the county hurlers losing out on the head-to-head regulation against the Ulster outfit.

A repeat of the poor first half performance against Cavan which yielded the miserable tally of just four points from Reuben Murray (free and play), Joe Rabbitt and Evan Tully will certainly not be good enough.

Whatever was said in the dressing room at half-time certainly worked as revitalised Longford clocked up the tremendous total of 3-14 in the second half with the marvellous Murray firing over nine of the points while wing back Evan Tully ignited the remarkable revival with the opening score on the resumption.

Three cracking points from the prominent Paddy Lynam maintained the momentum and it must be said that Longford showed a fierce desire to survive when a defeat would have knocked them out of the Tier 5 championship.

CAVAN: Conor Gallagher; Shane Briody, Dominic Crudden, Rian Gillen (0-3, 1 free); Matthew Hynes, Stephen Sheridan, Dylan McKeever (0-1); Jack Barry, Dillon Mulligan (0-2); Philip McCabe, Eamon Og McAllister (0-1), Gavin Fitzpatrick (0-1); Rian Delaney (0-1), Mark Moffett (0-5, all frees), Thomas Leonard (0-1).

Subs:- Sean Keating (1-0) for T Leonard (48 mins); Enda Shalvey for D Crudden (52 mins); T Leonard for G Fitzpatrick (66 mins).

LONGFORD: Johnny Maher (Kilmacud Crokes); Ciaran McNally (Wolfe Tones Mostrim), Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard), James Connell (Wolfe Tones); Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers), Martin Farrell (Blackrock, Limerick), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones, 0-2); Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-11, 8 frees), Paddy Lynam (Oliver Plunketts, Mullingar, 0-3); Dan Crossan (Clonguish Gaels), Maitiu O’Donoghue (Wolfe Tones), Darragh Caslin (Longford Slashers); Micheal Mulcahy (Longford Slashers, 1-1), David Buckley (Longford Slashers), Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard, 0-1).

Subs:- Sean Tiernan (Longford Slashers, 1-0) for D Caslin (29 mins); Cathal Mullane (Wolfe Tones, 1-0) for M O’Donoghue (38 mins); Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes) for D Crossan (47 mins); Niall Hawes (Longford Slashers) for M Mulcahy (68 mins).