Down in a different league as Longford crash out of the Tailteann Cup

It was a major step up in class for gallant Longford and so it proved at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday evening last as superior Down cruised to a comprehensive win to book their place in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final against Laois.

Down . . . 4-18 Longford . . . 1-15

Goals at crucial stages of the game shattered Longford and while the underdogs were guilty of shooting a total of 10 wides in the second half, it must be said that dominant Down were in a different league and could step up another gear when it was required.

Powered by the towering Odhran Murdock at midfield and who were physically stronger in most positions on the pitch, the Mourne men were never in any danger of suffering a shock defeat after leading by 2-8 to 0-7 at the break.

While it was a disappointing end to the season for Mike Solan’s side, there were a few positives with the boost of promotion to Division 3 of the National League the highlight along with the wonderful win away to Clare in the previous round of the Tailteann Cup.

Longford (minus the injured Ronan Sweeney who featured in the Ennis siege) needed a good start to have any sort of a chance of putting it up against the hot favourites Down who should not be competing in the Tier 2 Championship, a fact clearly reflected in their sensational win over Donegal in the Ulster quarter-final.

From the moment Eamon Brown scored the opening goal with just 7 minutes gone on the clock, the writing was on the wall for the midlanders who were badly hit by some costly turnovers.

The second green flag was raised in the 23rd minute when Patrick Brooks raced clean through to find the back of the net and there was no way back for Longford in a lost cause that was certainly not helped when a dipping shot from Paddy Moran hit the crossbar in the 28th minute.

With less than a minute gone on the changeover, the third Down goal materialised with Ryan Magill flicking the ball to the net and the rout continued with a fourth goal from Ruairi O’Hare in the 44th minute.

Moments later the Down keeper Ronan Burns converted a two-pointer free to leave the wide margin of 15 points between the sides (4-12 to 0-9) in what had developed into a demolition job.

There was some reprieve for outclassed Longford with two-pointers (play) in quick succession from Oran Kenny and Dessie Reynolds, the latter back in action after injury after he was brought on in the 49th minute.

Dessie scored a consolation goal in the 62nd minute, after connecting with a pass from Cian Brady and when the hooter sounded to signal the end of this reality check the gap was a harrowing 12 points.

Apart from the absence of the unfortunate Sweeney, others on the current casualty list were Ryan Moffett and Iarla O’Sullivan and this was always going to be a real uphill struggle against the slick and sharp Division 3 league champions Down.

Clonguish defender Conor Smith was making his first start for the Longford seniors who registered their opening score with a well struck point from Matthew Flynn in the 2nd minute.

But Down were taking on the packed Longford defence in cutting through at almost every opportunity and their brace of first half goals left Longford fighting a losing battle.

Having said that, the home side were competitive enough in the first quarter and were only 1-3 to 0-4 behind following cracking scores from resolute defender Peter Lynn and attacker Joseph Hagan (two-pointer), the latter landing a terrific strike in the 15th minute.

Frees were then missed by Oran Kenny and Dylan Farrell, the men who tormented Clare, and then came the killer blow courtesy of a second Down goal.

​Longford were restricted to just three more scores during the remainder of the first half with Paddy Moran, Farrell (free) and Hagan on target and there was no way back for the 6/1 outsiders against such experienced opponents.

​A third goal right at the start of the second half was the final nail in the Longford coffin but the vanquished kept plugging away in the face of adversity and their perseverance was rewarded with a couple of fine points from Oran Kenny who clocked up 0-5 in total.

The Down machine then moved into overdrive as they raced even further ahead to register 1-4 without reply in the space of four minutes.

Longford, to their credit, never gave up the fight despite the many missed chances and they added another 1-6 to their tally through Oran Kenny (0-3), substitutes Dessie Reynolds (1-2) and Aaron Farrell.

Down eased up with the game all over as a contest but they still kept the scoreboard ticking over with six more points to confirm their status as the leading contenders for Tailteann Cup glory.

​LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Conor Smith (Clonguish), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Cian Brady (Abbeylara), Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Niall Farrelly (Killoe); Oisin O’Toole (Dromard), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s), Joseph Hagan ((Dromard, 0-3, 1 two-pointer), Matthew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1); Paddy Moran (Killoe, 0-1), Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-1, free); Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-5, 1 two-pointer).

Subs:- Aaron Farrell (Dromard, 0-1) for D Farrell (46 mins), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 1-2, 1 two-pointer) for N Farrelly (48 mins), Gavin Farrelly (Killoe) for Daniel Reynolds (56 mins), Matthew Carey (Clonguish) for M Flynn (56 mins).

​Wides: 11

Yellow Cards: Hagan (51 mins)

Black/Red Cards: None

​DOWN: Ronan Burns (0-3, 1 ‘45, 1tpf); Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Patrick Brooks (1-0); Miceal Rooney (0-2), Shane Annett (0-2), Daniel Guinness; Ordran Murdock (0-2), Tom Close; Ruairi McCormack, Ceilum Doherty, Ryan Magill (1-0); Ruairi O’Hare (1-1), Pat Havern (0-2, 0-1f), Eamon Brown (1-2, 0-1m).

​Subs:- Caolan Mooney (0-2) for Close (half-time); Callum Rogers for Magill (47 mins); Jamie Doran (0-1) for Annett (52 mins); Oran Cunningham (0-1) for McCormack (54 mins), Tom Gilroy for Doherty (59, temp blood); Tom McCarroll for O’Hare (65 mins).

​Wides: 7

Yellow Cards: None

Black/Red Cards: None

​Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).