Gallant Longford Slashers fall at the final hurdle

Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) . . . 3-16 Longford Slashers . . . 2-8

While gallant Longford Slashers failed in their quest to capture the Leinster Club senior crown, they only faded out of contention in the final quarter of the entertaining final at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Sunday as Kilmacud Crokes completed a superb five-in-a-row of provincial titles

The powerful Dublin champions gradually got their act together to win by the wide margin of 11 points in the end but the scoreline was not a true reflection of the actual trend of the game as Slashers produced a terrific first half display.

The history makers were the first club from the county to contest the Ladies Football Leinster Club senior decider and at one stage the sky-blues looked to have a chance of causing a major upset against the red-hot 1-16 favourites.

Inspired by a goal from a penalty converted by Jessica Barry with just four minutes gone on the clock after the excellent Orla Nevin was fouled as she struck a shot against the bar, the 7/1 underdogs raised a second green flag in the 9th minute.

The roving attacker Clodagh Lohan, who was causing havoc, created the opportunity for Kate Shannon to score the second goal and all of a sudden the Slashers girls were six points ahead, 2-1 to 0-1

Kilmacud were feeling the pressure in shooting a total of 7 wides in the first half, as compared to just a single wide for Slashers, but the reigning champions could have been in even further trouble as Lohan was denied a goal by the crossbar in the 17th minute.

While the sides were all square when Michelle Davoren planted the ball in the net moments earlier, Slashers regained the upper hand with the aid of the strong wind to lead by 2-5 to 1-5 at the break and could have been even further in front with at least one other goal opportunity falling their way in a very promising first half performance.

The large contingent of vociferous Slashers supporters, who greatly outnumbered the Kilmacud followers, had plenty to shout about with Kate Shannon (free) and Jessica Barry (4 frees) accounting for the points with Grace Shannon playing a leading role at midfield while her sister Kara was also to the fore in the slick attack.

Cork player Niamh Cotter (2), wing back Sinead O’Donoghue, Michelle Davoren and Lea Carrigy got the other five scores for Kilmacud in the first half and in a decisive period directly on the resumption they were quickly back on level terms with a point apiece from Sadhbh Murphy, the impressive Cotter and Kate Murray.

With the advantage of the significant wind, the Crokes were then most unlucky not to score another goal when a close range shot from Liadan Murphy hit the post before a well-worked Slashers move resulted in wing back Caoimhe Lohan shooting over the bar in the 37th minute.

The 8-in-a-row Longford LGFA senior champions were leading by the minimum of margins (2-6 to 1-8) but Kilmacud Crokes then turned on the power to register 1-5 without reply in the space of a few minutes with three of the points coming from Galway inter-county star Ailbhe Davoren.

The goal materialised in the 45th minute when a two-pointer attempt from Niamh Cotter dropped short in posing problems for the Slashers keeper Emer Casey and the ball broke kindly into the path of the alert Michelle Davoren who finished to the net.

That crucial score proved to be a killer blow as Slashers made costly mistakes and the best they could manage during the remainder of the match was a point apiece from Kate Shannon (from a free in the 49th minute) and a late consolation effort from defender Aisling Cosgrove.

Despite the sin-bin yellow card for defender Aoife Kane in the 50th minute, the Kilmacud 14 continued to dominate in adding another 1-3 to their emphatic tally and utilised their strong substitutes bench to fine effect.

The goal came from a speculative dipping shot from Cotter that deceived the Slashers keeper Casey while one of the points was scored by the player of the match award winner - wing back Lauren Magee.

Although the defeat was disappointing for all concerned, it was still a great achievement for the Slashers ladies to reach the Leinster senior final at the highest level for the first time and they did the county proud in making another step in the right direction.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Emer Casey; Sinead Masterson, Eimear O’Brien, Emily Reilly; Aisling Cosgrove (0-1), Orla Nevin, Caoimhe Lohan (0-1); Aoife O’Brien, Grace Shannon; Lara O’Connor, Kara Shannon, Jill Glennon; Kate Shannon (1-2, 2 frees), Jessica Barry (1-4, goal from penalty, 4 frees), Clodagh Lohan.

Subs:- Niamh Sheridan Farrell for J Glennon (40 mins); Sarah Connolly for L O’Connor (54 mins).

KILMACUD CROKES: Dearbhla Gower; Niamh Carr, Emer Sweeney, Kate Sweeney; Lauren Magee (0-1), Aoife Kane, Sinead O’Donoghue (0-1); Molly Lamb, Kate Murray (0-2); Lea Carrigy (0-1), Ailbhe Davoren (0-3), Niamh Cotter (1-3, 1 free); Sadhbh Murphy (0-1), Liadan Murphy (0-1), Michelle Davoren (2-2).

Subs:- Amy Conroy (0-1) for S Murphy (40 mins); Laura Kane for L Carrigy (40 mins); Doireann Egan for S O’Donoghue (49 mins); Emma Kane for L Murphy (58 mins); Alanah Jones for N Carr (60 mins).

Referee: Barry Redmond (Wexford).