Longford hurlers score comfortable win over Lancashire
Away to Leitrim in the NHL Division 3B Round 5 fixture on Saturday, 1pm
Longford . . . 0-18 Lancashire . . . 0-10
Slow to settle in the crucial Round 4 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last and who trailed by 0-4 to 0-2 with 15 minutes gone on the clock, Longford then stepped up another gear to assert their superiority.
Five scores in a row through Reuben Murray, Dan Crossan, Paddy Lynam (2 frees) and Ronan Sheahan gave the home county a grip on the game.
Lancashire were then denied a goal in the 26th minute following a fantastic save by the opposing keeper Pat Burke who deflected a close range shot from Shane Madden over the bar in a decisive turning point in the contest.
The Exiles failed to register another score until the 58th minute when Madden converted a free, at which stage Longford had established a commanding 0-15 to 0-6 advantage.
Lancashire were reduced to 14 players following a straight red card for Conor Kennedy in the 47th minute but Longford were well in control prior to the sending-off.
A very pleasing performance from Adrian Moran’s men who play the final round fixture against Leitrim at Shane McGettigan Park in Drumshanbo on Saturday (throw-in 1pm) with a semi-final spot against the same opposition already assured.
LONGFORD: Pat Burke; Johnny Casey, Karl Murray, Daire Regan; Adam Quinn, Eamon Allen, Iarlaith Dolan; Charles Flynn (0-2), Paddy Lynam (0-7, 6 frees); Reuben Murray (0-4), David Buckley, Rory Maher; Cathal Mullane (0-3), Evan Tully, Ronan Sheahan (0-1).
Subs:- Dan Crossan (0-1) for D Buckley (injured, 8 mins); Matthew Hawes for D Regan (55 mins); Liam Browne for R Sheahan (injured, 59 mins); Francie Dolan for R Maher (injured, 67 mins).
LANCASHIRE: Pa Coates; Liam Burns, Cormac Kenny, Conor McCormick; Finn Henry, Shane Nugent, Andrew Morgan; Darragh Carroll (0-1), Padraig Mallon; Dermot Duffy, Eoghan Kelly, David Burke (0-2, 1 free); Shane Madden (0-6, 2 frees), Conor Kennedy, Eamon Kearns (0-1).
Subs:- Stephen Grace for D Duffy (half-time); Brian Slattery for A Morgan (45 mins); Paddy Heffernan for F Henry (55 mins); Fergal Murphy for L Burns (56 mins); Phil Shine for C Kenny (56 mins).
Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare).