Longford Slashers reach the Special Leinster Club Junior hurling final

AIB Special Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Longford Slashers . . . 2-26 Amsterdam . . . 1-11

In the competition confined to four teams, Longford Slashers reached the Special Leinster Club Junior hurling final in gaining revenge against the European champions Amsterdam in a repeat of last year’s title decider.

The Longford senior hurling champions cruised to a most emphatic victory by the wide margin of 18 points in the semi-final clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday and the opposition in the final in a couple of weeks time (November 21) will be Rathmolyon (Meath) at a venue to be confirmed

The Meath Intermediate winners hammered Wicklow opponents Arklow Rock Parnells, 4-21 to 1-12, in the other semi-final and will be a tough nut to crack in the battle for the provincial crown.

Missing a few key players in the last year's Leinster final, there was no stopping Slashers on this occasion in the destruction of Amsterdam and particularly prominent in a razor sharp attack were Sean Tiernan and Niall Hawes who clocked up a total of 1-10 between them.

David Buckley (0-3) was also much to the fore and superior Slashers were well on the road to victory at the break after building up a comfortable 0-14 to 0-6 advantage.

Reuben Murrray (free and play), Ronan O’Halloran, Darragh Caslin, Ronan Kenny and wing back Johnny Casey also got their names on the scoresheet in the first half while Amsterdam were given a glimmer of hope with a goal direct from a Edward Gaffey ‘65 with three minutes gone on the changeover.

There was no need to panic as Slashers quickly regained the upper hand with points from Reuben Murray (free) and Niall Hawes and the rampant home side registered another 2-10 during the remainder of this one-sided encounter.

The first goal came direct from a Rueben free in the 50th minute and the second was the result of a mistake in the Amsterdam defence with the alert Sean Tiernan pouncing to finish the ball to the net with time almost up, the latter bringing his total to an impressive 1-6.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Adam Murray; Kealan Cox, Stephen Oates, Diarmuid Caslin; John Murray, Daire Regan, Johnny Casey (0-1); Reuben Murray (1-4, goal from free, 3 frees, 1 play), Harry Mulvihill; Sean Tiernan (1-6), Darragh Caslin (0-2), Ronan O’Halloran (0-2, 1 free); Niall Hawes (0-4), David Buckley (0-3), Ronan Kenny (0-2).

Subs:- Gary Hand (0-1) for Diarmuid Caslin (37 mins); Micheal Mulcahy (0-1) for R Kenny (46 mins); Stephen Murray for N Hawes (50 mins); Matthew Hawes for R Murray (53 mins); Donal Sheahan for H Mulvihill (53 mins).

AMSTERDAM: Padraic Slattery; Eoin Breheny, Micheal O’Riordan, Aaron Linnane; Fionn Murphy, Luke Ryan, Donagh O Laoire (0-1); Sean Brogan (0-1), Evin Comerford (0-1); Darragh Levins (0-1), Edward Gaffey (1-5, goal from ‘65, five frees), Cillian Kilduff (0-1); James Buckley (0-1), Aaron McGouran, John Cronin.

Subs:- Sean Kinsella for J Buckley (half-time); Tom McGrath for C Kilduff (37 mins); Paddy Herlihy for A McGouran (42 mins); Ed Howe for L Ryan (50 mins); Adrian Mahony for A Linnane (56 mins).

Referee: Eoin Crossen (Dublin).