Spirited Longford display in narrow defeat as Fermanagh gradually take control

Longford will have to go through the back door to keep alive their hopes of making progress in the Tailteann Cup following the narrow defeat against Fermanagh in a very entertaining Round 1 clash at Brewster Park in Enniskillen on Sunday last. 

Fermanagh . . . . 1-24      Longford . . . 2-17

At least some pride was restored in the aftermath of the horrific 21-point hammering that was suffered against Westmeath in the opening round of the Leinster Championship.

Mike Solan’s injury hit squad - minus Dessie Reynolds, Ryan Moffett and Iarla O’Sullivan - will be hoping to make the most of the second chance away to another first round loser Clare on May 23/24 in order to avoid an early exit from the Tier 2 competition.

Inspired by a well-taken goal from centre-half-back Oisin O’Toole with just six minutes gone in the game after he was put clean through by Daniel Reynolds, Longford held a slender 1-10 to 1-9 lead at the break.

The highlight of the first half was the brace of cracking two-pointers that were registered by the chief marksman Dylan Farrell and Reynolds was again the provider when he created the opportunity for Killashee’s Farrell to fist the second goal in the 46th minute.

A surprise result was looking possible at this stage as spirited Longford (with Daire Duggan back after a lengthy injury absence) led by the minimum of margins (2-12 to 1-14) but they were then dealt a significant blow when Reynolds was branded with a black card for a foul on Fermanagh dangerman Darragh McGurn.

Ironically, the visitors were next to score when Matthew Carey converted a free in the 49th minute but the home side then fired over four points in a row from Mattie McDermott, impressive wing back Josh Largo Ellis, McGurn and substitute Ciaran Corrigan to go back in front.

Apart from the wind advantage in the second half, the midfield dominance enjoyed by the powerful pairing of Joe McDade and Stephen McGullion made sure that Fermanagh were not going to slip up.

Having said that, it might have been a different story had roving defender Patrick Fox finished a goal attempt when his close range strike was blocked down in the 42nd minute while a shot from substitute Aaron Farrell hit the upright after McGullion landed a wonderful two-pointer for Fermanagh in the 61st minute.

While Cian Brady then done well to clear a goal attempt from Declan McCusker off the line, the Abbeylara defender conceded a free in his frantic attempt to clear the danger and another replacement Garvan Jones converted the kick.

Two more points followed from attacking defenders Ronan McCaffrey and Shane McGullion to move Fermanagh into a comfortable five-point lead, although Longford did close the gap with a two-pointer from Carey in the 68th minute.

The Erne County had the final say when Oisin Kelm, who was just brought on, shot over the bar on the brink of the full-time hooter and their stronger and more experienced substitutes bench was another vital factor in favour of Fermanagh.

The pace of corner-forward Conor Love posed plenty of problems for the Longford defence and after cutting through to score a fine goal in the 10th minute he also accounted for a couple of points in the first half.

Three more scores were registered by Darragh McGurn and Fermanagh could afford the luxury of kicking 10 wides during the course of the action-packed game.

Matthew Flynn fired over Longford’s opening score in the 3rd minute and Oran Kenny (2), Daniel Reynolds, Paddy Moran and Joseph Hagan were also on target in the first half.

But Longford eventually ran out of steam in the face of fierce Fermanagh pressure in the second half and were outscored by 0-15 to 1-7 with four of the points (2 frees) coming from Matthew Carey.

Dylan Farrell (the second goal and a point from a well struck ‘45), Oran Kenny and Paddy Moran were also on the mark and when Moran fisted the ball over the bar in the 60th minute the sides were all square, 2-15 to 1-18.

Then came the superb two-pointer from Stephen McGullion as Fermanagh produced a strong finish to emerge victorious.

​FERMANAGH: Sean McNally; Luke Flanagan, Oisin Smyth, Shane McGullion (0-1); Jonathan Cassidy, Ronan McCaffrey (0-2), Josh Largo Ellis (0-2); Conor McGee, Stephen McGullion (0-2, two-pointer); Sean Cassidy (0-2), Brandon Horan (0-1), Joe McDade (0-1); Conor Love (1-2), Darragh McGurn (0-4), Mattie McDermott (0-3).

Subs:- Ciaran Corrigan (0-2) for L Flanagan (21 mins); Garvan Jones (0-1, free) for S Cassidy (44 mins); Declan McCusker for C McGee (48 mins); Ultan Kelm for B Horan (60 mins); Oisin Kelm (0-1) for M McDermott (70 mins).  

LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Cian Brady (Abbeylara), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard, 1-0), James Moran (Killoe Emmet Og); Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 0-4, 1 two-pointer, 2 frees), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-1), Matthew Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1); Paddy Moran (Killoe Emmet Og, 0-2), Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s Killashee, 1-5, brace of two-pointers, 1 ‘45), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-3). 

Subs:- Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers) for J Moran (half-time); Aaron Farrell (Dromard) for M Flynn (44 mins); Niall Farrelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for D Duggan (57 mins); Daire O’Brien (Longford Slashers) for P Moran (67 mins).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).