Superior Longford U-20s too strong for Leitrim

Richard Prior on the ball for Longford against Leitrim in the Philly McGuinness Cup Under 20 Development League game in Abbeylara Photo: Syl Healy

placeholder image — Richard Prior on the ball for Longford against Leitrim in the Philly McGuinness Cup Under 20 Development League game in Abbeylara Photo: Syl Healy

Philly McGuinness Cup Under 20 Football Development League Group 2

Longford . . . 2-14 Leitrim . . . 1-5

Managed by Clonguish clubman Kieran Carey, assisted by selectors Ray Hussey (Mostrim) and Ray Kenny (Kenagh) along with physical trainer Davy McHugh (Ballymahon), Longford played against the very stiff wind in the first half but ended up leading by the comfortable margin of five points at the break (1-5 to 0-3) in dealing with the setback of losing Fionn Hourcan to a black card.

Jack Macken scored the goal in the 24th minute and when chief marksman Jack Duggan (clocking up the impressive total of 1-7) planted a cracking shot into the back of the Leitrim net in the early stages of the second half, Longford were in cruise control in running out very easy winners.

Oisin Curley grabbed a consolation goal for Leitrim when he pounced on the breaking ball with 13 minutes gone on the changeover.

Both teams finished the game with 14 players following red cards for Eoin McLoughlin (Leitrim) and Tiarnan Hussey (Longford) during the course of the second half.

Longford meet Wexford in the opening round of the 2022 Leinster U-20 Football Championship at Parnell Park, Dublin on Wednesday April 6.

LONGFORD: Cian McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara), Sean O’Sullivan (Sean Connolly’s), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard); Seadhna Ryan (Rathcline), Darren Moffett (Killoe Emmet Og), Dylan Lynch (Sean Connolly’s); Richard Prior (Rathcline), Conor Leonard (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s); Fionn Hourican (Dromard), Aaron Farrell (Dromard, 0-1), Jack Macken (Colmcille, 1-2, one free); Cathal Gilligan (Abbeylara, 0-1), Tiarnan Hussey (Mostrim, 0-3, all frees), Jack Duggan (Clonguish, 1-7, three frees, one ‘45).

Subs used (second half):- Micheal Hynes (Granard), Diarmuid Kelly (Carrickedmond), James Galligan (Clonguish), Matt Duffy (Dromard) and Cian Sutton (Clonguish).

LEITRIM: Jake Shiels; Brian Donoghue, Kieran Clancy, Cian Singleton; Eoin McLoughlin, Michael McKiernan, Ashley Maziya; Senan Harte, Brian King; Barry McWeeney, James Clinton, Paul Moran (0-1, free); Oisin Curley (1-3, one free), Fergal McLoughlin, Jack Casey (0-1).

Subs used (second half):- Daniel McLoughlin, Danny McWeeney, Cathal McGourty, Dylan Easterbrook and Darragh Fallon.

Referee: Fintan Pierce (Offaly).