Leitrim's slim Lory Meagher Cup hopes all but ended by Longford

Leitrim’s slim hopes of glory in the Lory Meagher Cup were all but extinguished last Sunday in Shane McGettigan Park as a second half surge from Longford, spearheaded by impressive centre-forward Cathal Mullane almost certainly ended 14 man Leitrim’s hopes of staying alive in the competition.

Leitrim needed results to go their way and to repeat their two League victories over Longford is they were to retain hope of advancing in the competition but somewhat like the defeat to Lancashire eight days previously, the performance of the home side on Sunday was flat over the course of the exchanges. 

Undoubtedly Leitrim battled bravely in Sunday's showdown but despite twice gaining a two point advantage  in the first half, Olcan Conway's men never really got to grips with the Longford challenge.

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This was very evident in the second half when the Longford men showed a much greater hunger to win than Leitrim as Longford’s much more workmanlike performance gave them the edge in virtually every one of the exchanges in this crucial period of the action.

Near the end Leitrim did stage a concerted late rally to grab a win at the death and it did put the Longford men to the pins of their collars to resist it. This Leitrim rally failed to achieve its objective with the result that it ended for the men in green and gold as an attempt to close the stable door after the horse had bolted.

Longford got off to a good start with David Buckley and Reuben Murray whipping over points apiece in the opening seven minutes. Leitrim responded well over the six minutes to get on level terms after Joe Murray put over two placed balls.

Leitrim took the lead for the first time with another Joe Murray free and then Sean Markham split the Longford posts with a fine effort from play on the 18 minute mark to increase the home side's advantage.

But a Cathal Mullane free two minutes later cut Leitrim's advantage to the minimum. Gavin O'Hagan responded well for Leitrim to restore his side's lead with a excellently executed point from play 23 minutes into the action.

Longford reduced Leitrim's lead to the minimum again when Paddy Lynam converted a 25th minute free. Leitrim's Colm Moreton was yellow carded some three minutes later before Clement Cunniffe made a good goal denying save from a Reuben Murray effort. Longford managed to get on level terms on the stroke of half-time after Lynam tapped over a free to make it 0-5 apiece at the break. 

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After the restart Longford came out with all guns blazing with Paddy Lynam tapping over two frees to edge the midlanders ahead by the 39th minute. Joe Murray’s excellent 70m metre free six minutes into the half kept Leitrim in the hunt. 

A Leitrim goal chance that fell to the hard working Martin Feeney was denied by Longford goalkeeper, Pat Burke who pulled off a marvellous save. Longford upped their game again and stretched their advantage to four points by the 50th minute mark after Cathal Mullane converted a free and shot over from play while David Buckley also chipped in with a point from play.

Joe Murray managed to reduce the deficit when he converted a 52nd minute free. After this the game saw a period when a number of yellow cards were brandished by Donegal referee, Aidan McAleer to players on both teams over a ten minute spell.

Longford's Karl Murray was the first man to see yellow while Leitrim sub Michael Dervan was the next player to receive a yellow. Following that Leitrim's James McNabola was dismissed when he was issued with a second yellow on the 61 minute mark while Paul Lenehan was shown yellow a minute later.

When Cathal Mullane pointed a 64th minute free, he restored Longford’s four point advantage before teammate Charles Flynn was shown yellow three minutes later. Shortly afterwards Joe Murray put over a free when registering his side's last score in the contest.

Longford's David Buckley hit over a well taken point from 40 metres out close to the sideline to record a four point' winning margin for the visitors. 

With over eight minutes of added time, Leitrim threw everything into the fire in a bid to salvage a result and it took some stern defending by the Longford rearguard as they certainly denied two late Leitrim goal chances. During this spell yellow cards were issued to Longford manager, Adrian Moran as well as to Leitrim's Conor Beirne.

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ROSCOMMON 5-9 LEITRIM 0-12

LEITRIM

Scorers: Joe Murray 0-6, 6f; Sean Markham & Gavin O'Hagan 0-1 each

Team: Clement Cunniffe (Carrick); Enda Moreton (Carrick), Jerome Fitzgibbon (Harbour Rovers), Paul Lenehan (Carrick); Stephen Goldrick (Carrick), Martin Feeney (Cluainin), David McGovern (St Peregrines); Senan Keane (Carrick), Gavin O'Hagan (Cluainin); Sean Markham (Cluainin), Joe Murray (Round Towers), Kevin Clerkin (Cluainin); James McNabola (Carrick), Conor Beirne (Carrick), Colm Moreton (Carrick). Subs: Brian Goldrick (Carrick) & Michael Dervan (Killimor) for Clerkin & for Markham (53); Michael O'Brien (Cluainin) for Keane (65)

LONGFORD

Scorers: Cathal Mullane 0-5, 3f; David Buckley & Paddy Lynam (3f) 0-3 each; R Murray 0-1

Team: Pat Burke, Kealan Cox; Eamon Allen, Karl Murray; Evan Tully, Johnny Casey, Dan Crossan; Charles Flynn, Paddy Lynam; Adam Quinn, Cathal Mullane, Reuben Murray; Liam Browne, Ronan Sheahan, David Buckley. Subs: John Mulhern for Sheahan (35); Rory Maher for Browne (HT)

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)