Wexford goal the turning point as Longford ladies lose in the championship
Ladies Football Leinster Intermediate Championship Group A - Round 1
Wexford . . . 1-6 Longford . . . 0-2
The home side were left to rue a penalty miss in the first half with Katie Crawford shooting wide in the 13th minute and ended up trailing by just a solitary point (0-3 to 0-2) at the break after producing a courageous performance.
However, Longford were rattled after conceding the crucial goal and failed to register a score on the changeover as the stronger Wexford outfit gradually asserted their superiority to run out comfortable winners in the finish.
Grace Shannon (free) got the opening point in the 3rd minute and Katie Crawford shot over the bar in the 11th minute but that was as good as it got for Longford in this ultra defensive encounter.
Alan Mullen’s side are now facing a very tough task away to Kildare in Round 2 of the Leinster Championship on Sunday next.
LONGFORD: Riane McGrath (Killoe); Shauna McCormack (Carrickedmond), Leanne Keegan (Ardagh), Emma Doris (Killoe); Caoimhe McCormack (Carrickedmond), Maria Kelleher (Clonguish), Grace Kenny (Longford Slashers); Grace Shannon (Longford Slashers, 0-1, free), Eimear O’Brien (Longford Slashers); Hannah Glennon (Clonguish), Caoimhe Lohan (Grattans), Katie Crawford (Carrickedmond, 0-1); Katelyn McKeon (Clonguish), Clodagh Lohan (Clonguish), Ellen Byrne (Carrickedmond).
Subs:- Ashling Cosgrove (Longford Slashers) for H Glennon (injured, 14 mins); Ciara Mulligan (Carrickedmond) for K McKeon (42 mins); Edel Sheehy (Mullinalaghta) for Caoimhe Lohan (56 mins); Emily Reilly (Longford Slashers) for S McCormack (60 mins).
WEXFORD: Leanne Moore; Ashling Halligan, Katie English, Karen Tomkins; Bernie Breen, Roisin Murphy, Sarah Harding Kenny; Amy Walsh (0-1, free), Ciara Banville (1-1); Aoife Cullen, Catriona Murray (0-2, frees), Clara Donnelly; Ciara Roban (0-1), Aisling Murray, Emma Tomkins (0-1).
Subs:- Aoibhe Manley and Leah Furlong for K Tomkins and A Walsh (both in the 45th minute); Chloe Fox for E Tomkins (49 mins); Maria Byrne for A Murphy (56 mins); Niamh Butler for A Cullen (58 mins).
Referee: Jason Corcoran (Kildare).