Three second half goals not enough for Derry Ladies against Longford

Derry 3-5

Longford 2-17

Derry Ladies remain on the hunt for their first points of the season, despite three second half goals against Longford at Celtic Park.

Dara McKeever, Joanne Corr and Emma Doherty all found the net as Derry, chasing an eight-point half-time deficit, gave a real go at an unlikely comeback. Twice the Oakleafers got it back to within four points, but on each occasion, they let it slip far too quickly, Longford allowed to hit back strongly and stifle any momentum that Derry were trying to build.

Nonetheless, it was a decent effort from the home side, who were much improved in the second half, playing with more urgency and belief throughout.

After last week’s devastating one-point loss at Wicklow, Derry came into this game at least seeing signs that they were heading in the right direction, but a poor first half ultimately cost them as they didn’t show enough fight to match Longford.

Longford were ahead from just 13 seconds in, thanks to Sian Gallagher winning possession from the throw-in and racing unchallenged towards goal before firing the ball between the posts. Her direct running was a real problem for Derry in the early stages and after Niamh Brady doubled the visitor’s lead from a free, Gallagher was at it again, her direct style and pace making her almost unplayable as Longford went 0-0, 0-3 up.

The score at this stage was actually harsh on Derry who were very much in the game only for Dara McKeever and Emma Doherty to both shoot wide in promising positions.

Gallagher was the real difference between the sides however and she was too powerful again as she ran clear and shot, only for the ball to cannon back off the left-hand post. To prove that luck was completely against Derry, the ball bounced back to the feet of Brady, who stroked it into the empty bet to make it 0-0, 1-3 after 10 minutes.

Brad then added successive frees to give Longford a seven-point advantage, and more proof followed that it wasn’t looking like Derry’s day when the usually reliable Doherty mis-hit a free, with another opportunity wasted for the hosts.

Blood substitute Ellie O’Reilly could have had a goal but she was denied by Ellie Conway, who stood strong, but could only parry the ball over for another Longford score and Kate Shannon then added another free as the difference between the two teams became double digits at 0-0, 1-7.

A disappointing first half did end with some promise for Derry however with McKeever getting them off the mark at last on 24 minutes, and that was quickly followed by a free from Doherty.

With Longford now wasteful at the other end, the half ended with Derry’s best passage of play in the whole game – keeping possession, passing well, and applying pressure on their opponents, who sank back, but it ended with Erin Doherty firing wide – Derry’s fourth wide of the half.

Half Time 0-2, 1-7

Whatever DD McCaffrey and Paddy O’Brien said to the players at half time did something to lift them, as they were a different side altogether when they emerged for the second period.

Doherty hit frees either side of Katelyn McKeon’s effort for Longford and the first goal arrived within 10 minutes, with McKeever firing the ball low into the corner of the net to make it 1-4, 1-8. By this stage, Derry had five of the last six scores, and were looking good to make a game of it.

But Longford, on the back of five successive wides going back to the first half, at last found their stride and they wiped that Derry goal out with three successive scores themselves, a free from Shannon and two from Brady restoring the seven-point advantage.

Derry continued to work hard, and Joanne Corr then found the net with an expert finish past Aoife Cooney, but no sooner had Derry got to within four again, than Longford found the ne at the other end, an effort from Grace Shannon somehow trickling into the net past Ellie Conway.

With that, Derry’s hopes faded, and following a host of substitutions from both sides, Longford regained control, hitting the next six scores through Shannon and Brady combined, the latter of which took her own personal tally to 11 points.

Derry at least finished on a high, befitting a much better second half display, and after Doherty scored her fourth free, she then dispossessed goalkeeper Cooney and shot into the empty net despite being fouled in the process.

The wait for a first win continues, but with each passing week, there are signs that Derry are getting there, slowly but surely.

Teams

Derry: Ellie Conway, Ciara McColgan, Blaithin Donnelly, Joanne Corr (1-0), Katy Holly, Megan Devine, Anna Frizelle, Annie Kilpatrick, Ciara Scullion, Leah Casey, Caoimhe O’Kane, Anna Martin, Emma Doherty (1-4, 4f), Cara Donnelly, Dara McKeever (1-1).

Subs: Sarah Heron for Katy Holly 50’, Leah McGonagle for Anna Kilpatrick 56’, Leah Boyce for Anna Martin 57’, Annie Crozier for Megan Devine 60’, Emma McCloskey for Joanne Corr 65’,

Longford: Aoife Cooney, Orla Nevin, Eimear O’Brien, Grace Kenny, Katelyn McKeon (0-1), Leah Shannon, Caoimhe McCormack, Sian Gallagher (0-2), Shauna Hagan, Clodagh Lohan, Grace Shannon (1-1), Caoimhe Lohan, Kamille Burke, Niamh Brady (1-8, 5f), Kate Shannon (0-4, 3f).

Subs: Ella O’Reilly (0-1) for Clodagh Lohan 15’ (BS), Ciara Mulligan for Grace Kenny 52’, Anna Hayden for Kamille Burke 56’, Elle Lynn for Clodagh Lohan 57’, Funmi Talabi for Caoimhe McCormack 60’, Edel Sheedy for Grace Shannon 61’, Sarah Macken for Kate Shannon 61’, Maria Reehill for Sian Gallagher 61’.

Officials: Ciara Gilroy (Down), Terence McGilligan and Cyril Hargan.