Impressive winning start for Paddy Christie as Longford lash Laois

Longford . . . 3-18     Laois . . . 0-13

This was an impressive winning start in the first competitive fixture for the new Longford senior football manager Paddy Christie and the return of a number of experienced players is a major lift in the build up to the start of the National League Division 3 campaign away to Fermanagh at the end of January. 

Joseph Hagan set up Reynolds for the opening goal and Longford found the back of the Laois net again in the 17th minute, a fantastic finish from Dylan Farrell following a surging run from full-back Andrew Farrell. 

The third goal was scored by Daniel Mimnagh following a marvellous piece of fielding ahead of the opposing keeper in the 33rd minute and rampant Longford ended in a landslide 3-10 to 0-3 lead at the break.  

Fielding a mixture of youth and experience, Laois improved on the changeover in a determined bid to close the wide gap and added another ten points to their tally.

Longford brought on several substitutes in the second half in clocking up eight more points and are back in action against Carlow in Round 2 of the O’Byrne Cup at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday, throw-in 2pm.

Longford Scorers: Dylan Farrell (1-4, 2f), Dessie Reynolds (1-3), Daniel Mimnagh (1-2), David McGivney (0-2, 1f), Jack Macken (0-2), Robbie Smyth (0-2), Fergal Sheridan (0-1), Jayson Matthews (0-1, f), Darren Gallagher (0-1, f) 

LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen (Fr Manning Gaels); Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta); Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Gary Rogers (Mullinalaghta), Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers); Fergal Sheridan (Colmcille), Darren Gallagher (Granard); Joseph Hagan (Dromard), Dylan Farrell (Killashee), Michael Quinn (Killoe); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe), Jack Macken (Colmcille).

Subs:- David McGivney (Mullinalaghta) for D Mimnagh (injured, 35 mins); Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara) for J Hagan (54 mins); Tadhg McNevin (Longford Slashers) for M Quinn (54 mins); Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille) for P Fox (54 mins); Peter Foy (St Loman’s Mullingar) for R Moffett (injured, 55 mins); Daire O’Brien (Longford Slashers) for J Macken (58 mins); James McGivney (Mullinalaghta) for F Sheridan (58 mins); Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta) for D Reynolds (58 mins); Aaron Farrell (Dromard) for D Farrell (59 mins); Micheal Hughes (Killoe) for P Collum (61 mins).