Longford in serious relegation trouble as Cavan cruise to comprehensive victory

Cavan . . . 1-19   Longford . . . 0-11

Longford are now in serious relegation trouble after losing their third consecutive fixture and Paddy Christie’s charges, badly lacking in confidence, are facing a must win match against the also pointless Tipperary in the crunch Division 3 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next. 

With other home games to come against Offaly (March 5) and Antrim (March 26), the drop down into Division 4 could still be avoided but a major improvement will be required in the fierce battle to survive.  

After Cavan, superior in most positions on the pitch throughout this tame local derby, raced into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, Longford almost scored a goal in the 22nd minute with both Liam Connerton and David McGivney attempting to get the vital touch in a goalmouth scramble. 

The ball then broke to Darren Gallagher but he shot wide and Cavan launched an immediate counter attack which yielded a fisted point from Gerard Smith.  

Whatever slim chance Longford had of getting back into contention were dashed when Oisin Brady burst through to score a cracking goal in the 26th minute for the home county who ended up in a commanding 1-9 to 0-5 lead at the break and that after playing against the stiff breeze. 

With the game now all over as a contest, Cavan strolled through the second half in keeping the scoreboard ticking over to maintain their impressive unbeaten run at the top of the table in a strong challenge for promotion.

Nothing is going right in this poor period for Longford football and if things were not bad enough another setback was suffered when Joseph Hagan was sent-off for a second bookable offence with seven minutes gone on the changeover. 

Hagan fired over a couple of great points in the first half and his dismissal left the visitors playing with 14 men for the remainder of the match that was devoid of the usual high intensity that normally prevails when these neighbouring rivals clash. 

To give Longford some credit they tried hard to give the scoreboard a more respectable look in shooting a total of six points against the wind in the second half but Cavan could have registered at least another couple of goals in this very easy win.  

CAVAN: Raymond Galligan; Evan Finnegan, Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Niall Carolan; Ciaran Brady, Dara McVeety (0-1), Tiarnan Madden; David Brady (0-1), Killian Clarke; Gerard Smith (0-2), Cian Madden (0-3), Jonathan McCabe; Brandon Boylan (0-2), Ryan O'Neill, Oisin Brady (1-2, 2 frees).

Subs:- Paddy Lynch (0-3, 1f) for R O'Neill (42 mins); Conor Madden (0-4) for O Brady (injured, 47 mins); Ryan Donohoe for D Brady (55 mins); Killian Brady for N Carolan (58 mins); Stephen Smith for G Smith (63 mins). 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel, 0-1), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); Ryan Moffett (Killoe), PJ Masterson (Abbeylara), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Darren Gallagher (Granard), David McGivney (Mullinalaghta, 0-2, frees); Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-2), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe), Keelin McGann (Kenagh); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara, 0-3, 2 frees, 1 mark), Liam Connerton (St Jude’s, Dublin, 0-2).

Subs:- Rian Brady (Mullinalaghta) for K McGann (half-time); Aaron Farrell (Dromard) for R Smyth (55 mins); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers) for PJ Masterson (58 mins); Fergal Sheridan (Colmcille); for D Gallagher (58 mins); Dylan Farrell (Killashee) for D Mimnagh (67 mins). 

Temporary replacement: Michael Quinn (Killoe) for Andrew Farrell (13 mins); Farrell back on for Quinn in the 19th minute. 

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).