Longford finish the league campaign with a win over Antrim

Longford . . . 3-17   Antrim . . . 3-12

A great start left Longford leading by 1-5 to 0-0 with 14 minutes gone in the first half with Keelin McGann bursting through to score a well taken goal but Antrim immediately closed the gap with a couple of goals in quick succession from Colm McLarnon and Ruairi McCann.

The home county regained their grip on the game and ended up six points ahead at the break, 1-13 to 2-4. Particularly prominent in the target man role at full-forward in the first half was Daire O’Brien who fired over four points with three of his scores coming from well executed marks.

Also much to the fore up front was Darragh Doherty who set off on a penetrating run to score a cracking goal with five minutes gone in the second half but the visitors got back into the game when wing back Patrick McCormack planted the ball in the back of the net in the 51st minute. 

When Patrick McBride shot over the bar soon after the Longford advantage was cut to just three points but a very good score from Doherty eased the pressure. 

Substitute Darren Gallagher then converted a free and the impressive McGann raced through to score his second goal with a fine strike in the 62nd minute to seal the morale boosting victory despite the meaningless nature of the match. 

LONGFORD: Michael Hughes (Killoe); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta, 0-1), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara): Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Michael Quinn (Killoe), Peter Foy (St Loman’s Mullingar); Tadhg McNevin (Longford Slashers), Fergal Sheridan (Colmcille, 0-1); Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-4, 3 frees, 1 ‘45), Darragh Doherty (Mostrim, 1-2), Keelin McGann (Kenagh, 2-2); Aaron Farrell (Dromard), Daire O’Brien (Longford Slashers, 0-4, 3 marks), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-2, frees).

Subs:- James Kiernan (Granard) for F Sheridan (49 mins); Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille) for M Quinn (52 mins); Darren Gallagher (Granard, 0-1, free) for O Kenny (60 mins); Conor Keenan (Fr Manning Gaels) for D Doherty (64 mins); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s) for D O’Brien (65 mins). 

ANTRIM: Ronan Hanna; Eoghan McCabe, Declan Lynch, James McAuley; Patrick McCormick (1-1), Barry McCormick, Marc Jordan; Colm McLarnon (1-1), Jack Dowling; Cathal Hynds, Ruairi McCann (1-5, 4 frees, 1 mark), Patrick McBride (0-1); Dominic McEnhill, Seamus McGarry, Odhran Eastwood (0-2). 

Subs:- Patrick Finnegan for C Hynds (half-time); Ryan Murray (0-2, frees) for S McGarry; Peter Healy for E McCabe (half-time); Luke Mulholland for R Hanna (45 mins); Joseph Finnegan for D Lynch (50 mins). 

Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan).