Clare in complete control as Longford suffer the disappointment of relegation

Clare . . . 7-15   Longford . . . 2-3

With Offaly beating Sligo in the other crucial fixture at the bottom of the table, the three counties involved in the battle to avoid the drop were deadlocked on the same number of points (one win each) and Longford were relegated to Division 4 on the scores difference regulation. 

It was a big disappointment for the manager Alan Mullen and his young squad but there is some good news with the return of some of the experienced players who were brought on in the second half and that improved matters. 

Longford failed to register a solitary score in the first half and ended up trailing by 5-6 to 0-0 at the break. Clare were chasing a place in the Division 3 league final and were showing no mercy in keeping the scoreboard ticking over. 

There was just no stopping the rampant Munster county with Aisling Reidy scoring their first goal with just two minutes gone on the clock.

Further goals followed from Aine Keane, Chloe Moloney, Fidelma Marrinan and Lizzy Roche and Longford were struggling to get out of their own half such was the huge pressure they were under.

But with the changes made at half-time, Longford produced a much better performance in the second half and their perseverance was rewarded.

Their first score came from a Kate Shannon free and then a push in the back foul on Grace Shannon yielded a penalty in the 38th minute which was converted by Aisling Cosgrove for a goal. 

The second goal materialised soon after when Grace shot to the net with a great strike while the other Longford points were registered by the Shannon sisters. 

Cliodhna Blake and Eimear Keane scored the goals for Clare in the second half and they were denied two more with Longford keeper Riane McGrath producing a couple of fine saves. 

Longford were reduced to 14 players when Katie Crawford received a sin-bin yellow card in the 55th minute

LONGFORD: Ruth Jones, Shauna McCormack, Grace Kenny, Emma Doris, Caoimhe McCormack, Maria Kelleher, Hannah Glennon, Grace Shannon (1-1), Ella O’Reilly, Caoimhe Lohan, Katelyn McKeon, Clodagh Lohan, Edel Sheehy, Ella Duggan, Ellie Lynn. 

Subs:- Riane McGrath for R Jones (half-time), Kate Shannon (0-2, frees) for E Sheehy (half-time), Teni Alaba for G Kenny (half-time), Katie Crawford for K McKeon (half-time), Aisling Cosgrove (1-0, penalty) for E Duggan (half-time), Aoife O’Brien for E Lynn (half-time), Ellen Byrne for Shauna McCormack (40 mins). 

CLARE: Amy Lenihan, Aine Keane, Siofra Ni Chonaill, Grainne Harvey, Louise Griffin, Caoimhe Harvey, Sinead Considine, Aisling Reidy, Chloe Moloney, Eimear Keane, Fidelma Marrinan, Amy Sexton, Lizzy Roche, Cliodhna Blake, Ciara McCarthy.

Subs used:- Orla Devitt,  Megan Downes and Emma Healy.