David Buckley the saviour as Longford hurlers snatch draw against Lancashire

Lancashire . . . 0-12  Longford . . . 1-9 

A brilliant point deep into stoppage time from David Buckley earned the Longford senior hurlers a vital draw in their opening Division 3B National League fixture against last year’s beaten Lory Meagher Cup finalists Lancashire at the GAA Centre of Excellence, Abbotstown on Saturday last. 

Longford dominated the contest in the first half and should have been six or seven points clear at the break but nine wides (four from frees) and missed goal chances kept Lancashire in the match as they trailed by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break. 

Adrian Moran’s charges were missing key players Paddy Lynam and Sean Lancashire through injury and the free-taking expertise of Lynam was sorely missed while Cathal Mullane was troubled by injury and was eventually replaced in the early stages of the second half. 

 Clonguish duo Oisin Gately and Stephen Gregg and Longford Slashers youngster Diarmaid Caslin all made their debuts while other new additions to this year’s squad - David Gregg (Clonguish), Ciaran McNally and Darragh Caslin (Slashers) - were among the substitutes. 

Next up for Longford is a home match against Warwickshire at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Saturday with the game throwing-in at 1pm.

LANCASHIRE: James Doyle; Dave O’Connell, Conor McCormick, Alex Gallagher; Eoghan Clifford (0-4), Shane Nugent (0-1, free), Andrew Morgan; Eoghan Kelly, Cormac Kenny (0-2); Shane Parsons, Christopher Convery, David Lynch (0-1, free); Ethan Costello (0-1), Finn Henry (0-2), Peter Boylan.

Subs:- Jamie McFadyen for D O’Connell; Billy Donnellan for E Costello and Jason Patton for S Parsons (all half-time); David Furlong (0-1) for D Lynch and Kyle Crowley for E Kelly (both 53 mins).

LONGFORD: Pat Burke; Karl Murray, Eamon Allen, Diarmaid Caslin; Adam Quinn, Oisin Gately, Evan Tully; David Buckley (0-2), Johnny Casey (0-1); Charles Flynn, Cathal Mullane, Reuben Murray (1-4, 0-3 frees, 1-0 penalty); Stephen Gregg, Kealan Cox, Micheal Mulcahy (0-1).

Subs:- Maitiu O’Donohue (0-1) for C Mullane (41 minutes); Darragh Caslin for S Gregg (45 mins); Dan Crossan for K Cox (52 mins).

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry).