Longford ladies in complete control against Derry in quest to qualify for Division 4 semi-finals

Longford . . . 2-17    Derry . . . 3-5 

Longford ladies were in complete control against Derry at Celtic Park on Sunday to score a comfortable win in their quest to qualify for the National League Division 4 semi-finals.

It was Longford’s fifth consecutive away game but they will have home advantage against Wicklow in the Round 6 clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next, throw-in 3.30pm.  

Longford started well against Derry with Shauna Hagan moving the ball into Sian Gallagher. who ran the length of the field and scored a fine opening point.  

This was followed shortly with a well struck free from Niamh Brady. Longford’s next point came from a quick turnover by the defence with the ball passed to Sian Gallagher who scored her second point. 

Longford then scored their first goal with a quick break out by Sian Gallagher who struck the crossbar with an excellent strike. The ball fell kindly to Niamh Brady who drilled the ball into the back of the net. 

Longford kept the scores ticking over with two more frees from Niamh Brady. Then moments after coming on,, substitute  Ella O’Reilly fired over a fine point

Longford’s next point came from a fine free from Kate Shannon in the 20th minute. Derry  got their first score of the game in the 23rd minute, a well worked point from Emma Doherty. They got the last point of the first half with a well taken point from Dara McKeever to trail by 1-7 to 0-2 at the break.

Derry started the second half well with Emma Doherty scoring a well taken free. Longford’s first score on the changeover was a well worked move between Grace Shannon and Katelyn McKeon which McKeon finished with a point.

 Another Derry point followed from a free from Emma Doherty and the home county then scored their first goal with a well taken shot from Dara McKeever. Longford registered the next score with another free from Kate Shannon.

 Minutes after that a great turnover from Grace Kenny resulted in the ball moving up the field for Kate Shannon to score her next point. 

 Niamh Brady added to her tally with another fine point from a free before Derry produced a fine goal with a slick move, well finished by Joanne Corr.

Longford broke up the field quickly. Kamille Burke passed in a quick ball into Grace Shannon who finished with a toe tapped goal. 

Kate Shannon kept the scores flowing with another free before Niamh Brady popped up to score another point from distance.

 Longford scored their next point through Grace Shannon, who ran from her own half. Three more points followed from the influential attacker Niamh Brady with Derry scoring a consolation goal in the final minute of this one-sided encounter. 

DERRY: Ellie Conway, Ciara McColgan, Blaithin Donnelly, Joanne Corr (1-0), Katy Holly, Megan Devine, Anna Frizelle, Annie Kilpatrick, Ciara Scullion, Leah Casey, Caoimhe O’Kane, Anna Martin, Emma Doherty (1-4, 4f), Cara Donnelly, Dara McKeever (1-1).

Subs: (all in the second half) - Sarah Heron for Katy Holly, Leah McGonagle for Anna Kilpatrick, Leah Boyce for Anna Martin, Annie Crozier for Megan Devine,  Emma McCloskey for Joanne Corr. 

LONGFORD: Aoife Cooney; Orla Nevin, Eimear O’Brien, Grace Kenny; Katelyn McKeon (0-1),  Leah Shannon, Caoimhe McCormack; Sian Gallagher (0-2), Shauna Hagan; Clodagh Lohan, Grace Shannon (1-1), Caoimhe Lohan; Kamille Burke, Niamh Brady (1-8, 5 frees), Kate Shannon (0-4, 3 frees). 

Subs: (all in the second half) - Ella O’Reilly (0-1) for Caoimhe Lohan, Funmi Talabi for Caoimhe McCormack, Anna Hayden for Kamille Burke, Ciara Mulligan for Katelyn McKeon, Edel Sheehy for Grace Shannon, Sarah Macken for Kate Shannon, Maria Reehill for Sian Gallagher, Elle Lynn for Clodagh Lohan. 

Referee: Ciara Gilroy (Down).