Four goals and points shared in entertaining clash between Longford and Offaly

Lidl NFL Div 3  Round 6 Longford v Offaly
McGann Park, Kenagh, Longford 25th March 2018

Longford 2.12  Offaly 2.12

This was a hard fought game right to the final whistle. In what was a fine afternoon for a game, but we had to put up with a shower of hailstones which lasted a good three or four minutes about five minutes in. 

Longford started the scoring with a point from Michelle Farrell and Offaly replied with a point from Grainne Dolan.

Longford took the next three scores with points by Aoife Darcy (2) and Mairead Reynolds (1). Michelle Farrell was through on goals but was fouled by Offaly keeper, Lauren Dunne, who was injured in the process and replaced by Ciana Mangan. Farrell slotted home the resulting penalty for Longford’s opening goal.

Offaly took over for the last ten minutes of the first half with a goal each from Ainne Kehoe and Mairead Daly, and points from Maebh Coleman, Emma Maher, Amy Gavin Mangan and Ellee McEvoy.

Longford keeper Monica Bannon managed to get her foot to what looked another certain goal. Longford finished out the half with points from Aoife Darcy and Michelle Farrell.
Half time score Longford 1.05 Offaly 2.05

Again, Longford got off to the better start in the second half with points from Aoife Darcy (1) and Michelle Farrell (2).

Offaly were reduced to 14 players for ten minutes when corner back Annie Kehoe recieved a yellow card for pulling down Emer Heaney, who was bearing down on goal in the third minute. Longford did not capitalise on having the extra player and seemed to loose their shape during this time. Offaly dominated this period with points from Mairead Daly (2) and Amy Gavin Mangan.

Midway through the half, Lauren Burke got Longford’s second goal and from here to the end of the game both teams exchanged points.

Lauren Burke looked like she had another goal at her mercy only to see her powerful shot whizz past the front of the goals. The last points of the game were scored by Aoife Darcy (2) and Michelle Farrell (2) for Longford and Mairead Daly (2), Aoife Norris (1) and Ellee McEvoy (1) for Offaly.

Teams;
Longford: Monica Bannon, Ailish Noonan, Leanne Keegan, Maria Kelleher, Caitriona Moore, Claire Farrell, Niamh Darcy, Mairead Reynolds,Michelle Farrell, Sarah Reynolds, Aisling Green, Aoife Darcy, Lauren Burke, Emer Heaney, Eimear O’Brien, Niamh Feeney, Cait Murphy, Rachel Gilligan, Maeve O’Reilly, Zoe Gallagher, Ikeya Collins.

Offaly: Lauren Dunne, Annie Kehoe, Sarah Cummins, Emer Nally, Sarah Bracken, Emma Maher, Katie Kehoe, Aoife Norris, Amy Gavin Mangan, Mairead Daly, Grainne Dolan, Maebh Coleman, Katie Killeen, Ellee McEvoy, Marie Byrne, Ciana Mangan, Imelda Fleming, Amy Kerrigan, Sorcha Coleman, Abbie Dunne, Emily Bailey, Maria Kelly, Sinead Byrne, Dawn Hannon, Aoife Carey, Katie McCann, Paula Hart Niamh Glackin.

Referee: Kevin Corcoran, Mayo

By Charles Canning, Assistant PRO Longford Ladies