Longford 5-12 Fermanagh 0-5

Longford and Fermanagh went into this game as the bottom two in their section of the Bord Gáis Division 2 League in Killoe Co. Longford. Fermanagh travelled to the game without the services of Patricia Melanaphy (injured), Caroline and Sharon Little (holidays), Tara Little (honeymoon) and a number of last years panel who couldn’t commit to the League campaign due to other commitments and illness .Although The Little sisters were to arrive back from holiday and make a mad dash to be at the game and play apart in the last 20 minutes of play. The management wants to thank the girls for making the dash straight from arrival at the airport to the game.

 

 

In a blistering 5 minute spell at the start of the game Longford had Fermanagh under the kosh, from the throw in the Longford team moved the ball quickly threw the Fermanagh half and the Longford centre half forward, Edel Quinn, was left one on one with the Fermanagh goal keeper, Sarah Stewart, the goalkeeper fouled the forward and the referee was left with no option but to award a penalty. Full Forward, Denise Murtagh stepped up to take the penalty kick and placed the ball to the right of the Fermanagh net minder, who got a hand to the kick but the pace on the ball carried it to the back off the net.

And worse was to follow for the Fermanagh rearguard as almost from the kick out the Longford forwards carved open the Fermanagh defense again and this time the Longford Corner Forward, Michelle Hannify, found the back of the net. Fermanagh at this stage was reeling from these two quick sucker punches.

The direct play of the Longford team was causing the Fermanagh defense serious problems. Longford were to score another 1-03 in the next 5 minutes, Denise Murtagh 0-1, Marie Brady 0-1, Michelle Hannify 0-1 and Anna Mc Donald 1-0. The score after six minutes of play was Longford 3-03 Fermanagh 0-00.Fermanaghs Full Back Kyla Mc Manus was even at this early stage of the game putting in an inspirational display as the Fermanagh rearguard came under constant and relentless pressure.

Fermanagh was finding it hard to break out of their own half but eventually they managed to put together a move that culminated in their first score of the game after nearly 8 minutes, a fine point scored by Full Forward, Donna Maguire. Fermanagh were starting to come into the game with Ashling Moane and Shauna Hamilton working hard in midfield trying to get some momentum going , but as hard as the Fermanagh team were working in the Longford half , the Longford defense were stopping them in their tracks, Donna Maguire struck a shot from an acute angle 21 meters out, the ball beat the Longford keeper and seemed destined to settle in the net as we looked on from the sideline, but no, the ball struck the post and rebounded to the waiting arms of Longford’s Full Back , Annette Moore. Ashling Mc Caughey and Adele Gallagher were working hard in the forward line covering a lot ground. Midfielder, Ashling Moane, struck for Fermanagh second point of the game in the 9th minute with a lovely struck point from 45 meters out

As hard as the Fermanagh team were working there was always the threat that Longford would strike on the counter attack as Fermanagh pushed players into the attacking half, and in the 11th minute, Longford struck for their 4th goal, again a long ball into midfield and some quick passing found Michelle Ross, Longfords No 10 behind the Fermanagh defense and through on goal and netted the ball.

Longford had hit Fermanagh with a ten minute blitzkrieg and the game settled down with no scoring for the next 13 minutes but Fermanagh had a number of wides during this period as they exerted more pressure on the Longford goal. But Longford were defending in numbers in front of their goals and were forcing the Fermanagh Forwards to shoot from distance and wide angles. It was Longford who were score again, twice in the 24th minute, with two points from Centre Forward, Edel Quinn, and Half Back, Donna Leavy.

Longford would score again in the 28th minute and Fermanagh got the last score of the half through the hard working Fermanagh Midfielder, Shauna Hamilton, from a free.

 

Half Time

 

Longford 4-07 Fermanagh 0-03

 

 

The second half began as the first half had begun with Longford on the attack straight from the throw in but this time the Fermanagh rearguard stood strong and forced the Longford Forward, Denise Murtagh to take the point rather than the killer goal she was looking for. Fermanagh moved the ball up the field from the resulting breakdown kick out and Ashling Moane Struck over a morale boosting point. Longford stretched their lead further in the 5th minute with another point .The Fermanagh team were throwing caution to the wind and were attacking from all positions on the field in an attempt to get back into the game. Fermanagh chances of the winning the game was slim but the Fermanagh team were not going to give up as long as there was a chance. The Little sisters were introduced as substitutes in the 10th minute for Shireene Greene and Mary Smith. Full Back, Kyla MC Manus, was striking forward at every chance and was Fermanagh best player on the day .For all Fermanagh hard work they could not break down the Longford rearguard as they searched for the goals that would bring them back into the game. Fermanagh introduced Carrie Mooney for Aileen Moane and gave a Senior inter county debut to Madeline Little who replaced Adele Gallagher in the 26th minute and Una Mc Hugh was to make her senior inter county debut in the 27th minute for the hard working Donna Maguire, Longford were to capitalize on Fermanagh over commitment in attack by scoring points in the 19th, 20th and 32nd minute. For all their hard work and commitment, Fermanagh only reward was an Aine Mc Brien point in the 4th minute of injury time, but even then Fermanagh wasn’t to have the satisfaction of the last score as Longford struck for another goal in the 5th minute of injury time.

 

Although Fermanagh were comprehensively beaten by Longford in the end, Fermanagh had periods of dominance in the game and just couldn’t capitalize when they were on top. Fermanagh remaining game in the League is on Sunday 15th March at home to down.

Kyla Mc Manus put in a mighty display on the day along with the hard working Ashling Moane and Ashling Mc Caughey , Shauna Hamilton put in another hard working performance wherever she was asked to play. Orla Reiheill from Donagh captained Fermanagh on the day and lead by example in her endeavors.

 

Fermanagh Team

Sarah Stewart (Brookborough) Eimir Keenan (Enniskillen) Kyla Mc Manus (Newtownbulter)
Clair Woods (Lisnaskea) Mary Smith (Clones) Orla Reihill (Donagh) Roisin Carron (Enniskillen)
Ashling Moane (Brookborough) Shauna Hamilton (Garrison) Aine Mc Brien (Newtownbutler)
Ashling Mc Caughey (Kinawley) Adele Gallagher (Derrygonnelly) Aileen Moane Brookborough
Donna Maguire (Belcoo) Shireene Greene (Brookborough)
Carrie Mooney (Lisnaskea) Una Mc Hugh (Irvinestown) Madeline Little (Donagh)
Caroline Little (Lisnaskea) Sharon Little (Lisnaskea)

 

Final Score
Longford 5-12 Fermanagh 0-5