Longford Breeze to Leinster Junior Crown

 

Having been regraded from the Intermediate ranks in 2015, Longford claimed the Leinster Junior title for the first time since 1997.

 

Despite a spirited  challenge from Carlow there was little they could do to stop  Longford putting in a fantastic performance; their defence were solid, midfield won a lot of ball while the attack were ruthless and clinical.

Longford registered their opening point in the second minute; Mairead Moore made the run before passing to Anne Marie Bratten who fired over. Then in less than a minute player of the match Emer Heany scored 1-1.

Heaney set up Bratten for her first goal in the seventh minute as Longford began to assert their dominance. Longford’s Claire Delaney was sin binned in the 12th minute but the numerical advantage  Carlow now had they failed to capitalise on it. Moore and Laura Burke hit over fine efforts before Bratten found the net again with a fantastic strike in the 18th minute. The Killoe girl got her third goal in the 24th minute as Longford opened up an 18 point lead.

Two points apiece from the formidable pairing of Bratten and Heaney gave Longford a 5-9 to 0-0 lead going in at the break.

 

In the early stages of the second half Longford’s Laura Burke was sin binned but just like earlier that failed to have any effect on the game. In the 33rd minute Heaney grabbed her third and her side’s sixth goal.She followed that up with a pointed free. Bratten and Claire Farrell added points before Mairead Reynolds’ free somehow ended up in the back of the Carlow net. The Dromard girl got her second goal in the 42nd minute as the rout continued for Longford. Substitute Michelle McCormack got her name on the scoresheet in the 47th minute when she got Longford’s ninth goal of the game. Heaney then got her fifth point. The loudest cheer of the afternoon came in the 53rd minute when Carlow got their first and only point; Lauren Kelly with the score.Longford replied with a goal from substitute Orla Noonan. Reynolds and McCormack tagged on two late points as Longford ran out emphatic winners. The manner in which they won this game will have taught Longford nothing and they know there are tougher tests ahead.

 

Longford: Sinead Corrigan (St. Helen’s); Mairead Moore (Clonguish, 0-1), Geraldine McManus (Ballymahon Forgney), Leanne Keegan (Mostrim); Claire Farrell (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Mairead Reynolds (Dromard, 2-1,1f), Eimear Dooley (Ballymahon Forgney); Jacinta Brady (Killoe), Alice Magan (Killashee); Sarah Shannon (Carrickedmond), Claire Delaney (Ballymahon Forgney), Ann Marie Bratten (Killoe, 3-5); Emer Heaney (Ballymore, 3-5,1f), Sarah Madden (Longford Slashers), Laura Burke (St. Helen’s, 0-1).

Subs: Michelle McCormack (Rathcline,1-2) for S Madden inj (27mins), Orla Noonan (St. Helen’s, 1-0) for C Delaney and Sinead Hughes (St. Helen’s) for S Shannon (half-time), Michelle Masterson (Dromard) for L Burke (43mins), Maeve O’Reilly for C Farrell (48mins).

 

Carlow: Tanala Kehoe; Tara Ryan, Anne Roche, Clare Kealy; Eleanor Meaney, Maura Kelly, Michelle Dermody; Emma O’Regan, Philomena Murphy; Stephanie Dunne, Leah Mullins, Niamh Kelly; Ellen Atkinson, Roisin Byrne, Clare Kelly.

Subs: Sarah Jane Burke for C Kealy (21mins), Lauren McGrath (0-1) for S Dunne (36mins), Rachel Tallon for N Kelly (37mins), Ashling Kelly for E O’Regan (38mins), Rebecca Walsh for E Atkinson (45mins).

 

Referee: Stephen McNulty (Wicklow)