Longford Ladies lose at home to Fermanagh

Longford were playing in the third round of the Ladies Intermediate
Championship when they lined out against Fermanagh in Pearse Park
on Sunday. The final score of 2-08 to 1-14 saw them lose to a
Fermanagh team which could have been defeated if Longford had
realised their chances. Sharon Treacy, who made her return to
competitive County football after an absence of a year, had a
great game and contributed to the Longford effort in various positions
and throughout the length of the game. She started in the full
forward line and in the opening minutes landed a point for Longford.
Shortly afterward Mary Kiernan fielded a high ball and passed
to Sharon who shot for goal – it was an unstoppable shot – but
struck the goal post and was deflected wide. Fermanagh responded
with a point from Anne Mc Brien. Sharon Treacy took a free from
the right wing and her high ball was fielded by Ali Smyth. Her
left footed kick found the net. Alison was playing at centre forward
but was ranging widely between the full forward line and midfield.
Following a brief passing movement Sharon Treacy passed to Mary
Kiernan and her attempt at a point unfortunately hit the post
and went wide. Moments later Longford got a free and the high
ball which came in from it was fielded by Alison Smyth who passed
to Laura Mc Gahern. Her shot at goal went wide. Longford were
not having the best of luck. Fermanagh in the meantime had secured
another point and at about the end of the first quarter one of
their midfielders, Caroline Little , pointed from a twenty one
yard free to leave the score 1-01 to 0-03.

At about seventeen minutes into the half Sharon was again through
on goal, from a Mary Kiernan pass, when she was brought down by
the goalie. She took the penalty herself but, uncharacteristically,
her shot went very wide. Within the next minute Sharon was through
again and in a one on one situation with the goalie she blasted
the ball over the bar. Mary Kiernan pointed from a free two minutes
later and Sharon Treacy was again off the mark with a long range
point from play on the left wing to bring the score to 1-04 to
0-03 in favour of Longford.

The Longford backs had been controlling the situation very well
and Elizabeth Brady in particular had been most prominent in defence.
In the first twenty five minutes Fermanagh had scored just three
points. The remaining five minutes and injury time saw Fermanagh
mount an onslaught on the Longford goal which was to yield a goal
and three points. Four minutes from the end of the half Fermanagh
got a point which was quickly followed by a goal and another point.
Longford managed to get the ball up the field again and Siobhan
Mc Gowan was fouled on the twenty one. Mary Kiernan made no mistake
with the free and the Longford score went to 1-05. Fermanagh got
the ball up the field in the dieing minutes of the half and unfortunately
for Longford Antoinette Brady fouled an inrushing forward in possession.
The free was almost from the sideline but produced a very good
point for Fermanagh whose score went to 1-06 and they ran in at
half time with a one point lead.

Longford started the second half in great style with a long Mary
Kiernan kick from far out on the left wing which struck the inside
of a goal post on its way over the bar. In the fifth minute a
Mary Kiernan free rebounded to the incoming feet of Sharon Treacy
who finished it to the net for Longford’s second and last goal
of the game. A minute later Longford were saved from another goal
by the goalkeeping skills of Michelle Kilkenny. Play veered rapidly
from end to end in the first part of the second half and in the
seventh minute Alison Smyth got a very good point from play for
Longford. Fermanagh were quick to reply via a free when Sharon
Little was fouled – mid fielder, Caroline Little, added the Fermanagh
point. Donna Maguire tagged on another point for the girls in
green Mary Kiernan was sinbinned half way through the half for
a foul on a Fermanagh back and Longford were down to fourteen.
At about the same time Michelle Ross was brought on for Alice
Mc Gann. Elizabeth Brady went to midfield in a switch with Laura
Mc Gahern. Donna Leavy gave way to Fiona Farrell.

In successive minutes Fermanagh increased their tally by two points
and their overall score to 1-10 – the sides were level. The very
prolific Sharon Little pointed again for her team and Sharon Treacy
was through at the edge of the square with the goalie to beat
at the other end seconds later- her shot went over the bar and
the sides were level again. Longford would not score again. More
changes were afoot and Sharon was brought back to the full back
position. Laura Mc Gahern went off and Denise Murtagh was brought
in at full forward. In the meantime, with four minutes to go,
Fermanagh had another shot at goal foiled by the ever alert Longford
goalie but the deflection over the bar added to the Fermanagh
total. Sharon Little landed another point. Longford made one further
sally up the field but when in a scoring position kicked wide.
In the last five minutes Yvonne Barden was spotted tugging rather
vigorously at a forward’s jersey and had to make the long walk
to the sideline. With less than ten minutes to go she would not
return to the field of play.

In the last minute of the game a twenty one yard free was conceded
and Sharon Little added further to her major tally of the day
to bring Fermanagh to 1-14. Longford had been beaten by three
points. The game was a most enjoyable event played in a very sporting
manner throughout by two fairly evenly matched teams. Longford
must now face Tipperary away on the 28/29th of July and Clare
at home on the 4th of August in the remaining rounds. Fermanagh
must prepare for their meeting with Clare away on 28/29th July
and for Cavan at home on the 4th of August.