TG4 Intermediate Championship - Cavan v Longford report

Cavan proved too strong for Longford in this local clash
between neighbours. Cavan’s tally was 3-11 to 2-08 for
Longford. Longford fielded without three of their usual
panel in the above game as Edel Quinn, Anne Marie Bratten
and Laura Mc Gahern were all carrying injuries. It had
been anticipated that Sharon Treacy might be able to participate
at some stage in the game but, although she was present,
she did not play.

Cavan fielded as set out in the programme. Longford started
well with a point from play by Denise Murtagh in the first
minute. A couple of minutes later Cavan equalised. Then
just five minutes into the game Fiona Blessington, after
a great run, crashed an unstoppable shot into the Cavan
net. Denise Murtagh was on the mark for another point
a minute later. Claire Murtagh at midfield for Cavan collected
a pass and, after a long run up the field passed to Pamela
Crowe who off loaded to Grainne Smith, who had come in
as a substitute, and she pointed. After about nine minutes
of play Aishling Doonan had a shot at goal which was well
stopped by Michelle Kilkenny in goal for Longford. From
the kickout a promising move started by Fiona Blessington
in which the ball was moved from her to Denise Murtagh
and on to Donna Leavy and back to Denise Murtagh resulted
in a wide when she mis-kicked. A point from Bronagh Sheridan
and a goal from Brid Boylan of Cavan was quickly followed
by another point from her. A further point from Cavan
followed immediately. On the twenty first minute Alison
Smith was fouled about twenty-five metres from the Cavan
goal and Denise Murtagh made no mistake with the free.
This left the score at Cavan 1-05 Longford 1-03.

In the remaining minutes of the half Alison Smith was
fouled again twice and Denise Murtagh pointed from the
resulting free on each occasion. During this period also
Cavan had recorded three points, one by their scoring
left half back Patricia Lynch, who would later score again.
This brought the half time score to 1-08 for Cavan and
1-05 for Longford.

After resumption Cavan were quickly on the attack and
after a foul on Grainne Smith by Adriana Melia, centre
forward Aishling Doonan pointed from the free which followed.
Another point followed in quick succession and then Brid
Boylan scored her second goal of the day to leave Cavan
in a very strong position. Nine minutes into the half
Grainne Smith was sin binned for a foul on Siobhan Mc
Gowan . Following a foul by Marie Brady, the free awarded
was taken by Bronagh Sheridan she missed. With fifteen
minutes left to go Michelle Mc Elvaney in the Longford
forward line was replaced by Mary Kiernan. Alison Smith
was moved from her assigned full forward berth and she
started getting more possession around the midfield area.
Fiona Blessington got a further point for Longford and
at the other end Cavan’s No 7 was again venturing forwarded
to pick off another point. With six or seven minutes left
in the game Mary Kiernan landed a great goal for Longford.
However shortly later a high dropping ball caught the
Longford keeper Michelle Kilkenny off guard and it dropped
into the back of the net. Jennie Duncan was substituted
fro Marie Carrigy in the dying minutes of the game. Alison
Smith scored one further point for Longford and Mary Kiernan
pointed from a free.

However Cavan had proved to be much the better team on
the day and ran out convincing winners on a score of -11
to 2-08. Both teams go on to play in further rounds of
the Intermediate competition, which is based on an open
draw within the grade.

The Cavan lineout: 1 Karen Baxter (Templeport), 2 Edel
Farrelly (Knockbride), 3 Ciara O’Reilly (Inny Gaels),
4 Siobhan Mc Gorry (Drumgoon), 5 Catherine Smith (Lavey),
6 Ailish Cornyn (Ballinageary), 7 Patricia Lynch (Gowna),
8 Laura Corrigan (Erne Gaels), 9 Claire Murtagh (Knockbride),
10 Renee Murphy (Lavey), 11 Aishluing Doonan (Templeport),
12 Bronagh Sheridan (Erne Gaels), 13 Pamela Crowe (St
Finbars), 14 Brid Boylan (Killygarry), 15 Sharon Cassidy
(Templeport), 2 Substitutes: Aishling Harton (Gowna),
Maria Smith (Erne Gaels), Grainne Smith (Killygarry),
Oonagh Cusack (St Finbars), Paula Fitzpatrick (Gowna),
Claire Kearns (Erne Gaels), Clodagh Doonan (Templeport),
Laura Pearson (Gowna), Elainne Reilly (Ballyhaise), Elaine
Coston (Knockbride), Karen Fay (Knockbride).

The Longford lineout: 1 1 Michelle Kilkenny (Dromard),
2 Marie Brady (Clonguish), 3 Elizabeth Brady (Killoe),
4 Marie Carrigy (Killoe), 5 Adrianna Melia (Rathcline),
6 Yvonne Barden (Clonguish), 7 Antoinette Brady (Killoe),
8 Fiona Blessington (Ballymore), 9 Siobhan Mc Gowan (Cllonguish),
10 Donna Leavy (Carrickedmond ), 11 Michelle Mc Elvaney
(Ballymore), 12 Fiona Farrell (Skerries), 13 Denise Murtagh
(St Helen’s), 14 Alison Smith (Rathcline), 15 Alice Magann
(Carrickedmond) 2 Substitutes: Lorraine Mc Laughrey (Killoe),
Miriam Mc Elvaney (Ballymore), Antoinette Brady (Killoe),
Sharon Treacy (Killoe), Amanda Matthews (Mullinalaghta),
Helen Carrigy (Killoe), Cliona Mc Gowan (Clonguish), Jennie
Duncan, Claire Hannon (Ballymore), Mary Kiernan (Ballymore),
Alison Kenny (Killoe), Michelle Ross (Carrickedmond),
Tara Kane (St Helen’s)