Clare 1-12 Longford 2-12
Jack Sheedy’s Longford are through to the next round of the Senior Football championship qualifiers as a result of a three point victory over home side Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday.
This tie was a curtain raiser for the Clare v Offaly clash and proved to be an entertaining contest for the large crowd. Despite shooting nine first half-wides to Longford’s one, Clare managed to be ahead at the break leading 1-7 to 1-6 at the shrill of the whistle.
Longford’s goal was from the spot-kick after just six minutes. Brian Kavanagh made no mistake with the penalty giving Clare custodian Joe Hayes no chance.
Clare defender Dean Ryan grabbed his side’s goal on twenty-six minutes after a move by Jamie Malone and Eoin Cleary found the Eire Og clubman in a scoreable position.
Early in the second period the game turned on its head when the youthful Dessie Reynolds scored for the Midlanders. It put Longford 2-7 to 1-8 in front and in pole position.
Clare did put it up to their opponents right to the end but Reynolds goal early in the second and Clare’s missed scoring chances in the first send Longford into Monday morning’s drum and a fifth championship outing.
Scorers:
Longford: B Kavanagh (1-5) 1-0 pen, 0-4 f's, D Reynolds (1-1), R Conner (0-2) L Connerton (0-2), D Masterson, M Quinn (0-1) each.
Clare: D Tubridy (0-5) 3 f's, D Ryan (1-1) G Brennan (0-2) 1 f, E Cleary (0-2) 1 f,S Collins, P Burke (0-1) each.
Longford: P Collum, C Farrelly, B O'Farrell, F Battrim, C. P. Smyth, B Gilleran, D Masterson, K Diffley, M Quinn ( Capt.), P Gill, R McEntire, R Connor, L Connerton, B Kavanagh, D Reynolds.
Subs: S Doyle for Gill (48), R McNerney for Mc Entire (61), P Foy for Connor (66)
Clare: J Hayes, C Russell, K Harnett, M McMahon, S Hickey, G Kelly, D Ryan, G Brennan (Capt), C O'Connor, S Collins, J Malone, K Sexton, E Cleary, D Tubridy, P Burke.
Subs: S McGrath for O'Connor inj. (18), E Coughlan for Cleary (54). S Collins for Kelly (60),
Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)
