Tailteann Cup R3: Down overcome Longford

Tailteann Cup Round Three

Down 4-18 Longford 1-15

By Deniese O'Flaherty at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Down advanced to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup with a 12 point win over Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Over the course of the game Conor Laverty’s men were the better side. They dominated in most areas. Their pace, physicality and ability to get goals proved to be a difference.

Early points were exchanged between Pat Havern (free) and Matthew Flynn before Down opened up a four point lead in the seventh minute. They got their first goal on seven minutes; Ryan Magill with a pass to Eamon Brown and he made no mistake.

The Mournemen dominated possession and had chances but that didn’t reflect on the scoreboard as they kicked a number of wides. Joseph
Hagan kicked over a fantastic two pointer to put two between the sides in the 16th minute.

Longford missed a number of frees when they needed those scores to keep with Down.

After failing to score for 12 minutes, Down got a second goal in the 23rd minute when Patrick Brooks found the back of the net. Shane
Annett and Brooks followed up with points to extend their lead to seven points after 25 minutes of play.

Longford had struggled to get scores but got their fifth point in the 26th minute through Paddy Moran. Moran hit the crossbar minutes later.
Just like before Down went up field and got scores through Brown, Ronan Burns (‘45) and Ruari O’Hare. Hagan got a fine point for
Longford before the break to leave them trailing by seven points 2-8 to 0-7.

Within seconds of the restart of the second half Down got a third goal; O’Hare with the pass and Ryan McGill palmed it to the net. Longford replied with two points from Oran Kenny but Down cancelled those scores out with points from Miceal Rooney and Pat Havern.

Down got a fourth goal in the 44th minute through Ruari O’Hare and just like before it was from a turnover. Oran Kenny (free) and
substitute Dessie Reynolds kicked over two pointers for the midlanders, but Down showed their class by responding with two points to leave 14 between the sides.

Longford had chances to cut into the lead but kicked a number of wides. They eventually got a score in the 62nd minute when Dessie
Reynolds finished to the net from a Cian Brady pass.

Mike Solan’s men kicked more wides as they pressed for scores. They had 10 in the second half compared to their one in the opening half.

Substitute Caolan Mooney sealed a fine win for Down with a point at the end.

Scorers for Down: Eamon Brown 1-2 (1f), Ruari O’Hare 1-1, Ryan McGill, Patrick Brooks 1-0 each, Ronan Burns 0-3 (‘45, 1tpf), Shane Annett, Odhran Murdock, Miceal Rooney, Pat Havern (f), Caolan Mooney 0-2 each, Jamie Doran, Órán Cunningham 0-1 each.

Scorers for Longford: Dessie Reynolds 1-2 (1tp), Oran Kenny 0-5 (1tpf), Joseph Hagan 0-3 (1tp), Peter Lynn, Matthew Flynn, Paddy Mora, Dylan Farrell (f), Aaron Farrell 0-1 each.

Down: Ronan Burns; Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Eamon Brown; Patrick Brooks, Shane Annett, Ryan McGill; Tom Close, Odhran Murdock; Daniel Guiness, Ceilum Doherty, Miceal Rooney; Ruairi McCormack, Pat Havern, Ruari O’Hare.

Subs: Caolan Mooney for Close (HT), Callum Rogers for McGill (47), Jamie Doran for Annett (52), Órán Cunningham for McCormack (55), Tom McCarroll for O’Hare (66).

Longford: Eoin McGuinness; Patrick Fox, Niall Farrelly, Bryan Masterson; Peter Lynn, Oisin O’Toole, Cian Brady; Conor Smith, Daire
Duggan; Matthew Flynn, Joseph Hagan, Daniel Reynolds; Paddy Moran, Dylan Farrell, Oran Kenny.

Subs: Aaron Farrell for Farrell (46), Dessie Reynolds for Farrelly (49), Gavin Farrelly for Daniel Reynolds and Matthew Carey for Flynn
(56).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)