Longford down the Dubs, Cork rule in clash with the Kingdom
A SECOND-HALF goal from Keelin McGann ensured that Longford successfully defended their
O’Byrne Cup title with a 1-12 to 0-9 win over Dublin in Portlaoise.
It was Longford’s third victory in the Leinster pre-season competition in the last five years, but Paddy Christie will hope that they get more momentum off this success than 12 months ago, when their regular season went into such a tailspin they were relegated to Division 4.
However, beating Dublin was sugared for Christie by the fact that Dessie Farrell started a team a third of whom had championship experience – including Colm Basquel. But it had little impact as Longford led at the interval by 0-8 to 0-3.
And when McGann found the net in the 44th minute, there was no way back for the All-Ireland champions.
Meanwhile, Cork’s stand-in goalkeeper Patrick Doyle ensured Kerry paid the penalty in an end-ofgame shoot-out to win the McGrath Cup at Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.
After Munster’s Old Firm rivals finished in 1-14 apiece, Mark Cronin kicked the match-winning penalty to seal the victory.
But it was Doyle – in the team while Micheal Aodh Martin continues his rehab from a groin injury – whose impact was definitive.
He stood up to shoot home Cork’s penalty and then found a huge save to deny Darragh Roche, which – allied to Micheal Burns sending his effort over the bar – was enough to swing the initiative in the shoot-out towards the hosts.
Kerry had looked the more likely for long periods as, aided by a Dylan Geaney goal, they led at the interval by 1-7 to 0-7.
And even with Cork replied with a third quarter strike of their own, a mid-strength Kerry selection looked set for victory when they edged ahead towards the death before Cork sub Darragh Cashman kicked a point in injury time to take it to a shoot-out.