O’Brien pulls strings to seal Cup for Longford

LONGFORD 0-11 WICKLOW ‘B’ 0-10 KEHOE CUP FINAL

A SPIRITED team performance by Longford helped them to a onepoint victory over Wicklow at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park yesterday.

Under extremely testing weather conditions, the midlanders edged out their Leinster counterparts to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the closing stages of this highly entertaining encounter.

Despite trailing for long periods, the midlanders displayed plenty of grit and determination and proved worthy winners.

Wicklow travelled down to Longford minus the services of a number of their regular starters. They had already featured for their county in the Walsh Cup and so were not allowed to play in this competition.

Despite this ruling they were still confident they would be able to overcome the Longford men, who ply their trade one division below the Garden County.

Longford’s midfield general Joe O’Brien, who just returned to the squad after a long-term injury, turned back the clock for the blue and gold. He fired over four terrific points from open play and kept his team in contention for long periods.

Wicklow, meanwhile, will be disappointed with their overall performance. The visitors were in front until the final 10 minutes, but the sending off of cornerforward James Cranley with just 15 minutes remaining was a major turning point that firmly titled the balance of favour in Longford’s direction.

Their star players Christy Moorehead and George O’Brien found the majority of scores for their side in the first-half, but after the break the home side took firm control and fully deserved their victory.

SCORES – Longford: J O’Brien 0-4, C Mullane 0-4 (2f), D Duggan, J Casey, P Walsh 0-1 each. Wicklow: C Moorehouse 0-3 (2f), G O’Brien, J Cranley 0-2 each, J Connors (45), E McCormack 0-1, L Evans 0-1 each

LONGFORD: C Gallagher 7; A Sheridan 6, G Moore 6, P Corcoran 7; K Murray 7, B Hanley 7, S Hannon 7; J O’Brien 8, P Walsh 6; P Barden 6, S Staklum 6, D Duggan 6; D Connell 6, C Mullane 6, J Leonard 6. Subs: J Casey 6 for P Barden 21st, R Murray 6 for J Leonard 42nd, PJ Masterson 6 for S Stskelum 51st, J Leonard for S Hannon 59th, S Staklum for A Sheridan 59th,

WICKLOW: C McNally 6, D Maloney 6, B Cuddihy 6, P Keane 6; J Connors 7, J Henderson 6, P O’Brien 6; D Staunton

6, J Doyle 7; E McCormack 6, G Connors 6, L Evans 6; C Moorehouse 7, G O’Brien 7, J Cranley 7 Subs: M Connors 6 for L Evan 43rd, E Kearns 6 for G Connors.

REF – J Kennedy (Kilkenny)