Defeat for ladies in first game of new league campaign
LONGFORD SLIGO 4-14 4-08
IN the midst of Met Eireann official weather event, it was the Sligo Ladies who bore the brunt of the Storm as a vibrant and well organised Longford team came out victors in an action-packed contest in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
It was the visitors who drew the first blood, Sligo jumping to a 1-02 to no score lead within the first five minutes, courtesy of wing forward Sarah Reynalds and corner forward Emma Keaveney, whose longrange effort found its way into the back of the Longford net.
To Longford’s credit, they remained calm and did not deviate from the strategy, despite the fact that they struggled to gain a foothold in the first quarter.
They soon corrected course however, led by wing forward Michelle Farrell, whose free kicks were paramount to drawing Longford level.
The turning point of the game came 20 minutes in to the first half, when Longford corner forward Anne McDonnell fisted the ball past goalkeeper Rachel Quigley from 15 yards out, after a nice running mover built from the back.
In the blink of an eye, the complexion of the game was turned on its head, as Longford took a 3-point lead and were very much in the ascendancy.
The teams traded scores for the next few minutes before a hammer blow was dealt to the Yeats County, when a high ball into the square from wing back Niamh Darcy found its way into the net, no doubt aided by the swirling breeze flying around Pearse Park.
Understandably Sligo went into the dressing room in a state of flux, as 30 minutes of 50/50 football had yielded them a 6-point deficit, with the conditions not conducive to a comeback.
The second half started with a bang, and the first signifi- cant score of the second half coming from centre forward Lauren Boles, whose solo effort resulted in the ball flying into the back of the net.
That score looked to be the shock that this game needed and was a sign of things to come.
Unfortunately, Longford quickly retook control of the game, and methodically knocking over points to keep Sligo at arm’s length, before substitute Caoimhe Lohan and full forward Aisling Greene added two more goals in quick succession put the game to bed.
Though Sligo were given some hope through goals from replacement Ciara Gorman and focal point Katie Walsh, coming on back to back plays, it was too little too late for the Sligo Ladies, as the match ended 4:14 to4:08 in favour of Longford.
The new Sligo Ladies management team can take lessons from this match, their first of the year after last week’s postponement, and will reflect ruefully on a match that will have implications for the promotion race in Division 3. Teams;
SLIGO: Rachel Quigley; Aoife Morrisroe, Grainne O’Loughlin, Jacqui Mulligan; Michelle McNamara, Ruth Goodwin, Kelly Ann Henry; Bernie Byrne, Sinead Regan; Leah Kelly, Lauren Boles (1-1), Sarah Reynolds(0-1); Emma Keavney(1-1), Katie Walsh (105), Hannah Walsh.
Subs:- Laura Ann Laffey for L Kelly (26 mins); Ciara Gorman(1-0) for E Keavney and Else Codd for H Walsh (40 mins); Noelle Gormley for R Quigley (45 mins); Karen Maloney for S Reynolds (59 mins).
Longford: Emer Esler; Rachel O’Farrell, Leanne Keegan, Mairead Moore; Mairead Reynolds, Niamh Darcy; Aisling McCormack (0-1), Ciara Healy; Michelle Farrell (1-7), Aoife Darcy (0-3), Emer Heaney (1-0); Anna McDonnell (1-0), Aisling Greene (1-3), Sarah Shannon.
Sub:- Kara Shannon for A McCormack (38 mins).