Hurlers suffer big defeat on the road
sight of Wicklow players not afraid to trust their attacking instincts was pleasing to say the least.
Newtown’s Mark Fitzsimons was introduced after 23 for Conor McGraynor and the Newtown man went on to have a fine game in the middle of the field.
The wides and missed opportunities continued for both sides with Anthony McLoughlin dropping short at one end and Longford firing wide from a free at the other.
A moment of magic followed. Ross O’Brien showed his class when he worked the ball cleverly out of his defence before picking out Conor Healy with a superb ball. Healy then launched a missile towards Gearoid Murphy that released the Annacurra man down on the Longford goal. Like a tupperware salesman in the 1980s, Murphy started selling dummies like he was on major commission.
He duped poor Michael Quinn with a devilish dummy and then proceeded to make an awful mockery of Pat Farrell before sliding home a sublime goal. It was truly a pleasure to watch.
The Annacurra salesman then won a free which Rory Finn pointed off the left before Wicklow’s shortlived two-point advantage was tagged back by a Darren Gallagher free to leave Wicklow leading by 1-3 to 1-2 at the break.
Longford upped the intensity after the restart. Mimnagh grabbed their first of the second period after three minutes, then Colm Smyth got in on the act before corner-back Darren Quinn fired over a tremendous score to make it 1-5 to 1-3 for the home side.
Conor McGraynor had been reintroduced and he reduced that deficit. Robert Lambert came to Wicklow’s rescue with a fine save from Andrew Farrell before Robbie Smyth pushed the home side back out to a two-point lead.
Chris O’Brien stopped the rot with a sensational score from a tight angle after good work from Gearoid Murphy. So unexpected was the score that the small crowd in the stand couldn’t quite believe that he had even attempted it, never mind scored it.
Good work from Fintan O’Shea saw the Éire Óg man pass to Conor McGraynor who was fouled, and Rory Finn did the needful ahead of Tom Maher entering the fray for Jamie Snell with 15 to go in the second half.
With the sides level the game was very much anyone’s for the taking. However, that wastefulness in front of goal continued to blight the game and it was a moment of magic from Robbie Smyth from a ridiculous angle that returned Longford to the front as the game entered its closing stages.
Wicklow would get one more chance from a free won by Shane Mooney who had driven up field, but Rory Finn’s effort would land well wide of the target.
A one-point defeat in what was realistically nothing more than a very good challenge game.
However, early signs are positive, there is major potential in this young squad, there is little or no fear by the looks of things and an abundance of ambition. Here’s to a very positive 2019! Scorers for Longford: Robbie Smyth 0-3, Barry McKeon 1-0, Darren Gallagher 0-1 (1f), Daniel Mimnagh 0-1, Colm P Smyth 0-1, Darren Quinn 0-1.
Scorers for Wicklow: Gearoid Murphy 1-0, Anthony Mc Loughlin 0-2 (2f), Rory Finn 0-2 (1f), Conor McGraynor 0-1, Chris O’Brien 0-1
Pat Farrell; Darren Quinn, Barry O’Farrell, Shane Donohue; Peter Lynn, Michael Quinn, Daniel Mimnagh; Darren Gallagher, Peter Hanley; Nigel Rabbitte, Ronan Mc Entire, Barry McKeon; Robbie Smyth, Aandrew Farrell, Iarla O’Sullivan. Subs: Mark Hughes for I O’Sullivan (H/T), Cillian Lee for A Farrell (45), Barry McKeon for Peter Hanley, Joseph Hagan for N Rabbitte (65).
LONGFORD: WICKLOW:
Robert Lambert; Karl Kirwan, Ross O’Brien, Jamie Snell; Conor Healy, Shane Mooney, Darragh Fitzgerald; Podge O’Toole, Conor Mc Graynor; Gearoid Murphy, Anthony McLoughlin, Rory Finn; Mark Kenny, Chris O’Brien. Patrick O’Connor. Subs: Mark Fitzsimons for C McGraynor (24), Daniel Keane for P O’Connor (34), Fintan O’Shea for C Healy (34), Conor McGraynor for A McLoughlin (42), Niall Meldon for M Kenny (45), Tom Maher for J Snell (49), Patrick O’Connor for C McGraynor (58), Cormac O’Shea for D Keane, Mark Doyle for G Murphy (70), Conor Healy for C O’Brien (70).
Niall Ward (Westmeath)
REFEREE: at Mullingar WESTMEATH WICKLOW 2-22 1-7
WESTMEATH claimed victory in the opening round of the Kehoe Cup, after an eighteen-point victory at over Wicklow.
In truth, it was a one-sided game of hurling which lacked any real intensity, although that is understandable considering it is the first round of the Kehoe Cup played in December.
Wicklow did battle hard in the opening half when playing against the breeze but faded away completely in the second period as Westmeath took control of procedures.
Westmeath opted to go with a short passing game throughout, with the Lake County game aiming to retain possession and not go with any wayward unnecessary distribution of the sliotair.
It worked well for the hosts, who also hit ten wides over the course of the game and the fact that Westmeath registered 24 scores on top of the wides is a very positive sign, as the shooting will more than likely improve come the business end of the season.
Westmeath opened the scoring with five successive points to hold a five-point advantage which was fully deserved on the balance of play.
Enda Donohoe opened Wicklow’s account with a free in the 14th minute, but Westmeath responded with two points courtesy of Allan Devine.
Robbie Greville scored the first goal of the game with 20 minutes played, with referee John O’Brien playing an excellent advantage after Allan Devine was fouled and Devine teed up Robbie Greville who finished to the net.
Wicklow responded superbly to this set-back though, with Eamonn Peter Keane of Wicklow is chased by Emmet Corrigan of Westmeath during their Kehoe Cup match
Kearns tapping over a point before the Garden County had a goal of their own.
Enda Donohoe opted to go for a goal from a 21 metre free which is not what the Westmeath defence would have expected as the ball found the bottom corner of the net.
James Cranley added a point for Wicklow which left the gap at four points with 28 minutes played and Westmeath were struggling with their own puck-outs at this juncture, although the Lake
County were playing against the wind and into the sun and Conor Lynch did very well from general play in goals.
Darragh Clinton added a point before the interval, as his side went into the break holding a 1-9 to 1-4 advantage.
It was all Westmeath in the second half, with the midland county looking impressive in certain quarters although Wicklow registered the opening score of the half.
It was a disputed score, with Luke Evans appearing to fire wide and one umpire waving wide before the other umpire put up the white flag in bizarre circumstances.
Westmeath added the next seven points to as good as kill off the game as a contest and Westmeath seemed to improve as the game went on.
Westmeath added a goal in the 69th minute, after a long pass from Noel Conaty found debutant Aaron Kennedy who finished to the back of the net.
That was the last score in what was a one-sided affair as Wicklow opened their 2019 season with an 18-point defeat.
Manager Eamonn Scallan will be hoping for a much better return this weekend against Antrim.
Scorers for Westmeath: A Devine 0-7 (2f), R Greville 1-2, D Clinton 0-5 (2f), A Kennedy 1-0,
D Reilly and B O’Mara (3f) 0-3 each, J Galvin and J Boyle 0-1 each.
Wicklow: E Donohoe 1-2 (1-0 f, 1 “65”), E Kearns, James Cranley, L Evans, G Hughes (1f) and S Kelly 0-1 each.
WESTMEATH:
Conor Lynch: Kevin Regan, Tommy Doyle, Naoise McKenna; Robbie Gillen, Aaron Craig, Shane McGovern; Phillip Reilly, Jack Galvin; Conor Shaw, Allan Devine, Darragh Reilly; Adam Ennis, Robbie Greville, Darragh Clinton. Subs: Joey Boyle for P Reilly (h-t), Emmet Corrigan for Ennis (h-t), Paddy Carroll for Lynch (h-t), Noel Conaty for McGovern (37, blood), Shane McGovern for Conaty (40, blood revers.), Noel Conaty for D Reilly (53), Barry O’Mara for Clinton (59), Aaron Kennedy for Greville (60), James Clarke for Regan (61).
Bob Fitzgerald; Martin O’Brien, Billy Cuddihy, Warren Kavanagh; Peter Keane, Stephen Kelly, Garry Byrne; Ronan Byrne, John Henderson; Jack Doyle, Eamon Kearns, Eoin McCormack; Enda Donohoe, Gavin Weir, James Cranley. Subs: Cian Staunton for B Fitzgerald (h-t), Luke Evans for G Weir (ht), Gary Hughes for J Cranley (55), Seanie Germaine for E Donohue (55), Padraig Doyle for J Doyle (58), Brian Kearney for O’Brien (58).
WICKLOW: REFEREE:
John O’Brien (Laois).