Clonguish produced a second-half comeback to down Longford Slashers opening their 2023 Longford senior championship campaign with victory.
Clonguish scoring a six point win, 1-14 to 11 points in Emmet Park, Killoe. However, Clonguish upped the ante in the second-half to down Slashers.
Slashers led at half-time by two points. Even though, looking leg heavy, Slashers controlled the game for periods in the opening half.
Philip Dobson cancelled out Ronan Sweeney’s first opener on four minutes. While, Matthew Carey kicked his first point of an impressive eight on nine minutes to restore Clonguish’s lead.
A Robert Clarke free and Dobson’s second point had Slashers ahead at the halves mid-way point. David Barden levelled the game on 23 minutes.
Two points in a minute including a Dobson free and Andrew Dalton from play had Slashers two up five minutes from half-time. Robert Clarke made it a three point game three minutes later.
Matthew Flynn reduced the arrears just before half-time, before Ronan Sheahan responded for Slashers.
A Matthew Carey free four minutes into first-half injury time saw Slashers lead seven points to five at the break.
Clonguish with second-half response
Carey and Sheahan exchanged points three minutes after the restart, just as Clonguish went up a gear. Frees from Carey and Michael Flynn had the game level on 39 minutes.
Two minutes later the game’s only goal arrived and it arrived into the Longford Slashers net.
Carey’s attempted reverse drop-kick from the 15 minute line appeared to fall short. Out of nowhere jumped Christopher Gordon to claim the ball and slide it under Slashers keeper David Sheahan into the net.
Slashers responded quickly with a Ronan Sheahan point, but the wind had visibly left their sails.
The impressive Conor Smith produced a sweet point, followed by a Carey free as Clonguish led 1-10 to 0-9.
Peter Lynn tried to pull Slashers back into it with an excellently taken 30 metre point from play on 51 minutes. Carey again responded from play. Ronan Sheahan sent over what proved to be Slashers final score of the game, three minutes from time.
While two Carey frees and a Matthew Flynn point put the gloss on the six points win. Clonguish winning out 1-14 to 0-11.
Elsewhere, Abbeylara opened their Peter Hanley Motors Longford SFC campaign with a six point win over Carrickedmond 1-10 to 1-4.
Bookies favourites St. Columba’s Mullinalaghta had a seven point win over Rathcline. Mullinalaghta winning out 3-11 to 1-10. While Granard also found the net three times to beat Ballymahon 3-14 to nine points.
Scorers: Clonguish: Matthew Carey 0-8 (5f), Matthew Flynn 0-2, Christopher Gordon 1-0, David Barden, Ronan Sweeney, Michael Flynn, Conor Smith 0-1 each.
Longford Slashers: Ronan Sheehan 0-4, Philip Dobson 0-3 (1f), Robert Clarke 0-2 (1f), Andrew Dalton, Peter Lynn 0-1 each.
Read how Killoe beat Comcille on Friday night.
Tonights game in the Longford SFC #longfordgaa #GAA pic.twitter.com/4GQGtG1EZr
— Shannonside FM (@ShannonsideFM) July 29, 2023
