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Laois Under 21's Win Leinster Title

  • 03-04-2006 7:12pm
    #1
    Mossin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,219 ✭✭✭


    Laois 0-9 Longford 0-7

    Longford U-21 footballers came very so close on Sunday last at Pearse Park to making history, and winning the U-21 Leinster Football Championship. The Longford team fought so bravely against a well drilled Laois side in front of about seven thousand supporters but did themseleves proud with a battling display and were very unlucky in the end.

    Longford, with the aid of a stiff breeze in the first half when scoring into the town goals, got off to a good start when Brian Kavanagh point a close range free after being pulled down by marker Mark Timmons after two minutes.

    Laois had to wait four minutes for their first score but what a free flowing move it was. Brendan Quigley fielded a marvellous ball from a Laois kick out, hit centre forward Chris Bergin who in turn fed lively corner forward Colm Kelly who in turn slotted over an excellent score.

    Longford were dealt a major blow on ten minutes when Sean McCormack suffered a suspected broken coller bone but the man who came in for the Killoe lad, Enda Gallagher, made an instant impact when knocking over a fine score after a good run from Padraig Berry, less than two minutes after being introduced.

    Longford hitman Brian Kavangh followed up Gallagher’s effort when he pointed a close range free after sixteen minutes and leave his side ahead by two.

    Laois recored the next three scores of this pulsating final when firstly full forward Colm Kelly (namesake of the Laois corner forward) popped over a good point after reacting quickest to the breaking ball. Eleven minutes later Michael Tierney was next up who slotted over a close range free and pull the sides level after twenty eight minutes of play.

    Peter McNulty’s point was the pick of the match. The Laois captain picked the ball up at midfield, rounded Barry Gilleran and lashed over with the outside of his boot and in turn put his side ahead for the first time and close the first half on the scoreline of 0-4 to 0-3.

    Longford started the second half with real mence and determation and were ahead again after eight minutes of the second half courtsey of Brian Kavanagh. His first was a close range free in front of the posts and the second was just to the left of the post but from the same distance of about 21 yards.

    Laois hit back though with three points on the trot and put them ahead by two points. Michael Tierney slotted over a close range free before the scorer became the provided and he supplied the knock down for Donnie Brennan who duly obligied and kicked straight over the black spot.

    The third was a super effort from David Murphy who launched a massive effort which sailed over the bar from about 45 yards to leave Longford trailing by two points with ten minutes remaining.

    Longford fought back though and drew level through Paddy Dowd and Francis McGee. Dowd’s effort was an excellent point after collecting a pass off Francis McGee and firing over from a difficult angle. McGee’s leveller was right out of the top drawer when he spinned and popped over a great score to pull the sides level for the fifth time after fifty four minutes of commited action.

    Laois then broke Longford hearts when they landed two unanswered points. Colm Kelly was first to point from close range and Michael Tierney picked up a breaking ball and fire over and end the game with Laois running out deserveded winners by two points.

    LONGFORD: Damien O’Connor (Abbeylara); Noel Farrell (Colmcille), Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers), Kevin Moran (Carrickedmond); Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta), Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard), Peter Foy (Cashel); Bernard McElvaney (Ballymore), Enda Farrell (Colmcille); Kevin Smith (Abbeylara), Paddy Dowd (Clonguish, 0-1), Padraig Berry (Abbeylara); Sean McCormack (Killoe), Brian Kavanagh (St. Patrick’s, 0-4, all from frees), Francis McGee (Dromard, 0-1).
    SUBS USED:- Enda Gallagher (Drumlish, 0-1) for S. McCormack (injured, 10 mins); Colm Flynn (Ballymahon) for E. Farrell (injured, 34 mins);

    LAOIS: Conor Gorman; Cahir Healy, Mark Timmons, Brian Meredith; Graig Rogers, Cathal Ryan, Peter O’Leary; Brendan Quigley, David Murphy (0-1); Donal Brennan (0-1), Chris Bergin, Peter McNulty (0-1); Michael Tierney (0-3, two from frees), Colm Kelly (0-2), Colm Kelly (0-1).
    SUBS USED:- Niall Donagher for Peter O’Leary (54 mins)


    So a good start to the year for Laois footballers it seems, with an Under 21 Leinster in the bag, and aiming for a place in the semi-finals of the NFL, things are looking good. Those young footballers were part of the successful Minor All-Ireland winning team of 3 years ago, and it was just a natural progression which saw them overcome this Longford team.
    Hopefully some more of them can push for the Senior panel and if that happens who knows what could happen in the future of Laois football.:rolleyes:


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