Gaelic Games

Leinster U-21 FC: Longford breeze past outclassed Wicklow

Wicklow only scored three points in the first half and they were all frees

Conor Shields: scored one of Longford’s four goals against Wicklow last night. Photograph: Inpho.
Conor Shields: scored one of Longford’s four goals against Wicklow last night. Photograph: Inpho.
Wed Feb 25 2015 - 22:40

Longford 4-13, Wicklow 1-5: Longford completely swept aside Wicklow's feeble challenge in their opening Leinster U21 Championship game.

Aided by a strong wind, Longford dominated the first half though Wicklow had chances to put more scores on the board.

Larry Moran was Longford main threat in that half and he scored his side’s first goal in the 10th minute capitalising on a mistake by Wicklow keeper Andy Murphy.

Wicklow only scored three points in the first half and they were all frees; David Boothman (two) and Thomas Donohoe as they trailed at the break by seven points.

READ MORE

Longford got a second goal in the 34th minute when corner back Conor Shields got up to shoot past Murphy. Seven minutes later they raised the green flag again when Liam Connerton passed to Rory Connor and he palmed it to the net.

Connerton then got his side’s fourth goal in the 45th minute and followed up with a point to extend the lead to 16 points.

Wicklow’s first score of the second half was a goal from corner forward Marc Lennon in the 53rd minute but Longford finished the game strongly with points from Connor, Andrew Dalton and a free from Moran.

LONGFORD: C Farrell; R Sweeney, A Farrell, C Shields (1-0); L Sullivan, C Farrelly, D Reynolds (0-1); F Sheridan, A Dalton (0-2); R McNerney, E Noonan, S Kenny ( 0-1, f); L Moran (1-4,3f), P Kiernan (0-1), L Connerton (1-1 ). Subs: R Connor ( 1-1) for Noonan (19), D McGivney for Kiernan (39), K Farrell (0-2) for Sheridan (45), P Farrell for McNerney (51), M Gorman for Sullivan (52), M Mulligan for A Farrell (57). WICKLOW: A Murray; B Finan, J Kavanagh, E Kelly; J Crowe (0-1), D Lohan, C Hatton; D Boothman (0-2,fs ), T Donohoe (0-1,f); D Henderson (0-1), P Ellis, P Phelan; C French, J Delahunt, M Lennon (1-0). Subs: E Marah for Kelly (24), C Healy for Finan (ht), M O’Connor for Ellis (34), S McGraynor for Donohoe (36), S O’Brien for Kavanagh (44), P. O’Connor for Phelan (51). Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).