Sport

Heneghan excels as Roscommon move clear in to second spot

Division Two A/ Roscommon 0-15 Longford 0-12 : Roscommon moved into clear second place in Division Two A with a three-point …

Mon Mar 26 2007 - 01:00

Division Two A/ Roscommon 0-15 Longford 0-12: Roscommon moved into clear second place in Division Two A with a three-point win over Longford at Hyde Park yesterday.

Ger Heneghan, who scored 0-8, was in excellent form up front for Roscommon who also had impressive displays from defenders Seanie McDermott, Stuart Daly, Richard Dooner and midfielder Michael Finneran.

Longford were the sharper team in the first 20 minutes after which they led by four points but once McDermott switched over on dangerous corner-forward Brian Kavanagh the visitors' attack began to lose its way.

Roscommon worked their way back into the game with two points from frees by Heneghan and a score from play by David Hoey. However a Pauric Davis free gave Longford a 0-8 to 0-6 lead at half-time.

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Backed by the strong wind in the second half Roscommon were ahead within five minutes of the resumption with three points from Heneghan. Further points followed from Cox, Heneghan and Mannion as John Maughan's team grew in confidence. Paul Braden drilled a goal chance into the side-netting in the 47th minute and it was six minutes later before Barden got Longford's first score of the half.

Roscommon held onto their three-point lead to the end of the game with Longford unable to breach the home defence for the goal they needed. Enda Kenny, Heneghan and Mannion added further points for Roscommon while Barden and Kavanagh (two frees) replied for Longford.

Roscommon need three points from their remaining games against Leitrim and Offaly to be sure of clinching second place in the group which would guarantee them Division Two football next year. Longford must beat Carlow and Clare in their remaining matches and hope Roscommon slip up.

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S Purcell, A McDermott, S McDermott; S Daly, J Nolan, R Dooner; S O'Neill (0-1), M Finneran; G Cox (0-2, one free), K Mannion (0-2), J Tiernan; D Hoey (0-1), G Heneghan (0-8, six frees), C Cregg. Subs: R Kelly for Purcell (21 mins), E Kenny (0-1)for Cregg (59 mins), C Devaney for Hoey (63 mins), D Keenan for Tiernan (70 mins).

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Blessington, N Farrell; L Keenan, D Hanniffy; K Smith (0-2, frees), P Barden (0-3), T Smullen; D Barden, P Davis (0-4, 2f, one 45), B Kavanagh (0-3, two frees). Subs: G Dennigan for Blessington (half-time), K Mulligan for Smullen (43 mins), N Sheridan for Davis (54 mins), E Ledwith for Brady (57 mins).

Referee: J McQuillan(Cavan).