Longford Slashers Land Intermediate Title
Longford Slashers Land Intermediate Title
November 13, 2022
Longford Slashers Land Intermediate Title
Longford Slashers 3-10
Skryne 3-06
By Dónal Fitzpatrick
Jessica Barry converted 2-05 while Orla Nevin shone in defence as Longford Slashers landed the Leinster IFC Club title in front of a large crowd in Coralstown Kinnegad on Sunday afternoon. Beaten in last year's Intermediate Final, Longford Slashers led by a single point at the break and were the better side in the second half to ensure their win.
The opening ten minutes of the first half started at frantic pace. Longford Slashers’ Grace Kenny floated a beautiful cross-field pass to Kyana Lee to tap over for the opening score. Slashers tagged on two more points through Kate Shannon and Jessica Barry to take an early three-point lead.
This woke the Meath champs up and they raised two green flags in quick succession. The first a pointed effort from the boot of Ciara Smyth with a high ball that dropped short deceiving the Slashers’ keeper Emer Barry dropping under the crossbar, followed swiftly by a second green flag from Amy O Dowd.
A long range point from Slashers’ Kara Shannon was sandwiched between a further two goals through Slashers’ Lee and after a great driving run from Skryne’s Amy O Dowd giving the pass for Ciara Smyth to shoot low to the left. After the frantic opening, Skryne led by two points.
Both sides traded scores before the half’s fifth goal arrived courtesy of Jessica Barry after great work from Grace Shannon. The sides would trade points again, but it was the Longford champs that would lead at the break by the slenderest of margins, 2-08 to 3-04.
The 2nd half didn’t have the same intensity with scores as both sides looked to rectify their loose defences of the opening half. Skryne put bodies behind the ball looking to disrupt the Longford sides rhythm as wave after wave of attack came at them producing a pointed free from Kate Shannon.
While the Meath champs needed to score, they were dealt a blow when they were reduced to fourteen with Ciara Smyth sent to the sin bin after an awkward challenge and the resulting free from Barry saw her side lead by three points.
Despite their best efforts, Skryne could not break through a resolute Slashers defence and the three point margin became six after a lung bursting run right at the heart of the Skryne defence from Grace Shannon as she fed the ball into Barry who initially looked as if she coughed up the chance having to twist, skip and turn from defenders, she shot low to the net to rapturous applause from the Longford supporters.
As is expected from Royal sides, the Skryne sides heads didn’t drop they battled hard to the final whistle to try wrestle back the momentum in their favour but alas could only manage reduce the margin to four with points from Roisin McManus with a free and a monstrous effort from substitute Ruth Moore. While the last attacking efforts were from Skryne, Longford Slashers did enough to hang on and claim the Leinster title.
Longford Slashers will now play Charlestown of Mayo in the All Ireland semi-final in a fortnight’s time.
Scorers: Longford Slashers: J Barry 2-05 (5f), K Lee 1-01, Kate Shannon 0-03 (1f), Kara Shannon 0-01.
Skryne: C Smyth 2-01, A O’Dowd 1-01, C Keogan 0-01, E Murphy 0-01 (1f), R McManus 0-01 (1f), R Moore 0-01.
Longford Slashers: Emer Casey, Laura Kenny, Emily Reilly, Grace Kenny, Orla Nevin, Eimear O Brien, Clare Farrell, Aoife O Brien, Aisling Cosgrove (C), Lisa Nolan, Grace Shannon, Kyana Lee, Kate Shannon, Jessica Barry, Kara Shannon.
Subs: J Glennon for Lee (55), Oyinda Sotunbo, Adrienne Mulligan, Grace O Donnell, Shauna Reilly, Lara O Connor, Isabelle Sweeney, Ciara Smith, Caoilainn Morgan, Rachel Briody, Aileen Briody, Kate O Connell, Maya O Toole, Maggie McGuire.
Skryne: Rachel Whelan, Ciara Cowley, Steffi Finnegan, Alanna Cooney, Nicola O Reilly Captain, Lisa Browne, Niamh O Brien, Catriona Keogan, Elizabeth Morland, Samantha Clarke, Amy O Dowd, Fiona O Rourke, Ellie Murphy, Ciara Smyth, Roisin McManus.
Subs: Sophie Finnegan for Murphy (46), Ruth Moore for Cooney (55), Aoife McLoughlin, Aillish Lenehan, Laura Mangan, Niamh Cowley, Caragh Conway, Ava Purcell, Miriam Hayden, Emma Loftus, Aisling O Connor, Destiny Carter.
Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).
Photo Credit: Aisling Clery