Longford v Laois - Leinster SFC 20 May 2012

seafoid · May 20, 2012, 05:35:43 PM

Quote from: Shamrock Shore on May 20, 2012, 05:20:06 PM
Can I apologise for my earlier apology? More anon

Enjoy the Sunday Game and savour the papers tomorrow morning.

Billys Boots · May 20, 2012, 05:57:16 PM

Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on May 20, 2012, 04:59:56 PM
Goal for Laois ruled out for a square ball! Clancy in the square from a free.

Poetic justice for getting shafted in Tullamore three years ago.

Billys Boots · May 20, 2012, 05:58:26 PM

Quote from: seafoid on May 20, 2012, 05:06:40 PM
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on May 20, 2012, 04:11:02 PM
I apologise for maybe giving the impression we were any use! Awful first half effort!
o ye of little faith. C
ome on the larries for a repeat of the 68 summer of love.

Cut out the romance stuff.

mayogodhelpus@gmail.com · May 20, 2012, 06:01:50 PM

I said before earlier in the year, Longford are defo a decent team and have established themselves among the mid-table teams. Good win for them, onwards and upwards.

seafoid · May 20, 2012, 07:14:12 PM

Quote from: Billys Boots on May 20, 2012, 05:57:16 PM
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on May 20, 2012, 04:59:56 PM
Goal for Laois ruled out for a square ball! Clancy in the square from a free.

Poetic justice for getting shafted in Tullamore three years ago.

Never forgive. Never forget.

The Boy Wonder · May 20, 2012, 07:19:35 PM

Congrats Longford. I'm glad I was there for the simple reason that it proves Laois are going nowhere with current system so I'm more disillusioned than disappointed. We had 3 midfielders in forward line plus Billy Sheehan - in hindsight Tierney, Cahillane and Conway should have started - all genuine forwards.

Shamrock Shore · May 20, 2012, 09:08:51 PM

At half time all I could see was curtains. 0-09 to 0-03 down and playing awful. No midfield and no penetration bar one or two Paul Barden moments that were close but not close enough. Granted there was a breeze that we would have in the second half but nobody around me thought that this would be of any advantage.

Longford came out with pure hunger in the second half. Someone likened it to us playing league football in the first and championship in the second. We hustled and harried and put it up to Laois. Laois picked up 5 or so yellow cards in the second half, Longford picked up none. Longford scored 1-07, Laois scored 0-03. Possession in the second half was prob Laois 60% Longford 40%.

It was a great relief to win - just to get a Leinster win and a win over Laois finally after 44 years. Laois will have a fair few questions after this one. Some of their wides in the second half were shocking.

Crowd were in good spirits. Pearse Park looked well.
Ref was ok - no complaints. was right to disallow Laois 'goal'. But I would say that, wouldn't I.

Wexford now in Croke Park in two weeks. Can't wait.

panc56 · May 21, 2012, 09:02:39 AM

Wow, how many times over the last 20 years would a Longford team down by 6 points at half time been hammered by another 10 points in the 2nd half. The times they are changing! The team on show yesterday, expect to win big games now ; thats a huge difference. How important it is to have a united squad, when you see Kelly & McCormack coming in knowing exactly what they need to do.
If they can get another victory against Wexford then they really are going places. Wexford though are a better team than Laois, especially in the championship , they have been next after Dublin & Kildare in the province for a couple of years , so its a step up from Laois. That said I think Croke Park really suits our boys. One thing to work on for the next day is our kickouts - the clearly need to start working on this area vefore the next day.
Get Up The Larries!

Shamrock Shore · May 21, 2012, 12:59:25 PM

Agree Panc56. I've seen Longford fold so many times - too many to remember. That Leinster 88 semi final is a case in point. So much so that the then Longford manager, Brendan Hackett (who went on to manage Offaly), decided to write a book about it. Not on the game, per se, but on the mental attitude, rabbit in headlights etc that he saw that day.

If this was a Longford team of 10-15 years ago then the final score yesterday would have been closer to the 1994 one I recall with horrid clarity (Laois 4-15 Longford 2-04, with Longford's two goals coming in the last 5 minutes as Laois were warming down, drinking the tay, having a smoke etc)

A Longford v Louth Leinster semi final?

LaurelEye · May 21, 2012, 02:40:29 PM

It was a bit reminiscent of the league match against Roscommon, where we looked dead and buried for the first 45 minutes, only to claw our way back and overtake them at the end.

Having said that, Laois have no-one to blame but themselves. If their forwards had been on the grassy knoll in Dallas, JFK would be alive and well today and still riding Marilyn Monroe.

panc56 · May 21, 2012, 02:41:02 PM

I can't see Louth beating Dublin , which is just aswell as we have such a horrible record against them. Mind you we have a horrible record against most teams in Leinster but I'd love if these players got the opportunity to play the best in Croke Park in a Lenister semi-final with the Hill in full song, intimidating, but I dont think these players would get too bothered about it.Beating Wexford will be a huge achievement. They have been a serious championship outfit these last few years.

Syferus · May 21, 2012, 03:01:08 PM

You'd always be wary playing a team a third time in a couple months but if you can win two you can win three. Brilliant to see Longford making strides.

Qwerty28 · May 21, 2012, 08:36:00 PM

Think the fact that this was the first championship match in years where there was a level of expectation on the team to perform
and win really effected the first half showing. Crowd was very disheartened and I honestly couldnt see where or how we were going to get back into it, even though the annoying part was that Laois were not a good side....some terrible wides etc.

But the early goal was obviously vital and it must be said we managed to cut through the middle a few times to create shot in front of the posts.
Some show by Micky Quinn, a huge drivng influence and a leader, the equaliser was a wonderful score confidence flowed back into the side as second half wore on, for example, Kavanaghs score from the right to go two up was a sign that belief was there.

Absolutely thrilled with the victory, as Shamrock said it goes some way to making up for some hidings down the year, remember being half way home from Portlaosie in 94 before game was over! Looking at Croke Park today from the office brought a smile to my face every time knowing we'll be in with a great shout of beating Wexford but for the time being want to savor the comeback and the victory!!