Longwood delivered their best performance of the season in a highly entertaining encounter with St Pat’s in Ratoath on Saturday evening.

Going into the game Longwood knew it was possible to finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd or even 4th in this most competitive of groups.  They also knew that qualification would require some favours elsewhere.  Alas they were not forthcoming. 

That they were denied a deserved victory by way of a two-pointer on the last play of the game (identical to what happened last year in the final group game against Oldcastle) was a cruel blow.  While it wouldn’t have been enough to see them through, the boys deserved to win the game.

The game started in frantic fashion, an early Adrian Maguire point giving Longwood the lead.  From the resultant kick-out, St Pat’s broke up field and a piercing run from the dangerous Donal Landy resulted in the ball being fed to wing back Senan McKeon who finished it to the net.  

An early gut punch for Longwood but they maintained their composure and responded well.  An excellent two-point free from Billy Hogan brought the sides level with five minutes on the clock.

 A minute later Longwood raised their first green flag and what a goal it was.  After a series of lateral passes, Sean Coloe spied a gap in the St Pat’s defensive line.  A precise kick pass found Ciaran Sheridan on one of his attacking forays; Sheridan returned the compliment to the onrushing Coloe who took the ball in his stride before drilling a low shot to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.  Longwood led by three, a fair reflection on their excellent start.

Credit to St Pat’s who responded with a couple of points from the Landy brothers before Billy Hogan raised a second orange (surely his favourite colour!) flag with a prodigious kick from all of fifty metres.  This was quickly followed by an excellent point from young Cian Swan, making his first championship start, and Longwood led by four points.

St Pat’s enjoyed their best spell of the game in the closing ten minutes of the opening half, kicking five points to just a solitary pointed free from Longwood’s Sean Sheridan.  

The teams retired to the dressing rooms at half-time with nothing between them.

Half-time:  Longwood 1-7 St Pat’s 1-7

The second half started in similar fashion to the first with Longwood dominating the possession stakes in the early minutes.  However, they failed to convert this possession into scores and they would rue this as the men from Stamullen kicked three consecutive points to take a seemingly commanding lead with twenty minutes to play.  

Longwood full back, Dominic Finnegan (a gift from the Kingdom) decided enough was enough and embarked on one of his trademark swashbuckling runs through the heart of the St Pat’s defence.  While the Kerry man’s shot was ultimately deflected away to safety, it seemed to ignite his team mates.  

Within a couple of minutes, the teams were level again.  Another period of Longwood possession saw Gavin Griffith and Ryan Moore, who had joined the action despite a knee injury, combine before Moore launched a shot in the direction of the posts.  While the kick fell short of its intended destination, Billy Hogan reacted quickly to pick the pocket of the St Pat’s corner back before rifling the ball to the net.  A poacher’s finish from a player more accustomed to stopping them!

St Pat’s responded and an excellent crossfield pass put midfielder John Mannion through on goals.  Mannion’s goal bound shot was parried by Anthony Healy who reacted quickly to also divert the ensuing rebound out to safety.  An excellent double save at a critical juncture from the Longwood keeper.

Soon after Longwood took the lead when new dad Tomás O’Brien, bright as a button despite nappy changes and night feeds, worked a one-two before kicking a fine point off his left foot. 

The following kick out was spilled in the middle of the field; in such situations there are few better than Damo Healy to secure possession and as always, he was up to the task.  But winning the ball was not going to satisfy Damo, instead he looked up before delivering a perfect pass to Sean Coloe who took on and beat the St Pat’s full back before unleashing a powerful shot past the helpless keeper.   The Healy – Coloe combination in full flow!

In fairness to St Pat’s, they refused to wilt and a couple of Donal Landy frees reduced the deficit to two points as the clock ticked into injury time.  

Amazingly over six minutes of injury was played and despite managing these minutes well, Longwood were to be stung by a late late two-pointer from Darren Hagan. 

Final score: Longwood 3-9 St Pat’s 1-15

Longwood: Anthoy Healy, Coyle O’Brien, Dominic Finnegan, Harry Leigh, Adrian Maguire (0-1), Ciaran Sheridan, Cian Swan (0-1), Harry Hogan (Capt), Tomás O’Brien (0-1), Damien Healy, Sean Coloe (2-0), Billy Hogan (1-4), Gavin Griffith, Mark Kennedy, Sean Sheridan (0-1). Subs: Ryan Moore (0-1) for Sean Sheridan, Ronan Greene for Mark Kennedy, Cian O’Sullivan, Conor M Dixon, Sean Carpenter, Liam Foran.

So disappointment for a Longwood team that were playing a championship game for the sixth consecutive weekend.  Despite the result, the players can take great pride in their performance, one which their supporters will have been equally proud of.  The leadership of Damien Healy and Sean Coloe shone throughout the game, and they were ably supported by Billy Hogan and Ciaran Sheridan to name but two.  

While it must be noted that St Pat’s were missing Jamie Murphy, a massive scoring threat, Longwood were minus the services of two of our brightest young stars in Brian Stagg (ACL) and Conor Dixon (hamstring).  

Huge credit must go to the Longwood management team of Eoghan Kevlihan and Joe Corroon who took the reins before the start of the league and have shown tremendous commitment and dedication to the club over the season.  Despite missing county players for most of the league, and a seemingly endless list of unfortunate injuries, the coaches remained positive and resilient, in true Longwood style, and worked with the players at their disposal to secure our status in both league and championship.  The team repaid their efforts in spades yesterday.  

Well done to all…………….Maigh Dearmhaí abú!!