Longwood 0-20 Killyon 2-19

Longwood’s senior hurlers suffered defeat to their neighbours from Killyon in the second round of the senior hurling championship in a balmy Boardsmill on Saturday evening.

It will be a bitter pill for Longwood to swallow having led for most of the contest but credit must go to Killyon who scored 1-3 without response in the final four minutes of the game.  While the five-point winning margin certainly flattered Killyon, when goal-scoring opportunities were presented to both teams, the men in red & green displayed a more clinical edge.

Longwood were quick to settle and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead with six minutes on the clock. The Healy brothers were causing problems for the Killyon defence and Sean Coloe looked to have his radar on with a trademark point from distance. 

The teams would match each other pretty much score for score over the remainder of the opening period.  Killyon’s experienced campaigners Keith Keoghan and David Raleigh became more prominent, but Longwood were able to counter thanks to some excellent points from Sean Coloe and Kevin Heagney. 

The advantage had been pushed out to four points by half-time and Longwood fully deserved their 0-13 to 0-9 lead.

The one black spot was the forced substitution of the injured Adam Leacy who had started the game well.  Malachy Fisher came on and the enforced reshuffle saw Bob Maguire move from midfield back to the full back line.  Maguire had been particularly industrious in the opening exchanges and his absence from the engine room was significant. 

The opening minutes of the second half saw the teams trade points, a good score from James Connolly countered by an equally impressive point from Conor Dixon.

The next fifteen minutes saw lots of typical championship endeavour from both teams, every ball fought for with absolute determination but scores were at a premium.  Frees from Anthony Healy and Keith Keoghan kept the scoreboard ticking, albeit slowly.

With just over ten minutes remaining, Longwood remained three points clear but a Paddy Coyne point followed by a Dylan Farrell goal turned the game on it’s head and gave Killyon the lead for the first time.

Longwood’s response was swift and impressive, scoring four of the next six points courtesy of two Anthony Healy frees and a point apiece from Kevin Heagney and substitute Karl Ennis. Sadly, despite having a couple of late goal chances, they were unable to add any further scores while their opponents tagged on 1-3, the goal from Keith Keoghan coming at the very death.

Longwood: Mark Kennedy, Adam Leacy, Mickey Burke (0-1), Ross Kerrigan, Conor Dixon (0-1), Joey Stenson, Brian Stagg, Bob Maguire, Sean Coloe (0-5), Kevin Heagney (0-2), Damien Healy, Gavin Griffith, David Coloe, Ryan Moore (0-1), Anthony Healy (0-9).  Subs: Malachy Fisher for Adam Leacy, Karl Ennis (0-1) for David Coloe,  Enda Dixon, Fionn Hannon, Kevin Maguire, Kieran Murtagh, Ben McLoughlin, Adam Peacock.

So disappointment for Longwood who will feel this was one that got away.  But there is no time to dwell on what might have been, and maybe that is a good thing. Na Fianna will be waiting in the long grass for what promises to be another ferocious battle next Sunday afternoon in Rathmolyon. 

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