IFC Group C – Round 3: Longwood v Ballivor

Are Longwood that bad? Are Ballivor that good? If you look at the overall results within the group, the answer to both questions would appear to be No.

But on the day that mattered, there can be absolutely no doubt that Ballivor were the better team and thoroughly deserved their comprehensive victory.

Ballivor signalled their intent from the outset and scored the opening point within 30 seconds. It was a lead they would never give up.

A goal from corner forward Nicky Potterton put them 1-6 to 0-2 ahead after fifteen minutes and the writing was on the wall.

Just a couple of minutes later Longwood, to their credit, did respond with a Thomas Coloe goal, the corner forward showing his marker a clean pair of heels before finishing neatly to the net. But it proved to be a false dawn with Ballivor finishing the half strongly and bagging another goal to take an eight-point lead to the interval.

Half-time: Longwood 1-3 Ballivor 2-8

The second half followed a similar pattern with the men in maroon on top for much of the half hour. Billy Hogan defiantly broke a run of scores with a well taken goal, but Ballivor controlled the remainder of the game and ran out comfortable winners.

Full-time: Longwood 2-4 Ballivor 4-16

Longwood: Kevin Maguire, Adam Leacy, Niall Mulvey, Ross Kerrigan, Ciaran Sheridan, Bob Maguire (Capt.), Fearghal O’Hare, Billy Hogan (1-1), Sean Coloe, Gavin Griffith, Mickey Burke, Sean Sheridan, Ryan Moore (0-3), Anthony Healy, Thomas Coloe (1-0). Subs: Jacob Baldwin for Mulvey, Cathal Campbell for Leacy, Mark Kennedy for Healy, Josh Meagher, Coyle O’Brien, Dean Keogh, David Coloe.

So, a poor day for Longwood. While every club endures days like these, it is of little consolation to the players who tried hard for little return. But they are well aware there is no time to feel sorry for themselves. Despite the inevitable fatigue, the fact that there is another fixture (hurling) next weekend may help the players to quickly consign this weekend to the bin and look forward to a new challenge.

These are proud Longwood men, and we look forward to the backlash next Saturday!