The third round of the league saw Longwood and Gaeil Colmcille battle monsoon-like conditions on Thursday evening, with the home team coming out on the right side of the scoreline.

Huge credit is due to both sets of players for serving up an entertaining game in such challenging conditions.

On the back of a heavy defeat against St Brigid’s, it was reasonable to expect some sort of backlash from the Longwood team, and they didn’t disappoint. From the moment they took the lead courtesy of a Ciaran Sheridan point, the men from south Meath assumed control. With Sean Coloe and Ryan Moore combining to great effect, the home team led by 2-2 to 0-2 after the opening quarter, both goals coming from Moore’s lethal left boot. Indeed, the lead could have been greater but for a Sean Coloe piledriver rebounding to safety off the bottom of the post.

Scores were harder to come by for the remainder of the half, partly because of the worsening conditions and partly because of the tenacious defending on display. Adrian Maguire and Tomás O’Brien were very much to the fore in this regard as they repeatedly snuffed out any potential threat from the Kells team. Two new players who have quickly settled into the Longwood team and made excellent contributions thus far.

Half-time: Longwood 2-3 Gaeil Colmcille 0-3

Longwood looked to maintain control at the start of the second half, but an unforced error saw Gaeil Colmcille win possession and within seconds the ball was in the net. The deficit was halved to just three points. How would Longwood react?

The home support, amazingly a hardy few had braved the elements, needn’t have worried. With leaders on every line, the home team stood up and were counted. Over the next seven minutes they tagged on 1-3, two points from the ever-dangerous Moore embellished by a goal and a point from the force of nature that is Sean Coloe. The goal was a thing of beauty, a flowing move that saw the ball move the length of the pitch, through numerous pairs of hands, before finally reaching the onrushing midfielder who finished it to the net with aplomb.

That was that. A couple of late Moore points put the seal on what was a deserved victory.

Full-time: Longwood 3-8 Gaeil Colmcille 1-5

Special mention to Laoghaire Connolly and Adam Peacock who made their competitive debuts for Longwood’s first team. Both lads performed very well and certainly didn’t look out of place.

Huge credit to the entire team, some of whom were playing there fifth game in 9 days. And the busy schedule is set to continue with three more adult games scheduled for next week, weather permitting.

All for the love of the club! 🤍🖤🏁🏁

Longwood: Kevin Maguire, Adam Peacock, Tomás O’Brien, Adrian Maguire, Brian Stagg, Sean Sheridan, Ross Kerrigan, Sean Coloe (1-2), Bob Maguire, Laoghaire Connolly, Ryan Moore (2-5), Ciaran Sheridan (0-1), Ben McLoughlin, Anthony Healy, Mark Kennedy. Subs: Ross Healy for Connolly.