Longwood’s hurlers got their championship campaign off to a winning start with victory over Navan O’Mahonys in Athboy on Saturday evening.

The game was played in warm evening sunshine with a gentle breeze blowing towards the town goals.  Longwood, playing against the breeze, could hardly have made a worse start – right from the throw-in, O’Mahonys gained possession and pumped a high ball into the danger zone; Jack Walsh plucked the ball from the sky before turning and lashing it to the back of the net.  A rehearsed set play which paid rich dividends with just twenty seconds on the clock.

But if you are going to concede a goal, it’s best to do it early.  Longwood are backboned by a core of experienced players who remained calm and eventually settled into the game.  

Points from Anthony Healy and Kevin Heagney matched similar efforts from their opponents before a goal from the industrious Gavin Griffith brought the sides level.  

Three consecutive points from the Brews Hill side gave them a lead they would hold to the interval, albeit a late Anthony Healy free reduced the deficit to two points.

Half-time:  Longwood 1-8 Navan O’Mahonys 1-10

Right from the restart, Longwood signalled their intent.  They rattled off three successive points, two from the warrior that is Sean Coloe and a free from the unerring Anthony Healy.  

Longwood’s work rate increased dramatically, and they began to hoover up much of the breaking ball that had eluded them in the opening period.    

The scores followed – a monster point from Billy Hogan and another from the increasingly dominant Coloe before Conor Dixon got in on the act with a fine point from play.

Dixon later produced a clinical finish to raise a second green flag and this seemed to take the sting out of the O’Mahonys challenge.

In addition to being more clinical in front of goal, Longwood also tightened up things at the other end of the pitch, conceding just four points (one from play) in the second half.

Late points from Gavin Griffith and Tomás O’Brien saw Longwood home.

Longwood: Mark Kennedy (Capt.) Tomás O’Brien (0-1), Brian Stagg, David Coloe, Conor Dixon (1-2), Billy Hogan (0-1), Ronan Greene, Joe Stenson, Sean Coloe (0-6), Damien Healy, Anthony Healy (0-8), Ben McLoughlin, Sean Sheridan, Kevin Heagney (0-1), Gavin Griffith (1-1). Subs: William Phillips for David Coloe, Thomas Dorran, Sam King, Thomas Dorran, Sean Kelly, Enda Dixon 

An excellent win for Longwood and two points on the board.  That said, it is only the first of five group games so there is still lots of work to do.  Two weeks now to rest, recover and prepare for the next challenge, with Blackhall Gaels sure to provide a stern test.

Special mention to Ronan Greene, William Phillips and Sean Kelly who all experienced championship hurling for the first time.  Three fine young hurlers who have proven to be excellent additions to the senior panel this season.  Well done lads!