Last Man Standing Longwood is back with a bang and oh what a bang!
Firstly, we will start with an expression of gratitude. Longwood GAA would like to thank all card sellers and entrants and indeed all Gaels, for the immense support the club gets year in, year out. Without your continued support our club would not survive. A special word of thanks must go to club treasurer, Michael McGuigan, who is the organiser of the Last Man Standing competition.
In numbers: At 18.58 on Saturday, January 25th 2020 there were 205 confirmed entrants in the Last Man Standing Longwood Competition. 24 hours later, as many sat enjoying the singing priest attempting to dance on Dancing with the Stars, 86 eliminated participants were wallowing in regret, frustration and self pity. Sincere commiserations to the 86!
As mentioned, it was as late as 18:58 when the last card was digitally shared with the adjudicators of Last Man Standing Longwood 2020. We believe Ryan Moorelad, the perpetrator, was distracted somewhere near the foot of Carrauntoohil on the evening in question so all is forgiven for this week. All the while, a different type of drama was about to unfold in Croke Park: the meeting of 2019 All Ireland champions, Dublin and 2019 All Ireland finalists, Kerry. Just the tonic to get the big ball rolling in 2020! David Clifford was the hero for Kerry with a sublime first half goal and displaying nerves of steel to clip over an equaliser in the depths of injury time. Mayo scored a three pointer late on in Ballybofey to get a potentially valuable point for them on the road. In Division 2, a decimated Cavan squad suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Geezer inspired Armagh.
To their disappointment, almost 50 people banked on Roscommon negotiating the O’Moore county in Dr Hyde Park. This proved an unfortunate and costly decision. The evergreen Ross Munnelly set up Kieran Lillis for an injury-time equalizing goal for the mighty midlands men. Elsewhere in Division 2, Kildare prevailed against Fermanagh, Westmeath stalwart John Heslin hit a late free resulting in a deserved win for the Lake County.
In Division one, Meath’s young guns were playing the might of Tyrone in Healy Park in what was to prove a step too far, with an experienced Tyrone winning by a margin of 5 points. This was a disappointing return to Division 1 for a Meath team, playing in the top tier for the first time since 2006. Next Sunday’s game against Donegal in Páirc Tailteann will be another stern test. West of the Shannon, Shane Walsh was chief marksman for Galway who scraped to a home victory against Monaghan.
Casualty of the week has to be our very own Joey Stenson who went for Roscommon. Joey is a seasoned campaigner and spends endless hours researching his selections. We wish Joey luck in finding something else to do during his long lunch breaks. Credit has to go to competition celebrity and newlywed Brian Flanagan, for backing his adopted county, Westmeath.
Onwards and upwards to Round 2! No easy fixtures this weekend coming either. In Division 1, Mayo are at home to Dublin and Kerry host Galway on Saturday. Laois and Cavan welcome Armagh and Westmeath respectively on the same day. On Sunday, 3 of the 4 Division 1 teams hail from Ulster with Monaghan taking on Tyrone in Castleblayney and Meath hosting Donegal in Navan. Division 2 sees Roscommon travel to Fermanagh and Kildare visit Clare.
Report by Vinny Byrne
