While it may be overstating it to say that the famine is over, Longwood’s first league victory of the season has been a long time coming. That said, performance levels have improved markedly over recent games and it’s fair to say this win was coming.

Despite travelling to Skryne with only 15 players (including three sets of brothers) and missing a host of regular starters, Longwood were the better team for the majority of the contest. They took an early lead courtesy of a Thomas Coloe point and it was a lead they would never relinquish. Coloe’s pace and power was a thorn in the opposition’s defence throughout the game and he scored the first of his two goals after 10 minutes, a powerful shot giving the keeper no chance.

Soon after, another slick move from the men in white saw Coloe gain possession in front of goals. As he was about to pull the trigger, he was fouled and the referee had little option but to award a penalty. Sean Coloe stepped forward to take the spot kick and placed it beautifully in the top right-hand corner. Unstoppable.

Skryne rallied with a run of three successive points before Sean Sheridan raised another white flag from play. Once again Skryne responded and had reduced the deficit to just two points before Longwood finished the half strongly with an explosive burst of scores; a point apiece from the two Seans – Coloe and Sheridan – was embellished by a second goal from the rampaging Thomas Coloe. This gave Longwood a 3-4 to 0-7 lead at the break.

With their first win beckoning, Longwood were hit with a sucker punch as Skryne goaled soon after the restart. To Longwood’s credit, they stood firm and settled themselves with a couple of points before the third Coloe brother, David, got in on the act, finishing to the net with a powerful low shot having been set up by younger brother Thomas.

The remainder of the second half saw both teams exchange points but Longwood were able to keep their opponent at safe distance. The only possible dark cloud was a hamstring injury to Sean Coloe, which forced the midfield warrior to leave the field.

So a well deserved win for the boys. It moves them off the bottom of the table and gives them hope for the remainder of the campaign.

Longwood: Billy Hogan, Kevin Maguire, Coyle O’Brien, Cathal Campbell, Niall Mulvey, Jacob Baldwin, Mark Kennedy, Sean Coloe (1-3), Bob Maguire, Ciaran Sheridan (0-1), Sean Sheridan (0-3), David Coloe (1-0), Thomas Coloe (2-2), Anthony Healy, Dean Keogh. Subs: Jim Mahon for Sean Coloe