Longwood’s championship finally ignited on Friday evening in Kildalkey, when they edged out Clann Na nGael by two points in the third round of the Senior Hurling Championship.

The teams approached the game from very different places; Clann Na nGael on a high after back-to-back victories in the opening two rounds while Longwood had suffered consecutive defeats.

The pressure to secure a much-needed win seemed to motivate rather than stifle the men in white. Even when Clann Na nGael scored the opening two points, Aaron Ennis’s charges remained calm. There was no sense of panic as they played their way into the game. A pointed free from Anthony Healy was followed by an excellent point from near the sideline by Billy Hogan. Parity had been restored.

But it wasn’t to last as Clann Na nGael reeled off three successive points from play to take a 0-05 to 0-02 lead with thirteen minutes on the clock.

Soon after, Longwood defender Paul Gill, who had been charged with the task of marshalling Joe Ennis, broke up a Clann Na nGael attack and this turnover seemed to energise his team mates. Within a minute Longwood raised their first green flag when Thomas Coloe bundled the sliotar to the net after a protracted goalmouth scramble. Huge credit is due to the forward for togging out at all despite being visibly hampered by a hamstring injury. But such is the Coloe way. More of that anon.

Coloe’s goal had given Longwood the lead and they would never relinquish it. Anthony Healy exchanged points with the opposition before he drilled a 25 metre free to the bottom corner of the net. The Clann Na nGael goalkeeper seemed to be expecting Healy to go low but, such was the venom of the strike, he was powerless to prevent it finding its intended target.

An excellent point from play from Karl Ennis pushed the lead out to six points before the men in green and gold chalked up the final two points of the half.

Half-time: Longwood 2-6 Clann Na nGael 0-8

Playing up towards the dressing room end in the second half, Longwood braced themselves for the inevitable onslaught. A quick-fire point from play from Ryan Moore ensured they settled immediately. Longwood were dominating the exchanges around the middle due in no small part to the increasing influence of Sean Coloe. Longwood’s man of steel has carried various injuries into pretty much every game this season but ploughs on through the pain barrier and is never found wanting when the battle is at it’s height. Friday evening was no exception.

A couple of Clann Na nGael points reduced the deficit to three before a crucial goal from Anthony Healy extended Longwood’s advantage to six points. It was a contentious score – a high ball seemed to hang in the air and cause confusion for the Clann Na nGael goalkeeper and full back. Healy took full advantage to force the ball home. There was some debate about whether or not he had been in the square before the ball but, after a quick consultation with his umpires, the referee adjudged that the goal should stand.

Despite having the upper hand, Longwood hit a series of wides from play and frees and this kept Clann Na nGael in the game. We all know the importance of maximising your advantage on the scoreboard when you are enjoying a period of sustained dominance; failure to do so can give oxygen to your opponent and so it transpired.

Longwood conceded four frees in scorable range and Joe Ennis took full advantage. While some of the frees were certainly of the soft variety, Longwood will know that their defensive tackling will have to improve. The lead reduced to a meagre two points, Clann Na nGael pushed for a goal and they may well have secured it but for a magnificent save from Longwood net-minder, Mark Kennedy.

With the game back in the melting pot, Longwood re-established some control on proceedings and two excellent points from Sean Coloe, backed up by a pair of Healy frees, ensured they matched their opponents score for score during the closing minutes.

The final whistle was greeted with relief and joy. A first championship win on the board and hopefully more to follow!

Full-time: Longwood 3-12 Clann Na nGael 0-19

Longwood: Mark Kennedy, Paul Gill, Niall Mulvey, Adam Leacy, Billy Hogan (0-1), Ross Kerrigan (Capt) Kevin Maguire, Sean Coloe (0-2), Ryan Moore (0-2), Thomas Coloe (1-0), Joe Stenson, Gavin Griffith, Karl Ennis (0-1), Mickey Burke, Anthony Healy (2-6). Subs: David Coloe for Thomas Coloe, Bob Maguire for Kevin Maguire, Kieran Murtagh, Jim Dorran, Cathal Campbell.

Two crucial championship points secured, just reward for the players’ collective effort. These boys go to the well every week, putting their bodies on the line for the love of their club. Playing for a small dual club means they invariably play championship football and hurling for a minimum of eight consecutive weeks. It’s an incredibly punishing schedule, one that the Dublin footballers or Limerick hurlers would rail against. Our boys deserve enormous credit and respect.

To emphasise this point, the hurleys can be set aside for a week as the boys prepare to meet Nobber in another do-or-die battle in the Intermediate Football Championship next Friday evening. Let’s hope the tired and bruised bodies can recover sufficiently over the coming days.

Maigh Dearmhaí abú!