It’s difficult to know if the Longwood players smashed a mirror, encountered a pair of rogue magpies or walked under a ladder in the build up to Friday evening’s championship clash with Nobber. Perhaps it was a combination of all three, such was the amount of bad luck that lay in store for our boys over in Bohermeen.

It’s true that all teams will have their share of setbacks that must be overcome, but for Longwood, the list appears to be endless.

On arrival at Sean Newman Park, the players and management were rocked by the news that Ryan Moore, returning from suspension, would be unable to make the start of the game. That Moore would eventually arrive just before half-time demonstrates his love and commitment to his club. But his initial absence scrambled all pre-game tactical plans. This combined with Thomas Coloe’s troublesome hamstring injury ensured that Longwood were forced to start the game without two of their most potent attackers.

If that wasn’t enough, the game was still in its infancy when the team suffered two more killer blows. The Hogan brothers, Harry and Billy, who had both started promisingly and registered early scores, were injured in separate incidents. Harry was eventually forced to leave the game with a knee injury and, while Billy played on, his movement was severely curtailed by a dead leg. To effectively lose two county players for the majority of the game was a cruel blow and, despite the best efforts of the team, one that would ultimately prove too difficult to overcome.

For all that, the team started well and were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead after ten minutes. Some fine attacking football saw Fearghal O’Hare, Sean Coloe and Billy Hogan kick excellent points from play and these were bolstered by a free and 45 from Harry Hogan’s trusty left foot. It was then that the injuries took hold, and this coincided with a period of dominance from Nobber who, to their credit, kicked some excellent points in the wind that whistled directly across the pitch.

The teams exchanged scores throughout the second quarter and Longwood will regret the fact that they would only take a one-point advantage to the half-time break, this despite having a numerical advantage after a Nobber defender was black-carded for a deliberate foot trip.

Half-time: Longwood 0-9 Nobber 0-8

Ryan Moore, who had joined the fray just before half-time when Harry Hogan finally succumbed to his knee injury, announced his entrance when he registered his first score of the championship within two minutes of the restart. Longwood were now two points ahead.

There followed a ten minute period of highly combative football, championship intensity shone through as every ball was fought for with ferocious intent. But the scoreboard operator was not called to action.

Nobber broke the stalemate with two points within sixty seconds. Level again.

Ryan Moore was finding his feet and he kicked two excellent points from play, the second from distance, and Longwood led by two with seven minutes left to play. Nobber quickly reduced the deficit to a solitary point and the fat was in the fire!

As the players awaited the kick out, a Longwood player appeared to be struck off the ball and a melee ensued with players from both teams involved. When the dust had settled, referee Eamonn Barry issued a straight red card to Nobber midfielder Thomas Murtagh.

If anything, this seemed to inspire the men from north Meath. That said, they still trailed by a point with only two points of normal time remaining.

And then the game turned completely. A sideline was awarded to Nobber deep in Longwood’s half. The ball was launched towards the Longwood goal and, as forwards and defenders battled for the ball, the referee, to the amazement of all in attendance, awarded a penalty to Nobber. That the referee was standing a considerable distance from the supposed infringement only added insult to injury.

Nobber centre back Niall Farrell dispatched the ball to the net, no mean feat given the state of the game, and incredibly Longwood trailed by two with injury time looming.

Mickey Burke pointed from a free to reduce the margin to one but with Longwood pressing for an equaliser, Nobber broke upfield to score a seemingly game-clinching goal.

Longwood, rightly renowned for their resilience, continued to chase the game and Anthony Healy, who by now had pushed forward to the edge of the square, fielded a high ball before turning and finishing to the net. A point between the teams. What next?

Longwood won the resultant kick out but try as they might, they could not manufacture an equalising score. The final whistle was greeted by Nobber elation, Longwood heartache.

Full-time: Longwood 1-13 Nobber 2-11

Longwood: Kevin Maguire, Coyle O’Brien, Bob Maguire (Capt.), Ross Kerrigan, Adam O’Brien, Niall Mulvey, Fearghal O’Hare (0-2), Billy Hogan (0-1), Sean Coloe (0-2), Gavin Griffith, Mickey Burke (0-2), Ciaran Sheridan, Harry Hogan (0-2), Sean Sheridan (0-1), Anthony Healy (1-0). Subs: Ryan Moore (0-3) for Harry Hogan, Jacob Baldwin, Sam Dixon, Cathal Campbell, Adam Leacy, David Coloe, Mark Kennedy, Dean Keogh, Josh Meagher.

A disappointing result for Longwood but the boys gave everything. As always, they cannot be faulted for effort and work rate.

They move on stoically to tackle Dunderry in the Senior Hurling Championship next week. Rest and recuperation will have to wait.

On a side note, it is bewildering that the Co Board should allocate a fixture to Bohermeen on the same night that St Ultan’s are themselves playing a championship match. It simply does not make sense. It is no fault of the St Ultan’s club, but the knock-on effect is that there were no neutral umpires and only one neutral linesman on hand. This is not good enough for an Intermediate Championship game. It is not fair on both teams. It is also unfair on the St Ultan’s stewards who were in attendance – presumably they would have preferred to cheer on their own club in championship action?