Longford outclass Fermanagh to reach cup final

Longford qualified for the Lory Meagher Cup final against Warwickshire on June 8th, following a 6-13 to 1-10 win over Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Longford qualified for the Lory Meagher Cup final against Warwickshire on June 8, following a 6-13 to 1-10 win over Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

The hosts were always in control as they powered to an 18-point win, with Longford's sextet of goals providing the difference.

Joe O'Brien and Sean Corrigan swapped points in the opening minutes, but Longford soon gained control, with scores from Kevin Connelly, O'Brien, Ciaran Finucane and Eoin Donnellan ensuring a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes.

Barry Smith kept the visitors in touch, but Connelly bagged Longford's first goal soon after, and from there until the finish the Leinster outfit were firmly on top.

An O'Brien goal ensured a 2-7 to 0-3 score-line entering the second quarter, and although Shea Curran bagged a 23rd minute goal for the visitors, Longford upped their game before the break.

Longford held a 3-11 to 1-5 interval advantage, with six players on target by the interval, including Ciaran Finucane who claimed their third goal.

Fermanagh's efforts to reach the final after last year's defeat were in vain in the second half, as Longford failed to ease up.

Connelly completing his hat-trick 11 minutes into the second half, ensuring a 5-12 to 1-6 lead after 46 minutes.

Curran done his best to keep Fermanagh in touch, but Longford were a different class, with substitute Michael Farrell netting their sixth goal 12 minutes from the end, and they never looked back.