Longwood's Thursday evening journey to Grangegodden proved to be a fruitful one as they secured a five-point victory over their hosts.
The home team, playing with a stiff and unseasonably cold breeze at their backs, started well and were two points up within the opening four minutes. A pointed free from Anthony Healy stirred Longwood into life and little over a minute later Damien Healy crashed the ball to the back of the Gaeil Colmcille net. Fitting reward for the Longwood and Meath powerhouse who has worked incredibly hard over the past year to recover from a serious knee injury. Longwood’s supporters and Damo’s team mates were delighted to see him back in his beloved Longwood jersey.
The teams were evenly matched for most of the first half, but a run of four successive points from the home team certainly gave Aaron Ennis and his charges some cause for concern. This run of scores was punctured by a fantastic Conor Dixon point, the young half back charging down the wing before splitting the posts with a beautiful strike from just inside the sideline.
The teams went to the interval level (0-11 to 1-8) and were able to reset and go again for the second half.
Longwood were undoubtedly the better team in the second period, and they scored some excellent points courtesy of Kevin Heagney and Sean Coloe. They extended their lead further when Damien Healy drilled a 20 metre free to the roof of the net but credit to Gaeil Colmcille who kept the scoreboard ticking and ensured the visitors could never fully relax.
An excellent Sean Coloe point in the twenty eighth minute pushed the lead out to five points and proved to be the final score of an entertaining game. Longwood will be content to have maintained their unbeaten start to the league, but they are fully aware that stiffer challenges lie ahead.
Special mention to Enda and Conor Dixon, father and son, master and apprentice, who played their first senior match together and they both played important roles in the victory. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
Longwood: Enda Dixon, Fionn Hannon, Adam Leacy, Thomas Dorran, Conor Dixon (0-1), Ross Kerrigan, Brian Stagg, Sean Coloe (0-4), Gavin Griffith, Damien Healy (2-1), Kevin Heagney (0-4), Bob Maguire, Ben McLoughlin, Anthony Healy (0-8), Joey Stenson. Subs: David Coloe for Bob Maguire, Adam Peacock for Fionn Hannon, Daniel Fahy for Ben McLoughlin, Kieran Murtagh for Thomas Dorran.
Next up for Longwood is a crucial football league game at home to Carnaross on Tuesday next, before the hurlers travel to Ashbourne the following week.
Maigh Dearmhaí abú!! 🤍🖤🏁🏁
