Saturday October 12th 2024 will go down as a memorable and historic day for Longwood GAA club.
The club celebrates it’s 120th birthday this year and we received the best possible present yesterday, in the form of a senior championship success. A special day indeed.
The entire village seemed to transplant itself to Trim for the big game. The sight of so many children proudly wearing their club colours would gladden the heart. Could the players deliver a performance worthy of their support? We needn’t have worried.
Being neighbours, the teams are very familiar with each other. The fact that they had already clashed in the group stages only added extra spice. Na Fianna had been the better team on that occasion but Longwood had managed to snatch a draw late in the day. Aaron Ennis’s charges seemed to learn more from that game.
From the off, Longwood were on the front foot. An early pointed free from Anthony Healy set the tone and gave Longwood the lead. While Na Fianna would draw level on a couple of occasions, they would never lead.
Despite dominating the possession stakes, Longwood’s advantage on the scoreboard was never comfortable. With seven minutes on the clock the scores were level at two points apiece. Na Fianna’s county man, Seanie Martin, had just raised a white flag with a fine point and looked like he was in the mood to cause problems for Longwood’s defence. Rather than wait and see what might happen, Longwood’s management team acted swiftly and decisively, instructing young Conor Dixon to pick up Martin. The young defender took on the challenge with relish and greatly curtailed Na Fianna’s talisman’s influence on the game.
Billy Hogan, carrying on where he had left off in the semi-final, scored his opening point after ten minutes and this seemed to infuse him with energy. The man with Offaly and Tipperary blood running through his veins produced a powerhouse display for the remainder of the game.
He was ably supported by Gavin Griffith, an oft unsung hero who produced his best performance of the season on the day that mattered most. Griffith was perpetual motion personified, his industry and work rate was off the charts and his direct running caused all sorts of problems for Na Fianna’s defenders. He even managed to strike a fine point from distance - when that happened we knew we were in business!
Further points from Billy Hogan and Damien Healy gave Longwood a two point lead after 26 minutes. The most worrying period of the game for Longwood supporters was the following five minutes where Longwood reeled off seven wides before the break. Very often such misses can sap confidence and come back to bite you.
Even so, when the half-time whistle went, Longwood took a lead to the dressing rooms.
Half-time: Longwood 0-7 Na Fianna 0-5
Within three minutes of the restart, the men from Enfield & Baconstown were level. The fat was very much in the fire.
Anthony Healy and Rory Fagan exchanged points before the game’s pivotal score arrived. Anthony Healy, excelling in his midfield role, won possession out around midfield and there followed a beautiful, free-flowing move involving Gavin Griffith (who sold a dummy that Tony Kelly would have been proud of), Ben McLoughlin and Healy once again before the sliotar arrived in the hand of Billy Hogan. The midfielder swivelled on the 13 metre line before unleashing a missile to the roof of the net. The sidelines roared their approval.
Na Fianna responded well with two points and the margin was reduced to the minimum as we entered the final, tension-filled quarter.
Over the remaining minutes, two things stood out.
Firstly, leadership. With everything on the line, leaders were required. Longwood had them in abundance and crucially on every line of the field. Mickey Burke and Joey Stenson marshalled their young deputies in defence, the midfield sector saw Bob (aka Job) Maguire, Billy Hogan and Anthony Healy very much on top, while further up the field Sean Coloe, despite being heavily impaired by a leg injury, and Ryan Moore led from the front. These men were not in the mood to lose a final. Moore's fifty yard sprint to execute a perfectly timed hook, demonstrated real leadership. But nobody epitomised this spirit of defiance more than Damien Healy. Damo has been Longwood’s leader for many years and has carried the team through some dark days. Yesterday, as he has done so often in the past, he offered himself up as a target for seemingly every ball. And more often than not, he came out on top. A warrior for club and county, nobody will begrudge him his day in the sun.
The second thing that really stood out in the closing stages was Longwood’s defence. The team had conceded five goals in the semi-final and outsiders may have viewed this group as a potential weakness. But when the pressure was at it’s greatest, they stood firm and repelled all attacks. Adam Leacy and Ross Kerrigan secured the corners while Brian Stagg and Conor Dixon used their young legs to great effect, covering every blade of grass across the hour. The old warhorses of Burke and Stenson used their experience to telling effect, revelling in the physical nature of the contest and emerging from numerous rucks with sliotar in hand.
On the rare occasion that the defence was breached, Mark Kennedy was a rock between the posts. His handling was impeccable and his puck-outs, precision itself.
Anthony Healy scored the last of his six points with six minutes to play and Longwood led by two points. Sean Coloe, despite having his mobility restricted by injury, decided it was time to get in on the scoring act and struck two excellent points from distance. A natural born leader!
Na Fianna responded with two points of their own and Longwood held a perilous two point lead as we moved into stoppage time.
The following four minutes seemed to take an eternity. Na Fianna pumped in high ball after high ball but the “White Wall” was not for moving.
Finally, referee Mark Reilly blew the final whistle. That was the cue for wild celebration.
Longwood’s supporters invaded the pitch to embrace their heroes. The players deserved every hug and handshake!
Minutes later Sean Coloe accepted the Kit Mitchell Memorial Cup on behalf of his club and community. Just reward for a hard day’s work. A fitting end to a magical day.
Longwood: Mark Kennedy, Adam Leacy, Mickey Burke, Ross Kerrigan, Brian Stagg, Bob Maguire, Conor Dixon, Anthony Healy (0-6), Billy Hogan (1-2), Joe Stenson, Sean Coloe (Capt.) (0-2), Gavin Griffith (0-1), Damien Healy (0-2), Ryan Moore, David Coloe. Subs: Ben McLoughlin for David Coloe, Fionn Hannon, Kieran Murtagh, Thomas Dorran, Kevin Heagney, Niall Mulvey, Malachy Fisher
Huge credit to all our players. Every member of the panel has their fingerprints on this success. Special mention to Karl Ennis, away on honeymoon, and Kevin Heagney who suffered a knee injury a couple of weeks ago. Both men made significant contributions to Longwood’s season. Missing the final will have stung but a winner’s medal is the perfect cure.
Finally a word of thanks to Aaron Ennis and his management team of Barry Clarke, Eamonn Murray and Mick Noone. All great hurling men, all great club men. They have taken us on a fantastic voyage over the past ten months. From near relegation to championship success in less than a year is an incredible turnaround. Just like the players, they have written their names in the history books. A job well done lads, a job well done!
Here's hoping our ladies senior team can replicate this success next weekend. We'll all be there to cheer them on!
