Allianz Football League Division Three: Longford 1-13 Derry 1-6
DERRY'S dismal record against Longford continued on Sunday as they lost their second League game in-a-row at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Longford were full value for their win against the Oak Leaf county who were just ahead once in the game, that came within seconds of the start when Enda Lynn opened the scoring.
Derry manager Damian McErlain was honest in his assessment of the game: “Disappointing. Tough day. Longford are a very good side, I’ll have to say that. Well organised, physical, the right age profile, number of good players all over the pitch.
“We have plenty of positives coming from our point of view. Yes we were beaten by seven points, but we were probably defensively stronger today than we had been. That was the big target for this week.”
For Longford manager Denis Connerton the maturity his side showed was what impressed him most.
“A very mature performance from such a young squad. It’s a big thing really, the maturity the lads showed and the discipline to stick with the gameplan,” Connerton said.
“We knew that Derry had to come here today and they had to get something out of this game. We knew they’d be up for it and they were. We did well in the game and I’m very happy with the display and the performance.”
Despite taking an early lead, Derry found themselves four points down in the 31st minute with points from Darren Gallagher, Donie McElligott, Rian Brady (0-2) and James McGivney. Longford also kicked three balls into Oran Hartin’s hands during a dominant spell.
Derry were back in the game in the 32nd minute with a goal from Lynn but Longford’s Daniel Mimnagh edged his side in front by two going in at the break, 0-6 to 1-2.
Substitute James Kielt cut the gap to just one in the 36th minute but that was as close as they could get to Longford.
In the 40th minute, Michael Quinn weaved his way into the area before he found the back of the net.
McErlain admitted the Quinn goal changed the game: “We were looking good at that stage and had started the second half pretty well
“Michael Quinn, probably the best player on the pitch, and we just let him through; only time we did. That was a bit of a killer. We kept getting it back to three again but never to two or one which would’ve given us momentum. You’ve got to give credit to the Longford defence they turned us over; we couldn’t get going.”
Derry tried to stay with Longford but they couldn’t break them down. Gallagher, James McGivney, Ronan McEntire and Barry Gilleran all chipped in with points as the Midlanders made it two wins from two.
Connerton was pleased with his side’s start to the League: “We set out to win our home games and we needed points on the road. We have four points now and are in a good position”
Despite the seven-point defeat McErlain wants to take positives out of the game: “Some of the younger lads were excellent today. These guys have capabilities to step up.
“So the younger lads are decent players.
“We have a mix there. We got to just keep going; we’d like a bit more quality across the pitch but we are where we are at the minute.
“The boys have kept the heads down so far and they got to keep doing that.
“The League is the League. Longford will beat more teams than us in this League. We were beaten by the better team on the day. What do you say.”
Longford: P Collum; P Fox, P McCormack, D McElligott (0-1); M Quinn (1-1), B Gilleran (0-1), D Mimnagh (0-1 free); D Gallagher (0-2), A Farrell; B McKeon, S McCormack, D Reynolds; R Smyth, C Berry, R Brady (0-3).
Subs: J McGivney (0-2) for S McCormack (27), Peter Foy for Fox (50), D McGivney for Berry (55), R McEntire (0-1) for Farrell (58), D Quinn for Foy and Berry for Gallagher (67)
Yellow card: B Gilleran 63
Derry: O Hartin; N Keenan, K Johnston, L McGoldrick; M McEvoy, C McAtamney, C McWilliams; T O’Brien, E Bradley (0-1 free); R Mooney, E Lynn (1-1), C McFaul (0-1); C Doherty, P Hagan, N Toner.
Subs: P MacGrogan for McGoldrick (6), B Heron for McEvoy, J Kielt (0-1) for O’Brien and McGoldrick for McWilliams (HT), M Lynch (0-2 frees) for Doherty (52)
Yellow card: J Kielt 59
Referee: P Faloon (Down)
