CROKER DAY OUT FOR MONAGHAN

MAITIU MONAGHAN REPORTS

The Monaghan hurlers (PICTURED) survived a second half scare to book their place in the final of the Lory Meagher Cup with a 5-point win against Longford on Saturday. In the first minute, Longford took the lead with a fantastic score from midfielder John Mulhern from near the side-line. Monaghan responded in the best possible way. Just a minute later, Thomas Hughes using his pace to beat his marker before blasting the sliotar into the net to give Monaghan the lead for the first time. After the blistering start, the game settled into a rhythm with the sides exchanging scores in an evenly matched game. 20 minutes in, Monaghan began to pull away.

Conor Gernon topped off a great bit of play from Monaghan to put the home side 4 points up right before Ethan Flynn bagged Monaghan’s second goal after turning over the puck out and punishing Longford’s complacency. When Gernon added another point shortly after, Monaghan led 2-6 to 4 points. Longford refused to let their heads drop. David Buckley, Paddy Lynam, Cathal Mullane and Reuben Murray each got points for the visitors as they began to eat away at Monaghan’s lead. The excellent Niall Arthurs kept the scoreboard ticking over Monaghan but with their lead greatly…