Leitrim/Longford 1-4
Tony D’Arcy was in devastating form as Wicklow picked up back-to-back wins in the All-Ireland Masters Football Championship with a dominant showing against Leitrim/Longford on Saturday afternoon.
The Garden men were in complete control of affairs at a sunny Blessington, running up 1-11 at half-time to the visitors’ single point, while their final tally of 3-14 betrayed the opportunities that they passed up late in the second half.
D’Arcy was in lethal mood, shooting a glorious 1-8 before being withdrawn at half-time. The Tinahely man had magic in his left boot, stroking the ball over the black spot from all angles.
He was not alone in impressing, with the midfield pairing of Barry Sheehan and Barry O’Donovan particularly formidable while Tommy Cullen provided penetrating runs from his spot at wing-back.
They overwhelmed Leitrim/Longford in the opening 30 minutes, demonstrating this by opening a 1-4 to no score advantage within the first seven minutes. D’Arcy got all of their points in this time, as well as the game’s first goal on the four-minute mark.
Alan Ellis did well to find Eoin Burke in the right-hand corner. He held up possession before finding D’Arcy’s run, allowing him to prod a finish beyond the goalkeeper. They should have had a second on nine minutes, only for Barry O’Donovan to lose his footing while bearing down on goal.
Leitrim/Longford went up the other end to get their first score of the day through a Michael Hussey free, before Anthony Furlong and Tony D’Arcy tacked on two more before the water break.
Wicklow continued to pile on the pressure beyond the pause and cut through their opponents on a regular basis in lightning quick counter-attacks.
Conor Parsons pointed from one such scenario, capping off a flowing break up the field that also involved Barry Sheehan, Tommy Cullen, and Anthony Furlong after Brian Nolan had turned the ball over at the other end.
The pick of the day’s scores came with barely five minutes to go in the opening period, when D’Arcy angled a glorious effort between the sticks from way out on the left-hand side. He added the last of his scores after a long spell of possession to send the home side into the break in cruise control at 1-11 to 0-1.
Wicklow emptied the bench at half-time – making five changes – and while Willie O’Hagan, brought on for D’Arcy, got the half’s first score, it was the visitors who started it the brighter.
Shane Conway put the ball beyond Mick O’Neill in the Wicklow goal after they had fallen asleep down their left-hand side, before John Coyle added further gloss with their second point of the day.
Wicklow settled themselves with the game’s third goal and their second. Half-time subs John Mooney and Seamus McGraynor combined for it, with the former picking out the latter with a glorious kick pass off the left.
The Avondale stalwart’s first shot was saved, before he gobbled up the rebound.
The third arrived barely five minutes later. Tommy Cullen drove through the centre of the field before lifting a pass up and over the visitors’ full-back line and into Anthony Furlong.
The Kiltegan man showed tremendous composure to roll a composed finish into the bottom corner.
With those goals, Wicklow consolidated their position with a Mooney free from a mark. They should have had more goals in the final few minutes.
Jonathan Behan struck the base of the post after Mooney had missed his own kick at goal, while Anthony Furlong crashed a last-minute effort off the crossbar.
Willie O’Hagan mopped up possession to point the last score of the game as Wicklow set up their next clash against London with a comprehensive 3-14 to 1-4 win.
Wicklow: Mervyn Travers; Brendan Daly, Brian Nolan; Tommy Cullen, David Cullen, Patrick Egan; Barry Sheehan, Barry O’Donovan; Conor Parsons (0-1), Eoin Burke, Alan Ellis; Tony Darcy (1-8, 2f), Anthony Furlong (1-2). Subs: Alan Byrne for E Burke (21), Declan Jones for B Daly (24), Seamus McGraynor (1-0) for P Egan (HT), Willie O’Hagan (0-2) for T Darcy (HT), Jonathan Behan for C Parsons (HT), Johnny Mooney (0-1m) for A Furlong (HT), Mick O’Neill for M Travers (HT), Eoin Burke for B Sheehan (38), Anthony Furlong for A Ellis (39).
Leitrim/Longford: Marlo McHugh; Brennan Kane, Derek McKeon, Tomas Dolan; Michael Kane, Micheal Manley; John Coyle (0-1), Niall Brady; Kevin Chapman (0-1f), Michael Hussey (0-1f), Mel McArdle; John Doyle (0-1), Shane Conway (1-0). Subs: Will Murphy for J Doyle (23), John Doyle for N Brady (32),
Referee: Peter Farrell
