Longwood's Mickey Burke endured a hectic weekend with the Meath footballers on Saturday night in the All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Kildare and then he helped his club to secure a vital SHC victory on Sunday night against Clann na nGael ahead of a crucial A FL game on Monday night.

Longwood too resilient for Clann na nGael

Published: Wed 20 Jul 2011, 4:50 PM

Longwood won this SHC basement battle against Clann na nGael at Kildalkey on Sunday evening and guaranteed their senior status for another year in the process. Mickey Burke's performance at midfield along with Damien Healy was crucial to this success while full-back Enda Dixon was solid throughout, especially in the second-half when wind-assisted Clann na nGael posed some serious questions. Anthony Healy's sixth minute goal gave Longwood the momentum to build a platform for first-half dominance in windy conditions after Gary Mangan's free gave Clann na nGael the lead briefly. Longwood dictated the opening 30 minutes in all sectors and they were well worth a 1-6 to 0-2 interval lead. Healy claimed four of those points, three frees, and substitute Aaron Ennis sent over two points from play. Clann na nGael's Aaron Ennis hit the target in the 24th minute as his side laboured against the elements in that opening half. Longwood resumed on the front foot with a brace of Healy pointed frees, but Clann na nGael gradually whittled down the lead. Points from Ciaran Fitzsimons, Alan Fox, Dathai Geraghty and a Mangan '65' left them adrift by five points (0-6 to 1-8) at the end of the third-quarter. Mangan added another fine point from play as Clann na nGael got serious and then Fox saw his goal-bound effort deflected over the bar in the 20th minute. With only three points in it at that stage Longwood had to find some response and they ended a 20-minute barren spell on the scoreboard when substitute Keith Earls split the posts. That revived the Longwood challenge and Ennis reeled off three unanswered points in the closing minutes that eased his side into the comfort zone. Longwood - A Ennis; D Dixon, E Dixon, D Maguire; J Mahon, E Lynch, J Furey; M Burke, D Healy; C Lynch, J Dorran, C Byrne; R Dorran, M Healy, A Healy (1-9 five frees). Subs - A Ennis (0-2) for M Healy 16 mins, M Bermingham for J Dorran half-time, K Earls (0-1) for Furey 52m, B Hannah for Mahon 55m. Clann na nGael - V Doyle; D O'Shea, P Shore, A McCormack; M Mullen, G Mangan (0-3 one '65'), T Matthews; B Higgins, D Heaney; C Dunne, C Fitzsimons 0-1, P Geraghty; A Fox 0-2, D Geraghty 0-1, A Ennis (0-1). Subs - B Doherty for Dunne 40 mins, S Ennis for A Ennis 52m. Referee - Donal Smyth (Navan O'Mahonys).