Frayne excited at prospect of facing Dublin

For a man making his Leinster SFC debut Eoghan Frayne wore the number 11 jersey in Pearse Park last Sunday like he had worn it 100 times.

Not only did he chip in with a personal tally of 1-5, but the Summerhill youngster also took on the responsibility of taking the 63rd minute penalty that finally delivered the knockout blow to Longford's dogged challenge.

With Mathew Costello withdrawn at half-time still feeling the effects of a recent illness Frayne accepted the responsibility and duly obliged.

"Usually Matt (Costello) takes the penalties, and then I was looking around to see if there was anyone else to take it, I don't have a great record of penalties," said Frayne.

"I got the rebound in that minor game against Derry a few years ago, but I usually missed them. So I just said I'd throw it down the middle and hope it would be alright, that was that."

While obviously delighted to convert that spot kick Frayne was also delighted with his own overall performance and also that of the team. He admitted there were a few nervous moments late on, but he delighted that all the hard work on the training field to improve the accuracy up front paid dividends.

"We'd be happy enough with how we played in the second-half against the wind, but the few goals we let in too would be disappointing," said the Summerhill man.

"We were happy enough, I think we managed the game well enough, but a few goals at the end, we'll have to look at that. We kind of took the foot off the gas a bit, but happy enough overall just to get a win.

"Shooting was something we probably weren't great at during the league. We didn't have a great conversion rate, we were probably not getting enough scores in the scoring zone.

"It was something we looked at and it just paid dividends out there. We were training hard last few week, we were working on that.

"In the first half, Jordan (Morris) and Banty (James Conlon) were clipping them over from everywhere, so we were happy enough with that.

"It was a strong win out there, it was just about managing the game. Just working our scores, not giving the ball away. If we started lumping the ball in there, it would have been mayhem, giving them oxygen. "I think we managed it well enough until the end obviously. I'm happy enough just to get the win.

"We knew it wouldn't be easy, Longford are a good side and it's always tough coming here. I came here with the u-20s two years ago, and just about got out of here with a win. "It's a tough place to come, we're just happy to get the win, and now we look forward to playing the Dubs in Croke Park next week."

That small matter of play Dublin in next Sunday's Leinster SFC quarter-final is something that excites Frayne and with a near full panel to chose from he is looking forward to his first experience of playing in Croke Park.

"It's massive, massive excitement. The few games we played in the Tailteann Cup last year I didn't get on, but even just going up to Croke Park, I'd never played there before, there's a massive buzz around it," enthused Frayne.

"We'll go into next week looking to get the win, and be hopeful, not too fearful, just go at it, full tilt.

"We've a lot of boys coming back from injury. We don't have many long-term injuries, Conor Gray I think is the only one. So there's good competition for places, boys are coming back at the right time and training's good and tough. Any man can come on and make a difference, so it's good competition," concluded Frayne who can look back on his Leinster SFC debut full of pride.