Coloe's cool finish rescues Longwood from icy grip of defeat
Longwood player shakes off illness to put in heroic effort
Longwood...2-16
Na Fianna...1-19
One of the more unusual features of this SHC encounter that was played out today on Rathmolyon's carefully, lovingly manicured surface was that an Anthony Healy lined out for both Longwood and Na Fianna.
At at guess it was the Longwood version who felt the happiest with the final outcome. After all it was his team who trailed for the vast majority of this engrossing encounter with Sean Coloe lofting over a point in injury time to leave the teams level. It was one of six points from play Coloe harvested, a remarkable feat as he was laid low by a bug in the lead up to the game and was a real doubt.
The discontent felt at the end by the Na Fianna contingent was expressed in way a number of their players surrounded referee Martin Dawson.
They felt more injury time should have been played but he had already allowed ample injury time. The outcome of it all was that one of the Na Fianna players, Will Flynn, was shown a red card.
To them this would have felt more like a defeat than a draw because for so long like they appeared destined to secure their opening win of the championship. Helped by well-constructed goal, smartly finished by the outstanding, focused Patrick Jordan, they led 1-9 to 1-6 at the interval despite having played against a hefty breeze. Longwood's goal was grabbed by Ryan Moore on seven minutes after he took a pass from Damien Healy.
With the conditions in their favour Na Fianna continued to stay one step in front as they second-half unfolded with Jordan, Kean Flynn, Rory Fagan, Luke Kelly and Will Flynn all pointing for them. Victory was once more in their grasp. Then with the finishing line in sight it all went awry.
On 60 minutes Longwood gave themselves real hope when Anthony Healy despatched the ball to the net from a 20 metre free. With his side three points behind he had to go for goal - and he did finding the necessary power to rifle the ball home. Still Na Fianna came back with Jordan tapping over his fifth point of the afternoon. Surely now Na Fianna would win, you thought.
But wait, battle hardened Longwood can never be dismissed. They launched one last attack and that man Coloe, who was a doubt before the game, swept the ball over the bar, while under pressure, to score a superb point and rescue his team. What grit. What tenacity.
Na Fianna understandably felt the victory had slipped through their fingers like sand on a beach but they must also reflect on the fact that they hit 15 wides. This was a harsh lesson for what is a largely young team. Jordan, Kean Flynn and Ronan Byrne did particularly well for them as did 'keeper Adam Farrell who made one splendid stop from Billy Hogan in the second-half.
Longwood's team is bolstered by a coterie of seasoned campaigners who know it's never over until it's over. That old truism was borne out in this game when the 'Wood bravely rescued themselves from the icy grip of defeat with Joey Stenson, Damien Healy and Coloe among their heroes.
Longwood - Mark Kennedy; Adam Leacy, Joey Stenson, Karl Ennis; Brian Stagg, Damien Healy, Ross Kerrigan; Sean Coloe (0-6), Conor Dixon; Kevin Heagney, Anthony Healy (1-7 frees), Gavin Griffith; Billy Hogan, Ryan Moore, Michael Burke. Subs - David Coloe for Griffith 10m, Malachi Fisher for Heagney 44m, Bob Maguire for Leacy 51m.
Na Fianna - Adam Farrell; Anthony Healy, Luke Kelly (0-1), Cian Doherty; Alex Healy, Peter Slevin, Evan Mullally; Rory Fagan, Cian Slattery; Ronan Byrne (0-1), Oisin Bright (0-1), Eoin Bright; Patrick Jordan (1-5), Kean Flynn (0-3), Will Flynn (0-1). Subs - Eoin Coffey for Byrne 41m, Barry Slevin for Dixon 47m, Johnny McCloskey for E Bright 60m.
Referee - Martin Dawson (St Michael's).