After the victory over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park that secured Longford’s place in Saturday’s Lory Meagher Cup Final at Croke Park, the Longford manager, Adrian Moran, took time out to give his thoughts to Tony Ghee. Adrian started off the interview by expressing how proud he was of the Longford squad.
Adrian: ‘I am extremely proud of the lads, they worked very hard and got their rewards today. We did not start the game too well, we were slow out of the traps, but we finished very strongly and had a really good period just after half-time. That gave us a nice cushion, but we fell asleep mid-way through the second-half, and let Cavan back into the game with a couple of quick goals. The first one was totally against the run of play, we then lost focus for a few minutes and they got their second goal. It took us a while to reset, but we got there. After that, we got some fine scores and enjoyed some really good passages of play. We are in the final, it is where we wanted to be at the start of the year, so we will enjoy next weekend.’
Tony: ‘Cavan got off to the better start to score the first four points, but Longford came back to lead by a point at the interval. As you said, Longford came out with all guns blazing in the second-half, and there was an eleven-point cushion, but those two quick fire Cavan goals reduced the lead to just five points, and suddenly it was game on.’
Adrian: ‘Yes, and victory was far from certain when that happened. Cavan were never going to lie down, it was their last game of the year, they know themselves that they did not have a great year, but you always want to finish off on a high note, and in fairness to Cavan, they fought back well. They kept fighting to the end, even when the last ball went into our twenty-one, they were still goal hungry. From our own perspective, we got some great scores today, which is pleasing from a management point of view. It is something that we have worked on and it is nice to see it coming to fruition.’
Tony: ‘Twenty-seven points is definitely an impressive score to rack-up.’
Adrian: ‘Yes, we are happy with the amount of points we are scoring, they would be happy with that down in Limerick or anywhere else, but we just need to score a few more goals.’
Tony: ‘Looking back at the year-to-date, Longford reached the National League Division 3B Final and lost to Fermanagh in the dying embers of the contest when down to fourteen players for the last ten minutes or so. Then the Championship got off to a disappointing start with that last gasp, one-point defeat away to Leitrim, however, the team have bounced back in style to win all the other four games against Lancashire, Louth, Monaghan, and Cavan. So, four wins out of five means that Longford richly deserve their place in the Lory Meagher Cup Final.’
Adrian: ‘Yes, it was a credit to the lads. Like any other team, they have put in a huge effort. At the end of the day, you don’t always get what you put into it, but over the last few games, the lads have got their just rewards. It’s a reflection of all the hard work and effort that they have given to the cause.’
Tony: ‘Last weeks battle away to Monaghan in Inniskeen where the team just got over the line with two points to spare, that was win or bust, and it was a crucial backs-to-the-wall display that proved pivotal.’
Adrian: ‘I suppose from the outset after that loss to Leitrim, we knew that we would have to win every game to make the final. Look at Leitrim, they needed a draw against Louth to make the final but their late two-point loss to Louth, knocks them out and Louth are in Croke Park on Saturday instead. Dropping more than two points in this competitive championship puts you in trouble, and we were on our guard after the Leitrim defeat. We have won every game since and have achieved our goal of reaching the final. However, we have not won anything yet, we have to win on Saturday, but it will be a massive challenge against Louth and we are fully aware of that.’
Tony: ‘Leitrim and Louth finished level on points, but Louth progress on the head-to-head record.’
Adrian: ‘It is a credit to the championship structure, it has been nip and tuck and apart from our seven-point win over Cavan, every other game we played in has finished with just a point or two points between the sides at the final whistle. We had to work hard last week in Inniskeen, it was a huge battle. These games have hardened us in relation to character. It is a testament to the lads, they have tremendous character.’
Tony: ‘The last time Longford were in the Lory Meagher Final was in 2014, we won that day and then defeated the bottom placed Rackard team, Sligo, in the promotion/relegation play-off in Ballinamore to earn promotion to the Nicky Rackard Championship. Longford spent six seasons at Rackard level, but that defeat to Leitrim in 2020, when you were actually in the Leitrim dugout that day as their coach, resulted in relegation to the Lory Meagher. Now, Longford have a chance to win Saturday’s final and earn promotion to the higher grade after a two-year absence.’
Adrian: ‘Absolutely, that was always our goal as a management team and the goal of the players. We are in Croke Park now, so we will just have to see how it goes against Louth.’
Tony: ‘Finally, the support that the hurlers have received from the County Board, the GAA clubs, and others has been top class all year long, and that plays a major role in any success.’
Adrian: ‘Absolutely, all the management team would like to thank all the support that the hurlers have received from Longford GAA. Clonguish GAA, Killashee GAA, Longford Slashers GAA, and the County Board have all given us huge support. The Longford Arms Hotel have also been very supportive. I also have to thank our physio, Aishling Lyons, she has been superb all year and especially over the last three weeks, as she has played a very important role in keeping everyone bandaged together. Aishling will have another tough week ahead of her in the build-up to the final.’
Tony: ‘Speaking about injuries, unfortunately, Captain fantastic Johnny Casey, he is out of the final after sustaining a broken collar bone against Monaghan, but John Mulhern should be available again after his rib injury.’
Adrian: ‘Johnny will be a huge loss for the final, but it’s a hurdle that we will just have to overcome. John did not feature against Cavan. As you said, he had a bad rib injury, but he is over that now and it was actually a hamstring injury that kept him out of the last couple of matches.’
Tony: ‘This is your first year as a management team at the helm of Longford and reaching both the League Final and the Lory Meagher Cup Final is not a bad achievement in your first year in charge.’
Adrian: ‘No, not a bad achievement at all for everyone this year, but we need to push on and win Saturday’s final. It is great to take part, but it is all about winning, no matter what anyone says.’