Longwood 4-11
Blackhall Gaels 1-15

Longwood hosted Blackhall Gaels on Sunday morning with a place in the semi-final at stake.

Blackhall raced out of the traps and went into a 4 point lead before Anthony Healy added a couple of frees to keep Longwood in touch but it was Blackhall who couldn't do a thing wrong in this half and it was probably unjust that they only went in 0-10 to 0-06 up at half time with all of Longwood's scores coming from placed balls by Anthony Healy.

The second half was a different story. Longwood made one change at the break taking Vinny Byrne off who was just back from a calf injury and bringing on Bernard Reilly and straight away he made an impact by clutching the ball from a high ball let in by Aaron Ennis and Reilly rounded his man and kicked to the net to leave a point in the game. Blackhall didn't panic and pointed twice before Anthony Healy and Martin Bermingham had Longwood back within a point. Anthony Healy then struck a goal to have Longwood back in front by 2 before Gaels responded with a pointed free.
Aaron Ennis pointed after hard work from Rory Maguire. Blackhall hit another point and disaster struck for Longwood with minutes left as Gaels got the break they deserved a well taken goal from their full forward leaving the score going into injury time was 2-10 to Gaels 1-15. Longwoods never say die attitude paid off as Anthony Healy gathered a high ball from Aaron Ennis and Healy blasted to the net to leave Longwood ahead by one. Martin Bermingham had his long range effort deflected to the net and Coran Byrne hit the last score of the game to leave it 4-11 to 1-15.

Longwood's full back line was the reason they stayed in this game right up to the last puck of the ball with Enda Dixon outstanding, Darragh Maguire and Chris Cusack in the corners were able for anything Gaels threw at them. Eoin Lynch at centre back was exceptional, Rory Maguire was well on top where ever asked to play, Jim Mahon put in the hard yards in midfield and Anthony Healy and Martin Bermingham did what was asked of them.

Longwood - Alan Ennis, Chris Cusack, Enda Dixon, Darragh Maguire, Chris Hanna, Eoin Lynch, Vinny Byrne, Jim Mahon, Aaron Ennis 0-1, Ross Ennis, Ray Dorran, Coran Byrne 0-1, Martin Bermingham 1-1, Rory Maguire, Anthony Healy 2-8. Subs - Bernard Reilly 1-0 for Vinny Byrne, Conor Keenan for Ross Ennis. Tweet

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