Lory Meagher Cup Final -2014
Croke Park
7 June 2014
Fermanagh, 3 gls. 16 pts;
Longford, 3 gls. 16pts.

In their second appearance in the Lory Meagher Cup Final, Fermanagh yet again narrowly failed to win this competition at their second attempt. The Ernesiders, who had been dominated both the play and the scoring from early on in the opening half to early in the third quarter, began to succumb to the superior scoring skills of their Longford opponents, when their mid land rivals right full forward Joe O'Brien banged his and his sides second goal from play. The mid-landers despite brilliant individual performances by Fermanagh's full forwards Declan McGarry and Sean Corrigan held on to win the Lory Meagher Cup of 2014. The Ernesider's full forward line amassed an impressive 3 goals 12 points out of team total of 3 goals 16 points or 84% score of scores.

The match - the first half.
It was Longford's Cathal Mullane, who with a brace of points opened this Lory Meagher Cup Final of 2014 scoring. However the lively Fermanagh full forward line quickly struck back. Firstly with a point from a sixty five by their right full forward Sean Corrigan. Then they Ernesider's iconic full forward Declan McGarry grab this game by the scruff of its' neck and blasted home his and his side's first goal from play. They Fermanagh side then began to swop minor scores with their Longford opponents, with Johnny Casey and John Newman popping over a point a piece, with Sean Corrigan and Francie Mc Brien sailing over they Fermanagh's sides second and third points from play. As the opening quarter was concluding they Ernesider's were narrowly in front with an impressive score of 1 goal 3 points 4 points for the mid landers. Longford's Kevin Connelly temporarily narrowed the scoring gap between the teams, when he popped over his first and his side's fifth point from play. However Fermanagh's very in form Declan McGarry banged home his and his side's second goal from play. They far from undaunted Longford side modestly struck back, with their sixth point from Kevin Connelly. Going into the game's second quarter, and massive Croke park score board registering 2 goals 3 points for the dominant Fermanagh to a modest six points for Longford. It was to be the Ernesider's Sean Corrigan that was to pick up the scoring pace for the Ernesider's with his third and his side's fourth point from a free. Quickly, and also in scoring form Joe O'Brien replied with an seventh and eight points for the mid landers. As the second was fast ebbing away Fermanagh modestly increased their scoring difference, with a well taken fifth point from mid-fielder Ryan Bogue. Longford's right half forward Eoin Donnellan, with his side's eight points from a free modestly announced his presence. However they latter's team was more forcible in his presence on the pitch, when he with his side's first goal, began to make his dramatically presence dramatically felt. Within minutes to the game's interval, the scoring urgency by both sides continued unabated, with firstly Fermanagh's Sean Corrigan popping over his fourth and his side's sixth points from a free. In this tit-for-tat scoring contest, it was Longford's Eoin Donnellan, who pucked over his team's ninth and tenth points from frees. The erstwhile subdued John Duffy clipped over side's seventh point from a well taken point from a free. Moments later they latter's team mate, Sean Corrigan and very involved in the matches' scoring popped over his fifth and they Ernesider's eight point from a free. Very shortly afterwards this game's referee blew for half time on game that was definitely more enjoyable for the travelling Fermanagh folk, who could look forward hopefully to a rare Erneside victory. Time, scoring skill and defence abilities won soon tell.

Half time scores
Fermanagh, 2 gls. 8 pts; Longford, 1 gls. 10pts.

Longford Get Scoring
It was obvious, with the immediate and dramatic increase in they Longford's scoring rate, with additional eleventh and twelfth points from Eoin Donnellan and Joe O'Brien that they mid-landers were stung into action. Then they latter scorer now both registered his first and his side's second goal from play. Sean Corrigan briefly interrupted this scoring blitz, when he popped over his sixth and his side's ninth point from a free. However what was begin to unnerve they previously dominant Fermanagh team, was that Longford with 2 goals 12 points to Fermanagh's 2 goals 9 points, and were in front for the first time since the game's tenth minute. Sensing that they were truly in the scoring game they mid-landers now upped their minor scoring rate, with their thirteenth point from Eoin Donnellan. However they Fermanagh morale was again lifted, when substitute Shea Curran, who was barely on the playing park minute, when he registered his side's tenth point from play. Quickly Longford's Cathal Mullane pucked over his side's fourteenth point. In reply Sean Corrigan when awarded a further free sailed over his seventh and his side's eleventh point. Then as the third quarter was drawn to close one of the unpleasant sides to the Fermanagh team, when their right full Danny Teague was firstly brandished with yellow card and then the florescent red automatically followed. Suddenly the colour of greyness was seen across many Erneside faces. "Here we go again" some muttered. However the Corrigan brothers, Sean and Ciaran picked up the scoring thread once more, and then almost collectively they duo popped over their side's twelfth and thirteenth fourteenth points. They Longford scoring duo of Eoin Donnellan and Joe O'Brien replied with their side's fifteenth and sixteenth points. At the beginning of this game's last quarter and the matches' scores now registered as 2 goals 13 points to 2 goals 16 points. They mid-landers were still in control. But Sean Corrigan unfazed popped over his side's fourteenth point from play. Suddenly they Longford ratchet up their scoring, when Eoin Donnellan blasted home his side's third and last goal. They same player now popped over his side's seventeenth point from play. With minutes to the games end Declan McGarry banged home his and his side's third and last goal. All was not over for the still battling Fermanagh side, with Sean Corrigan coming to his side's scoring rescue with his and his side's last points of the game. However it was the game's eventually winners Longford that had the last score a point from Eoin Donnellan. Despite a last minute goal attempt by Declan McGarry, the original score stayed. Fermanagh though fighting to the end were short sufficient scoring attackers, and had to rely on the full forward for most of their scores. One question may be asked regardless of the hurlers endeavours; how many challenge matches' was played in preparation for the Lory Meagher Cup Final of 2014?
Final scores
Fermanagh, 3 gls. 16 pts; Longford, 3 gls. 16pts.

Teams, Fermanagh, Mark Curry, Daniel Teague, Eoin Morrissey, Fergus Bannon, Matt Teague, Mark Slevin, J.P.McGARRY, Ryan Bogue ( 1pt.), Francie Mc Brien ( 1 pt.),John Duffy (1pt.) , Brendan McGarry, Andrew Breslin,, Sean Corrigan ( 10pts.), Declan McGarry (3 gls.1pt) & Ciaran Corrigan ( 1 pt.).
Subs., Cathal McGarry, Ciaran Mc Teague, David Mc Gorman, Barry Duffy, Joseph Gavin, Oisin Boyle, Shane Mulholland, Shea Curran (1 pt.) Rory Porteous, Eoin Mahon & Jonathan Smith.
Managers, Sean Duffy & Seamus McCusker
Longford, LONGFORD: Paddy Cullen; Connor Egan, Brendan Stakem, Karl Murray, paddy Corcoran, Connor Flanagan, Rory Donnellan, Johnny Casey (0-2), Declan Tanner, Eoin Donnellan (1-9, 1- 7 frees), Martin Coyle; Kevin Connelly (pts.), Joe O'Brien ( 2gls. 2 pts.), Cathal Mullane ( 3pt.),, , John Newman (1 pt.)
Sub: - C Kavanagh, Gareth Ghee, John Mulhern, Cian Kavanagh, Ciaran Corcoran, Tweet

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