County champions

Continuing a run of winning championship games saw the minor club take the cup again in the past week. Last weekend  under 12 and under 14 teams claimed county titles after defeating Shannon Gaels and Killoe respectively. Firstly huge congrats to our u14 team who finished the season on a high with a 1 point victory over a gallant Killoe side who led by 4 points with time running out.  Our lads never gave up and Daire O'Connell capped a great performance with the winning point at the very end. Well done to all the players and the management team of John, Michael, Justin, Jerry and Martin for all their work throughout the year. Huge congratulations to our marvelous under 12's who on Saturday were crowned County Champions after a great contest with a very talented Shannon Gaels team on a score line of 2-06 to 0-10.The game was a great advert for underage football and was a credit to both teams, with Slashers producing a great display of heart, courage and skill to take the title for 2014. Gaels hit the ground running and playing with the aid of a strong wind fired over 3 great points. A great Slashers team move ended with Liam Sloane scoring a great goal to level matters. 2 great points from Ronan Sheahan and Cian McGuinness left the match all square at half time, 1-02 to 0-5. Stephen O'Brien, not for the first time this season, produced a fantastic save late in that half. Gaels scored first after the restart and at this point our lads rolled up their sleeves and put in a display that was full of courage and skill. Ben Lynn and Danny Ogboko were outstanding at the back and refused to allow their opponents through for a goal. Fine points from Micheál Mulcahy and Miroslav Cureja kept the scoreboard ticking over. A brilliant team move, starting with  Donal Sheahan and moving through Mairtín Kenny, Ronan Sheahan and Dean Coughlan ended with Liam Sloane floating a brilliant shot past the keeper for the goal of the season. Sean Morgan, Donal Sheahan and John Murray stood strong at half back (as did Andrew Clancy when introduced) and Cian McGuinness and Mairtín Kenny were excellent in midfield. Further points from Dean Coughlan and the excellent Ronan Sheahan (after great work by Stephen Murray and Dean Wykes) kept our noses in front and despite a late Gaels onslaught we held firm to win by 2 points at the finish. Joint Captains Stephen O'Brien and Donal Sheahan lifted the Cup to great cheers from the large and vocal Slashers supporters. Well done to everyone, they were deserving winners having played 20 games over the course of a long season, losing only 2 of them (both to Carrick on Shannon). They are a really talented bunch of players who also have great heart and a "never say die" attitude - a credit to themselves, their families and to Longford Slashers. Commiserations but well done to a great Shannon Gaels team who made us fight to the very end.

Foireann Flipeadeóirí Longfort:

Ronan Sheahan, Donal Sheahan, LiamSloane, Mairtin Kenny, John Murray, Stephen Murray, Micheal Mulcahy, Dean Coughlan, Cian McGuinness, Callum O'Leary, Danny Ogboko, Ben Lynn, Miroslav Cureja, Stephen O'Brien, Dean Wykes, Sean Morgan, Ozzie Hackett, David Nevin, Tim Connellan, Andrew Clancy. Both the u12s and u14s would like to thank all the parents and supporters who turned up on the day, the players and management were truly grateful. Both teams enjoyed a meal in Supermacs where they celebrated their wins. Well done again to all involved. To cap a great weekend for the Sky Blues in Pearse park, our junior team defeated Killoe in the final to take home the cup. Well done to all .