LOUGHINISLAND survived a late scare at Newry on Monday night to progress to the next round and a clash with fellow Division 2 side Carryduff for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Blues had a late injury worry when veteran defender Conor O’Toole was withdrawn with a finger wound. Early on, Mark Poland used the big spaces at Pairc Esler Newry to register Longstone’s first three points while Loughinisland’s player of the first half, Conor Megoran, got the Blues off the mark. Roaming half back Dean McLaughlin hit the post in a rare charge forward before resuming his key role in marking Longstone’s talismanic Mark Poland.
Chris Turley pulled of a great save to deny Daithi Young before Rory Mason converted a free to leave only one between the teams.
However, the Division 2 top scorers have threats all over the field and a great team move saw Stefan Mason finish to the net to Brendan Mason’s side in front for the first time.
Poland got one back before the impressive Declan McClements replied and when the dangerous Megoran struck to the net, the lead was increased to five points.
A quick break up the field saw Hughes get one back for the ‘Stone, but a super effort from the sideline from Rory Mason reinstated a five point lead.
Just before the break the tricky Michael Ireland shook off the shackles of Paddy Megoran to find the net to make a game of it before Declan McClements scored with the fist to give the Blues a three point lead at the break.
In a tense second half Longstone started the brighter and had all the possession, but were unable to convert this to scores and a free from Rory Mason stretched Loughinisland’s lead to four.
Ambrose Rogers pulled one back and Ireland, via a free, closed the gap to two.
As possession became vital and the fog closed in, the tension seemed to get to the attackers on both sides and a point from Declan mcClements and a free from Rory Mason was scant reward for such endeavour.
Longstone piled on the pressure and points from Hughes, Trainor and Ireland left the minimum between the sides.
In a nail-biting conclusion to the game Rogers had the chance to send the game to extra-time when Longstone were awarded a free seven minutes into four minutes of added time, but his effort drifted wide and Loughinisland live to fight another day.
Loughinisland 2-8
Longstone 1-10
MORGAN FUELS SFC