There was no Championship boost for the Longford U-21 footballers as they let victory slip from their grasp in the Hastings Cup Tournament Shield Final at Leo Casey Park, Ballymahon on Saturday last with Leitrim producing a strong finish in coming from four points down in the closing stages to snatch a draw and they went on to triumph after extra-time.
Both counties lost against Roscommon and Cavan in the competition proper and Longford were looking for a lift in the build up to the Leinster first round clash against Wicklow in Aughrim on Sunday February 21st with manager Mickey Harkin and his fell
ow mentors Dessie Barry and Padraic Davis fielding a near full strength side.
A well struck goal from JJ Matthews in the 25th minute of the first half gave Longford the edge but with time running out the same player somehow failed to convert a free in front of the posts when Leitrim were trailing by a point, 1-10 to 0-12. That proved to be a very costly miss as the visitors engineered the equaliser with Mark Beirne shooting over the bar in the second minute of stoppage time.
Direct from the throw-in at the start of the extra-time period, corner-forward Kevin Conlon fired home a decisive goal for Leitrim with just 20 seconds gone on the clock and they extended the lead when substitute Brian Farrell landed a point.
That was really putting it up to Longford and while they hit back to close the gap with a point apiece from Fergal Battrim and Martin Brady (free), no less than six chances in succession were squandered as they completely dominated the second half of extra-time.
With virtually the last kick of this tight contest, Leitrim broke to register the final score as the accurate Adrian Croal converted a free and the Glencar/Manorhamilton sharpshooter was very much the matchwinner with the impressive total of nine points to his credit – three from play.
Minus the services of senior panellists Tomas Beirne, Wayne McKeon and Paddy Maguire, Leitrim got off to a flying start to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 after 12 minutes with three of the points (two frees) coming from Croal with Conlon also on target and this dangerous duo provided a constant threat for the Longford full-back-line.
The most notable absentee on the Longford U-21 team was senior newcomer Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe) and it was a very poor effort indeed by the home county for most of the first half with 23 minutes gone before Padraig Gill registered their opening score – a great point from near the sideline.
Moments later midfielder Martin Brady landed a long range point and immediately a goal materialised as JJ Matthews shot to the back of the net.
