Draw against Waterford leaves Longford still searching for first win
Although another defeat was avoided as Longford grabbed a late point from a well struck Francis McGee free to earn a draw with Waterford in Dungarvan, they are still searching for their first win in Division 4 of the National Football League and the current struggle may well continue in the next game against Wicklow at Pearse Park on Sunday next.
Glenn Ryan will be hoping his side can gain revenge for the defeat by Mick O' Dwyer's outfit in the first round of the Leinster Championship last year but even the return of Paul Barden for his first appearance of the season at Fraher Field on Sunday last failed to lift a Longford team who are badly lacking in confidence and that fact was clearly reflected in the many silly mistakes that were made against improving Waterford who stretched their unbeaten run to four games.
With just a single point from their three games played to date and only Kilkenny below them in the Division 4 table, the chances of Longford getting back into contention for promotion are now very slim indeed and they must win all of their remaining five fixtures and depend on other results working in their favour.
A dream start yielded a goal from a penalty converted by Francis McGee with less than a minute gone in the game but poor finishing proved very costly as they blew a glorious opportunity of beating Waterford.
Thanks to a commanding performance by full-back Diarmuid Masterson in the first half, Longford were looking good for a badly needed victory when on level terms at the break, 1-3 to 0-6, and they should have been in front as Paul Kelly missed an open goal after a shot from Jamsie Martin hit the post in the 17th minute.
Waterford had enjoyed plenty of possession but were unable to penetrate a solid Longford defence inspired by the impressive Masterson.However, the visitors made very poor use of the wind advantage in the second half and ended up kicking a total of nine wides (including a close range free) in almost losing the game which would have been a complete disaster.
Frees were exchanged between Brian Wall and Longford's chief marksman McGee (who clocked up a total of 1-5) early on the changeover and Waterford went on to regain the lead with a fisted point from Wayne Hennessy before the other corner-forward Liam O'Lionain showed a quick turn of foot in racing through to blast the ball over the bar when a goal almost materialised.
A well-worked Longford move involving Jamsie Martin and Brian Kavanagh then yielded a Francis McGee point from play and while Waterford replied immediately with a point from Brian Wall in the 44th minute the home county failed to register another score.
Moments later, Paul Barden was brought on in an attempt to improve the situation and after a McGee free closed the gap to just the minimum of margins in the 46th minute the game was there for the taking only for Longford to press the self destruct button.
Five wides in a row followed from Barden, McGee, Martin, Shane Mulligan and McGee again (this time from a free) but the Dromard man kept his composure to fire over the equaliser in the 68th minute after Waterford appeared to be harshly penalised as the whistle happy referee Richard Moloney awarded another free to Longford.
While there was still time to get the winning score, a few more chances were squandered by Longford as they had to settle for a draw in the finish but with Paul Barden back in action the bad run of results might change at home to Wicklow on Sunday next.
Injuries ruled Kevin Mulligan and Cian Mimnagh out of the Waterford game but Longford got off to the best possible start when the home keeper Tom Wall conceded a penalty following a goalmouth tussle and up stepped Francis McGee to find the back of the net in the opening minute.
Jamsie Martin then converted a close range free to leave Longford 1-1 to 0-0 ahead after seven minutes but Waterford gradually settled down to register three points in a row (all frees) – a couple from Brian Wall (his opening score coming in the 9th minute) with Michael Donnelly also on target.
Then came the missed sitter by Paul Kelly who somehow shot wide with the goals at his mercy and Waterford got back on level terms when wing back Niall Hennessy joined the attack to fist a point in the 22nd minute.
Back came Longford and after Francis McGee got through for a goal chance and appeared to be impeded in his attempt to find the net, the ball reached Jamsie Martin who shot over the bar from close range.
McGee then kicked a couple of frees wide before the same player made amends when landing a point from play in the 30th minute to leave Longford leading by 1-3 to 0-4.But it was Waterford who finished the first half the stronger with a brace of scores through Brian Wall (free) and prominent midfielder Tommy Prendergast, the latter on target in the second minute of stoppage time.
And so the sides went into the second half all square (0-6 to 1-3) and while a further eight points were shared during the remainder of this scrappy encounter it was Longford who clearly had the better of the exchanges but they failed to capitalise on the numerous other scoring chances that came their way.
WATERFORD: Tom Wall; Justin Walsh, Tomas O'Gorman, Kieran Connery; Niall Hennessy (0-1), Shane Briggs, Maurice O'Gorman; Brian Wall (0-5, four frees), Tommy Prendergast (0-1); Michael Donnelly (0-1, free), Conor McGrath, Mick Ahearne; Liam O'Lionain (0-1), Robert Ahearne, Wayne Hennessy (0-1).
Subs:- Paul Ogle for J Walsh (26 mins); Stephen Cunningham for M Donnelly (47 mins); Michael O'Gorman for R Ahearne (51 mins); David Hickey for N Hennessy (59 mins); Kieran Power for C McGrath (71 mins).
LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan (Dromard); Seamus Hannon (Mostrim), Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard), Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers); Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta St. Columba's), Enda Williams (Clonguish), Noel Farrell (Colmcille); Kevin Smyth (Abbeylara), Bernard McElvaney (Ballymore); Ger Dennigan (Cashel), Francis McGee (Dromard, 1-5, goal from penalty, three points from frees), Paul Kelly (Longford Slashers); Declan Reilly (Colmcille), Brian Kavanagh (Kilmacud Crokes), Jamsie Martin (Dromard, 0-2, one free).
Subs:- Paul Barden (Clonguish) for G Dennigan (45 mins); David Morgan (Mostrim) for P Kelly (58 mins); Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe Young Emmets) for J Martin (59 mins).
Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick).
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Weather for Longford, Ireland
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
