Longford stage late, late comeback to snatch a draw against Tipperary in relegation battle

Longford . . . 0-14     Tipperary . . . 1-11

From what appeared to be a good position when they ended up leading by four points (0-9 to 0-5) at the break, Longford fell apart in making many mistakes in the second half and pressed the self-destruct button to concede a costly goal with just three minutes gone on the changeover. 

David McGivney, back in the defence, directed a crossfield pass that was intended for Peter Foy but a vital  interception by Teddy Doyle to pounce on the breaking ball resulted in the Tipperary wing forward racing through to blast an unstoppable shot into the back of the net.

That was a major turning point in the game as the visitors took over completely to fire over six points in a row and some other goal chances were created as the leaky Longford defence were put under severe pressure. 

Were it not for a tremendous tackle by full-back Andrew Farrell to stop the Tipperary centre-half-back Kevin Fahey going through for a goal in the 47th minute, quickly followed by Iarla O’Sullivan’s clearance off the line from a shot from Sean O’Connor, Longford would have been dead and buried. 

Things went from bad to worse when the home side were reduced to 14 players after the whistle happy referee John Ryan sent-off midfielder Darren Gallagher for a second yellow in the 56th minute and several cards were issued by the Cork official. 

Physically stronger Tipperary were leading by 1-9 to 0-9 at that stage of the game and when a couple of further points followed from Paudie Feehan (a brilliant long range strike) and Jack Kennedy (free), it looked all over as a contest. 

While Longford were very poor in the second half and failed to register a score on the changeover until David McGivney converted a free in the 67th minute, some pride was restored in the determined manner in which they managed to get back on level terms.

Substitutes Dylan Farrell, a brace from Rian Brady (one free) and Oran Kenny (landing the last gasp equaliser) were all on target in the exciting end to this basement battle.

Tipperary also finished up with 14 players after substitute Conor Cadell was sent-off for a second yellow card in the 69th minute. 

Longford are back in action on Sunday next against Offaly at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and will surely be relegated to Division 4 if they fail to win the Round 5 fixture.   

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); Peter Foy (St Loman’s Mullingar), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Darren Gallagher (Granard), Michael Quinn (Killoe); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-2), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe, 0-1); Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-2); Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara, 0-3, 2f), David McGivney (Mullinalaghta, 0-2, frees), Liam Connerton (St Jude’s Dublin). 

Subs:- Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers) for P Foy (injured, 44 mins); Rian Brady (Mullinalaghta, 0-2, 1f) for L Connerton (44 mins); PJ Masterson (Abbeylara) for P Lynn (injured, 55 mins); Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-1) for R Smyth (60 mins); Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-1) for D Mimnagh (62 mins). 

TIPPERARY: Michael O’Reilly; Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston; Emmet Moloney (0-1), Kevin Fahey, Colm O’Shaughnessy; Paudie Feehan (0-2), Jack Kennedy (0-7, 6f, 1’45); Paul Maher, Colman Kennedy, Teddy Doyle (1-0); Mark Stokes, Donough Leahy (0-1), Sean O’Connor. 

Subs:- Liam McGrath for P Maher (injured, 28 mins); Mark Russell for D Leahy (49 mins); Conor Cadell for L McGrath (60 mins); Dean Carew for W Eviston (65 mins); Martin Kehoe for T Doyle (third minute of stoppage time). 

Referee: John Ryan (Cork).