Pressure on Longford in the battle to topple Tipperary

Longford have become accustomed to losing their opening game in the National Football League in the recent past and the jinx struck again in a disappointing setback against Laois at O’Moore Park on Saturday evening last. 

Thus the pressure is already on the manager Paddy Christie and his players in the battle to gain promotion from the competitive Division 4 with the O’Byrne Cup two-in-a-row triumph counting for little in the matches that really matter.

A win against Tipperary in the Round 2 league fixture at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday next (throw-in 2pm) is now a must for Longford and the 2020 Munster champions are far from the force they used to be with former All-Star attackers Conor Sweeney and Michael Quinlivan no longer part of the panel. 

The current Tipp team, featuring five debutants, suffered a surprise defeat at home to 14-man Carlow last weekend  after Colm Hulton was sent-off with 20 minutes to play.

The Munster men badly require a positive result to keep alive their hopes of remaining in contention for an immediate return to Division 3 after getting relegated to the bottom tier along with Longford last season. 

Tipperary will be hoping to bounce back with Dubliner Paul Kelly from the Thomas Davis club in Tallaght their new manager. 

Kelly guided Thomas Davis to the Dublin SFC final for the first time in 28 years back in 2019 and he was in charge of the Naas team who won the Kildare SFC title in 2021 as they were crowned county champions for the first time in 31 years

The Tipp dangerman is undoubtedly corner-forward Sean O’Connor, a member of the UCC team who won the 2023 Sigerson Cup. 

O’Connor tormented the Carlow defence on Saturday evening last in shooting the impressive total of nine points (6 frees) and is clearly a serious threat. 

Longford boss Paddy Christie said his side are still positive going into the Tipperary game despite the defeat in the opening round. 

 “They were beaten by Carlow so we know it’ll be a dogfight on Sunday. There’s loads to play for, the lads tried very hard against Laois, the attitude was good and the conditions were difficult. It’s very hard to be over critical when the spirit was there.”

When the counties clashed in Division 3 last season, Longford staged a spirited late, late comeback in coming from five points down to snatch a draw (0-14 to 1-11) in the sixth minute of stoppage time against Tipperary at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park and hopefully a home win will materialise at the same venue on Sunday.

NFL Division 4 Round 1 Results

Laois 1-12 Longford 2-7

Tipperary 1-14 Carlow 3-10

Waterford 1-5 Leitrim 2-17

London 1-9 Wexford 1-13

 NFL Division 4 Round 2 Fixtures

Saturday February 3

Chadwicks Wexford Park: Wexford v Laois, 6pm

Netwatch Cullen Park: Carlow v Waterford, 6pm

 Sunday February 4

Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Tipperary, 2pm

Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada: Leitrim v London, 1pm