Longford sweat it out for first league victory in difficult battle against Waterford

Longford . . . 0-16     Waterford . . . 0-13 

While Longford kept their promotion hopes alive with a badly needed first victory in the current league campaign away to bottom of the table Waterford on Saturday last, it developed into a difficult battle with the midlanders forced to sweat it out for both vital points. 

A late change of venue saw the Division 4 Round 3 clash switched from the unplayable pitch at SETU Arena, Carriganore to the Ballygunner GAA grounds on a drizzly wet evening in front of a small crowd and there was a sigh of relief when the final whistle was eventually blow in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Longford looked in a spot of bother and the possibility of a shock defeat when they trailed by 0-9 to 0-8 at the break but it all came good in the second half with Mark Hughes, in particular, playing a leading role in the hard earned win.

The accurate Hughes fired over three of the last four points, one of which was a terrific tight angle strike from near the sideline while his fellow Killoe clubman Daniel Mimnagh fisted the ball over the bar in the 63rd minute.

It might have been a different story had Waterford converted a glorious goal chance in the 61st minute with the fierce scramble ending up with prominent defender Dermot Ryan hitting the post after the Longford keeper Micheal Hughes had produced a point-blank save.

The physically strong home county were trailing by 0-14 to 0-11 in this turning point and 14-man Longford showed a lot of character and resilience to protect their slender advantage after the consistent influential midfielder Darren Gallagher was sent-off in the 65th minute.

A harsh black card was branded to Gallagher who had received a yellow card in the 56th minute but the dynamic Granard star will be clear to line-out in the next league game against London at Glennon Brothers Pearse on Sunday, throw-in 1pm.

Making a pleasing National League debut was Paddy Kiernan (Killoe) who linked up with Gallagher at centrefield and the newcomer landed a well struck point in the second half.

In tough conditions on the Ballygunner pitch, Longford led by 0-6 to 0-3 at one stage in the first half with Jayson Matthews (frees) accounting for half of those scores before he was forced to retire injured and he was replaced by Daniel Mimnagh.

The brothers Dessie and Daniel Reynolds were also on target along with Darragh Gallagher who broke through the opposing defence on his way to landing a cracking point.

But Wateford were really fired up in a determined bid to prove their critics wrong and were 0-8 to 0-7 in front approaching half-time with their early scores coming from Dermot Ryan, Michael Mullaney and Robbie McGrath.

Then three points in quick succession through Jason Curry (free), Stephen Curry and centre-half-back Ryan left the sides all square before Longford regained the lead (0-7 to 0-6) with a score from a free converted by Darren Gallagher in the 28th minute.

Waterford registered three more points during the remainder of the first half with the scores (all frees) coming from Jason Curry and Tom O’Connell (2) while Michael Quinn replied for the visitors.

That was really putting it up to Longford who were guilty of some poor finishing throughout the game in clocking up a total of 13 wides as compared to seven for Waterford.

Paddy Christie’s charges made a strong start to the second half with quick points from corner-back Bryan Masterson and Joseph Hagan before Keelin McGann squandered a decent chance of a goal when blasting the ball wide from close range.

Tom O’Connell then kicked a point for the home side to leave it level again but Longford were now showing a lot more urgency and stepped up another gear to shoot four points in a row through Gallagher (‘45’), Paddy Kiernan and a brace from Mark Hughes in a dominant spell between the 47th and 58th minutes.

Waterford never gave up the fight in closing the gap with a couple of points from frees converted by O’Connell while Dermot Ryan struck the ball against the post as a goal almost materialised.

Longford were living dangerously but the pressure was eased with a point apiece from Daniel Mimnagh and Mark Hughes (mark) to survive a real scare.

Now trailing by 0-16 to 0-12, gutsy Waterford kept going until the bitter end but the best they could manage was another point from O’Connell in the third minute of stoppage time and were reduced to 14 players with time almost up when substitute Tommy Martin received a black card.

WATERFORD: Paudie Hunt; Ross Browne, Conor O’Cuirrin, Liam Fennell; Conor McCarthy, Dermot Ryan (0-2), Robbie McGrath (0-1); Michael Mullaney (0-1), Jack Keane; Stephen Curry (0-1), Sean Whelan Barrett, Caolan MacCraith; Jason Curry (0-2, frees), Tom O’Connell (0-6, 5 frees), Willie Beresford. 

Subs:- Tommy Martin for W Beresford (40 mins); Joe Booth for M Mullaney (59 mins); Billy Hynes for Conor O’Cuirrin (62 mins); Jason Sheehan for R McGrath (70 mins); Niall McSweeney for S Curry (stoppage time).

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson (0-1); Dessie Reynolds (0-1), Ryan Moffett, Keelin McGann; Darren Gallagher (0-3, 1 free, 1 '45'), Paddy Kiernan (0-1); Daniel Reynolds (0-1), Michael Quinn (0-1), Joseph Hagan (0-1); Jayson Matthews (0-3, frees), Cathal McCabe, Mark Hughes (0-3, 1 mark). 

Subs:- Daniel  Mimnagh (0-1) for J Matthews (injured, 21 mins); Dylan Farrell for Daniel Reynolds (51 mins);  Barry 0'Farrell for B Masterson (injured, 54 mins); Ruairi Harkin for C McCabe (56 mins), Liam Hughes for K McGann (70 mins).   

Referee: John Ryan (Cork).