Comfortable win over London keeps Longford in contention for promotion

Longford . . . 3-12    London . . . 1-10

Goals from Dessie Reynolds, Keelin McGann and Daniel Mimnagh at crucial stages of the game paved the way for Longford’s comfortable win over London in Division 4 of the National Football League to keep them in contention for promotion.

A small attendance in the region of 300 gathered at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last to witness Longford’s most pleasing display in the current league campaign and the midlanders will have home advantage for the crunch clash against Leitrim on Sunday next, throw-in 2.30pm. 

With other results working in favour of Paddy Christie’s charges as both Leitrim (away to Carlow) and Tipperary (at home to Laois) suffered slender one point defeats in the Round 4 fixtures, the competitive battle for a place in Division 3 next season is developing into a very intriguing situation.

Who will be promoted along with the table toppers Laois remains to be seen but Longford are gaining some sort of momentum with their expected wins over the bottom teams Waterford and London.

Things were not looking good in the first quarter of the contest against London with the home side having to wait until the 16th minute for their opening score - a trademark fisted point from Daniel Mimnagh who was one of seven Killoe players selected on the starting team.

But Longford eventually got their act together with the alert Dessie Reynolds pouncing on the breaking ball to score the first goal in the 31st minute after the London keeper Andrew Walsh produced a fine point-blank save to stop a shot from Mimnagh.

Longford ended up leading by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break and after Cathal McCabe landed a point immediately on the changeover, Michael Quinn put Keelin McGann clean through for a cracking goal with a couple of minutes gone in the second half.

London were struggling to stay in touch and while they were given a glimmer of hope with a goal from midfielder Liam Gallagher in the 43rd minute, slick Longford kept the scoreboard ticking over and clocked up the grand total of 2-7 in a strong second half performance.

The issue was put beyond all doubt when Patrick Fox created the opening for the impressive Daniel Mimnagh to plant the ball in the corner of the London net in the 59th minute.

London came to town in a confident frame of mind in the aftermath of the excellent draw against Tipperary in Ruislip the previous weekend and got off to a bright start at Pearse Park with a brace of points (frees) from full-forward Patrick Dolan.

Longford finally awoke from their slumber in the wake of the close call away to Waterford in the last round to shoot four points in a row - a brace apiece from Daniel Mimnagh and the always influential midfielder Darren Gallagher (play and ‘45).

Back came London with another converted free from Dolan before a timely interception by the generally prominent Joseph Hagan started the fast flowing move that created the opportunity for Dessie Reynolds to find the back of the net and give the loyal Longford supporters something to shout about.

A point apiece were then exchanged between London’s centre-half-back Ciaran McKeon (who was making a big impact) and Hagan but whatever hopes the visitors had of springing a shock were dashed in the early stages of the second half.

The goal from McGann, along with points from McCabe, Mimnagh and Daniel Reynolds, opened up a commanding 2-8 to 0-5 advantage and there was no way back for London.

The losers did manage to add another 1-6 to their tally on the changeover with the points coming from Ciaran Diver (2), Patrick Dolan (2 frees), substitute Shay Rafter and the goalscorer Liam Gallagher but the exiles were clearly second best in unable to cope with Longford’s quick transition from defence to attack.

There was just no stopping the growing in confidence home side in the second half as they registered another 1-4 during the remainder of the match with the points coming from Gallagher (‘45), Dessie Reynolds (an excellent strike), McCabe and substitute Dylan Farrell to run out emphatic winners in the end.

Roll on Leitrim!

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes (Killoe); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard), Liam Hughes (Killoe); Keelin McGann (Kenagh, 1-0), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 1-1); Darren Gallagher (Granard, 0-3, 2 ‘45s), Paddy Kiernan (Killoe); Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe, 1-3), Michael Quinn (Killoe), Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-1); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Mark Hughes (Killoe), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille, 0-2).

Subs:- Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-1) for M Quinn (61 mins); Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond) for K McGann (65 mins); Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille) for D Mimnagh (66 mins); Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s) for P Kiernan (69 mins); Bryn Peters (Rathcline) for M Hughes (stoppage time). 

LONDON: Andrew Walsh; Conor Cox, Matt Moynihan, Fiontan Eastwood; Oran Kerr, Ciaran McKeon (0-1), Daire Rooney; Stephen Dornan, Liam Gallagher (1-1); Joseph mcGill, Ciaran Diver (0-2), DJ Flaherty; Ruairi Rafferty, Patrick Dolan (0-5, 5 frees), Eoin Walsh.

Subs:- Aidan McLoughlin for E Walsh (half-time); Ryan Tohill for J McGill (40 mins); Tighe Barry for DJ Flaherty (51 mins); Shay Rafter (0-1) for C Cox (54 mins); Michael Miller for A McLoughlin (61 mins). 

Referee: Niall Quinn (Clare).