Positive start as Longford snatch last gasp draw against Limerick

Longford . . . 2-12     Limerick . . . 1-15

The rising Clonguish star was making his senior debut in the National Football League Division 4 clash against the title favourites Limerick in difficult wet conditions at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday and the youngster (still U-20) kept his composure to land the pressure equaliser with the last kick of the game.

It was a positive start for the new Longford manager Mike Solan from Mayo and it should boost the confidence factor in the build up to the Round 2 fixture against Tipperary in Clonmel on Saturday next, throw-in 2.30pm.

Division 4 is very competitive with nothing  guaranteed and the home supporters among the very small attendance in the region of 300 must be pleased with this result in the quest for one of the two promotion places plus the added bonus of a league final appearance at Croke Park. 

The loyal Longford followers had plenty to shout about in the first quarter of the contest with a couple of goals in quick succession from Rathcline returnee Oran Kenny leaving Solan’s adventurous side in what appeared to be a comfortable seven-point lead, 2-2 to 0-1.

 But Limerick (guilty of some poor finishing) got right back into contention with a cracking goal from impressive corner-forward Peter Nash in the 21st minute and the gap was reduced to just two points (2-4 to 1-5) at the break.

And the visitors would have hit the front but for a fantastic double save by Paddy Collum in first half stoppage time before they eventually began to get the vital scores in the second half and seemed set for the victory when experienced substitute Iain Corbett slotted the ball over the bar in stoppage time.

Leading by two points, there was one last chance for Longford when the influential Matthew Carey was fouled outside the arc and he stepped up to fire over the two-pointer free to salvage the situation in a share of the spoils.

Jayson Matthews had the distinction of kicking Longford’s first ever two-pointer in the introduction of the new rules when he landed a cracking strike from play in the 44th minute. 

In a very fast start, Longford were denied a goal when Keelin McGann’s close range attempt was blocked but they found the back of the net in some style with 13 minutes gone in the first half. 

Wing back Iarla O’Sullivan let the ball into his Rathcline colleague Kenny who engineered a fine catch before blasting his shot past the towering Limerick keeper Josh Ryan. 

Two minutes later Cathal McCabe created the opportunity for livewire Oran to score his second goal and along with a brace of frees converted by Dylan Farrell and Matthew Carey, Longford found themselves in a commanding 2-2 to 0-1 lead.

That was really putting it up to Limerick, generally regarded as the main contenders for promotion in the aftermath of relegation from Division 3 last season.

They gradually got their together in registering 1-4 in the second quarter whereas Longford were restricted to just two more points, a terrific strike from midfielder Dessie Reynolds in the 26th minute with Keelin McGann also getting his name on the scoresheet.

Longford missed a couple of chances early in the second half, including a two-pointer free attempt from Dylan Farrell, but Limerick came storming back with three points in a row through Peter Nash, Emmet Rigter and corner-back Mark McCarthy (his second score) to take the lead for the first time. 

Then came the Jayson Matthews two-pointer as Longford regained a slender advantage (2-6 to 1-8) and the ding dong battle continued as the Treaty County replied with scores from James Naughton (free) and the dangerman Nash.

A well struck point from Oran Kenny levelled matters and there was then an exchange of scores from Naughton (free) and Matthew Carey, the latter landing a great score under considerable pressure in the 51st minute.

Two fine scores from centre-half-forward Rigter put Limerick ahead again and further points followed from Carey (free) and opposing keeper Josh Ryan (‘45) before Matthew was off target with another two-pointer effort in the 67th minute.

 There was a couple of close calls for Longford as Limerick were denied a killer second goal in the tense and exciting closing stages of the game.  

Carey converted another free in stoppage time before Iain Corbertt restored the two-point advantage for Limerick and that appeared to settle the issue close to the final whistle.

But there was still time for Carey to save Longford from a defeat and he duly came to the rescue to register the two-pointer free to leave the sides all square in the finish.

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Paddy Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s), Sean O’Sullivan (Sean Connolly’s), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Ryan Moffett (Killoe Emmet Og), Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Keelin McGann (Kenagh, 0-1), Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-1, free), Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s, 0-2, two-pointer); Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 2-1), Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 0-6, 0-5 from frees including the two-pointer), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille). 

Subs:- James Moran (Killoe Emmet Og) for S O’Sullivan (57 mins); Aaron Farrell (Dromard) for K McGann (60 mins); Cian Brady (Abbeylara) for I O’Sullivan (stoppage time). 

LIMERICK: Josh Ryan (0-1, ‘45’); Oran Collins, Fiachra Cotter, Mark McCarthy (0-2); Barry Coleman (0-1), Killian Ryan, Paul Maher; Tommy Childs, Cillian Fahy; Andrew Meade (0-1), Emmet Rigter (0-3), James Naughton (0-3, 2 frees); Peter Nash (1-3, 1 free), Rob Childs, Tony McCarthy.

Subs:- Colm McSweeney for O Collins (injured, 27 mins); Darragh O’Hagan for T Childs (43 mins); Iain Corbett (0-1) for K Ryan (54 mins); Sean Clancy for R Childs (65 mins); Rory O’Brien for A Meade (stoppage time).

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Donegal).