Longford withstand late London comeback in hanging on for another win

Longford . . . 0-16   London . . . 1-12

Sitting on the cushion of a comfortable six-point advantage with time running out, Longford were hanging on in the end to withstand a spirited late London comeback in the National Football League Division 4 clash at McGovern Park in Ruislip on Sunday last.
Trailing by 0-8 to 0-1 and apparently in considerable trouble with 20 minutes gone in the first half, Longford showed a lot of character to gradually close the gap and the sides were all square at the break (0-8 to 0-8).
Particularly prominent in the revival was Oran Kenny with 4 points (1 two-pointer) as Longford kept alive their remote hope of a push for promotion.
Building on the first win this season at home to Waterford the previous week, a top two finish is still highly unlikely due to their much inferior scores difference even if they do succeed in beating both Carlow (away on March 15) and Wexford (home on March 23) in the remaining fixtures.
Aaron Farrell registered the first Longford score in the 15th minute and Matthew Carey (free and play) and Dessie Reynolds were also on target as Longford got their act together after squandering a number of chances.
The revitalised visitors maintained their dominance well into the second half and after taking the lead for the first first time with Jayson Matthews on the mark immediately on the changeover, a further five scores followed from Kenny, Carey (two-pointer), Daniel Reynolds and Cathal McCabe.
Matthew Carey landed a huge two-pointer in the 56th minute to leave Longford leading by 0-16 to 0-10 but they failed to register another score during the remainder of the match.
After landing a point in the 65th minute, London were thrown a lifeline with a goal from Kristian Healy and almost snatched another surprise win but for a fine save by Longford keeper Micheal Hughes with Daniel Clarke slotting the breaking ball over the bar.
The deficit was now reduced to the minimum of margins but London were unable to engineer another score in the exciting finish, much to the great relief of the Longford supporters who made the trip over to the English capital.
A big blow for London was the departure of Ciaran Diver – the Exiles’ player of the year last year – who hobbled off just before half-time with what looked like an ankle injury.
The break did little to halt Longford’s momentum in coming from seven points down in the first half with Jayson Matthews pointing straight from the throw-in, after Farrell’s initial effort had come back off the post.
This was now a serious test of London’s character, having failed to register a score since the 20th minute.
Barry and McLoughlin combined in the 38th minute to set up Clarke to end that barren spell.
The first of Carey’s brace of ‘two-pointers’ – a booming strike – gave Solan’s side a glimmer of daylight (0-13 to 0-10).
Cathal McCabe’s 54th minute beauty left the home side needing a goal (0-14 to 0-10), with Carey’s second ‘two-pointer’ – two minutes later – giving the visitors what would ultimately prove a match-winning advantage.
But London produced a strong finish to set up a thrilling finale.
Healy hinted at what was to come when he cut in from the left, only for his inviting ball across the face of the Longford goal to be picked off by the impressive Daire Duggan.
Longford opted to play ‘keep-ball’ and they were nearly made to pay when Clarke pointed and then straight from the kick-out, Healy beat Hughes at his near post following Liam Gallagher’s strong carry.
Andrew Walsh denied Jamie Brady Hynes as the clock ticked over into two additional minutes – and that left the home side with one final throw of the dice to at least snatch a leveller but fortunately for Longford it failed to materialise.

LONDON: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Matt Moynihan, Nathan McElwaine; Eoin Walsh (0-1), Conal Gallagher, Kristian Healy (1-0); Aidan McLoughlin, Liam Gallagher; Joshua Obahor, Daniel Clarke (0-4), Ciaran Diver (0-2, 2f); Sean Tucker (0-2), Shay Rafter (0-2), Tighe Barry (0-1).

Subs:- Thomas Lenihan for C Diver (injured, half-time); Matthew Walsh for S Tucker (49 mins); Josh Crowley-Holland for J Obahor (54 mins), Ciaran McKeon for C Gallagher (56 mins); Conor McKelvey for T Barry (64 mins).

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes (Killoe); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Caolan Lynch (Abbeylara); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta, 0-1), Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 0-6, a couple of two-pointers, 1 free), Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1); Aaron Farrell (Dromard, 0-1), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille, 0-1), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-5, 1 two-pointer). 

Subs:- Shane Campbell (Mostrim) for C Lynch (51 mins); Jamie Brady Hynes (St Mary’s Granard) for P Lynn (64 mins); Cian Brady (Abbeylara) for Daniel Reynolds (injured, 65 mins), Keelin McGann (Kenagh) for O Kenny (70 mins). 

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).