Heartbreak for Longford as Wicklow come out on top after extra-time

Wicklow . . . 2-23   Longford . . . 1-20 

After coming so close to winning the match in normal time with Wicklow snatching the equalising point in the sixth minute of stoppage time, gallant Longford ran out of steam in the eventual heartbreaking defeat in the opening round of the Leinster Senior Football Championship at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday last.
Leading by 0-12 to 0-8 at the break and who were still ahead after Aaron Farrell shot over the bar with time running out, Longford looked like holding out for a glamour crack at home to Dublin in the quarter-final but it was not to be.
Wicklow were in a frantic state in their quest for the equaliser and it materialised when Padraig O’Toole landed a pressure point to send this exciting encounter into extra-time after the sides had ended up all square in perfect weather conditions on a sunny day.
There was a deflated feeling among the home supporters among the attendance of less than 1,000 in the knowledge that a badly needed win had slipped from Longford’s grasp and so it proved as relieved and revitalised Wicklow dominated the extra-time period.

A commanding six-point lead, which included a cracking two-pointer from powerful midfielder Dean Healy, was established but there was a glimmer of hope for Mike Solan’s side following a couple of two-pointers converted by Matthew Carey.
Wicklow quickly regained the upper hand with a point apiece from Healy and Oisin McGraynor, along with a late goal from Kevin Quinn, to make sure of the hard earned victory thanks mainly to this influential trio who scored 1-15 between them.
It did not matter that Longford ended up with 14 players on the pitch after Ryan Moffett received a second yellow card close to the final whistle after Jayson Matthews had kicked a consolation point from a free.
The focus is now switched to the Tailteann Cup opening round fixture on May 10/11 with a lot of pride restored in the Leinster SFC clash against Wicklow.
Forced to field without the injured Iarla O’Sullivan, Peter Lynn and Daniel Reynolds with Jack Macken also on the casualty list, the management team made a change to the goalkeeper position on the starting 15 that appeared on the match programme with Paddy Collum replacing Micheal Hughes.
Making their senior championship debut for the county were Matthew Carey and Cian Brady with Longford attempting to defeat Wicklow in the Leinster Series for the first time in 25 years.
The higher graded Garden County, who just missed out on promotion in Division 4 of the NFL this season, were strongly fancied to cross the first hurdle but almost suffered a surprise loss.
With home advantage, Longford were really fired up to cause a mild upset and while Wicklow centre-half-back Patrick O’Keane burst through to open the scoring in the 2nd minute they were guilty of squandering several chances and almost paid the price for some very poor finishing throughout the match.
The home county, who were also guilty of kicking a number of costly wides, were a lot more economical in the first half in storming into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead which included a two-pointer from Oran Kenny in the 7th minute.
Matthew Carey (free), Jayson Matthews, wing back James Moran (a glorious strike) and the courageous Cathal McCabe (mark) were also on target but rather complacent Wicklow gradually woke up.
Three points from Oisin McGraynor (including a two-pointer) and other scores from Kevin Quinn and Liam O’Neill left it level before Dylan Farrell landed a very good effort in the 28th minute.

McGraynor was then on the mark again (0-8 to 0-8) but Longford pushed on to enjoy a great spell which yielded points from Carey, the prominent Matthews (a great score) and a two-pointer free from Dylan Farrell in the closing stages of the first half.

Wicklow were in a spot of bother but made a terrific start to the second half with a point apiece from Oisin McGraynor, John Paul Nolan (‘45) and wing back Joe Prendergast along with a fabulous goal from Padraig O’Toole which gave Paddy Collum no chance with seven minutes gone on the changeover.
All of a sudden Oisin McConville’s physically stronger outfit had hit the front and the impressive McGraynor then landed a great point from close to the sideline.
Longford were now trailing by 1-12 to 0-12 but got back on level terms when Dessie Reynolds broke through on one of his trademark penetrating runs to blast the ball into the back of the net in the 48th minute.

In producing their best performance in the championship for quite some time, Longford added three more points to their tally through Oran Kenny, Matthew Carey (free) and Aaron Farrell but were unable to hold out in a very tense finish.

Patrick O’Keane (fisting the ball over the bar when he weaved his way through the opposing defence), Kevin Quinn (free) and Padraig O’Toole replied with three points for Wicklow who almost snatched a dramatic late goal after a dipping shot from McGraynor clipped the crossbar before the danger was cleared.

The extra-time period belonged to the visitors who asserted their superiority to outscore Longford by 1-8 to 0-5 and Dublin will be on their way to Aughrim on Sunday next instead of Pearse Park.

 LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Cian Brady (Abbeylara), Ryan Moffett (Killoe), James Moran (Killoe, 0-1); Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 1-0), Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s); Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta, 0-4, 2 frees), Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-3, frees, 1 two-pointer), Aaron Farrell (Dromard, 0-1); Matthew Carey (Clonguish, 0-7, 0-6 frees, 2 two-pointers), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille, 0-1, mark), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-3, 1 two-pointer). 

Subs:- Keelin McGann (Kenagh) for D Farrell (60 mins); Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille) for O Kenny (68 mins).

Extra-time:- Shane Campbell (Mostrim) for D Reynolds (9 mins); Darragh Finlass (St Munis Forgney) for B Masterson (14 mins); Sean O’Sullivan (Sean Connolly’s) for C Brady (18 mins). 

WICKLOW: Cathal Fitzgerald; Tom Moran, Darragh Fee, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (0-1), Patrick O’Keane (0-2), Matt Nolan; Dean Healy (0-3, 1 two-pointer), Liam O’Neill (0-1); John Paul Nolan (0-1, '45), Padraig O’Toole (1-1), Mark Kenny; Oisin McGraynor (0-7, 1 two-pointer, 1f), Kevin Quinn (1-5, 4f), Cathal Baker.

Subs:- Christopher O’Brien (0-1) for C Baker (46 mins); Conor Fee for L O’Neill (59 mins); Gavin Fogarty for M Kenny (66 mins).

Extra-time:- Mark Jackson (0-1, ‘45) for C Fitzgerald (1 min); Jacques MacCamhoil for Stone (13 mins); Lorcan Smith for P O’Keane (20 mins). 

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).