Longford battle back to snatch a draw against Leitrim in the Lory Meagher Cup

Longford . . . 1-14  Leitrim . . . 1-14 

Showing a lot of character in battling back from five points down to snatch a draw against Leitrim at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last, the Longford senior hurlers managed to maintain their unbeaten run in the Lory Meagher Cup.
With the tougher games to come against Cavan (home) and Monaghan (away), reaching the knockout stage is still a serious test for the midlanders who were looking good for a third consecutive win in the group phase when Niall Hawes scored a well-taken goal in the 28th minute of the local derby.
Longford extended their lead to four points but Leitrim produced a strong finish to the first half and only trailed by the minimum of margins at the break, 1-8 to 0-10.
The determined visitors gradually got on top and thanks to a goal from Sean O’Riordan who booted the ball to the net in the 43rd minute, the rattled home county trailed by 1-11 to 1-8.
When Leitrim increased the lead to five points entering the final quarter of the contest, it appeared that Longford (minus defenders Karl Murray, Oisin Gately and Adam Quinn) were heading for their first defeat in the current championship campaign but they came storming back to salvage the situation.
A point from Niall Hawes in the 56th minute sparked the revival and four more scores through Reuben Muray (‘65 and free), David Buckey and Martin Farrell (from a cracking long range free in stoppage time) left the sides all square in the end.
The first half developed into a tight contest with Michel Mulcahy creating the goal for Niall Hawes while the Longford captain Reuben Murray accounted for half of the 8 points (3 frees).
Martin Farrell fired over three scores (2 frees) while David Buckley was also on target for the home side who held a slender advantage at the break.
Impressive midfielder Joe Murray fired over a total of six points (frees) for Leitrim who were guilty of shooting several wides during the course of the game while Longford squandered a couple of clear-cut chances with time running out.
Martin Farrell eventually landed the late, late equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time and it must be said that Leitrim were the better team on the day and should have come out on top.
The visitors had a goal disallowed near the end but substitute Gavin O’Brien was clearly in the square when he directed a long range free from keeper Clement Cuniffe into the back of the net.

Martin Farrell got Longford’s first score of the second half when he converted a long range free in the 47th minute and the gutsy manner in which they battled back from the brink of defeat had to be admired.

 LONGFORD: Johnny Maher (Kilmacud Crokes); Sean Lancaster (Castlepollard), Eamon Allen (Kilmacud Crokes), Kealan Cox (Longford Slashers); Daire Regan (Longford Slashers), Declan Hayes (Ballingarry, Tipperary), Diarmuid Caslin (Longford Slashers); Martin Farrell (Blackrock, Limerick, 0-5, 4 frees), Johnny Casey (Longford Slashers); Dylan Hutchinson (Wolfe Tones Mostrim), Evan Tully (Wolfe Tones), Reuben Murray (Longford Slashers, 0-6, 4 frees, 1 ‘65); Niall Hawes (Longford Slashers, 1-1), David Buckley (Longford Slashers, 0-2), Micheal Mulcahy (Longford Slashers).

Subs:- Joe Rabbitt (Castlepollard) for D Hutchinson (half-time); Alan Devine (Castlepollard) for M Mulcahy (58 mins). 

LEITRIM: Clement Cunniffe; Niall Crowe, Conor Hackett, Kevin Clerkin; Pearse Kenny, Martin Feeney, Adam Gavigan; Paul Lenehan, Joe Murray (0-6, frees); Michael O’Brien (0-2), Sean O’Riordan (1-1), Stephen Goldrick (0-2); Dhani Keane (0-1), James McNabola, Philip Burgess (0-2).

Subs:- Aaron Glancy for N Crowe (29 mins); Gavin O’Brien for D Keane (58 mins); Connor McLoughlin for J McNabola (stoppage time). 

Referee: James Judge (Mayo).