Gutsy Longford stage a superb comeback to pip Sligo for a spot in the All-Ireland Minor ‘C’ final

Longford . . . 2-10       Sligo . . . 0-15

Regardless of the status of the Tier 3 competition, a spot in the All-Ireland Minor ‘C’ final against Wicklow this Saturday in Tullamore is a great achievement by the gutsy Longford U-17 footballers who produced a superb comeback to pip Sligo in a thrilling finish at the Annaduff grounds on Sunday last.
Six points down (0-13 to 1-4) midway through the second half and looking dead, resilient Longford enjoyed a new lease of life to dominate the last quarter of this exciting free admission contest and got the second goal they so badly needed when Cormac Mulligan converted a penalty in the 54th minute.
Wing back Liam Greene was fouled after his shot hit the post and Mulligan made no mistake in blasting the ball to the net to leave just the minimum of margins separating the sides, 0-14 to 2-7.
Sligo looked like holding out when their accurate full-forward Marc Clifford converted a free for his 8th point in the 59th minute but the Longford bravehearts just refused to accept defeat and got back on level terms with a brace of scores from frees registered by their chief marksman Troy Tiernan who ended up with the impressive total of 1-5 to his credit.
The stunned Connacht county had let the victory slip from their grasp and were reeling on the ropes before the knockout blow was delivered by Longford substitute Gavin Donohoe who kept his composure to fist over the winning point in the third minute of stoppage time.
Fair play to the manager Joe Breslin, assisted by Ger Carberry and the other mentors, for keeping the interest alive to give the ‘C’ championship a serious shot and their progress to the All-Ireland final has been achieved without the talented injured attacker Brendan Martin.
While Longford got off to a good start against Sligo with a splendid goal from Troy Tiernan with just three minutes gone in the game in front of a small attendance at the compact Leitrim venue, the midlanders were second best for the remainder of the first half and were restricted to a point apiece from wing back Dylan Ledwith and James Flynn (free).
The dangermen in the Sligo full-forward-line, Ryan Lang and Clifford, accounted for 8 points between them as the westerners built up a commanding lead at the break, 0-11 to 1-2,
Longford were going nowhere at this stage but at least they had the advantage of the wind on the changeover. The second half was only a minute old when Diarmuid Breslin (son of the manager) shot over the bar but back came Sligo with a fine point from Clifford.
But the goal that would have wrapped up the game for Sligo failed to materialise as chances were created and next to score was Longford substitute Aidan Mollaghan who landed a free in the 44th minute.
An immediate response came from the boot of No 13 Lang to keep Sligo in control but from there until the gripping end it was Longford who grabbed the major share of the possession to keep their title hopes alive.
Troy Tiernan was on target from a tight angle in the 46th minute and four more points (all frees) followed from the Grattans sharpshooter as Longford pulled the game out of the fire to earn a crack at Wicklow who sprang a mild surprise to beat Laois by 1-9 to 1-8 in the other semi-final on Sunday last.

LONGFORD: Ray McNally (Longford Slashers); Jack O’Farrell (Carrickedmond), Cathal Lynch (Clonguish), Alex Karyntinos (Fr Manning Gaels); Dylan Ledwith (Abbeylara, 0-1), Billy Maguire (Longford Slashers), Liam Greene (Mostrim); Max Gallagher (Ardagh Moydow), Aidan Kelly (Cashel); Diarmuid Breslin (Carrickedmond, 0-1), Cormac Mulligan (Dromard, 1-0, penalty), Darragh Grimes (Dromard); James Flynn (Clonguish, 0-1, free), Daniel Corr (Granard), Troy Tiernan (Grattans, 1-5, 4 frees).

Subs:- Aidan Mollaghan (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-1, free) for D Grimes (half-time); Gavin Donohoe (Killoe, 0-1) for J Flynn (38 mins); Jack Conlon (Sean Connolly’s) for A Karyntinos (43 mins); Robert Rowan (Kenagh) for A Kelly (48 mins). 

SLIGO: Gareth Cummins; Conor Boyle, Adam Taheny, Darragh Cuffe; James Donoghue, Eanna Giblin, Micheal Harte; Brian Meehan, Conor Walsh; Ryan Healy (0-1), Adan Feeney (0-2), Diarmuid Cully; Ryan Lang (0-4), Marc Clifford (0-8, 6 frees), Conor Davey.

Sub:- Conor Stenson for D Cully (47 mins). 

Referee: Shane Corcoran (Mayo).