Courageous Longford stage sensational comeback to pip Wicklow for promotion

Longford launched a sensational comeback to pip Wicklow for promotion in Division 4 of the National Football League after a thrilling second half at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday with Daniel Reynolds firing over the winning point in a frantic finish. 

Longford . . . 2-21    Wicklow . . . 2-20 

While Wicklow must be wondering how they managed to lose this action-packed match after holding a commanding 11-point lead when Christopher O’Brien fired over a two-pointer (play) in the 47th minute, Longford showed remarkable courage to somehow remain in contention. 

This was a terrific team performance with the substitutes also playing a significant role in the amazing revival and the young Longford team can now look forward to the added bonus of a Croke Park appearance against Carlow in the Division 4 league title decider on Saturday evening next. 

Oisin O’Toole (62nd minute) and Paddy Moran (65th minute) scored the crucial goals that changed the course of the game to close the gap to just three points (2-17 to 1-17) and it was a real roller coaster from there until the eventual ecstatic end.

Longford outscored Wicklow 0-4 to 0-3 to emerge victorious with the first of the scores coming from influential substitute Moran along with a brace from Joseph Hagan with the last gasp strike from Daniel Reynolds in the fifth minute of stoppage time clinching a major success. 

Manager Mike Solan and his fellow mentors Enda McGahern and Joe Keane deserve a lot of credit for guiding the county senior footballers into Division 3 next season which did not seem possible after they lost to London in their first fixture.

No matter what happens against Carlow at Croke Park, gaining promotion is a big boost for Longford in the build-up to the Leinster Championship Round 1 showdown against neighbouring rivals Westmeath at Pearse Park on Sunday April 14.  

LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s), Ryan Moffett (Killoe Emmet Og), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers, 0-1), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard, 1-1), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1); Liam Glennon (Carrickedmond), Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish); James Moran (Killoe Emmet Og), Matthew Carey (Clonguish), Daniel Reynolds (0-4); Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-7, brace of two-pointers play and free, 1 free), Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-3), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-2). 

Subs:- Niall Farrelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for L Glennon (half-time); Paddy Moran (Killoe Emmet Og, 1-1) for J Moran (46 mins); Cian Brady (Abbeylara, 0-1) for R Sweeney (46 mins); Ronan Bleakley (Dromard) for R Moffett (69 mins). 

WICKLOW: Mark Jackson (0-2, 2 45’s); Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Gavin Fogarty, Jonathan Carlin (0-2), Darragh Fee; Dean Healy (0-1),Jack Hardy; Christopher O’Brien (0-4, 1 two-pointer play), Padraig O’Toole (1-3), Kevin Quinn (0-4); Oisin McGraynor (1-2, 1 free), Joe Prendergast, Eoin Darcy (0-2, 1 free).

Subs:- Jacques McCall for D Fee (injured, 29 mins); Cathal Baker for J Prendergast (60 mins); Conor Fee for E Darcy (67 mins); Jack Kirwan for J Hardy (70 mins). 

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).