Carlow find that little bit extra to pip Longford for league title

Having never led in an enthralling encounter, never-say-die Longford eventually lost out after extra-time in a cracking National Football League Division 4 Final at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

Carlow . . . 1-24  Longford . . . 2-18

It was a sweet success for Carlow who had the bulk of the possession and were the better side but were unable to break away until the second half of the additional period.

A strong finish yielded three points in succession through influential substitute Christopher Blake (play and free) and wing back Padraig Bolger,to clinch a historic title triumph.

It was Carlow’s first ever football success at Croke Park and they celebrated accordingly as Longford were left to rue what might have been with their cause suffering a significant setback when substitute Ronan Bleakley (not long on the pitch) received a straight red card for a foul on powerful Carlow midfielder Eoghan Ruth at the start of the second half in extra-time.

Carlow made full use of the extra man advantage to fire over three crucial scores in a row during the remainder of the match and while the defeat was hard to take, gaining promotion to Division 3 next season is a big boost for the manager Mike Solan as his young team grow in stature.

The goals from Oisin O’Toole (18th minute) and Oran Kenny (52nd minute), along with the five first half points (1 two-pointer) from impressive attacking defender Dessie Reynolds, kept Longford in contention in this thrilling roller coaster that gave their large continent of supporters plenty to shout about.

A well-taken point from Matthew Carey (set up by Dylan Farrell close to the sounding of the hooter left the sides all square at the end of normal time (2-14 to 1-17) but Carlow did enough in extra-time to emerge victorious in a highly entertaining title decider, even if some of the decisions made by the referee were dubious. .

Longford now turn their attention to the Leinster Championship Round 1 clash against Westmeath at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday April 12 in the bid to cause an upset.

The experience of contesting the league final on the vast Croke Park pitch should stand to them as they gradually overcame the nerves on the big occasion.

Carlow raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead with Oran Kenny on target for Longford in the 3rd minute and following a free converted by Dylan Farrell a goal materialised when Oisin O’Toole scrambled the ball over the line.

That left the teams on level terms and it was the same situation when Farrell fired over a free on the stroke of half-time to leave the scoreline at 1-9 to 0-12.

Three points in a row from Joseph Hagan and Dessie Reynolds (2) made it very interesting indeed as Longford produced a strong finish to the first half while the highlight of the Carlow scores was a magnificent two-pointer from the physically strong Eoghan Ruth who gave his side a decisive edge at midfield alongside the impressive Conor Doyle.

Carlow somehow failed to score a goal in the first half with brave Longford keeper Eoin McGuinness making a point-blank save to keep out a green flag attempt from Liam Gavin and the five points scored by Dessie was great stuff, to say the least.

Carlow owned the ball for most of the second half (illustrating the Longford struggle at centrefield) and looked in a favourable position when their playmaker Ross Dunphy finished the ball to the net in the 47th minute.

Longford were living dangerously with McGuinness making another point-blank save to stop a shot from Liam Gavin just before the Dunphy goal and then the lightning quick Mikey Bambrick blazed the ball wide with another goal there for the taking.

A cracking goal from Oran Kenny gave Longford a lifeline, followed by a point apiece from Liam Glennon and Daniel Reynolds in closing the gap to just a single point and after Carlow lost possession in a sustained period of passes, Matthew Carey kept his composure to land a late equaliser.

The sides shared eight points in the first half of extra-time with Daniel Reynolds, a brace from Dylan Farrell (free and play) and Matthew Carey (free) on target for Longford but they failed to register another score when they were reduced to 14 players direct from the throw-in on the changeover.

Carlow gradually clinched a very hard earned victory with three more points but even at that Longford almost engineered a dramatic last gasp equalising goal but the danger was cleared as history was made.

 CARLOW: Ben McCarron; Paddy McDonnell, John Phiri, Colin Byrne; Niall Roche, Dara Curran, Padraig Bolger (0-3); Mark Furey, Eoghan Ruth (0-2, two-pointer); Conor Doyle (0-4, 2 frees), Colm Hulton (0-1), Mikey Bambrick; Ross Dunphy (1-3), Liam Gavin (0-4, 3 frees), Lee Walker (0-2)

Subs:- Chris Blake (0-4, 1 free) for Walker (49 mins); Jamie Clarke (0-1) for Gavin (63 mins); Sean Murphy for Roche (69 mins).  

Extra-time:- Adam Burgess for Ruth (12 mins); Aaron Amond for Dunphy (14 mins); Lee Moore for Byrne (15 mins). 

LONGFORD: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers); Ryan Moffett (Killoe Emmet Og), Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish), Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-5, 1 two-pointer); Liam Glennon (Carrickedmond, 0-1), Oisin O’Toole (Dromard, 1-0); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-2), Matthew  Carey (Clonguish, 0-3, 2 frees), James Moran (Killoe Emmet Og); Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s Killashee, 0-4, 3 frees), Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-1), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 1-2). 

Subs:- Paddy Moran (Killoe Emmet Og) for J Moran (47 mins); Cian Brady (Abbeylara) for Moffett (63 mins), Niall Farrelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for O'Toole (63 mins). 

Extra-time:- Ronan Bleakley (Dromard) for Lynn (8 mins); Matthew Flynn (Clonguish) for Glennon (15 mins); Gavin Farrelly (Killoe Emmet Og) for Hagan (16 mins).

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh).