Longford let victory slip as Louth snatch a last gasp draw

Longford . . . 0-9     Louth . . . 1-6

Played in extremely difficult wet and windy conditions, Longford looked to have done enough to come out on top in this very scrappy battle in a real war of attrition when Dessie Reynolds kicked the lead score in the 67th minute but Louth were awarded a free deep into stoppage time.

A black card foul by Longford substitute Daniel Reynolds gave Mulroy the opportunity to convert a difficult kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time and the Louth ace slotted the ball over the bar, much to the sheer dismay of the home supporters who braved the bad weather.

Five additional minutes went up on the board but Monaghan referee Niall McKenna continued to play on and then blew the final whistle immediately after Mulroy had landed the free to earn a fortunate draw for Mickey Harte’s side.

The visitors led by 1-3 to 0-4 at half-time with who else but Mulroy scoring a well-taken goal in the 7th minute before Jason Matthews registered Longford’s opening point moments later.

Defenders Iarla O’Sullivan and Patrick Fox were also on target with the other point in the first half coming from a Darren Gallagher free.

While Longford produced an improved performance on the changeover to outscore Louth 0-5 to 0-3 with one of the points coming from defender James Moran, the midlanders were denied a badly needed first win in the current league campaign with the last kick of this poor game. 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta, 0-1), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline, 0-1), Michael Quinn (Killoe), James Moran (Killoe, 0-1); Darren Gallagher (Granard, 0-3, all frees), Ryan Moffett (Killoe); Keelin McGann (Kenagh), Joseph Hagan (Dromard),  Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1); Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara), Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta, 0-2, one free), Darragh Doherty (Mostrim). 

Subs:- Oran Kenny (Rathcline) for D Doherty (injured, 27 mins); Ross McNerney (Dromard) for J Hagan (53 mins); Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s) for K McGann (57 mins); Aidan McGuire (Carrickedmond) for R Smyth (63 mins); Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers) for J Matthews (68 mins).   

LOUTH: James Califf; Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Eoghan Callaghan, Niall Sharkey, Liam Jackson; Bevan Duffy, Conor Early; Ciaran Byrne (0-2), Sam Mulroy (1-3, two points from frees), Ciaran Downey (0-1); Tadhg McEneaney, Conor Grimes, Ryan Burns.

Subs:- Jay Hughes for T McEneaney (45 mins); Conor Faulkner for R Burns (45 mins); Daire McConnon for C Grimes (53 mins); John Clutterbuck for L Jackson (60 mins).

Temporary replacement: Tommy Durnin for B Duffy (33 mins); Duffy for Durnin (half-time). 

Referee: Niall McKenna (Monaghan).