Longford manager Billy O'Loughlin pleased with battling performance in the draw against Louth

Longford looked to have done enough to get their first league win but a monster of an equalising free from Sam Mulroy put paid to that.

Seven minutes of stoppage time was played at the end of the second half. In the end, Longford gained a valuable point, but this was a game that they needed to win, given the tougher challenges ahead in Division 3.

“It was a great kick from Sam Mulroy, but players of his class will do that. 

“From our point of view, it was a battling performance in atrocious conditions and a massive performance compared to the previous  weekend,” O’Loughlin stated.

Longford players were sometimes guilty of being turned over against a physically stronger Louth side.

The manager is not overly concerned about this. “They are young players who are working hard in the gym, and we are trying to improve their physicality. It is a learning process for them,” he stated.

O’Loughlin has certainly not been afraid to throw young players into the fray. Aaron Farrell and James Moran were given starts in Limerick and this week; it was the turn of Keelin McGann.

The Kenagh forward was impressive, being fouled five times and constantly making himself available.

“I don’t know if there is any other county that has so many U-20’s playing in the league. Keelin played a freshers game with DCU during the week, as did Jack Duggan (Clonguish). Jack is an emerging young talent,”, O’Loughlin explained.

Longford now face a big challenge in their next game, with Westmeath waiting in Mullingar. The Lake County have won both of their opening games and will be a stern test.

“We are just taking it game by game. Westmeath are one of the favourites for promotion. We are under no illusions about that game,” he stated.

A downside to this draw was the loss of forward Darragh Doherty, with the Mostrim player being taken off due to an elbow injury.

However, the manager believes he will be available for the Westmeath game. “The medical team we have are super – Dr Ciaran McCabe and Clodagh Gray (physio). They will have Darragh in tip top shape for the next game,” he commented.

The panel that O’Loughlin and his selectors (Eugene McCormack and Declan Flaherty) are working with are young.

The manager confirmed that a couple of experienced Mullinalaghta St Columba’s players have stepped away from the inter-county scene.

“Donal McElligott and Gary Rogers have stepped away. They were both great servants of Longford football. Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe Emmet Og) is not available at present. 

“There has been a large turnover of players on the Longford panel, but we have young, emerging talent, with 10 or 12 enthusiastic young players,” he stated.

Ballymahon midfielder Kevin Diffley is one experienced campaigner who should be available soon, as he is working his way back to fitness.