Longford footballers face Fermanagh in must win match

The terrible weather also forced the postponement of Fermanagh’s home fixture against Laois at Brewster Park in Enniskillen on Saturday evening last and there is a lot at stake in the crunch clash at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Both counties are currently finding the going tough in Division 3 of the National League with just a point apiece and whoever loses on Sunday will be in serious relegation trouble. 

Fermanagh, like Longford, are going through a transition period under the guidance of new manager Kieran Donnelly with the introduction of a number of promising young players.

Former Fermanagh footballer Donnelly will be looking to the lethal Sean Quigley for the vital scores and the sharp attacker is very much the dangerman, clearly reflected in the impressive total of 1-8 (five frees) he clocked up against Longford in the drawn game at Brewster Park in Division 3 North last season. 

Adding to the experience factor on the Fermanagh team are brothers Ryan and Conall Jones, who figured most prominently for Derrygonnelly Harps on their march to a first ever appearance in the recent Ulster Club senior football final that ended in a bitterly disappointing heavy defeat against the eventual All-Ireland champions Kilcoo from Co Down. 

Fermanagh started badly in this year’s league, losing by the wide margin of nine points at home to Antrim in the opening round before letting a commanding lead slip in the eventual draw against Wicklow in Aughrim.  

On the basis that Louth won away against Limerick on Sunday in the aftermath of snatching a last gasp draw against Longford in the previous round, there is considerable optimism that a first win in the 2022 league might materialise in what would be a big boost for the players and the new manager Billy O’Loughlin.

With very difficult away games to come against Westmeath and Antrim, Longford really need to beat Fermanagh to ease the pressure and hopefully that will be the case.

Hurlers also in action

The Longford hurlers are also in National League action on Sunday with a win a must for the  midlanders following the narrow defeat against Fermanagh in the previous round.

The Exiles Lancashire are the opposition at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown (1pm) and it will be something of a surprise if Longford fail to come out on top in their quest to qualify for the knockout stages of the Division 3B competition. 

Allianz National Football League Division 3  

Round 4 Fixtures

Saturday February 26

Aughrim: Wicklow v Limerick, 2.30pm

MW Hire O’Moore Park: Laois v Antrim, 6pm 

Sunday February 27

Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Fermanagh, 2pm

Ardee: Louth v Westmeath, 2pm 

Round 3 Results

Antrim 2-10 Wicklow 1-7

Limerick 1-12 Louth 1-14