League title hopes dashed as the Longford ladies suffer agonising narrow defeat against Wexford

Wexford . . . 3-5     Longford . . . 3-4

Just a solitary point separated the sides in the finish in this agonising narrow defeat for a determined Longford side who staged a late comeback to put the pressure on last year’s beaten All-Ireland Intermediate finalists.

Wexford were well on the way to the victory they needed to reach the last four when Ciara Banville scored the third goal midway through the second half to leave the home county in what appeared to be a comfortable 3-5 to 2-3 lead. 

But Longford got right back into contention with a goal from a penalty converted by Michelle Farrell in the 58th minute and while Wexford were reduced to 14 players following a yellow card for Orla Kehoe they held out to win by the minimum of margins.

Scorers - Wexford: Amy Wilson (1-2, one free), Bernie Breen (1-0), Ciara Banville (1-0), Kellie Kearney (0-2), Orla Kehoe (0-1).

Scorers - Longford: Michelle Farrell (2-0, one from penalty); Grace Shannon (1-1), Clodagh Lohan (0-1), Sarah Shannon (0-1), Louise Monaghan (0-1, free). 

LONGFORD: Ruth Jones; Shauna McCormack, Eimear O’Brien, Leanne Keegan; Clare Farrell, Katie Crawford, Ailish Noonan; Mairead Victory, Michelle Farrell; Ashling Cosgrove, Grace Shannon, Sarah Shannon; Clodagh Lohan, Emer Heaney, Louise Monaghan. 

Subs:- Ciara Mulligan for S McCormack (23 mins); Lauren McGuire for A Noonan (half-time); Kamille Burke for S Shannon (43 mins); Emma Doris for E O’Brien (50 mins); Michelle Noonan for A Cosgrove (53 min); Niamh Brady for M Victory (53 mins).