Longford in drop zone and have to win at home against Wicklow
Crunch relegation clash in Division 3 of the NFL on Sunday
While the pressure is mounting on Billy O’Loughlin’s side who are stuck in the drop zone, relegation from Division 3 of the National Football League can still be avoided but they must pick up both precious points at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Despite the severe setback in Belfast on Saturday last, Longford should be good enough to bounce back with a win over Wicklow who are managerless after Colin Kelly stepped down in the wake of the Round 4 defeat against Limerick at Aughrim.
The Garden County are firmly rooted at the bottom of the table with just a solitary point collected in the draw at home to Fermanagh after losing their other four fixtures against Westmeath, Antrim, Limerick and Laois.
The new management team of Alan Costello and Gary Duffy were in charge for the Round 5 clash against Laois in Aughrim on Sunday last but things did not get any better as woeful Wicklow crashed to another demoralising defeat by the wide margin of 12 points.
Kevin Quinn featured in the full-forward-line and his name will be fairly familiar to Longford GAA followers after scoring four points for Blessington in their shock win over Mullinalaghta in the opening round of the Leinster Club SF Championship back in November.
Longford have to win at home against fellow strugglers Wicklow and will also need to beat Laois in the final fixture at O’Moore Park the following weekend in the frantic bid to stop the slide down into Division 4 next season.
Allianz NFL Round 6 Fixtures/Result
Saturday 19 March
Laois 0-14 Limerick 0-15
Sunday 20 March
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v Wicklow, 2pm
TEG Cusack Park: Westmeath v Limerick, 2pm
Ardee: Louth v Antrim, 2pm
Round 5 Results
Antrim 1-19 Longford 0-12
Wicklow 0-8 Laois 1-17
Fermanagh 0-14 Louth 2-12
Limerick 1-6 Westmeath 1-12