Longford suffer demoralising defeat against Wicklow but can still avoid relegation

Wicklow . . . 0-20    Longford . . . 2-13

Billy O’Loughlin’s struggling side are now under severe pressure to prevent the drop down into Division 4 next season but might still survive on the head-to-head rule if they can beat Laois (losers against Limerick on Saturday) in the final round fixture at O’Moore Park on Sunday next.

Even at that, Longford are depending on Wicklow failing to win at home against the table toppers Louth for that last ditch situation to materialise and the midlanders certainly cannot afford to be without Michael Quinn for a third game in a row.

The captain Quinn was unable to take his regular place on the team for the massive match against Wicklow while Kevin Diffley, selected to start at midfield, was also ruled out in a double blow for the home county. 

Longford let a commanding lead slip after goals were scored by Jack Duggan and Darragh Doherty in the early stages of the game to leave the visitors trailing by 2-2 to 0-2 with just 12 minutes gone on the clock. 

But the course of the contest gradually changed as the Garden County dug deep to close the gap and were only a couple of points behind at the break, 2-5 to 0-9.

Had Oran Kenny converted a clear-cut goal chance immediately on the changeover it would probably have been a different story but right throughout the game wide gaps were appearing in the very slack Longford defence, clearly reflected in Wicklow’s impressive total of 20 points. 

The relegation battle developed into a real ding-dong affair in the second half and Wicklow went ahead when Kevin Quinn slotted the ball over the bar in the 60th minute. 

Longford battled back to level matters but the opposition continued to create scoring chances and were two points in front when substitute Alan Dillon was on target in the second minute of stoppage time.

A late, late free converted by Jack Duggan was not enough to stop Longford sliding to their fourth defeat in the league as Wicklow held out to win by a point.  

With the sides all square (2-11 to 0-17), Jayson Matthews flicked the ball to the Wicklow net in the 67th minute after connecting with a pass from Darren Gallagher but the goal was disallowed for a square ball. 

Straight away, Wicklow broke to regain the lead with a point from a free converted by Eoin Darcy and they ran out worthy winners. 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); James Moran (Killoe), PJ Masterson (Abbeylara),   Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline); Ryan Moffett (Killoe), Darren Gallagher (Granard, 0-1, free);  Eoghan McCormack (Carrickedmond), Darragh Doherty (Mostrim, 1-1), Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-2); Dylan Farrell (Killashee), Mark Hughes (Killoe, 0-1), Jack Duggan (Clonguish, 1-5, two points from frees). 

Subs:- Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-2) for D Farrell (27 mins); Keelin McGann (Kenagh, 0-1) for M Hughes (48 mins); Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta) for D Doherty (56 mins); Jordan Shiels (Granard) for R Moffett (59 mins); Cian Dooner (Killoe) for O Kenny (64 mins). 

WICKLOW: Mark Jackson (0-2, free and ‘45); Nicky Devereux, Patrick O’Keane (0-1), Malachy Stone; Tom Moran, Zach Cullen, Fintan O’Shea (0-1); JP Hurley, Padraig O’Toole (0-1); Oisin Cullen, Dean Healy (0-3), Darragh Fitzgerald; Kevin Quinn (0-2), Mark Kenny (0-2), Eoin Darcy (0-7, five frees). 

Subs:- Eoin Murtagh for N Devereux (51 mins); Alan Dillon (0-1) for JP Hurley (64 mins); Rory Stokes for O Cullen (66 mins); Arran Murphy for D Fitzgerald (three minutes into stoppage time).  

Referee: Margaret Farrelly (Cavan).