Longford lose to Sligo but can still avoid relegation

Allianz National Football League Division 3 - Round 6

Sligo . . . . . . 0-15 Longford . . . . . . 2-8

Despite suffering their fourth defeat in the current National Football League campaign when going down to Sligo by a solitary point at Markiezicz Park on Sunday, Longford will have one last chance to avoid relegation from Division 3.

It’s a straight shoot-out between Jack Sheedy’s side and Wexford on Sunday next in Wexford to determine who makes the dreaded drop into Division 4 next season along with Offaly as the results last weekend means that Fermanagh, Sligo and Limerick are now safe.

Because of their superior scores difference, a draw will be good enough to keep Longford up and they are currently deadlocked with Wexford on four points apiece in the league table. A very tense situation, to say the least, and a tough task for the midlanders in a difficult away fixture.

After producing a poor first half performance against Sligo on Sunday last and ended up trailing by six points at the break, 0-10 to 1-1, Longford improved considerably on the changeover and could have got something out of the game in the finish as they gradually closed the gap with Mark Hughes getting a goal in the 48th minute.

Longford had got off to a great start to score a goal with less than a minute gone on the clock when Sean McCormack finished the ball to the back of the net.

SLIGO: Aidan Devaney; Ross Donovan, Gareth Ryan, Neil Ewing; Keelan Cawley (0-1), Brian Curran, Brendan Egan; James Kilcullen (0-1), Pat Hughes; Eoin McHugh (0-1), Mark Breheny (0-4, two frees), Conor Griffin; David Kelly, Niall Murphy (0-2), Adrian Marren (0-5, two frees).

Subs:- Luke Bree for B Egan (black card, 36 mins); Barry O’Mahony for C Griffin (38 mins); Johnny Martyn (0-1) for P Hughes (56 mins); James Hynes for M Breheny (70 mins).

LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan (Dromard); Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers), Fergal Battrim (Abbeylara), Daniel Keogh (Killoe Emmet Og); Peter Brady (Longford Slashers); Kevin Diffley (Ballymahon), Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s, 0-1); John Keegan (Mullinalaghta St. Columba’s), Michael Brady (Longford Slashers); Brian Farrell (Mostrim, 0-1), Aidan Rowan (Cashel, 0-1), Michael Quinn (Killoe Emmet Og); Cian Mimnagh (Dromard), Mark Hughes (Killoe Emmet Og, 1-0), Sean McCormack (Killoe Emmet Og, 1-4, all points from frees).

Subs:- Brendan Devine (Clonguish) for D Keogh (injured, 18 mins); Enda Williams (Clonguish) for M Brady (28 mins); Paul Barden (Clonguish, 0-1) for B Devine (52 mins); Padraig Gill (Fr. Manning Gaels) for K Diffley (65 mins); Paul McKeon (Colmcille) for C Mimnagh (66 mins).

Referee: Shaun McLaughlin (Donegal).

Read the full report in the next edition of the Longford Leader, on sale on Wednesday