Longford ladies make superb start in surprise win over Westmeath and now take on Wexford
TG4 Ladies Football All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Group A
Steady improvement has been made this season under the guidance of new manager Brian Noonan and the determined manner in which Longford battled it out to win after extra-time (3-11 to 2-11) was a major boost for all involved.
Taking into account that Westmeath are generally regarded as the favourites to win the All-Ireland title after losing out to Meath in last year’s final, this unexpected success for Longford was a big surprise.
It was a superb result achieved in difficult wet conditions at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar and the underdogs showed a lot of character to come out on top after letting a commanding lead slip in normal time with the match ending in a draw, 3-7 to 2-10.
Longford are back in championship action next Sunday against Wexford who produced a strong display to sink Sligo 4-13 to 1-10.
Another win for the midlanders in Round 2 of the group stage in Clane (2pm start at the Kildare venue) will leave Longford in a great position to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The management team will be hoping that the captain Michelle Farrell recovers from the injury that prevented her from playing any part in the extra-time period against a stunned Westmeath side who are now under pressure in facing a must win game against Sligo on Sunday.
Report and pictures from the wonderful win over Westmeath in this week’s Longford Leader