Relegation looming as Longford squander several chances in narrow defeat against Offaly

Offaly . . . 2-14     Longford . . . 1-16

Much to the sheer dismay of the home supporters, Paddy Christie’s side were guilty of kicking a total of 16 wides (11 in the second half) in a highly entertaining encounter and almost snatched a dramatic last gasp winning goal when a shot from Dylan Farrell drifted narrowly wide from a tight angle in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Just a solitary point separated the sides in the finish but it would probably have been a different story had Farrell not missed a glorious chance of a goal in the 54th minute. The Killashee man burst through but hit the sidenetting at a stage when his team were holding a slender 1-13 to 1-12 lead. 

Offaly launched an immediate counter-attack with substitute Jack Byrant striking a massive blow with a well-taken goal in what proved to be a major turning point in the eventual outcome and the visitors extended their advantage to four points following further scores from Bernard Allen and substitute Cian Farrell. 

After going 23 minutes without a score in the second half due to the extremely poor finishing, Longford were given a late glimmer of hope when Michael Quinn (back in his best position at centre-half-back) surging forward to fire over a great score in the 69th minute.     

Moments later substitute Keelin McGann shot over the bar and the Kenagh lad then had a goal attempt blocked down with a point there for the taking.

Longford were piling on the pressure in a frantic finish and when another point followed from Joseph Hagan in the third minute of stoppage time the gap was closed to the minimum of margins. 

While Offaly held out for a narrow win, Longford will have no fear of the faithful county when the teams clash again in the opening round of the Leinster Championship at the same venue  on Easter Sunday April 9.

Longford are away to Down in the next round of the league in a couple of weeks time and the fight for survival could all rest on their final fixture at home to fellow strugglers Antrim on March 26. 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels); Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta), Andrew Farrell (Cashel), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond); Iarla O’Sullivan (Rathcline), Michael Quinn (Killoe, 0-1), Ryan Moffett (Killoe); Darren Gallagher (Granard), David McGivney (Mullinalaghta, 0-6, all frees); Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-2), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe, 1-0); Joseph Hagan (Dromard, 0-3); Rian Brady (Mullinalaghta, 0-1), Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1), Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara). 

Subs:- Oran Kenny (Rathcline, 0-1) for R Smyth (half-time); Liam Connerton (St Jude’s Dublin) for R Brady (57 mins); Keelin McGann (Kenagh, 0-1) for D Reynolds (65 mins); Fergal Sheridan (Colmcille) for  D McGivney (69 mins). 

OFFALY: Ian Duffy; Cian Donohoe, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey; Rory Egan, Peter Cunningham (0-1), Lee Pearson; Jack McEvoy (0-1, mark), Conor McNamee; Nigel Dunne (0-3, 1 free), Ruairi McNamee, Jamie Evans (0-1); Bernard Allen (1-3), Anton Sullivan (0-2), Dylan Hyland (0-2, 1 free).

Subs:- Joe Maher for J Evans (49 mins); Jack Bryant (1-0) for N Dunne (49 mins); Bill Carroll for J McEvoy (57 mins); Cian Farrell (0-1) for R McNamee (65 mins); Luke Egan for A Sullivan (69 mins). 

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary).