Longford sweat it out for first league victory in difficult battle against Waterford

Longford . . . 0-16     Waterford . . . 0-13 

While Longford kept their promotion hopes alive with a badly needed first victory in the current league campaign away to bottom of the table Waterford on Saturday, it developed into a difficult battle with the midlanders forced to sweat it out for both vital points.  

A late change of venue saw the Division 4 Round 3 clash switched from the unplayable pitch at SETU Arena, Carriganore to the Ballygunner GAA grounds on a drizzly wet evening in front of a small crowd and there was a sigh of relief when the final whistle was eventually blow in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Longford looked in a spot of bother and the possibility of a shock defeat when they trailed by 0-9 to 0-8 at the break but it all came good in the second half with Mark Hughes, in particular, playing a leading role in the hard earned win. 

The accurate Hughes fired over three of the last four points, one of which was a terrific tight angle strike from near the sideline while his fellow Killoe clubman Daniel Mimnagh fisted the ball over the bar in the 63rd minute. 

It might have been a different story had Waterford converted a glorious goal chance in the 61st minute with the fierce scramble ending up with prominent defender Dermot Ryan hitting the post after the Longford keeper Micheal Hughes had produced a point-blank save. 

The physically strong home county were trailing by 0-14 to 0-11 in this turning point and 14-man Longford showed a lot of character and resilience to protect their slender advantage after the consistent influential midfielder Darren Gallagher was sent-off in the 65th minute.

A harsh black card was branded to Gallagher who had received a yellow card in the 56th minute but the dynamic Granard star will be clear to line-out in the next league game against London at Glennon Brothers Pearse on Sunday, throw-in 1pm.

Making a pleasing National League debut was Paddy Kiernan (Killoe) who linked up with Gallagher at centrefield and the newcomer landed a well struck point in the second half. 

WATERFORD: Paudie Hunt; Ross Browne, Conor O’Cuirrin, Liam Fennell; Conor McCarthy, Dermot Ryan (0-2), Robbie McGrath (0-1); Michael Mullaney (0-1), Jack Keane; Stephen Curry (0-1), Sean Whelan Barrett, Caolan MacCraith; Jason Curry (0-2, frees), Tom O’Connell (0-6, 5 frees), Willie Beresford. 

Subs:- Tommy Martin for W Beresford (40 mins); Joe Booth for M Mullaney (59 mins); Billy Hynes for Conor O’Cuirrin (62 mins); Jason Sheehan for R McGrath (70 mins); Niall McSweeney for S Curry (stoppage time).

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson (0-1); Dessie Reynolds (0-1), Ryan Moffett, Keelin McGann; Darren Gallagher (0-3, 2 frees), Paddy Kiernan (0-1); Daniel Reynolds (0-1), Michael Quinn (0-1), Joseph Hagan (0-1); Jayson Matthews (0-3, frees), Cathal McCabe, Mark Hughes (0-3, 1m). 

Subs:- Daniel  Mimnagh (0-1) for J Matthews (injured, 21 mins); Dylan Farrell for Daniel Reynolds (51 mins);  Barry 0'Farrell for B Masterson (injured, 54 mins); Ruairi Harkin for C McCabe (56 mins), Liam Hughes for K McGann (70 mins).   

Referee: John  Ryan (Cork).