Leitrim promotion hopes take a big hit as Longford boss start and finish to secure six point win

Leitrim’s Allianz NFL Division 4 promotion hopes took a major hit on Sunday as a superior Longford proved too strong and too clinical for the Green & Gold in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, deservedly securing a six point victory.

Andy Moran’s men still lie second in the table after the reverse in Longford but only on score difference as three other teams now share the same six points tally with everything to play for over the final two rounds of the league.

Starting the game, there was renewed hope that things were looking up for the Green & Gold - Wexford’s win over Carlow on Saturday evening meant a win would put Leitrim on the precipice of promotion but Longford soon burst those dreams, hitting an unanswered 1-5 to open the contest.

With Leitrim standing off and surprisingly easy to open up, Longford grabbed the contest by the throat, Cathal McCabe’s expertly finished goal no more than the home side deserved as Leitrim were unable to cope with the movement or long deliveries favoured by Paddy Christie’s side.

Leitrim’s cause wasn’t helped by a black card just six minutes into the contest for Ryan O’Rourke, referee Kevin Faloon advised by his umpires of an offence few saw and it seemed to drain the confidence from a strangely subdued and lifeless Leitrim.

CHECK OUT WILLIE DONNELLAN'S GALLERY OF FAN PHOTOS FROM LONGFORD

A switch seemed flicked for the final 15 minutes of the first half as Leitrim outscored Longford six points to two and with another two in the opening two minutes of the second half, a seemingly impossible gap of eight points was down to two and momentum was very much with Moran’s troops.

That momentum seemed boosted when Paddy Kiernan was blacked carded a minute later, leaving Leitrim a man up but in contrast to how Leitrim coped with their black card, Longford actually outscored the Green & Gold two points to one during the period the midlanders midfielder was off the field.

If that was a hammer blow, what happened soon after took the game from Leitrim as Jack Gilheaney was given his marching orders on a second yellow after he rashly lashed out at Longford sub Mark Hughes, the Leitrim man just after winning a free.

With the gap at four points, It left Leitrim chasing the game and a well drilled Longford weren’t going to let this opportunity slip from their grasp as they saw out the finish quite comfortably to get their promotion push firmly back on track.

The Leitrim team who were defeated by Longford Picture: Willie Donnellan

With four teams level on six points, it comes down to the final two games - Leitrim travel to take on already promoted Laois in the next round while Carlow travel to Longford and Wexford are away to Tipperary.

Longford started brightly, a low ball into Cathal McCabe fed back out to Daniel Reynolds for a quick point. Darren Gallagher put a free wide, Barry McNulty missed the target while Longford’s Joseph Hagan had a good chance blocked but the first big moment was a black card for Ryan O’Rourke just six minutes in.

The incident happened off the ball and referee Kevin Faloon had his attention brought to what some observers said was the Fenagh man pulling a Longford defender to the ground. The black card followed and after a block on Daniel Mimnagh to prevent a goal, play was called back with Gallagher hitting an eighth minute free.

Longford were causing Leitrim huge problems with their movement and quick delivery and good work from Michael Quinn set up Hagan for a third Longford point. With Leitrim trying to take as much time as they could with O’Rourke’s black card, Nevin O’Donnell was penalised for taking too long with his kickout and from the throw-in, Quinn appeared to get away with a well timed shove to set up Paddy Kiernan for a point.

Mark Plunkett had the opportunity to open Leitrim’s account but unfortunately slipped in the action of shooting and when the Aughawillan man was held up on 14 minutes by three Longford defenders, the home side worked the ball to Keelin McGann, his long ball find Cathal McCabe one-on-one and he produced a superb finish to the bottom left hand corner of the Leitrim net.

A shell shocked Leitrim went eight points down after Gallagher fisted over the bar, set up by a quickly taken Quinn mark but Leitrim finally got off the mark when Pearce Dolan fired over from distance on 19 minutes. From the resulting kickout, Longford found Daniel Reynolds for a fine score.

The Longford team who defeated Leitrim Picture: Willie Donnellan

It seemed as if nothing was going Leitrim’s way as Darragh Rooney put a free wide before driving a goal chance wide on the near side but pressing the Longford kickout was paying dividends, Rooney firing over and second later, Ryan O’Rourke nicked the ball away from Bryan Masterson to fist the ball over the bar.

Rooney then added from a mark and when Aidan Flynn got away with a little tug, the defender ran on to take a fine point and suddenly the gap was back to four points. 

Jack Gilheaney was booked for an off-the-ball foul after Longford were awarded a free but Leitrim cut the gap to a goal when Barry McNulty was found from a sideline and swung over a good score on 31 minutes, Darren Gallagher replying from a free after Michael Quinn was taken down as Longford threatened a second goal.

Longford keeper Micheal Hughes did well to bat our a Rooney shot before Mark Plunkett nabbed a good score just before the break. However, another Gallagher placed ball, from a fifty, left Longford with a 1-8 to 0-7 halftime lead.

It was Leitrim who came out in blistering form early in the second half with two points inside the first two minutes, an early Gilheaney delivery releasing Rooney for a fine point after a good run and after Shane Quinn turned over the resulting kickout, he set up Mark Plunkett for a fine score.

Leitrim were moving but Barry McNulty left two efforts short and Longford broke with McCabe fisting the ball over on three minutes.

However, it looked as if momentum was going Leitrim’s way when Paddy Kiernan was black carded for a tangle with Darragh Rooney out on the sideline, it looked innocuous but Longford were down to 14 and Leitrim had the free. Unfortunately, Rooney’s free, which appeared to go over, was ruled out for a square ball infringement.

Conor Reynolds got the gap back to two with a nice chip from the right wing on six minutes but Longford reacted impressively, upping their performance levels as they flooded their defensive area and held onto the ball. Hagan shot wide but play was called back for a free that Gallagher converted on 12 minutes.

Riordan O’Rourke dropped a dangerous ball into the Longford goal area but Hughes claimed impressively under pressure from McNulty and Longford broke, finding McCabe in space for a big score that left four in it one more, a gap that remained when Kiernan came back on.

Mark Plunkett is surrounded by five Longford defenders Picture: Willie Donnellan

Darragh Rooney scored a huge point from the wing on 50 minutes but Longford, back up to a full complement, responded when Aidan Flynn was penalised for an off-the-ball foul on Quinn, sub Mark Hughes converting the free.

A minute later, on the three quarter point, Hughes fouled Jack Gilheaney but the Leitrim man reacted to the Longford man, pushing out at him and earning a second yellow card that left the Green & Gold a man down for the final quarter.

Mark Diffley shot wide from distance before Gallagher finished off a period of patient Longford play with a fine point. Hughes increased the lead after he claimed a diving mark as Longford broke on 24 minutes and when sub Ruairi Harkin shot over after a great crossfield pass, you sensed there was no way back for Leitrim.

THE LAST POINT: A SHOCKING WAY TO WIN OR LOSE!

Andy Moran introduced Paul Keaney and Radek Oberwan with the St Mary’s man firing over with seven minutes to go but Hughes notched his third point over the bench when he fisted the ball over the bar a minute later.

The scores dried up with Paul Keaney firing over in added time, set up by a Nevin O’Donnell surge upfield, but Longford were never in any real danger as they held out for a deserved six point victory.

LONGFORD

Scorers: Darren Gallagher 0-6, 3f, 1 45; Cathal McCabe 1-2; Mark Hughes 0-3, 1M, 1f; Daniel Reynolds 0-2; Paddy Kiernan, Joseph Hagan & Ruairi Harkin 0-1 each

Team: Michael Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Liam Hughes; Bryan Masterson, Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Darren Gallagher, Paddy Kiernan; Keelin McGann, Michael Quinn, Joseph Hagan; Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Mimnagh, Cathal McCabe. Subs: Mark Hughes for McGann (46), Ruairi Harkin & Dylan Farrell for L Hughes & Kiernan (60), Bryn Peters for Masterson (64), Daire Duggan for McCabe (73)

LEITRIM

Scorers: Darragh Rooney 0-4, 1M; Mark Plunkett (M) & Paul Keaney 0-2 each; Conor Reynolds, Ryan O’Rourke, Pearce Dolan, Barry McNulty & Aidan Flynn 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O’Donnell; Conor Reynolds, Donal Casey, Aidan Flynn; Adam Reynolds, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheany, Pearce Dolan; Shane Quinn, Darragh Rooney, Barry McNulty, Ryan O’Rourke; Donal Wrynn, Mark Plunkett . Subs: Cathal McHugh for Reynolds (18), Riordan O’Rourke for Wyrnn (42), Tom Prior for Quinn (51), Paul Keaney for Plunkett (57), Radek Oberwan for Dolan (62)

Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)