Waterford woe as winless Longford hit rock bottom in Tailteann Cup exit

Longford’s tale of woe in the Tailteann Cup came to a terrible end at a deserted O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Saturday as Waterford caused a considerable shock in the Round 3 clash.

Less than 100 spectators watched a Waterford team officially ranked as the worst football team in the country, coming into the Tier 2 Senior Championship, play really well to score a deserved win in what was a sad day for Longford GAA.

Although the scores difference scenario was against the under pressure midlanders after losing the previous games in the group stage against Kildare and Leitrim, no excuses can be made for this embarrassing setback. 

Five points separated the sides in the finish with Tholum Guiry scoring the killer fourth goal in stoppage time and while the Longford players must take a lot of the blame for their failure to make further progress in the Tailteann Cup, the reign of the under fire manager Paddy Christie must be facing a serious threat after his second season in charge.

While the results have been poor, the former Dublin star was fairly defiant in the aftermath of Longford’s demise. Speaking to the Leader when asked about his future role with the county, Christie stated that "no rash decisions will be made today and talks will take place with the county board". 

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After trailing by 1-2 to 0-1 in the early stages of the game with the dangerous Waterford corner-forward Stephen Curry shooting to the net in the 5th minute, the course of the game gradually changed and Longford hit the front (1-6 to 1-4) when Daniel Mimnagh scored a cracking goal in the 24th minute.

At this stage it looked like Longford (minus the vast experience of the injured Michael Quinn) would push on to register their expected victory but gaps were being exposed in the suspect defence with Michael Curry missing a glorious goal chance for Waterford when he blasted a point-blank shot against the crossbar in the 27th minute. 

Further scores from Dylan Farrell (free) and Joseph Hagan left Longford in what appeared to be a comfortable 1-8 to 1-4 lead but Wateford got right back into contention with a second goal from Stephen Curry approaching the half-time whistle. 

It ended up all square at the break (1-8 to 2-5) and the ding-dong battle continued before Longford were dealt a significant blow when centre-half-back Ryan Moffett was dismissed for a black card foul in the 47th minute.

Reduced to 14 players during this defining period, the concession of a harsh penalty which was converted by Alan Dunwoody for Waterford’s third goal in the 50th minute was really putting it up to Longford but a great point followed from Darren Gallagher who was doing his usual best to salvage the always precarious situation against the physically stronger opposition. 

Gallagher then converted a free to close the gap to the minimum of margins (3-8 to 1-13) but highly charged Waterford were showing a lot more urgency in their fierce desire to achieve a rare win and that’s the way it developed with Longford outscored by 1-4 to 0-3 during the remainder of the match. 

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum; Bryan Masterson, Enda Macken, Patrick Fox; Joseph Hagan (0-2), Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Darren Gallagher (0-5, 3f), Oisin O’Toole; Dylan Farrell (0-1, 1f), Daniel Mimnagh (1-1), Daniel Reynolds (0-2); Jayson Matthews, Aaron Farrell (0-2), Cathal McCabe.  Subs: Mark Hughes (0-2, 2f) for D Farrell (39); Keelin McGann for Matthews (50); Jack Macken for McCabe (56); Paddy Kiernan for D Mimnagh (59); Ruairi Harkin (0-1) for E Macken (68)

WATERFORD: Aaron Beresford; Ross Browne, Caoimhin Walsh, Liam Fennell; Donie Fitzgerald, Michael Curry (0-2), Robbie McGrath (0-1); Sean Walsh (0-2), Tholom Guiry (1-1); James Walsh (0-2), Jason Curry (0-1, free), James Power; Stephen Curry (2-2, points from sideline kick and free), Alan Dunwoody (1-0, penalty), Sean Whelan-Barrett (0-1). Subs: Billy Hynes for A Dunwoody (56); Michael O’Brien for J Walsh (stoppage time).

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)