Leitrim left to rue inaccuracy as Longford snatch late draw

Leitrim’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Lory Meagher Cup were dealt a devastating blow as Longford hit five unanswered points over the closing 19 minutes to snatch a draw on Saturday after an entertaining but frustrating tie in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

With Mike Wall’s troops hitting 19 wides over the 70 plus minutes, it is easy to see why Leitrim finished the game frustrated as they seemingly had the game in hand with 15 minutes of normal time remaining against a team they had beaten in the Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign.

However, some costly wides and a goal disallowed, correctly it must be admitted for a square ball infringement, allowed Longford to crawl their way back into the contest and gave Martin Farrell the chance to finish the game with a flourish, hitting a free closer to his own fifty yard line than the 65 yard line over three minutes into added time.

It was a result that left Longford relieved and they were the first to admit that they had pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the closing stages, Leitrim’s inability to convert a succession of chances giving them a lifeline they grabbed with both hands.

It was hugely frustrating for Leitrim - this new young and emerging team did so much so right but their failure to reflect that dominance on the scoreboard meant they were always vulnerable, in much the same way Leitrim stunned Longford in the League with a late surge to snatch a victory that looked remote.

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While Leitrim still have an outside chance of progressing to the semi-finals, it looks a remote one - Longford are two points ahead of them on five with Monaghan on four. Those two teams meet in the final round of games while Leitrim, after travelling to Birmingham to take on Warwickshire, then face Division leaders Cavan.

 The crucial game is Monaghan against Lancashire - a victory for the Farney county would leave them needing just a point from their final round clash with Longford to progress. A Longford win in that game could mean Leitrim have a chance on scoring difference but the Cavan ties will prove crucial to all teams.

The early exchanges were even enough - Martin Farrell converted a Longford free inside the opening minutes but Michael O’Brien shot a lovely effort for play for Leitrim three minutes later. Almost immediately, a Niall Crowe foul allowed Reuben Murray to fire over a free.

Leitrim’s accuracy struggles were reflected with Joe Murray seeing a shot deflected out for a 65 that the Round Towers clubman saw drift wide.

Phililp Burgess tied the scores with a lovely effort from play before Murray left a free short on eight minutes. Longford’s Murray edged his team in front but a Joe Murray converted free and a Stephen Goldrick long range score, either side of two missed chances, put Leitrim in front.

The Leitrim team who drew with Longford in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Picture: Willie Donnellan

Reuben Murray converted a free from the corner to level things once more before Farrell thumped over a free. Joe Murray with two frees either side of a David Buckley Longford point had the sides level before a second Goldrick point put the visitors back into the lead at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Leitrim were then struck a heavy blow when Niall Crowe was dispossessed out in the corner by Michael Mulcahy and he fed Niall Hawes for a close range Longford goal on 27 minutes. Murray and Farrell added two points from placed balls and all of a sudden, Longford were four points up after Leitrim dominating play.

However, Leitrim finished the half impressively with O’Brien and Burgess both adding great efforts from play while a Murray free ensured that Leitrim trailed by just a point, 0-10 to 1-8, at the halftime interval.

The game ended on a chippy note with Longford’s Sean Lancaster and Leitrim’s Philip Burgess both booked after the halftime whistle but it didn’t seem to matter to Leitrim as Dhani Keane shrugged off what looked like an ankle injury to hit a fine point half a minute into the second half.

Joe Murray hit two costly Leitrim wides but when a long range Clement Cunniffe free dropped short in the Longford goal area, Sean O’Riordan reacted quickest, kicking the sliothar to the net to propel Leitrim into a three point lead.

Cunniffe then did well to clear a dangerous Longford free into the area and after Joe Murray and Martin Farrell swapped frees, Leitrim seemed to be stretching for home as Murray (free) and O’Riordan fired over great points, O’Riordan breaking through a tackle to score midway through the second half.

That left Leitrim five points clear and in control and even a good Niall Hawe point didn’t seem too much trouble, although there were warning signs as Clement Cunniffe made an excellent save to deny Farrell a certain goal with the follow-up blocked out for a 65 converted by Reuben Murray with eight minutes left on the clock.

Joe Murray hit a wide and suddenly Longford were dominating, David Buckley and Reuben Murray (free) both firing over points to leave just a point in it with over five minutes left. Momentum looked with Longford and it didn’t help when James McNabola missed a good chance after a quick free from Joe Murray.

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Leitrim thought they had a match winning goal when sub Gavin O’Brien bundled home after Cunniffe’s free was fumbled but the Annaduff man was unfortunately in the square and he earned a yellow card for voicing his displeasure.

Joe Murray left an injury time shot short of the target and Longford ensured they would take a point when Michael Farrell converted a massive long range free to tie the scores at full-time.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Joe Murray 0-6, 6f; Sean O'Riordan 1-1; Phililp Burgess, Michael O'Brien & Stephen Goldrick 0-2 each; Dhani Keane 0-1

Team: Clement Cunniffe, Niall Crowe, Conor Hackett, Kevin Clerkin, Pearse Kenny, Martin Feeney, Adam Gavigan, Paul Lenehan, Joe Murray, Michael O'Brien, Sean O'Riordan, Stephen Goldrick, Dhani Keane, James McNabola, Philip Burgess. Subs: Aaron Glancy for Crowe (28), Gavin O'Brien for Keane (57); Conor McLoughlin for McNabola (72)

LONGFORD

Scorers: R. Murray 0-6, 1 65, 4f; M. Farrell 0-5, 4f; N. Hawe 1-1; D. Buckley 0-2

Team: J. Maher, S. Lancaster, E. Allen, K. Cox, D. Regan, D. Hayes, D. Caslin, M. Farrell, J. Casey, D. Hutchinson, E. Tully, R. Murray, N. Hawe, D. Buckley, M. Mulcahy. Subs: J Rabbitt for Hutchinson (HT); Alan Devine for Mulcahy (57)

Referee: James Judge (Mayo)