Making 23 substitutions throughout an entertaining and at times tense O'Byrne Cup semi-final encounter, the Dessie Farrell era ultimately got off to a losing start for Dublin.

Longford booked their place in the O’Byrne Cup semi-final for the fourth year in a row with six points to spare over Carlow in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Perhaps history will repeat itself and a Jack O'Connor-led team will bounce back from a loss to Longford with a strong season but, for now, it's frustration for the new Kildare manager.

Magnificent Longford’s long wait for a Leinster championship win finally ended when they created a massive shock with a thoroughly deserved victory over 14-man Meath before an attendance of 5,591 at Pearse Park yesterday.

Armagh 1-11 Longford 1-10: This was the ultimate smash and grab operation.

UCD manager John Divilly said that his Kerry midfield pairing of Jack Barry and Barry O’Sullivan have all the attributes to develop into a superb midfielder partnership who could do a great job for the Kingdom.

Longford impressed throughout as they began their All-Ireland campaign, with a well-earned eight-point SFC Round 1 qualifier win against 13 men Louth at Drogheda's Gaelic Grounds.

Four goals in six minutes of devastation sent Longford packing and set Laois up for a Leinster quarter-final clash with bitter rivals Kildare.

Longford 2-11 Offaly 0-9: Second-half goals from Liam Connerton and Darren Gallagher helped Longford record an eight-point win over Offaly in this Round-2 O’Byrne Cup clash in Newtowncashel.

Longford have upset the form guide with a Qualifier win over a vulnerable Down side at Pairc Esler, striking two killer goals in extra-time to book their place in Monday’s Round 2 draw.

Longford 0-13 Westmeath 0-11: Longford consolidated their position in Division 3 and relegated their neighbours in the process; Westmeath’s third consecutive demotion.

Clare 1-20 Longford 1-9: Clare’s promotion aspirations are still on track after a merited 11-point win over visitors Longford at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.

UCD 2-18 DCU 0-12: UCD finished strongly to claim the Ryan Cup, following victory over rivals DCU in last night’s HE SFL Division 1 Final at Parnell Park.

Longford 2-15 Carlow 1-8: Three weeks on from their refusal to bow to pragmatism and shut up shop against Dublin, Longford’s commitment to attractive football finally paid off on Saturday.

Longford 0-16 Offaly 0-13: In a streaky game where both sides thrived on confidence, ultimately Offaly’s lack of self-belief cost them when they saw the finishing line.

Longford’s survival instincts served them well as they came from seven points adrift to oust Offaly in a keenly contested Leinster SFC clash at O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Offaly had way too much firepower for Longford and it was their more clinical finishing of better chances created that earned them the new Division 4 silverware.

Longford 1-18 Carlow 1-12: Longford full forward Brian Kavanagh kicked six points in a man-of-the-match performance as Longford maintained their unbeaten Division 4 record with a merited win over a plucky Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday.

Longford 3-07 Dublin 2-15: Holders Dublin fired off half a dozen late points without reply in Navan to finally shrug off brave Longford and secure their place in the Eirgrid Leinster U-21 football final.

Longford u21s 1-17 Louth u21s 1-04: Longford advanced to the semi-finals of the Leinster U21 Championship for the third year in-a-row with 13 points to spare over Louth.

Longford 4-13 Wicklow 1-5

UCD 0-22 DCU 1-09

Down 1-16 Leitrim 1-08

MICHEAL MEEHAN returns to the Galway starting lineup for tomorrow’s All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Meath in one of five changes made by manager Tomás Ó Flatharta following the Connacht semi-final defeat to Mayo.

CARLOW manager Luke Dempsey has handed out five championship debuts for next Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final against Louth.

Sligo 0-10 Leitrim 1-10

EOIN Brosnan will make his first appearance in championship football since the 2009 Munster semi-final replay, in next Sunday’s provincial quarter-final against Tipperary after being named at centre-back in the Kingdom starting fifteen last night.

Kildare 1-12 Leitrim 0-6

JOHN MISKELLA has been recalled by Cork for tomorrow’s All-Ireland second round football qualifier against Cavan in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Leitrim manager Mickey Moran has made six changes in personnel to his team for Saturday's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier against Kildare in Newbridge (throw-in 7pm).

Leitrim manager Mickey Moran has handed Wayne McKeon and Ray Mulvey their Championship debuts for Sunday's Connacht SFC semi-final against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

IT was as the bookmakers predicted; a seventh Leinster Schools’ Senior Cup title for Clongowes Wood College whose 14 points salvo in the opening minutes of yesterday’s decider at the RDS proved decisive.

ALMOST from day one of this season’s Leinster Schools Senior Cup campaign, Clongowes Wood and St. Michael’s were lined up as two of the big favourites to make this afternoon’s St. Patrick’s Day decider at the RDS (3.30).

LIMERICK chairman, Liam Lenihan, has described confirmation that the Gaelic Grounds will host the first test of the International Rules series on October 23 as ‘great news’.

PBC CORK coach Peter Scott admitted he has plenty of food for thought ahead of his side’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final clash with St Munchin’s, after seeing his side rigorously tested by a game Bandon Grammar outfit at Temple Hill yesterday.

Fans are preparing for a neighbourly battle as Leitrim and Roscommon lock horns this afternoon in Connacht SFC.

FORMER U21 All-Ireland winning captain Kevin Hynes makes his championship debut for Galway on Sunday when they take on Laois in the Leinster SHC at Portlaoise.

Leitrim boss Mickey Moran has drafted in six players to debut in championship football.

TIPPERARY GAA officials have approved in principle the appointment of senior football boss John Evans as the county’s new director of Gaelic Football.

Galway 2-14 Leitrim 1-13