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.

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 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.

Politicians have called on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to appear before an Oireachtas committee to answer questions on a report linking cancer to processed meats.

Longford Town 1 Cork City 4: Steven Beattie says he couldn’t have planned a better league debut for Cork City.

Sitting in the Hogan Stand two weeks ago watching John Heslin roll in the game-clinching goal, it was hard not to get drawn in by the pure joy and excitement the Westmeath squad and supporters were experiencing.

Jack Sheedy stood defiant afterwards.

Matty Lennon’s Tyrone are 70 minutes from breaking new ground and advancing to Division 2 of the Allianz Hurling League after recording a 0-18 to 1-11 win over Monaghan in Saturday’s Division 3A final.

Longford Town 0, Shamrock Rovers 2:

Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16

The abolition of the EU’s dairy quota restrictions in 2015 will represent both an opportunity and a challenge for Irish farmers, Ireland East MEP Mairead McGuinness said at yesterday’s Lakeland Dairies milk quality awards in Virginia, Co Cavan.

The man highlighted on The Sunday Game throwing his glasses off before entering a melee during Longford’s qualifier loss to Wexford has defended his actions.

Longford 0-16 Wexford 2-15 (AET)

Longford 2-14 Limerick 0-9

Wicklow 1-15 Longford 0-16, Aughrim

Longford qualified for the Lory Meagher Cup final against Warwickshire on June 8th, following a 6-13 to 1-10 win over Fermanagh at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Croke Park officials have been left red-faced after Tipperary forward Lar Corbett and Kilkenny defender JJ Delaney were cleared to line out in the first round of their respective provincial championships.

Kildare failed to score from the 42nd minute onwards against Longford but did enough to claim their first Cadbury Leinster Under-21 Football title since 2008, while Cavan and Donegal advanced to an Ulster final meeting on April 17.

Armagh 3-08 Longford 2-09

Health and safety officials were last night trying to establish what may have caused a 12m wall to collapse at a DIY and garden centre in Longford on Tuesday, killing two men and injuring four others.

If Navan today survives an 8am inspection then most interest will centre on whether Patrick Mullins can set a new record for winners by an amateur in a calendar year.

Politicians are concerned the results of the forthcoming Children’s Referendum could be influenced by storyline in a soap opera.

They look lovely and last so long — well looked after dairy show cows come up shining year after year, with top winners from 2010 taking the red rosettes again last Sunday at Tullamore Show.

Drama. Controversy. Finger-pointing.

Jason Ryan hailed the strength in depth of his squad as Wexford scored six of the game’s last seven points to snatch victory over Longford after more than 140 minutes of action.

A draw was just about the right result from this hugely entertaining tie, and it is a bizarre turn of events that will see the sides face off for the fourth time in-a-row in next Sunday’s replay.

Anthony Masterson has no problem with you bringing him back to his annus horribilis that was 2011.

Had things been different, Michael Quinn could well have found himself preparing for round nine of the AFL this week rather than a Leinster Championship clash with Laois.

Three TDs will today consider whether or not they will sign David Norris' nomination papers, allowing him to enter the presidential race.

TWO weeks ago, Mickey Harte stood on the Clones pitch ruminating on his team’s first defeat in the Ulster championship since 2008 and pointed out that things had worked out okay the last time they were directed through the back door.

CAVAN’S think-tank cleared the decks at the back but it was Longford who held all the aces in this All-Ireland SFC qualifier first round tie at Kingspan/Breffni Park.

Laois 0-10 Longford 0-9

O’MOORE PARK was a scene of delight as much as it was a vista of dejection last night as Wexford celebrated their first Leinster U21 FC title at the fifth time of asking.

Wexford 1-9 Longford 0-11

Longford 1-6 Donegal 3-14

IN a season of shock results this one might just slip under the radar, but Longford’s minor footballers achievement in claiming a Leinster title deserves tremendous credit.

A DESPONDENT Longford goalkeeper Damien Sheridan doesn’t want the defeat by Down in the All-Ireland Qualifiers to be seen as another moral victory.

Down 1-14 Longford 1-10

LONGFORD will have home advantage in their Leinster MFC quarter-final with Westmeath on May 22 after this deserved qualifier victory at Pearse Park on Saturday.