Finishing flurry flatters Longford after battling Waterford display

LONGFORD deserved their win in this All-Ireland SFC qualifier at Walsh Park on Saturday, but their margin of victory does scant justice to a determined challenge by the home county.

A late flurry of superbly taken points sealed Longford’s win as they were made to work much harder than many expected.

“My initial reaction is one of relief’, Longford manager Luke Dempsey said afterwards. “This is no bad Waterford team and they pushed us all the way. I’m just happy that we’re still in contention.”

For most of the game Waterford matched the winners, and more, and while there can be no argument about the merits of Longford’s win, Waterford will reflect ruefully on missing two golden goal chances in the second half.

“They could have changed the whole game if we had converted both of them,” manager John Kiely said. “Even so we gave it a right go and I feel we were more than a little unlucky to lose by seven points”.

Gary Hurney squandered the first in the 54th minute at a time when they were trailing by just three points when goalkeeper Damien Sheridan saved.

Another great opportunity arose in the 68th minute, this time Karl O’Keeffe the culprit as he blazed wide from 12 metres. By then, however, Longford, leading by six points, were all but out of sight.

They owe much for their victory to the powerhouse display of centre forward Paul Barden, who rallied his side after an uncertain start, scored a great goal to enable them to lead by three points at the break, and fittingly closed the scoring with one of the points of the game in the dying seconds.

Scorers: Longford: P. Barden (1-4); J. Martin (0-3); S. Mulligan (0-2); D. Barden (0-2); B. Kavanagh, P. Dowd, K. Smith, P. Berry, T. Smullen (0-1) each. Waterford: K. O’Keeffe (1-1); B. Wall (0-3); W. Hennessy (0-2); S. Cunningham (0-2); A. Hubbard (0-1).

LONGFORD: D. Sheridan; D. Brady, N. Farrell, C. Confrey; S. Mulligan, A. O’Connor, D. Reilly; B. McElvaney, L. Keenan; P. Berry, P. Barden, T. Smullen; D. Barden, J. Martin, B. Kavanagh.

Subs: P. Dowd for McElvaney, inj (10 mins); K. Smith for Keenan, inj (34 mins); P. Foy for Martin (52 mins); D. Masterson for Foy (68 mins).

WATERFORD: T. Wall; E. Walsh, J. Phelan, S. Briggs; B. Wall, E. Rockett, J. Hurney; G. Hurney, M. Ahern; S. Cunningham, G. Power, J. Ryan; W. Hennessy, K. O’Keeffe, A. Hubbard.

Subs: L. Ó Lionain for Walsh (half time); P. Hurney for Ryan (60 mins); K. Power for Briggs (70 mins).

Referee: Vincent Neary, Mayo.