Shanley saves Longford

PAURAIC SHANLEY landed an injury time point to secure a replay for Longford in the Leinster JFC final at Croke Park yesterday.

Longford trailed at the interval by 0-7 to 0-4, with Louth playing the better football and Hugh McGinn proving a handful for the Longford defence, scoring five points.

When midfielder Richard Brennan’s goaled in the 36th minute, it looked like Louth would be claiming their 10th title and first since 1961.

By that stage Longford had introduced Stephen Philips and he slotted two wonderful points from play and another from a free to help reduce the margin to the minimum.

Referee Joe Curley allotted five minutes of injury time after a long stoppage to treat injured Louth attacker Kevin Rogers and Shanley popped up to arc on over from a difficult angle to set up that replay, which will take place on Wednesday July 8.

LONGFORD: P Shanley 0-3, S Phillips 0-3(1f), C Flynn 0-2(1f), J McEntire, S Doyle, S Cox (0-1 each)

LOUTH: H McGinn 0-5 (2fs), R Brennan 1-0, C Rafferty, K Rogers, J Clarke (0-1 each).

Referee: J Curley (Meath).