Longford reward for free-flowing football

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.

Admittedly, the scalp of Division 4 Carlow is nowhere near as prized as that of Dublin, who ran up 4-25 on Longford during a 27-point Leinster championship drubbing.

But it was at least a reward for perseverance and a commitment to open, expansive football that fewer and fewer teams are willing to play.