Wicklow nudge past Longford in extra-time to extend winning streak

Longford had led by four at half-time and by one in the dying moments of normal time before Wicklow forced the extra 20 minutes in which they prevailed. 

Padraig O'Toole scored a late equalising point for Wicklow against Longford to take the Leinster SFC game to extra-time. Pic: ©INPHO/John McVitty

Leinster SFC preliminary round: Longford 1-20 Wicklow 2-23

Wicklow continued their winning streak over Longford in the Leinster SFC with a six point win over the midlanders after extra-time in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Played on a beautiful day, this was a real championship game that had so much to keep the crowd entertained.

Oisín McConville’s side had to grab a late equaliser to bring this game to extra-time. They then dominated. Dean Healy scored a terrific two pointer while substitute keeper Mark Jackson fired over a 45. Kevin Quinn sealed the win with a goal in the second period of extra-time.

Longford finished the game with 14 men after Ryan Moffett received a second yellow card right near the end.

Paddy O’Keane and Quinn (free) kicked over earlier scores for Wicklow while Matthew Carey (free) and Jayson Matthews got Longford’s scores.

Longford then took control of the game and went into a five point lead. Oran Kenny kicked over a fantastic two pointer, James Moran, Jayson Matthews (free) and McCabe gave them a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Wicklow then came back into the game. Oisin McGraynor with three points (including a two-pointer), a well-taken point from Quinn and a fine Liam O’Neill point levelled matters for the third time in the 26th minute.

Dylan Farrelll and McGraynor (free) traded points before the home side ended the first half well. Carey and Matthews edged them ahead by two in the 34th minute and just before the whistle Dylan Farrell hit over a sweet two point free to give his side a four point lead going in at the break.

Within the first four minutes of the second half Wicklow cut the deficit to just one point with points from McGraynor, John Paul Nolan (45) and Joe Prendergast. In the 42nd minute the Garden County raised the green flag when Padraig O’Toole found the back of the net with an excellent strike.

Dessie Reynolds finished off a fine move with an super strike to draw the game again in the 48th minute. Both sides were guilty of some poor shot selection and shooting. In the final quarter of the game, it was level three times.

Wicklow will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a least two frees in the 64th minute. Their manager Oisin McConville remonstrated with the referee; rules are a free in for the opposition from the 20 metre which Carey duly kicked over.

Quinn levelled with three minutes of normal time remaining. The additional time was all drama. Aaron Farrell looked like he had won the game for Longford. Wicklow hit the crossbar before O’Toole brought the game to extra-time.

Scores for Wicklow: K Quinn 1-5 (4fs), Oisin McGraynor 0-7 (1tp, 1f), Padraig O’Toole 1-1, Dean Healy 0-3 (1tp), Patrick O’Keane 0-2, Joe Prendergast, Liam O’Neill, John Paul Nolan (‘45), Mark Jackson (‘45), Christopher O’Brien 0-1 each.

Scores for Longford: Matthew Carey 0-7 (1tpf, 1tp, 2fs), Jayson Matthews 0-4 (2fs), Dylan Farrell (1tpf), Oran Kenny (1tp) 0-3 each, Dessie Reynolds 1-0, James Moran, Cathal McCabe (m), Aaron Farrell 0-1 each.

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson; Cian Brady, Ryan Moffett, James Moran; Dessie Reynolds, Daire Duggan; Jayson Matthews, Dylan Farrell, Aaron Farrell; Matthew Carey, Cathal McCabe, Oran Kenny.

Subs: Keelin McGann for D Farrell (60), Ruairi Harkin for Kenny (69), Shane Campbell for Reynolds (79), Daragh Finlass for Masterson (85), Sean O’Sullivan for Brady (88) 

WICKLOW: Cathal Fitzgearld; Tom Moran, Darragh Fee, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick Keane, Matt Nolan; Dean Healy, Liam O’Neill; John Paul Nolan, Padraig O’Toole, Mark Kenny; Oisin McGraynor, Kevin Quinn, Cathal Baker.

Subs: Christopher O’Brien for Baker (41), Conor Fee for O’Neill (59), Gavin Fogarty for Kenny (61), Mark Jackson for Fitzgerald (70), Jacques Mac Camhoil for Stone (83), Lorcan Smith for O’Keane (90) 

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)