Gleeful Longford recover from 12 down to secure promotion spot
PRIDE: Longford captain Paddy Fox. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Longford captain Paddy Fox spoke with pride and delight as his side came from 12 points down in the first half to defeat Wicklow by one point and in doing so gain promotion to Division 3.
Daniel Reynolds was the Longford hero, scoring the winning point with the last kick of the game. Fox said: “Just absolutely elated. The boys to be fair to them never gave up. I didn’t know til a few minutes ago that we were 12 points down at one stage. To be fair to the boys they kept battling. The subs that came in made a huge impact. Huge belief from the lads.”
The Midlanders never gave up and Wicklow were stunned as Longford came back into the game.
Things looked ominous for Longford when they lost their opening game to London. In their second last game they were well beaten by neighbours Leitrim and knew they needed a win against Wicklow.
Fox said: "It’s unbelievable. We are a good few years down here and there is nothing easy in Division 4. We got the rub of the green a few times today. Wicklow are a great team.”
Wicklow led at the break 2-9 to 0-9. Kevin Quinn and Oisin McGraynor with the Garden County’s goals. They also missed a number of goal chances in that half and were made rue them.
Dessie Reynolds had a goal chance for Longford in the 29th minute but fired the ball over the bar. A two pointer free from Dylan Farrell before half-time saw Longford cut the gap to six points.
Wicklow started the second half like they had the first - with a real purpose. Longford needed a goal and in the 62nd minute Oisin O’Toole finally got the goal they were searching for.
Momentum was with Longford. Paddy Moran got a second goal for Longford and the gap was just one in the 67th minute.
Minutes later another substitute Cian Brady drew Longford level. Twice Wicklow edged ahead but Longford came back and right at the end Daniel Reynolds popped up with the vital score.
E McGuinness; P Fox, R Moffett, B Masterson; P Lynn, O O’Toole (1-1), Dessie Reynolds (0-1); L Glennon, R Sweeney; J Moran, M Carey, Daniel Reynolds (0-4); D Farrell (0-8, 1tp, 1tpf), J Hagan (0-3), O Kenny (0-2).
N Farrelly for Glennon (ht), P Moran (1-1) for Moran (46), C Brady (0-1) for Sweeney (56), R Bleakley for Moffett (61)
M Jackson (0-2, 2’45); T Moran, M Nolan, M Stone; G Fogarty, J Carlin (0-1), D Fee; D Healy (0-2), J Hardy; C O’Brien (4,1tp), P O’Toole (1-3), K Quinn (0-3); O McGraynor (1-2,1f), J Prendegast, E Darcy (0-3,1f).
J McCall for Fee (30), Cl Baker for McCall (61), C Fee for Darcy (68), J Kirwan for Hardy (70+1)
Liam Devenney (Mayo)
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