Longford let it slip as Leitrim grab late victory

03.04.10 | Leitrim 0-13 Longford 0-12 | By John Connolly

A point in front with less than seven minutes to go, Longford saw their hopes of a second Allianz League Division Four victory go up in smoke as Leitrim snatch two points in the final five minutes to claim victory last Saturday in Carrick-on-Shannon's Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

After suffering a shattering loss last summer in the All-Ireland Qualifier to Longford, Leitrim were very much up for this encounter but relied heavily on their defensive resilience and the boot of an impressive Michael Foley to claim victory at home.

Longford had seemed on their way to victory when Francis McGee, highly impressive, and Bernard McElvaney both pointed to put Longford in the driving seat with less than seven minutes to go.

But it was Leitrim who found their form in those final minutes, Michael Foley converting a free and sub Colm Clarke intercepting a Longford pass to run 40 yards unopposed from his own defence to score the match winning point.

There was still four minutes plus added time to be played but Longford never managed a convincing effort to secure a draw that, on the balance of play, Longford probably deserved.

That they didn't get it was purely down to an over-reliance on Francis McGee who, from his first 40 yard free after less than two minutes of play, gave an exhibition of point scoring, both from placed balls and general play.

With John McKeon commanding his area at full-back with all his customary brilliance, Longford never really threatened the goal they needed and it was left to McGee and, to a lesser extent, sub Paddy Dowd to carry the battle.

Midfield was something of a conundrum for both teams – at times, Bernard McElvaney completely dominated but for the greater part of the contest, the hard running Shane Canning and Tomas Beirne carried the day.

In many ways, the game developed into a shoot-out between McGee and the excellent Michael Foley and the Leitrim man's greater personal tally was the difference between the teams as both gave a great exhibition of scoring.

Foley also had the luxury of having better support in attack and Glencar/Manor's James Glancy at full-forward gave Longford's full-back line a torrid time, the only Leitrim attacker to really discommode the Longford rearguard apart from Foley.

For Leitrim, Foley was the star of the show but he got great support from Daniel Beck, John McKeon in defence and Philly McGuinness in attack as Leitrim, despite missing out on promotion for the second year in a row, are looking forward to the championship with renewed confidence.

The victory was Leitrim’s first over their Leinster neighbours in five attempts as the midlanders have had something of an Indian sign over the Green & Gold in recent meetings, the Qualifier victory last year added to by two big seven point wins in the League.

Longford have only the visit of London to Pearse Park to come next week and with the championship bow high on the agenda, Longford will be looking for a big performance to set their stall out for the forthcoming championship campaign.

Longford got off to a flying start with two points in less than two minutes – a crossed ball from the right wing was worked back to Bernard McElvaney who pointed after less than 40 seconds and Francis McGee swung over a wonderful 40 yard free less than a minute later to give the visitors a bright start.

Leitrim have started all their games well this year and they did last Saturday as well with James Glancy collecting a low ball to turn sharply and score on three minutes. Michael Foley was unlucky with his first two efforts before James Glancy and Philly McGuinness combined to set up David O’Connor for a fisted point on eight minutes.

One score was quickly followed by another, this time, Ronan McGoldrick pointing after Longford moved the ball the entire length of the field. Leitrim’s James Glancy put a shot wide but a clever Tomas Beirne shot found Michael Foley in space and his left-footed shot flew straight over the bar on 11 minutes.

Enda Lyons did well to hold a free on the line but McGee tapped over another 40 yard free on 14 minutes to get Leitrim back in front but the tit-for-tat started with Michael Foley thumping a 40-yard free over the bar, a score facilitated by dissent from the Longford players that saw the ball moved in.

Dissent, however, was not confined to Longford as McGee tapped over a free that was also moved closer to goal on 19 minutes.

Both sides had poor wides with McGuinness and Howard missing a chance apiece before Longford moved two points clear when St. Mary’s James Glancy was penalised for a foul and McGee put over the free on 27 minutes.

Two minutes later, a foul on the other James Glancy meant Michael Foley tapped over a free that was also moved in as Ronan Kennedy replaced Philip Howard after just 29 minutes.

McGee put over a free for which Glancy was booked with Foley replying with a similar effort after Gilleran’s yellow card. But McGee had the last word of the half when his free was punched over the bar by Longford sub Cian Mimnagh, to leave the midlanders with a 0-8 to 0-6 advantage.

Longford boss Glenn Ryan brought on Paul Kelly and Paddy Dowd at the break but with a number of positional switches, wing-forward Diarmuid Masterson moving back to full-back to contain James Glancy, the moves back-fired as Leitrim started the half in fantastic form.

Ronan Kennedy pointed after a great run from Wayne McKeon and despite a Dermot Reynolds wide, Tomas Beirne and Philly McGuinness combined to move the ball out of defence and Michael Foley levelled the scores with a massive 50 yard score.

A foul on Tomas Beirne saw Foley put the 45 yard free over the bar but with Leitrim on top, there were also wides from James Glancy (Manor) and Ronan Kennedy with Glancy also earning a yellow card. Longford did however, draw level when Paddy Dowd completed a fine move out of defence with an excellent point on ten minutes.

That score sparked a tit-for-tat scoring spree with a quick Daniel Beck free finding Michael Foley who pointed a minute later. Longford quickly drew level when Cian Mimnagh’s pass set up Dowd for a brilliant point on the run.

But Leitrim hit back again – a good run from Shane Canning saw him off-load to David O’Connor who in turn set up James Glancy and his shot was tipped over the bar on 13 minutes.

But as quickly as the scoring spree started, it finished and it took 12 minutes for another score to arrive. In that time, Leitrim had wides from Michael Foley, Ronan Kennedy, Shane Canning and Glancy while Bernard McElvaney also shot wide for Longford.

The drought ended with ten minutes to go and it looked as if Francis McGee’s brilliant effort from the left corner was about to spark a Longford victory.

Longford worked the ball down the field for McElvaney to score a good point and the lead for the midlanders with Daniel Beck being yellow carded for dissent.

It looked as if it was going all wrong for Leitrim when James Glancy shot badly wide but a foul on David O’Connor allowed Foley to tie the scores with less than five minutes to go. Longford tried to hit back but Colm Clarke brilliantly intercepted, ran fully 40 yards and floated a brilliant shot over the Longford bar.

That turned out to be the last score as Michael Foley’s accuracy deserted him when he hit a free badly wide while, at the other end, John McKeon made a vital interception after Declan Reilly had won the ball, allowing Leitrim to celebrate a significant victory.

LEITRIM: Enda Lyons, Daniel Beck, John McKeon, Dermot Reynolds; James Glancy (St. Mary's), Gary Reynolds, Wayne McKeon, Shane Canning, Tomas Beirne; Philly McGuinness, David O'Connor (0-1), Michael Foley (0-8), Philip Howard, James Glancy (Glencar/Manor) (0-2), Declan Gilhooley.

Subs: Ronan Kennedy (0-1) for Howard (29 mins), Ray Mulvey for Gilhooley (56 mins), Colm Clarke (0-1) for G. Reynolds (63 mins), Brendan Gallagher for J. Glancy (Glencar/Manor).

LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan (Dromard); Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers), Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers), Seamus Hannon (Mostrim); Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta), Enda Williams (Clonguish), Noel Farrell (Colmcille), Bernard McElvaney (0-2, Ballymore), Arthur O'Connor (Abbeylara); Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard), Francis McGee (0-7, Dromard), Ger Dennigan (Cashel); Declan Reilly (Colmcille), Danny Keenan (Ardagh), Ronan McGoldrick (0-1, Killoe).

Subs: Cian Mimnagh (Dromard) for McGoldrick (24), Paul Kelly (Longford Slashers) & Paddy Dowd (0-2, Clonguish) for Gilleran & Denigan (HT), Jamesie Martin (Dromard) for Keenan (58 mins), Peter Foy (Cashel) for Reilly (71 mins).

Referee: Robert O'Donnell (Donegal).

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