Longford 2-11
Wexford 1-13
Longford had to survive a second-half onslaught from Wexford before emerging with victory in tonight’s Cadbury’s Leinster U21FC semi-final tie in Portlaoise.
Longford exploded from the blocks in the early stages and were ahead by a stunning 11 points early on as they lead 2-5 to 0-0. Mark Hughes bagged both their goals while Robbie Smyth and James McGivney grabbed neat points.
A shell-shocked Wexford side fought back with Robert Dempsey grabbing a goal to give them hope at half-time as they trailed by 2-7 to 1-3.
The Model County continued to make inroads into the Longford advantage and they remarkably drew level at 2-9 to 1-12 with 12 minutes left. Longford were reeling but sharpshooter Robbie Smyth helped steady their challenge when landing a brace of points.
There was a lengthy stoppage when Longford goalkeeper Paddy Collum was injured as he saved at the feet of Robert Dempsey with a point between the sides. He had to leave the field injured but it proved a crucial and match winning save.
And despite Dempsey cutting the gap to one, Wexford could not find the leveling score they continued to press and were awarded a free from outside the 45 deep into stoppage time but sadly it drifted wide as Longford held on for a fortunate win.
LONGFORD: Paddy Collum (Fr. Manning Gaels); Ronan Keogh (Killoe Young Emmets), Barry O’Farrell (Carrickedmond), Cian Farrelly (Killoe Young Emmets); Diarmuid Cooney (Fr. Manning Gaels), Padraig McCormack (Killoe Young Emmetts), Darren Farrelly (Fr. Manning Gaels); Paddy Thopmson (Killoe Young Emmets), Darren Gallagher (St Mary’s); Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe Young Emmets), Barry McKeon (Colmcille), Rory O’Connor (Kenagh); Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara), Mark Hughes (Killoe Young Emmets), James McGivney (St Colmuba’s).
WEXFORD: Michael O’Toole (Starlights); Darren Foley (Fethard), Thomas Cullen (St Anne’s), Stephen Corrigan (Shelmaliers); Jack Kelly (Starlights), Diarmuid O’Keeffe (St Anne’s), Aidan Cash (Shelmaliers); Lee Chin (Sarsfields), Colm Kehoe (Cloughbawn); Eddie Shiely (Horeswood), Graeme Cullen (Gusserane), John Tubritt (Fethard); Lee Devereux (St Mary’s), Alan Tobin (Starlights), Robert Dempsey (Glynn-Barntown).
Referee: David Gough (Meath)
