Wexford 2-8 Longford 1-10
Despite leading for 69 minutes against Wexford on Sunday, Longford somehow managed to lose this exciting Division II contest in Wexford Park.
The two sides who got promoted from the third tier last season are clearly extremely evenly matched, and it took a late, late goal from Wexford captain Redmond Barry to decide Sunday’s game.
Longford had powered into a big lead in the first half, leading 1-7 to 0-1 after 32 minutes. Their goal came after 12 minutes, when Robbie Smyth netted after a dashing run into Wexford territory from Michael Quinn. However, a Wexford goal on the stroke of half-time from PJ Banville gave them hope.
They capitalised on this after the restart and were back within one point after two Ben Brosnan scores made it 1-8 to 1-7. The match was tight from there until the closing moments, when Barry finished off a good team move to snatch the win when it had looked for so long like it would be Longford’s.
Scorers for Wexford: Ben Brosnan 0-6 (6fs), PJ Banville (1-0), Redmond Barry (1-0), Shane Roche (0-1, f), Adrian Flynn (0-1).
Scorers for Longford: Sean McCormack (0-4, 3fs), Robbie Smyth (1-0), Francis McGee (0-3), Michael Quinn (0-1, 45), Shane Mulligan (0-1), Donal McElliggot (0-1).
WEXFORD: Anthony Masterson; Brian Malone, Graeme Molloy, Robert Tierney; Aindreas Doyle, David Murphy, Adrian Flynn; Daithi Waters, Craig Doyle; Michael Furlong, Ben Brosnan, Paddy Byrne; Shane Roche, Redmond Barry, PJ Banville. Subs:Joey Wadding for Murphy (half-time), James Holmes for A Doyle (52 mins), Rory Quinlivan for C Doyle (60 mins), Conor Carty for Roche (66 mins), Kevin Gore for Barry (70).
LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan; Dermot Brady, Barry Gilleran, Peter Foy; Fergal Battrim, Michael Quinn, Shane Mulligan; Bernard McElvaney, Michael Brady; Padraig McCormack, Donal McElligott, Shane Doyle; Francis McGee, Robbie Smyth, Sean McCormack. Subs: Paul Kelly for Doyle (14 mins), Kevin Diffley for McElvaney (54), Aidan Rowan for Foy (66-68 mins).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
