Longford and Offaly will contest the Allianz Division 4 Football League final in Croke Park on April 25th after wins today.
Longford’s place in the decider was already secured, but Jack Sheedy’s charges maintained their unbeaten run with a 1-18 to 1-12 win over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park.
Longford led by 0-12 to 1-06 at half-time, with the visitors leading by five points, before John Murphy netted a 28th-minute Carlow goal.
Longford pushed seven points clear on the restart, before Sean Gannon opened Carlow’s second-half account in the 46th minute.
Carlow cut the gap to two points entering the final quarter thanks to the good work of Eric McCormack, but Longford finished strongly.
Dessie Reynolds netted the winners only goal in the 58th minute, on the way to a six-point win.
The battle for the second place in the final was keenly contested, as Offaly booked their place in the decider, with a 1-13 to 1-07 win over Antrim at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
Bernard Allen (0-06), Nigel Dunne (1-02) and Willie Mulhall (0-03) impressed for the hosts in a game which saw the Faithful County on top for the most part.
Offaly started well with a brace of Allen points, and although CJ McGourty sneaked through for a sixth-minute goal after a Tony Scullion pass, the hosts responded immediately.
Graham Guilfoyle won possession and set off on a run, finding Eoin Carroll who laid the ball off to Dunne, who finished to the net to restore Offaly’s two-point lead.
Offaly moved 1-04 to 1-00 ahead following Allen’s fourth point, and led by 1-05 to 1-02 at half-time.
The hosts kept ahead on the restart despite the efforts of McGourty, Scullion and Michael Pollock, with Walsh Island duo Alan and Willie Mulhall impressive in the second half.
Delighted for the @Offaly_GAA boys today. It's been a rough few years and hopefully this is only the start of it. #uibhfhailiabu #promoted
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) April 5, 2015London finished with their first win of the campaign, after a 2-08 to 0-12 victory over Wicklow in Baltinglass.
Wicklow led by 0-05 to 0-04 at half-time, but the Exiles worked hard.
The hosts impressed on the restart, with scores from Dean Healy, Paul Cronin and John McGrath helping them to a 0-10 to 0-06 lead.
However, goals from Dave McGreevy and Lorcan Mulvey helped the visitors to a two-point win.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Leitrim finished their campaign on a high with a comfortable 0-15 to 0-10 win over Waterford.
Antrim blazed to a 0-06 to 0-00 lead after 14 minutes, with nine players on target for the hosts in this game, including Kevin Conlan who was Leitrim’s top scorer with five points.
Waterford worked hard with JJ Hutchinson (0-08) impressive from placed balls, but Leitrim’s solid start proved vital.
