Matthew Walsh bundled home a 76th minute goal as London snatched a Division 4 draw with Wexford at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Saturday.
Wexford appeared set to hold out after Player of the Match Seán Nolan grabbed a fortuitous 46th minute major to inspire a 1-08 to 0-05 surge.
But gritty London were ultimately rewarded for their persistence when Walsh flicked home a set up by substitute Conal Gallagher to force a share of the spoils as Wexford finished with 13 men.
The hosts - debuting an alternative green jersey to mark their first All-Ireland SFC glory 130 years ago - carved out a 0-05 to 0-02 interval advantage while also threatening on three occasions to rattle the net when seizing upon kick-out blunders from London stopper Kevin Mullan.
Seán Nolan launched the first two points – his second barely flying over the crossbar much to London's relief in the twelfth minute before a 3,497 attendance.
London, although enterprising, lacked real bite upfront, and while Chris Frawley got them on target from a 23rd minute free, the home-side remained most vibrant when easing ahead 0-05 to 0-02 in the 28th minute with additions from Kevin O’Grady, Mark Rossiter (free) and Eoghan Nolan.
Seán Nolan again went dangerously close with goaling chances approaching the interval - being bundled out in the 33rd minute, before London recovered as the dangerous full-forward again threatened during added-time.
London demonstrated greater purpose upfront on the restart when closing to within 0-06 to 0-05 after 43 minutes through Liam Gavaghan, Chris Frawley and Matthew Walsh.
But while Seán Nolan was again denied a goal in the 44th minute, he returned with a vengance two minutes later – producing a wonderful interception out-field before cutting through and seeing his attempted ground-shot deflected to the net off a defender (1-06 to 0-05).
Although Nolan and Cian Hughes generated a six-point divide, London refused to become downhearted, and with Wexford losing Kevin O’Grady to a black card on 59 minutes, the visitors gained increased hope as Gavaghan and Frawley frees shaved the gap to 1-09 to 0-09 after 64 minutes.
While Wexford regained O’Grady from the sin-bin, five minutes added-time offered London hope.
And after home captain Eoghan Nolan cut out one threat, the visitors eventually salvaged a merited draw deep into added-time through Matthew Walsh’s poacher’s instincts, while Wexford lost Seán Nolan to a second booking and O’Grady to a red card.
Wexford: Craig McCabe; Brian Cushe, Páraic Hughes, Michael Furlong; Glen Malone (0-01), Brian Molloy, Gavin Sheehan; Darragh Lyons, Niall Hughes; Eoghan Nolan (0-01), Conor Kinsella, Kevin O’Grady (0-01); Cian Hughes (0-01), Seán Nolan (1-03), Mark Rossiter (0-02 frees).
Subs: Dean O’Toole for Kinsella (52), Ben Brosnan for C. Hughes (52), Cathal Walsh for Lyons (58), Dylan Furlong for M. Furlong (66), Conor Carty for Rossiter (70+1).
Black card: Kevin O’Grady (59).
London: Kevin Mullan; Mickey Clarke, Eoin Walsh, Nathan McElwaine; Ronan Sloan, Cahir Healy, Aidan McLoughlin; Liam Gallagher, Stephen Dornan; Liam Cavaghan (0-03 frees), Matthew Walsh (1-01), Henry Walsh (0-01); Niall O’Leary, Enda Lynn, Chris Frawley (0-04 frees).
Subs: Chris Duggan for H. Walsh (49), Conal Gallagher for Dornan (57), Eunan Curran for Healy (64), James Hynes for Lynn (69), Josh Obahor for O’Leary (70+4).
Referee: John Ryan (Cork).
