Longford 1-12 Dublin 0-09
Paddy Christie got one over his native county as Longford secured back-to-back Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup senior football titles at the expense of a largely second-string Dublin.
Keelin McGann’s 44th-minute goal was the crucial strike in Portlaoise where former Dublin captain Christie’s Longford fared best in the wet and wild conditions to make a little piece of history
Longford led by five points at half-time and pushed on for a memorable win with Cathal McCabe and top scorer Darren Gallagher also weighing in with 0-07 between them.
It’s the county’s fifth pre-season title, their third since 2020 and the first time they’ve successfully defended it.
It remains to be seen, of course, how much it all counts for as the season unfolds. Longford suffered relegation from Division 3 of the Allianz Football League after last year’s January success and only won two league and championship games all year.
As for Dublin, manager Dessie Farrell won’t be overly concerned as he only had five players - Evan Comerford, David O’Hanlon, Niall Scully, All-Star Colm Basquel and Brian O’Leary - with championship experience.
The All-Ireland SFC title holders will return to action next Saturday with what Farrell has described as their "core squad" when they host Monaghan in Division 1 of the league at Croke Park.
Longford have arguably an even more important game the same day as themselves and Laois are favourites for promotion from Division 4 and they will meet each other in Portlaoise.
Dubs Boss Farrell said beforehand that the result was almost immaterial as he sought to run the rule over as many new players as possible before the league.
Basquel’s involvement for the first time in the campaign brought the number of Dublin players to feature in this year’s competition to 27.
Farrell drafted in goalkeeper Comerford, Basquel and wing-forward Conor Dolan into his lineup. Otherwise it was the same dozen that lined out in last weekend’s 5-17 to 1-11 semi-final demolition of Wexford.
Longford went with 13 of the team that overcame Meath by a goal in an Ashbourne arm wrestle. The hugely experienced Mickey Quinn dropped down to the bench for the midlands outfit while captain Paddy Fox and corner-forward Daniel Reynolds came back into the team.
With next weekend’s league opener in mind, there was a significant blow for Longford in the 24th minute when key attacker Daniel Mimnagh was taken off with an injury.
Things looked better on the scoreboard at least as they led by 0-04 to 0-03 at that stage and stretched the gap to three points by the half-hour, 0-06 to 0-03.
Cathal McCabe and midfield free-taker Gallagher scored a brace of points apiece in that initial period.
They were fortunate to lead though as Dublin failed to convert three separate goal opportunities that came their way in the first 12 minutes.
Sean Lowry, fresh off a hat-trick of goals against Wexford, had an early shot blocked by defender Ryan Moffett. Three minutes later, Comerford and Senan Forker combined to play in Kevin Lahiff but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Patrick Collum.
Forker himself smashed a shot off the woodwork in the 12th minute as Dublin supporters who made the trip south began to wonder if it was going to be one of those days.
Longford had a decent goal chance that went abegging too, Jayson Matthews blasting straight at Comerford when running in from the left in the 18th minute.
Late Longford points before half-time from Daniel Reynolds and Mark Hughes left them sitting pretty at half-time with a 0-08 to 0-03 lead.
But there was one big caveat: Longford had a near galeforce wind behind them in the first half. It was raining heavily too, all of which they would have to contend with in the second period.
O’Hanlon, who started last year’s championship campaign for Dublin before being replaced by Stephen Cluxton, came on for the second-half along with corner-back Ben Millist and corner-forward Luke Breathnach.
The hope was that Breathnach could work the same magic he did last weekend when he blasted 1-4 against Wexford.
The Ballinteer man only needed three minutes to get on the scoreboard and register a point.
Killian McGinnis struck shortly after for his second Dublin point but the game turned in the 44th minute when McGann hit that killer goal for Longford.
Joseph Hagan created it with a clever ball down the line to McCabe and when his marker Millist slipped, McCabe strode free and set up McGann who still had to round the ‘keeper.
Midfielder Daire Duggan added a point soon after and suddenly Longford were in the driving seat with a 1-10 to 0-05 lead.
Dublin refused to throw in the towel and edged the final quarter by 0-04 to 0-02 on the scoreboard but they needed a goal and one never arrived.
In terms of the rookie players who will hope to be retained for the league, McGinnis, Liam Smith, Forker, Breathnach and Lowry would appear to be in a good position following positive campaigns.
Longford: Patrick Collum; Barry O’Farrell, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson; Paddy Fox, Ryan Moffett, Iarla O’Sullivan; Darren Gallagher (0-04, 0-04f), Daire Duggan (0-01); Keelin McGann (1-00), Daniel Reynolds (0-01), Joseph Hagan (0-02); Jayson Matthews, Daniel Mimnagh, Cathal McCabe (0-03, 0-01m).
Subs: Mark Hughes (0-01) for Mimnagh (24 mins), Mickey Quinn for Reynolds (47 mins), Ruairi Harkin for McGann (71 mins), Darragh Finlass for Matthews (73 mins).
Dublin: Evan Comerford; Eoin O’Dea, Liam Howley, Liam Smith; Alex Gavin, Senan Forker, Kevin Lahiff; Peter Duffy, Ethan Dunne; Conor Dolan, Niall Scully (0-01), Killian McGinnis (0-03, 0-02f); Colm Basquel (0-01, 0-01f), Brian O’Leary (0-01, 0-01f), Sean Lowry.
Subs: Luke Breathnach (0-02) for Dolan (ht), David O’Hanlon for Comerford (ht), Ben Millist for O’Dea (ht); Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan for Howley (59 mins), Eoin Wilde for O’Leary (59 mins), Luke Swan (0-01, 0-01f) for Duffy (60 mins), Kieran McKeown for Lahiff (67 mins).
Referee: James Foley (Carlow)
