A two-point free from the boot of debutant Matthew Carey earned Longford a share of the spoils against Limerick in this Allianz Football League Division 4 clash at a wet and miserable Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Limerick were the better side for a lot of the game and dominated possession, but they will rue missed chances.
Longford were on top in the opening quarter. Dylan Farrell kicked over the opening score in the fourth minute, a pointed free after he was fouled. James Naughton cancelled that out with a point for the visitors in the seventh minute.
Carey fired over a free in the 11th minute before Oran Kenny found the back of the net twice in the space of two minutes; two fine finishes from the Rathcline clubman. The home side were ahead by five points.
Limerick scored a goal of their own in the 21st minute Naughton played the ball into Peter Nash and he shot low to the net. They were wasteful in front of the posts in the first half.
As half-time approached the Treaty County came more into the game. Emmet Rigter squandered a goal chance in the 31st minute while Longford keeper Paddy Collum brought off a fine double save to deny Rigter and then Colm McSweeney.
A point from Andy Meade saw Limerick trail by two at the break, 2-04 to 1-05. Three points in a row saw them take the lead for the first time in the 43rd minute.
One minute later Longford's Jayson Matthews scored the first two-pointer of the game. Nash was causing havoc for Longford and their defence struggled to maintain him. The game was level three times in three minutes. Two points from the boot of the excellent Rigter put two between the sides with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Longford defender Paddy Fox blocked down Cillian Fahy’s effort in the 64th minute as Limerick opened Longford up again. Carey (free) and Iain Corbett exchanged points before the young Clonguish clubman Carey kicked over a two-pointer at the end to earn Longford a draw.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Longford: P Collum; P Fox, S O’Sullivan, B Masterson; P Lynn, R Moffett, I O’Sullivan; D Reynolds (0-01), D Duggan; K McGann (0-01), D Farrell (0-01, 1f), J Matthews (0-02, tp); O Kenny (2-01), M Carey (0-06, 1 2pf), C McCabe.
Subs: J Moran for S O’Sullivan (57), A Farrell for McGann (60), C Brady for I O’Sullivan (70+4)
Limerick: J Ryan (0-01, '45); O Collins, F Cotter, M McCarthy (0-02); B Coleman (0-01), K Ryan, P Maher; T Childs, C Fahy; A Meade (0-01), E Rigter (0-03), J Naughton (0-03, 1f); P Nash (1-03, 1f), R Childs, T McCarthy.
Subs: C McSweeney for Collins (27), D O’Hagan for T Childs (43), I Corbett (0-1) for Ryan (54), S Clancy for R Childs (65)
Referee: M Dorrian (Donegal)
