Wicklow continued their winning streak over Longford in the Leinster SFC with a six-point win over the Midlanders in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park after extra time.
On a beautiful day, this game was a real championship affair that had much to keep the crowd entertained.
Oisin McConville's side had to grab a late equaliser from Podge O'Toole to bring it to extra-time, which they dominated.
Dean Healy scored a terrific two-pointer, while substitute keeper Mark Jackson fired over a '45. Kevin Quinn sealed the win with a goal in the second period of extra time.
Longford finished the game with 14 men, after Ryan Moffett received a second yellow card near the end.
Paddy O’Keane and Quinn (free) kicked over earlier scores for Wicklow while Matthew Carey (free) and Jayson Matthews got Longford’s scoring opened.
Longford then took control of the game and went into a five-point lead. Oran Kenny kicked over a fantastic two-pointer, James Moran, Jayson Matthews (free) and McCabe gave them a 0-07 to 0-02 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Wicklow then came back into it. Oisin McGraynor with three points (one two-pointer), a well-taken point from Quinn and a fine Liam O’Neill contribution, levelled matters for the third time in the 26th minute.
Dylan Farrelll and McGraynor (free) traded points before the home side ended the first-half well. Carey and Matthews edged them ahead by two in the 34th minute and just before the half-time whistle Dylan Farrell hit over a sweet two-point free to give his side a four-point lead going in at the break.
Within the first four minutes of the second half Wicklow cut the deficit to just one point with scores from McGraynor, John Paul Nolan ('45) and Joe Prendergast. In the 42nd minute the Garden County raised the green flag when Padraig O’Toole found the back of the net with an excellent strike.
Dessie Reynolds finished off a fine move with a super strike to draw the game again in the 48th minute. Both sides were guilty of some poor shot selection and shooting. In the final quarter of the game, it was level three times.
Wicklow will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a least two frees in the 64th minute. Their manager McConville remonstrated with the referee; rules are a free in for the opposition from the 20 metre mark which Carey duly kicked over.
Quinn levelled with three minutes of normal time remaining. The additional time was all drama. Aaron Farrell looked like he had won the game for Longford. Wicklow hit the crossbar before O’Toole brought the game to extra time.
Key: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgearld; Tom Moran, Darragh Fee, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (0-01), Patrick Keane (0-02), Matt Nolan; Dean Healy (0-03,1tp), Liam O’Neill (0-01); John Paul Nolan (0-01, '45), Padraig O’Toole (1-01), Mark Kenny; Oisin McGraynor (0-07,1tp, 1f), Kevin Quinn (1-05, 4f), Cathal Baker.
Subs: Christopher O’Brien (0-01) for Baker (41'), Conor Fee for O’Neill (59'), Gavin Fogarty for Kenny (61'), Mark Jackson (0-01, ‘45) for Fitzgerald (70'), Jacques Mac Camhoil for Stone (83'), Lorcan Smith for O’Keane (90')
Longford: Micheal Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson; Cian Brady, Ryan Moffett, James Moran (0-01); Dessie Reynolds (1-00), Daire Duggan; Jayson Matthews (0-04, 2f), Dylan Farrell (0-03, 1tpf), Aaron Farrell (0-01); Matthew Carey (0-07,1tpf, 1tp, 2f), Cathal McCabe (0-01, m), Oran Kenny (0-03,1tp).
Subs: Keelin McGann for D Farrell (60'), Ruairi Harkin for Kenny (69'), Shane Campbell for Reynolds (79'), Daragh Finlass for Masterson (85'), Sean O’Sullivan for Brady (88')
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
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