We've already had a few upsets in this year's football championship, but Longford's win over Monaghan in round two of the qualifiers tops the lot.
There was no fluke about Longford's 2-13 to 1-13 success in Clones on Saturday evening. After starting the game well, they did go in trailing by three at the break but raised their game again on the resumption, with Robbie Smyth's goal eight minutes from time putting the seal on a famous win.
Mickey Quinn was Longford's other goalscorer and the former Aussie Rules player was quick to hail the victory as one of the greatest in the county's history. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "These are the day's you'll remember. It's a privilege to be one of the leaders on the team, to be part of a team with a new bunch of players coming through. We wanted a new Longford and no more moral victories."
When asked what is it about Longford;s ability to cause upsets in the qualifiers (Mayo 2010 & Derry 2014 in recent times), the Killoe Young Emmets clubman added: "We just seem to come to life in the qualifiers. We love being written off."
After sampling life a professional athlete with Essendon, Quinn was not inclined to swap this success for a return to the AFL and he cheekily said: "It's just great to be part of this, though if the GAA want to give me money I'd be quite happy to take it."
Longford will now join Cork, Mayo and Kildare in the draw for Round 3B of the football qualifiers which will be made on Monday, just after the 8.30am news on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.
