Three late scores from Longford’s three substitutes saw them pick up the points on offer in their Allianz Football League Division 3 clash with Louth in Drogheda.
Joseph Hagan, Darragh Doherty and Nigel Rabbitte all raised the white flag in the matches dying embers and it shouldn’t have been that close as Louth were numerically disadvantaged for majority of the dogfight.
Louth midfielder Conor Early was black carded on the third minute and received his marching orders on the 20th after picking up a second black his partner in the middle Tommy Durnin saw the line midway through the half for his second yellow. Their manager Wayne Kierans was also dismissed just before half time.
In the midst of the cards, Louth edged the opening with Conall McKeever and Ciaran Downey registering scores however Longford forward Robbie Smyth was the games difference notching 1-02 of his total in the opening half. He leaped the highest to punch the ball to net after Peter Lynn crossed the ball in.
Louth in search of their first league win since 2017 tore into the second half outscoring Longford 4-1 with Ryan Burns to the fore with a brace along with replacement Sam Mulroy and Durnin.
Durnin’s sending off halted Louth’s momentum but they still levelled three times in the last ten minutes before running out of gas and going down to the impact of Padraic Davis’s bench.
The Longford triumph is all the more impressive having been hamstrung by the absence of eight Mullinalaghta’s players who are still involved in their All-Ireland club run.
Louth: Fergal Sheekey; Hugh Osborne, Darren Marks, Dan Corcoran; Anthony Williams, Bevan Duffy, John Clutterbuck; Tommy Durnin (0-01), Conor Early; Ruairi Moore, Ciaran Downey (0-01), Conall McKeever (0-01); Andy McDonnell, Tadhg McEnaney (0-01), Ryan Burns (0-04 0-02f, 0-01m)
Subs used: C Early BC (3), Fergal Donohoe for D Marks (14), Sam Mulroy (0-01) for T McEneaney (HT), Conor Branigan for R Moore (41), Emmet Carolan for B Duffy blood (48), Eoghan Duffy for C Downey (56), Eoghan Callaghan for C McKeever (67).
Longford: Paddy Collum; Darren Quinn, Andrew Farrell, Barry O'Farrell; Colm P Smyth, Barry McKeon, Daniel Mimnagh; Darren Gallagher (0-2, 0-0145), Michael Quinn; Peter Lynn, Shane Donohoe, Pauric Gill; R Smyth (1-03, 0-01f 0-01m) Liam Connerton, Cillian Lee.
Subs used:Darragh Doherty (0-01) for C Lee (48). S Donohue black card 49, Joseph Hagan (0-01) for P Lynn 56, Nigel Rabbitte (0-01)for S Donohoe 61.
Elsewhere, Carlow ran out comfortable 1-11 to 0-07 winners over Sligo at Netwatch Dr Cullen Park.
A fortunate goal from Paul Broderick in the first half set the Barrowsiders on their way against a Sligo side who only scored once from play. Things were compounded for the Yeats County with the sending off of Darragh Cummins.
At O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Westmeath staged a terrific comeback to overcome Offaly by 0-13 to 0-12.
A Kieran Martin point deep into injury time won the day for the Lake County, who trailed by 0-11 to 0-03 after 43 minutes. But they would go on to score ten of the last 11 points to claim the spoils.
The Faithful had a chance to gain parity in injury time, but Offaly goalkeeper Paddy Dunican failed to split the posts from a '45.
On Saturday evening, Laois defeated Down by six points in Newry.
