A strong second-half performance saw Longford got the win they required to consolidate their position in Division 3 next year against an already-relegated Sligo side.
With nothing to lose, Sligo took the game to Longford in the first-half and held a three-point lead at the break. Longford were a different proposition in the second-half with midfielder Darren Gallagher instrumental in the win; scoring their first goal in the 38th minute.
Gallagher’s goal gave Longford the lead for the first time since the opening minute. Substitute Nigel Rabbit got the second goal in the 63rd minute to put six between the sides.
Both sides ended the game with 14 men; Sligo’s Pat Hughes got a second yellow in the 38th minute while twenty minutes later Michael Quinn, already on a yellow card, got a black and thus received a red.
It was Quinn who opened the scoring inside the first minute. Sligo went ahead with points from Adrian Marren and Niall Murphy (free). It was tit for tat with Sligo keeping their noses in front. They went two ahead in the 18th minute with a point from a mark by Marren.
Sligo were ahead four in the 29th minute with a fine score from Pat Hughes. Darren Quinn and Gallagher (free) replied with points for Longford before a great Murphy point gave Sligo a three point lead at the interval.
Longford went in the 38th minute when Gallagher found the back of the net from a tight angle and from there on the Midlanders were able to see out the game and claim a valuable two points.
Longford: P Collum; P Fox, A Farrell, B O’Farrell; CP Smyth (0-1), D McElligott, D Quinn (0-1); D Gallagher (1-4,4fs), M Quinn (0-2); B McKeon (0-2,2fs), J McGivney (0-1), D Mimnagh (0-2); D Doherty (0-1), C Berry (0-1,m), L Connerton.
Sub: N Rabbitt (1-0) for Connerton (56), J Keegan for Doherty (61), J Hagan for McKeon (70+1mins)
Sligo: A Devaney (0-1,1f); N Mullen, P Laffey, N Ewing; D Cummins (0-1), P McNamara, M Gordon; P Kilcoyne, G O’Kelly-Lynch; K McKenna, A Marren (0-2,1m), S Carribine (0-4,2fs); B Gorman (0-1), P Hughes (0-1), N Murphy (0-3,1f).
Subs: D Quinn (0-1) for Gorman (18), L Gaughan for Mullen (49), J Carr for McKenna (56), Luke Gilmartin for Marren (65mins), A McLoughlin for Carribine (70+4)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
