It's all to play for in the battle to make the First Division play-off final after a game for the ages in Bishopsgate.
A cracker of a game on the Strokestown Road swung in narrative many times on a balmy autumnal evening.
Former United striker Jordan Adeyemo twice gave Town the lead but Mikey Rowe, a half-time substitute, responded twice, leaving it up for grabs in Terryland Sunday, where the one thing guaranteed will be a near-sell out on a Bank Holiday weekend by the Corrib.
Both home boss Gary Cronin and his rival John Caulfield will have regrets about the outcome but may reflect that it could be worse.
Neither will be hoping for as much drama at Eamonn Deacy Park – and it seems improbable we will have a game as good as this one.
This was a clash of styles, United direct and Longford trying to work intricate little moves, but the first goal was going to be key and the Tribesmen probably should have had it.
Town's passing out from the back looked more risk versus reward when Stephen Walsh, United's top scorer, won the ball back and fed David Hurley, but Walsh pulled his shot wide.
Hurley and Walsh, two exponents of the left foot, were combining well and Hurley dragged wide himself on 19 minutes, as United continued to look more dangerous.
The opener came on 29 minutes. Conor O'Keeffe gave the ball away under no pressure and Darren Clarke teased and turned, crossing in for Adeyemo, who continued the season-long trend of players United let go scoring against them, his header parried into the net by Conor Kearns.
The same pair – the very impressive Clarke and Adeyemo – combined again 10 minutes later and it looked certain to be 2-0, but Kearns seemed to get a vital touch onto the post; United had right to be exceptionally relieved, as they have been out of form for a couple of months and needed to stay in the game.
Ronan Manning, brother of QPR's Ryan, had a frustrating first half but he has a touch of class and he nearly set up an equaliser as the interval approached, but his cross just failed to meet a United connection, Michael Barker making a critical connection for Town.
Longford's Under-17 team celebrated their Tier 3 league title win at half-time and underage teams, while costly to support, are key to the future of small clubs like.
United's player of the year by a country mile has been Walsh and his cute flick put Hurley in on 50 minutes; he crossed into the back post, where Rowe was ready to do the needful from close in.
Manning had an outstanding spell either side of half-time and his hanging cross was an invitation Walsh couldn't refuse; he found the same post that Adeyemo found in the first half – and that man showed how it was done a minute later.
Again it was the magician Clarke who found the former Galway striker, who hooked in nonchalantly, as the home fans went wild.
The lead didn't last long – all of seven minutes.
United's record from long throws is poor, but they had an edge with this one as Killian Brouder took two in succession, Town having no real time to set up for the chaos that ensued.
Former Longford striker Rob Manley was a handful, having just come on, and Rowe bundled in via the post.
Walsh looked odds-on to put United in front from Hurley's free, but he got under the ball, United sensing the hosts were waning, theme embellished as Luke Dennison collected from another Walsh header.
The second half finally entered a lull before Karl Chambers; deflected effort just went wide with ten minutes to go. Manley then hooked wide with his left foot from a Conor O'Keeffe cross.
Hurley nearly stole it at the death with a piledriver, Dennison getting a critical touch. Somehow, this was United's first corner of the game with a minute left.
Clarke went on another amazing run with a minute left, earning a standing ovation from a scatter of Town fans. United have been warned come Sunday.
Longford Town: Dennison; Chambers, McDonnell, Barker, Lynch; Clarke, McMenamy, Robinson, Power (S Verdon 69), Corbally (Hanratty 63); Adeyemo (Magerusan 81).
Galway United: Kearns; O'Keeffe, Brouder, Finnerty, Hemmings; McCarthy (Rowe 46), McCormack, Hurley, Thomas (Manley 58), Manning (Waweru 81); Walsh.
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan.
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