NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE/Division 2 B - Longford ... 4-18 Tipperary ... 2-11: Longford kept their promotion hopes alive with a comprehensive victory over a disappointing Tippeary outfit at a sun-drenched Nenagh yesterday.
Playing with the aid of a slight breeze, Longford were afforded a tonic start when full foward Niall Sheridan slipped the Tipperary cover and blasted to the back of the net after only 50 seconds.
Sheridan found the net again midway through the half following a defence-splitting run from David Barden, and the home side amassed 2-8 before the break, to Tipp's 0-5.
Tipp rejigged their side for the second half but it was to no avail as Longford's opening salvo just seconds into the half resulted in Pádraic Davis firing past a helpless Philly Ryan in the Tipperary goal.
With the destination of the points a foregone conclusion, Tipp managed to put a respectable look on the scoreboard with Declan Brown, who ploughed a lonely furrow all day in attack, bagging 1-5 in the closing stages.
LONGFORD: G Tonra; D Brady, C Conefrey, D Ledwith; M Mulleady, E Ledwith, A O'Connor; L Kennon, T Smullen (0-2); M Kenny, P Bardon (0-6), D Bardon (0-3); G Martin (1-1), N Sheridan (2-2), P Davis (1-3, 1f). Subs: D Sheridan for Tonra; P Shanley for Sheridan; M Lennon (0-1) for Conefrey; F Coyle for E Ledwith.
TIPPERARY: P Ryan; S Maher, N Kelly, R Costigan; N Fitzgerald, S Colum, D Fanning; K Mulryan, A Fitzgerald; B Hahessy, S O'Callaghan, L England (1-0); E O'Brien (0-2, 1f), D Brown (1-8, 3fs), B Hickey. Subs: E Hanrahan (0-1) for Fitzgerald; P Cahill for Hickey; P Halley for Kelly; J B Lubby for Cahill.
