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Longford's day

Longford 4-15 Monaghan 1-17: Longford staged a magnificent rearguard action to snatch a dramatic late victory in this All-Ireland…

Mon Jun 14 2004 - 01:00

Longford 4-15 Monaghan 1-17: Longford staged a magnificent rearguard action to snatch a dramatic late victory in this All-Ireland qualifier that was played before a crowd of some 3,000 in Clones on Saturday.

Longford looked down and out when they trailed by four points going into injury-time but they struck back in dramatic fashion with a goal from Liam Keenan and a point from top scorer Paraic Davis to send it to extra time.

Earlier, Monaghan had made all the running and could well have had the game wrapped up by half time but some poor finishing saw them just two points ahead at the break, 1-5 to 0-6, when they might well have enjoyed a much greater cushion.

Four minutes into the second half Longford took the lead for the first time when Paul Barden converted a penalty, for a foul on Niall Sheridan, and Davis then put them two in front.

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Monaghan, however, struck back and in a purple patch between the 19th and 29th minutes they hit six points without reply - three from substitute Kieran Tavey - to go four in front and look like winners.

Longford, though, weren't finished and they stormed back for that goal and a point in injury-time that put the issue to extra-time.

Longford were now growing in stature and their big men were having an impact as Monaghan faded and goals in either period of extra-time wrapped it up neatly.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, C Conefrey, S Mulligan; M Mulleady (0-1), E Ledwith, D Reilly; L Keenan (1-0), D Hannify; J Kenny, P Barden (1-1), P O'Hara; T Smullen (1-1), N Sheridan, P Davis (0-11). Subs: D Barden (1-0) for Kenny; A O'Connor for O'Hara; S Lynch (0-1) for Mulligan; D Ledwith for Hannify; S Carroll for Mulleady; Ledwith for O'Connor; B Burke for Ledwith.

MONAGHAN: G Murphy, P McKenna, J Coyle, Edmund Lennon, G McQuaid (0-2), JP Mone, V Corey, Eoin Lennon, D Duffy (0-1), N Corrigan (0-2), R Woods (0-3), D Clerkin, T Freeman (0-2), P Finlay, D Freeman (1-3). Subs: M Slowey for Finlay; K Tavey (0-4) for Woods; J Hughes for McKenna; R Ronaghan for Tavey; Woods for Ronaghan; D Mone for McQuaid; D Larkin for D Freeman.

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).