Longford 2-12 Westmeath 1-7 Westmeath manager Páidí Ó Sé was concise and precise in his post-match analysis at home in Cusack Park yesterday: "Longford were the first team we have met who could match our levels of fitness."
Ó Sé also acknowledged the visitors had finished the stronger after Westmeath had seemed well capable of putting the issue to bed when leading by five points shortly after half-time,
Maybe it was not vintage football all the way but the pace and resolve of both sides made it a gripping encounter. Something had to give in a confrontation of such razor-sharp intensity and Kildare referee Mick Monahan sent three players off as well as showing numerous yellow cards.
Westmeath's more-than-worthy midfield challenge was hit six minutes into the second half when Rory O'Connell was sent off after Paul Barden hit the deck. Longford made full use of the extra man, a role shared by full back Cathal Conefrey and right corner back Shane Carroll.
But with nine minutes of a 42- minute second half remaining Conefrey was shown red and he was followed in injury time by David Barden, who had been shown two yellow cards.
David Barden, whose brother Paul, the team captain, covered acres of ground, did land an important point before incurring his marching orders.
Dessie Dolan, sprung off the bench after 16 minutes, was truly inspirational. The Garycastle man kicked six points and seemed to be involved in all of Westmeath's scores, including the first-half penalty award which Martin Flanagan put away.
A quick follow-up point by Dessie Dolan opened up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead for the home side just on the half hour, and they led 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.
Westmeath missed a golden opportunity four minutes into the second half when after having been set up with a goal-scoring pass by Dessie Dolan, Gary Dolan shot wide of an open goal.
Longford responded by building for victory when substitute Trevor Smullen sent Paul Barden clear for a great goal. Gary Connaughton denied Longford's Michael Hussey a certain goal but not long afterwards Longford shot the clinching goal off the game's best move, involving midfielders Liam Keenan and Fintan Coyle and Paul Barden and scorer David Barden.
Longford can feel proud of their victory. As manager Denis Connerton put it, "Down four points at half-time, another team would have buckled. We may have got the rub of the green on occasion but we battled hard to the end."
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; S Carroll, C Conefrey, A O'Connor; E Ledwith, D Hannify (0-1), S Lynch (0-1); L Keenan, F Coyle (0-1); M Kelly, D Blessington (0-1), P Barden (1-2); D Barden (1-2), N Sheridan, P Davis (0-4, frees). Subs: B Burke for O'Connor (23 mins), M Hussey for Sheridan (32 mins), T Smullen for Kelly (33 mins), Sheridan for Hussey (58 mins), P Dowd for Blessington (blood sub, 60 mins).
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J Keane, D O'Donoghue, F Murray; B Morley, D Gavin, D Heaven (0-1); R O'Connell, D O'Shaughnessy; J Fallon (0-2), M Flanagan (1-2, 1-0 penalty), A Mangan (0-1); J Conroy, G Dolan, D Glennon (0-1). Subs: D Dolan (0-6, three frees) for Conroy (16 mins), F Wilson for Dolan (58 mins), D Kilmartin for Gavin (42 mins), E Fleming for Mangan (70 mins).
Referee: M Monahan (Kildare).
