Longford 1-12
Dublin 0-9

Paul Keane reports from Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

HOSTS LONGFORD TURNED the screw late on to seal a surprise Bord na Mona O’Byrne Cup final place, dumping holders and All-Ireland champions Dublin out of the competition.

Dublin trailed by just a point with an hour on the clock and appeared well placed to push on and reel in Denis Connerton’s side, a county they beat by 27 points in last year’s Championship.

But it was Longford that finished the strongest, outscoring Dublin by 1-3 to 0-1 in those closing 10 minutes to win with some to spare.

Liam Connerton’s 64th minute goal was the decisive score that killed the game off and left Dublin with plenty to think about ahead of next Saturday week’s Allianz league opener with Kerry at Croke Park.

Longford never actually trailed in the game and led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time.

Barry Gilleran clears the ball from the goal line for Longford late in today's game. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Francis McGee and Robbie Smyth weighed in with three points apiece overall though they did find themselves pegged back in the third quarter as Dublin rallied.

Three Dean Rock points left Dublin just 0-9 to 0-8 behind and the strong sense was that their greater experience – they started with seven All-Ireland finalists in their team – would be brought to bear.

But it was Longford that rallied, Connerton netting while Paul and Barry McKeon pointed as well as McGee.

Longford will face Meath in the decider though it wasn’t all bad news for Dublin. Manager Jim Gavin got to look at 31 players in total across their four-game campaign with Stephen Cluxton and Philly Ryan the latest to see some game time today.

Longford's Fergal Battrim challenges as Dublin's Philly Ryan lefts off a shot. Tommy Grealy / INPHO Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Longford: Liam Connerton 1-0, Robbie Smyth 0-3 (0-3f), Francis McGee 0-3 (0-1f), Mark Hughes 0-1, Brian Farrell 0-1, James McGivney 0-1, Darren Gallagher 0-1, Paul McKeon 0-1, Barry McKeon 0-1 (0-1f)

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-3 (0-2f), Ciaran Reddin 0-2, Darren Daly 0-1, Paddy Andrews 0-1, Tomas Brady 0-1, Cormac Costello 0-1

​Longford

1. Paddy Collum (Fr Manning Gaels)

17. Fergal Battrim (Abbeylara)
3. Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers)
4. Colm P Smyth (Abbeylara)

21. Andrew Dalton (Longford Slashers)
15. Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers)
2. Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard)

8. Michael Brady (Longford Slashers)
9. Brian Farrell (Mostrim)

13. Barry McKeon (Colmcille)
11. James McGivney (St Columba’s)
12. Darren Gallagher (St Mary’s)

19. Robbie Smyth (Abbeylara)
14. Francis McGee (Dromard)
24. Mark Hughes (Emmet Og)

Subs
10. Paul McKeon (Colmcille) for Hughes (46)
6. Donal McElligott (St Columba’s) for Farrell (54)
18. Liam Connerton (Rathcline) for Smyth (60)
20. Conor Shields (Clonguish) for P McKeon (67, black card)
22. Paul McGee (Dromard) for F McGee (69)

Dublin

16. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

7. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
11. Jarlath Curley (St Vincent’s)
15. Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)

14. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
22. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
12. Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens)

19. Ciaran Reddin (St Maur’s)
3. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street)

4. Tomas Brady (Na Fianna)
20. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. Shane Carthy (St Vincent’s)

8. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
2. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
18. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)

Subs
21. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) for Bastick (41)
25. Philly Ryan (St Brigid’s) for O’Callaghan (50)
17. Conor Mullally (Cuala) for Carthy (61)
13. Michael Deegan (Donaghmore Ashbourne) for Andrews (66)

Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).

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