Longford 2-14
Limerick 0-9
LONGFORD ENJOYED SUCCESS against Limerick in this evening’s All-Ireland senior football qualifier at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park as they had 11 points to spare at the final whistle.
Longford were seeking to avenge last year’s qualifier defeat at the venue against Limerick after extra-time and they did just that.
Limerick make an early exit from the championship as a result and they finished the game with 13 men after Micheal Reidy and John Riordan were both sent-off in the second-half.
Francis McGee and JJ Matthews raised the green flags for Longford in the second-half as Glenn Ryan’s team powered clear of their opponents.
The home side lead by 0-4 to 0-1 after 16 minutes with Seanie McCormack and JJ Matthews amongst their point-scorers. Stephen Lavin pulled a point back for Limerick but McCormack hit a brace and John Keegan notched another to send Longford clear by 0-7 to 0-3.
Ian Corbett cut the gap with a point for Limerick yet Longford went four points clear with Seanie McCormack’s late free just before half-time seeing them lead by 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval.
The situation improved for Longford after the break with quick points by Paul Barden and McCormack before they notched two goals in quick succession to put the game to bed.
Scorers for Longford: Seanie McCormack 0-8 (0-5f), JJ Mathews 1-2, Francis McGee 1-0, Niall Mulligan 0-2, Paul Barden 0-1.Scorers for Limerick: Eoghan O’Connor, Seanie Buckley 0-3 (0-1f) each, Ian Corbett, Ger Collins, Derry O’Connor (0-1f) 0-1 each.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; B O’Farrell, P McCormack, S Mulligan; J Keegan, M Brady; B McElvaney, P Barden, P Foy; F McGee, S McCormack, JJ Matthews.
Subs: N Mulligan for Foy (49 mins), C Smyth for Barden (64 mins), K Diffney for Keegan (65 mins), A Rowan for McGee (66 mins), S Doyle for McElaveney (66 mins).
LIMERICK: B Scanlan; M O’Riordan, J McCarthy, A Lane; J Riordan, P Browne, P Ranahan; B O’Brien, J Galvin; S Lavin, T Lee, I Corbett; E O’Connor, S Buckley, G Collins.
Subs: D O’Connor for Lee (h-t), S Lucey for O’Brien (42 mins), M Reidy for Corbett (46 mins), S O’Carroll for Collins (48 mins).
Referee: D Gough (Meath)
