DENIS CONNERTON’S LONGFORD pulled off one of the shocks of the summer last night by dumping Ulster champions Monaghan out of the qualifiers.

Monaghan, a side who reached the last three All-Ireland quarter-finals, entered the backdoor after two titanic clashes with Donegal. But Longford, who lost out to Offaly in the first-round of Leinster, stunned the Farney men to continue the recent trend of upsets in the football championship.

Tipperary and Galway sparked life into the provinces by defeating Cork and Mayo respectively, but it’s entirely fair to suggest that Longford’s victory trumps both of those upsets.

We really shouldn’t be surprised. Scalps over Monaghan, Derry, Mayo and Down hang from Longford’s belt since the qualifier era. They are a team that thrives in the murky waters of the backdoor, as this string of victories proves.

Longford’s scalps since the qualifiers began in 2001

2004 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 1
Monaghan 1-16 Longford 4-15 (aet), St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones

2006 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 3
Longford 1-16 Derry 2-12, Pearse Park, Longford

2010 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 1

Longford 1-12 Mayo 0-14, Pearse Park, Longford

2012 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 1

Longford 0-17 Derry 2-8, Pearse Park, Longford2014 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 1A

Derry 2-14 Longford 2-16, Celtic Park, Derry2016 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 1B

Down 3-17 Longford 2-24 (aet), Pairc Esler, Newr2016 - All-Ireland qualifiers round 2B
Monaghan 1-13 Longford 2-13, St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones

That’s the reigning All-Ireland champions and Ulster champions who Longford have beaten so far in 2016. Granted, the win over Dublin arrived in the O’Byrne Cup, but victories over the Dubs are pretty rare these days.

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Tipperary’s defensive steel, impact of the venue and other Munster hurling final talking points

‘I wouldn’t be happy if I heard a fella was out for 3 or 4 pints’