Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final

**LONGFORD 0-16 MEATH 0-14 **

By Deneise O'Flaherty at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

It was an historic occasion in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday as Longford defeated Meath for the first time since 1982 and booked their place in the Leinster semi-final for the first time in 30 years.

The midlanders deserved their win but Meath made them work hard for the win. The Royals were reduced to 14 men in the 56th minute when Shane McEntee was sent off for an off the ball incident. Two minutes later Meath were behind by five points, but credit to Andy McEntee’s men they fought back.

It was a three point game in the 63rd minute when Sean Curran pointed and then the turning point of the game came in the 66th minute; Longford gave away possession and Meath broke, Joey Wallace to his brother Eamon but Longford keeper Paddy Collum pulled off a superb point blank save to tip the ball over the bar.

Longford got an insurance point in stoppage time as substitute Sean McCormack found range with a fine strike. Meath tried, but Longford’s defence held firm with Diarmuid Masterson immense.

It was a tight opening half with very little between the sides; they were level on seven occasion as neither side could get a stranglehold on the game.

After kicking two wides at the start, Longford opened the scoring in the fifth minute with an excellent point from James McGivney. Paddy Kennelly replied for Meath. Points were then traded between Rian Brady and Graham Reilly.

James McGivney had a goal chance in the 10th minute but he blasted the ball over the bar for a point. Reilly then got his second point one minute later. Ronan McEntire had a goal chance for Longford in the 12th minute but Meath keeper Andrew Colgan did well to put him off.

Longford netminder Paddy Collum kicked a fine ‘45 but that was cancelled out by a Ben Brennan point. Donal Lenihan’s pointed free point Meath ahead for the first time in the 18th minute and one minute later a goal chance went abegging for Donal Keogan in the 19th minute.

Darren Gallagher kicked over an excellent point to draw Longford level in the 22nd minute, but one minute later Cillian O’Sullivan wasted a goal chance when he blasted his shot wide.

Rian Brady and Paddy Kennelly hit points as the sides were level for the sixth time in the 30th minute. Darren Gallagher scored another fine point in the 34th minute but a good move from move ended with a good Bryan Menton point to leave the sides level at the break; 0-7 to 0-7.

Longford upped their game in the second half with Darren Gallagher and James McGivney leading the charges as they claimed a famous win.

**Scorers for Longford: **James McGivney 0-4, Darren Gallagher 0-3, Rian Brady 0-2, Paddy Collum (‘45), Connor Berry, Dessie Reynolds, David McGivney, Robbie Smyth, and Sean McCormack 0-1 each.

Scorers for Meath: Graham Reilly 0-3, Paddy Kennelly and Donal Lenihan (2fs) 0-2 each, Sean Curran, Donal Keogan, Bryan Menton, Ben Brennan, Mickey Burke, Eamon Wallace, and Joey Wallace 0-1 each.

LONGFORD: Paddy Collum; Paddy Fox, Padraig McCormack, Diarmuid Masterson; Michael Quinn, Donal McElligott, Daniel Mimnagh; Darren Gallagher, Connor Berry; Dessie Reynolds, Ronan McEntire, David McGivney; Robbie Smyth, James McGivney, Rian Brady.

Subs: Sean McCormack for R Smyth (67), Peter Foy for D McGivney and Liam Connerton (70+3), Barry Gilleran for Mimnagh (70+5).

MEATH: Andrew Colgan; Seamus Lavin, Conor McGill, Sean Curran; James McEntee, Donal Keoghan, Shane McEntee; Brian Menton, Paddy Kennelly; Cillian O’Sullivan, Ben Brennan, Mickey Burke; Bryan McMahon, Graham Reilly, Donal Lenihan.

Subs: Daniel O’Neill for Kennelly (49), Joey Wallace (54), Eamon Wallace for C O’Sullivan (59), Thomas O’Reilly for McMahon (69).

REFEREE: Sean Hurson (Tyrone).