NFL DIVISION FOUR FINAL: Longford 2-11 Roscommon 1-8:LONGFORD EMBRACED the old adage that what's seldom is wonderful to be crowned Division Four champions at Croke Park on Saturday night.
Roscommon fly across the Atlantic on Thursday to start the defence of their Connacht crown against New York next Sunday, and they played here like a team who had allowed their minds to wander.
But with captain Paul Barden playing an inspirational role, Longford had their minds fully focused on the job of making their own little bit of history. This thoroughly deserved victory is Longford’s first league title win at Croke Park since 1966 and their first major senior trophy collected at GAA HQ since their Leinster championship triumph of 1968.
“It’s great for these fellas and they worked hard for it,” said Longford boss Glenn Ryan afterwards. “At the end of the day it’s a national title and we’ll be delighted with it. They all played well and it was a huge experience for them to get up here and get a result. It’s a long time since a Longford team has got something up here at senior level and that carried a certain amount of pressure and I’m delighted with the way they handled it.”
Roscommon manager Fergie O’Donnell refused to use the New York trip as an excuse and will be concerned at their 14 wides and failure to score between the 25th and 55th minutes.
A Longford team full of strong running and support play kicked eight wides in the first 20 minutes but also cracked in goals from Martin Brady and Paul Barden. Senan Kilbride scored a great solo goal in the 15th minute, but Roscommon failed to build on that and trailed 2-2 to 1-3 at half-time.
Seán McCormack, Brian Kavanagh and Barden kicked inspirational points at the start of the second half for Longford to move them clear, with Shane Mulligan and Bernard McElvaney playing strong support roles.
The impressive Cathal Cregg won a 51st-minute penalty for Roscommon but Karol Mannion’s kick was well saved by Damien Sheridan who made an even better stop from Cregg minutes later to ensure nothing deflected Longford from the path to victory.
LONGFORD:D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Masterson, N Farrell; B McElvaney (0-1), M Brady (1-0); P Barden (1-2), P Dowd, D Barden; D McElligott, B Kavanagh (0-2), S McCormack (0-6, 0-4 frees). Subs:K Difley for Masterson (26 mins), N Mulligan for D Barden (29 mins), JJ Matthews for Dowd (half-time), P Foy for Farrell (57 mins), F McGee for McCormack (60 mins).
ROSCOMMON:G Claffey; S McDermott, P Domican, N Carty; D Warde (0-1), D Keenan, S Purcell; M Finneran, K Mannion; C Devanney (0-1), K Higgins (0-2), C Cregg (0-4); J Rogers, S Kilbride (1-0), D Shine. Subs:G Heneghan for Kilbride (18 mins), S O'Grady for Rogers (43 mins), E Kenny for Shine (58 mins), T Kelly for Devanney (63 mins).
Referee:B Cassidy (Derry).
