Smyth gets Longford over line
LONGFORD 1-12 WEXFORD 0-9
A WELL-TAKEN Robbie Smyth goal in the second-half proved crucial for Longford as they ran out deserved winners over Wexford at Pearse Park yesterday.
The Midlanders upped the tempo after the break with Darren Gallagher, Daniel Mimnagh and Mickey Quinn all leading the way for Denis Connerton’s side.
Longford held a two-point cushion at the interval. Their inside-forward line of Rian Brady and Conor Berry got them off to the best possible start with early points, while Donal Shanley and Robert Frayne earned parity for the visitors midway through the first-half exchanges.
Three Longford points in quick succession from David McGivney, Barry McKeon and Smyth (pictured) on the brink of half-time put them into a strong pole position at the turnover.
After the break Wexford quickly set about reducing the deficit and white flag efforts from their chief scorer Ben Brosnan and second-half substitute Darragh Pepper left the sides level at seven points apiece.
Longford piled on the pressure and when Darren Gallagher cut open the Wexford defence with a penetrating run, he picked out Smyth, who was on hand to palm the ball into an open net.
The visitors were reduced to 14 men when Dáithí Watters was issued a straight red for an off-the-ball incident.
SCORERS – Longford: R Smyth 1-2 (1f), R Brady, D McGivney (2f) 0-2 each, M Quinn (45), C Berry, B McKeon, D Gallagher, D McElligott, P Gill 0-1 each, Wexford: B Brosnan 0-4 (1f), P Curtis 0-2, D Shanley, R Frayne, D Pepper 0-1 each, LONGFORD – P Collum 7, P Fox 7, B Gilleran
7, D Masterson 7; M Quinn 7, D McElligott 7, D Mimnagh 8; D Gallagher 8, A Farrell 7; D McGivern 7, B McKeon 7, D Reynolds; R Smyth 8, C Berry 7, R Brady 7. Subs: J McGivney 7 for A Farrell 57, P Gill 7 for D Reynolds 64, C Lee D Mimnagh 73, C Reilly for D Gallagher 73, S Donohoe for R Brady 73 WEXFORD – M Doyle 7, N Rossiter 7, J Rossiter 7, M Furlong 7; G Malone 7, B Malone 7, D Shanley; 7 D Waters 7, N Doyle 7; T Rossite 7, B Brosnan 8, R Frayne 7; P Curtis 8, J Stafford 7, C Devereux 7. Subs: D Pepper 7 for C Devereux ht, B O’Connor 7 for D Shanley 53, S Doyle 7 for T Rossiter 53, B O’Gorman 7 for G Malone 62, S Byrne 7 for R Frayne 62
REF – B Tierney (Dublin).