All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round Three/Longford 1-16 Derry 0-11: A point from a Paul Barden free in the final minute of normal time earned underdogs Longford a sensational win over the red-hot favourites Derry in the third round of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier at Pearse Park on Saturday evening.
Despite a wonderful display by classy Derry full forward Paddy Bradley, who ended up with 2-7 to his credit, impressive Longford were still good enough to come out on top in a cracking game and this famous victory was well deserved as they now look forward to the next round in two weeks' time, when they take on the might of 33-time All-Ireland champions Kerry.
Longford got off to a flying start in front of a 6,000 attendance with an excellent Paddy Dowd point with just 30 seconds gone on the clock, but a minute later a defensive blunder let in Paddy Bradley for a gift of a Derry goal.
However, Longford came storming back with two frees converted by Brian Kavanagh in quick succession and then a wonderful move yielded a great goal in the 10th minute with Trevor Smullen dispatching the ball to the net.
That was really putting it up to the Derry men but they fought their way back with excellent long-range points from the Bradley brothers, Paddy and Eoin.
The battle continued as impressive Longford forward Padraic Berry and Derry's Jim Kelly exchanged points before Berry was on target again in the 19th minute to leave Longford 1-5 to 1-3 ahead.
Derry then took over and three points from the Bradley brothers put them back in front in a game that buzzed with excitement.
Resolute Longford had the better of the exchanges in the closing stages of the first half, however, and three frees converted by Bernard McElvaney and Kavanagh (two) left Longford 1-8 to 1-6 ahead.
They suffered a severe setback deep into stoppage-time when referee Michael Collins awarded Derry a hotly disputed penalty and Paddy Bradley made no mistake with the spot kick to leave Derry in front at the break by the minimum of margins, 2-6 to 1-8.
When Derry increased their lead with a point apiece from Jim Kelly and Paddy Bradley in the early stages of the second half, Longford looked in trouble but they showed great character in storming back to score three points on the trot through Paul Barden and Brian Kavanagh (two frees).
Thus the sides were all square again, 2-8 to 1-11, and this terrific game never let up with Longford and Derry sharing a further eight points before Paul Barden withstood the pressure to fire over the winning score when landing a long-range free in the 70th minute.
Their other scores came from wing back Shane Mulligan, Bernard McElvaney, Brian Kavanagh (free) and Paul Barden as they clinched a truly memorable victory to move into the last 12 of the All-Ireland Championship.
Manager Luke Dempsey will be looking forward to putting his wits against his Kerry counterpart Jack O'Connor in a most eagerly awaited round four clash.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, N Farrell, C Conefrey; S Mulligan (0-1), D Masterson, D Reilly; B McElvaney (0-2, one free), L Keenan; P Berry (0-2), P Barden (0-3, one free), T Smullen (1-0); D Barden, P Dowd (0-1), B Kavanagh (0-7, all frees). Subs: B Gilleran for Farrell (19 mins); K Smyth for Smullen (54 mins); J Martin for Berry (inj, 61 mins); A O'Connor for Mulligan (70 mins).
DERRY: B Gillis; K McGuckin, K McCloy, F McEldowney; P Cartin, M Lynch, L Hinphey; J McBride, F Doherty; J Diver (0-1), J Kelly (0-2), G Donaghy; C Mullan (0-1, free), P Bradley (2-7, one goal from penalty, one free), E Bradley (0-1). Subs: J O'Kane for McGuckin (18 mins); M Donaghy for G Donaghy (25 mins); S Lockhart for McEldowney (half-time); M McGoldrick for O'Kane (inj, 46 mins); R Convery for M Donaghy (62 mins).
Referee: M Collins (Cork).
