Deehan's late score sees spoils shared

NFL Division Two A/ Longford 3-8 Offaly 1-14 : Two goals behind at one stage of this encounter, Offaly fought back to snatch…

NFL Division Two A/ Longford 3-8 Offaly 1-14: Two goals behind at one stage of this encounter, Offaly fought back to snatch a draw at Pearse Park with Thomas Deehan firing over the equalising point in the final minute of the game.

The home county got their opening goal in the 11th minute when Brian Kavanagh rounded goalkeeper Kevin Meehan to get his side's first score of the game and when Paul Barden blasted a strike to the roof of the Offaly net in the 30th minute, Luke Dempsey's side were looking good for a crucial victory.

The visitors were thrown a lifeline deep into first-half stoppage time when Alan McNamee grabbed a goal to leave Longford holding 2-6 to 1-6 lead at the break and they extended that advantage when Pádraic Davis converted a free early in the second half.

While Offaly came back to narrow the gap to the minimum following points from Deehan (2) and Niall McNamee, Longford regained control when substitute Francis McGee scored a goal in the 45th minute. Offaly then outscored Longford 0-5 to 0-1 during the remainder of the game.

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Longford got their last score when Francis McGee pointed in the 58th minute, but Offaly finished the stronger with points from Niall McNamee (2) and Deehan that left the sides all square at the end.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; DC Reilly, D Masterson, C Conefrey; S Mulligan, D Hannify, D Brady; B McElvaney, L Keenan; K Smyth, P Barden (1-1), P Berry; B Kavanagh (1-1), P Davis (0-3, frees), T Smullen (0-2). Subs: F McGee (1-1)for McElvaney (inj, 26 mins), D Blessington for Masterson (62 mins), A O'Connor for Berry (70 mins).

OFFALY: K Meehan; E Byrne, J Quinn, N Grennan; P McConway, S Sullivan, K Slattery; C McManus, A McNamee (1-0); J Coughlan (0-1), N Coughlan (0-1), S Ryan; T Deehan (0-5), N McNamee (0-7, four frees), K Casey. Subs: J Keane for Grennan (32 mins), P Kellaghan for J Coughlan (50 mins), T Coughlan for Ryan (50 mins), S Brady for Casey (64 mins), K Hogan for McManus (70 mins).

Referee: D Corcoran(Mayo).