LONGFORD/SF Final: History was made at Pearse Park as Ballymahon won the Longford senior football championship title for the very first time at the expense of the firm favourites, Clonguish, in front of a 6,000 attendance.

It was a super show for man of the match Frankie Dolan that clinched the crown for the south Longford side, who looked in considerable trouble when trailing by 0-9 to 0-4 in the early stages of the second half.

However, a defensive error let Roscommon footballer Dolan in for a crucial goal with five mins gone on the changeover and that proved to be the turning point of the game.

The deadly accurate Dolan also fired over six points in the second half, three from play. He ended up with the most impressive tally of 1-8 to his credit with Trevor Smullen (2) and Noel Grehan accounting for the other scores.

With their star forward Paul Barden well held as he made little impct on the game, Clonguish never really got going.

BALLYMAHON: F Kelly; R Forbes, K Lovell, G Dooley; P Quinn, K Cooney, J Lally; A Hudson, J O'Callaghan; E Nally, T Smullen (0-2, 1f), M Lennon; N Grehan (0-1), F Dolan (1-8, 5f), J Lennon. Subs: D McHugh for E Nally (55 mins); B Mulvihill for Quinn (55 mins).

CLONGUISH: E Flynn; B Burke, S Prunty, K Finnucane; D McGlynn, P Cooney (0-1), T O'Malley; L McGuinness, E Barden (0-3, 2f); P Barden (0-3, 2f), C Clarke (0-3), A Duffy (0-1). E McKeon, J Dowd, D Barden (0-1). Subs: P O'Reilly for McGlynn (half time); P Dowd for Duffy (49 mins); John Smith for McKeon (58 mins).

Referee: Peter O'Reilly (Abbeylara)

Ballymahon ... 1-11

Clonguish ... 0-12