Longford 0-14 Antrim 0-13
A free from the boot of Brian Kavanagh helped Longford to a narrow win over Antrim in foggy conditions at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Longford were the better team but missed a lot of chances, while Antrim could have grabbed a dramatic draw in additional time but for CJ McGourty’s free from a tight angle drifting wide.
Longford opened up a four-point lead by the eighth minute and were unlucky not to grab a goal in the sixth minute but Barry McKeon’s powerful shot clipped the crossbar and went over for a point.
Antrim came storming back and levelled matters in the 15th minute and the sides were level again in the 23rd minute. Longford went two up in the 29th minute but Declan Lynch cut the gap to one on the stroke of half-time.
Just like the first half Longford started the second well. Twice in the early stages they were three up but Antrim came to within one in the 57th minute. Kavanagh hit over his third free in the 63rd minute but two Michael Pollock frees drew Antrim level in the 69th minute.
In the final minute Francie McGee was fouled and Kavanagh duly obliged with the free to edge Longford in front. Right at the end Antrim had a chance to claim a point when Tony Scullion was fouled but McGourty was unlucky with his free.
LONGFORD: P Collum; D Brady, B O'Farrell, P Foy; T Gallagher, D Masterson, C Farrelly; B McKeon (0-2), B Gilleran (0-1); F McGee (0-2), P McKeon (0-3, frees), R McEntire (0-1); R McNerney, B Kavanagh (0-4, frees), S McCormack (0-1). Subs: A Rowan for T Gallagher (52 mins), P Gill for B McKeon (59 mins), M Quinn for P McKeon 61 mins), M Hughes for McCormack 67 mins).
ANTRIM: C Kerr; J Laverty, C Burke, T Scullion; D Lynch (0-1), T Crozier, J Carron; M McCann, S McVeigh; C Murray (0-1), CJ McGourty (0-5, 0-3 frees), R Murray (0-3); T McCann, O Gallagher, M Pollock (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: P McBride for McCann (44 mins), M Fitzpatrick for Gallagher (45 mins), B Hasson for McVeigh (55 mins), M Kane for Carron (60 mins).
Referee: Shane Hehir (Galway).
