Wexford 2-8 Longford 1-10:Aidan O'Brien collected his first victory as Wexford senior football manager as the Model County staged a dramatic second-half recovery to gain victory over Longford at Wexford Park.

Longford, with the aid of a strong wind swept into an eight-point lead, 1-7 to 0-2, after 32 minutes but it was a PJ Banville goal in first-half additional time that handed Wexford a lifeline.

Longford had a dream start with 1-1 on the scoreboard inside 11 minutes as Wexford struggled to open their account. Their goal was expertly created by centre-back Michael Quinn who swept through the centre of the opposing defence before laying off to Robbie Smyth and they stretched that lead to 1-7 to 0-1 lead after 32 minutes. But a PJ Banville goal and Ben Brosnan free cut the lead, 1-7 to 1-2, at the interval.

Two frees and Adrian Flynn, with his side’s only point from play helped cut the gap to a point before Red Barry punched the ball to the Longford net to give his side the lead, 2-8 to 1-9, for the first time in the game with 12 minutes remaining.

The visitors added a single point, from substitute Kevin Diffley, on 70 minutes and in additional time Michael Quinn was just short with a 45 for what would have been the levelling point.

WEXFORD:A Masterson; B Malone, G Molloy, R Tierney; A Doyle, D Murphy, A Flynn (0-1); D Waters, C Doyle; M Furlong, B Brosnan (0-6, frees), P Byrne; S Roche (0-1 free), R Barry (1-0), PJ Banville (1-0). Subs: J Wadding for Murphy (half-time); J Holmes for A Doyle (52 mins); R Quinlivan for C Doyle (60 mins); C Carty for Roche (66 mins); K Gore for Barry (73 mins). LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B MacGiollarain, P Foy; F Battrim, M Quinn (0-1, 45), S Mulligan (0-1); B McElvaney, M Brady; P McCormack, D McElligott, S Doyle; F McGee (0-3), R Smyth (1-0), S McCormack (0-4). Subs: P Kelly for Doyle (13 mins), K Diffley (0-1) for Brady (54 mins), A Rowan for Battrim (70 mins). Referee: C Lane (Cork).