NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE:Offaly 0-11 Longford 0-11
AN OFFALY team selected by the interim management team set up following the resignation of Richie Connor and showing six changes in personnel and a lot more positional switches from the side defeated by Roscommon snatched a draw against Longford at O’Connor Park yesterday.
The sides were level five times and it ended in drama when Ciarán McManus pointed a 45 with the last kick of the game. McManus, who started at full forward but did his best work when switched to midfield, atoned for having earlier missed a penalty.
Offaly swept into 0-5 to 0-1 lead but the visitors reduced the lead to 0-6 to 0-4 by the break and went on to establish a 0-9 to 0-7 lead. Longford, who had two players yellow-carded, looked like holding out before McManus struck.
OFFALY:A Mulhall; G Rafferty, C Evans, B Darby; S Lonergan (0-2), S Sullivan, K Slattery; N Smith, C Carroll; S Ryan, P Sullivan, N Darby (0-3, two frees); J Reynolds (0-2), C McManus 0-4, two 45s, one free), K Casey. Subs: N McNamee for Casey (34 mins), Casey for N McNamee (half-time), J Quinn for S Sullivan (41 mins), A McNamee for P Sullivan (59 mins), N McNamee for Smith (62 mins), J Coughlan for Casey (67 mins).
LONGFORD:S Waters; D Brady, N Farrell P Foy; D Masterson, E Williams (0-1), K Smith; C Flynn, K Mulligan (0-1); S Doyle, P Berry, W Skelly (0-2, one free); F McGee (0-6, four frees), P Shanley, D Keenan. Subs: D Farrell for Shanley (15 mins), P Reynolds for Flynn (22 mins), C Mimnagh (0-1) for Keenan (yellow card, 25 mins), D Morgan for Doyle (40 mins), A Rowan for Farrell (yellow card, 50 mins), A O'Connor for Reynolds (66 mins).
Referee:A Mangan (Kerry).
