Abbeylara fought back to claim a draw with newly promoted Ardagh Moydow in a humdinger of a Longford championship contest.
Ardagh led by six points at half-time, having made the most of a series of disastrous Abbeylara restarts.
Indeed, Abbey failed to land a score for the final 17 minutes of the half. Where Ardagh took control landing a 1-5.
However, it was Ardagh’s Eugene Murray who saved the day with a goal two minutes into injury time.
Jamie Connor gave Ardagh the lead in the opening seconds. Michael McHugh levelling the game after five minutes. A Jamie Connor free restored Ardagh’s lead on seven minutes.
Abbey found the net after 17 minutes. Michael McHugh firing the ball into the net after keeper Cian O’Beirne had stopped Ciaran Scanlon’s shot.
Ardagh had a goal of their own three minutes later, following two Jamie Connor wides.
The first of a series of poor restarts from Barney Crawford was collected by Ardagh’s Max Gallagher who fed Darryl Carrigy who found the net.
A Connor free plus one from play either side of points from play for Darryl Carrigy, Conor Hogan and Killian Farrell saw Ardagh lead by six at half-time. 1-7 to 1-1.
It was a score-line that should have been greater. However, Ardagh managed six first-half wides.
Frankie Dolan’s side got straight off the ground in the second-half. Robbie Smyth converting a free moments after restart.
Abbeylara for come right back
However, the newly promoted side showed great determination. Carrigy registering a 36th minute Ardagh point, following a wide of his own.
Cathal Gilligan made it 1-3 to 1-8 moments later as Ardagh brought their wide tally up to nine. Gilligan and Padraig Berry made it a three-point game.
Conor added his fourth point of the game to restore Ardagh’s four point lead as the game entered the final quarter in the dimming Edgeworthstown light.
Abbey brought it back to one point game in the 51st minute through points from Cian Brady, Ciaran Scanlon and Gilligan.
Diarmuid Farrell sent over Ardagh’s first point in 10 minutes as Ardagh struggled to the line with four minutes remaining.
The Abbeylara resurgence arrived through Gilligan who smashed the ball to the roof of the net two minutes from time.
When Captain Smyth sent over a two point-free in the final minute it looked up. Abbeylara ahead 2-10 to 1-10.
Alas, there was one last play! Substitute Eugene Murray gathering a loose ball in the big rectangle and finding the net two minutes into injury time to force a draw. 2-10 each!
