Longford suffer defeat following tight battle with Tipperary

Longford suffered a second straight defeat in Allianz football league division four after losing to Tipperary at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Tipperary led 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time and the visitors held on to win by the same margin; 0-16 to 0-14.

Longford started impressively and led 0-4 to 0-1 on 14 minutes. Darren Gallagher (two), Mickey Quinn and Keelin McGann on target for the hosts.

The visitors eventually settled. Paul Kelly’s men restored parity ten minutes later thanks to points from Jack Kennedy and Paddy Creedon.

The visitors suddenly found another gear. Cathal Deely gave them a three point cushion heading into first-half stoppage time.

Darren Gallagher replied on the stroke of half-time but the hosts were still two points down at the break; 0-7 to 0-5.

Sean O’Connor pushed Tipperary three points clear on 40 minutes. Jayson Matthews brought it back to a one-point game four minutes later.

O’Connor restored Tipperary’s three point cushion on 64 minutes before Longford fought back again.

Scores from Darren Gallagher and Keelin McGann left one between them three minutes from time.

Longford couldn’t engineer an equaliser and O’Connor sealed a two-point win for the visitors right at the death.

The result leaves Longford third from bottom of the division four table with two defeats from as many games.