A stoppage-time free from Barry McNulty saw Leitrim record a narrow one-point win over neighbours Longford in the Tailteann Cup at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Longford thought they had a chance to level the game right at the end; Keelin McGann took a shot which went wide but it appeared referee Liam Devanney had his hand up for advantage.
The sides were on level terms three times in the opening quarter of the game.
In the 16th minute Longford went ahead for the third time with a point from Daniel Reynolds. The lead lasted seven minutes. In the 23rd minute Dessie Reynolds fouled McNulty when through on goal; Ryan O'Rourke dispatched the resulting penalty.
He followed that up with a point to extend the lead to three points. Darren Gallagher (free) and Nevin O’Donnell ('45) traded points before a fine score from Bryan Masterson and Dessie Reynolds cut the gap to just one.
Riordan O’Rourke put two between the sides in stoppage time before a point from Daniel Reynolds saw Longford trail by one at the break, 1-06 to 0-08.
Two minutes into the second half Longford were on level terms courtesy of a Cathal McCabe mark.
Shortly after Gallagher had a goal chance for Longford but Leitrim defended well, while at the other end, McNulty picked off 1-04 in four minutes for Andy Moran’s side.
The game went back and forth before Leitrim opened up a three-point lead again in the 60th minute.
The hosts however stuck to the task and a stirring Reynolds score drew the sides level in the 68th minute.
In the third minute of stoppage time Hughes cancelled out a Leitrim point, before McNulty was the hero of the hour to hand the visitor’s victory.
Longford: Paddy Collum; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Byran Masterson (0-1); Joseph Hagan, Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds (0-5); Darren Gallagher (0-4,0-3f), Paddy Kiernan; Aaron Farrell (0-2), Dylan Farrell, Daniel Reynolds (0-2); Cathal McCabe, Daniel Mimnagh, Jayson Matthews (0-1).
Subs: Enda Macken for D Farrell (31), Mark Hughes (0-1) for Mimnagh (44), Keelin McGann for Kiernan (50), Jack Macken for Matthews (56), Ciaran Scanlon for Daniel Reynolds (68)
Leitrim: Nevin O’Donnell (0-2,0-2’45); Cathal McHugh, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; Kieran Clancy, Radek Oberwan, Jack Foley (0-1); Jack Gilheany, Pearce Dolan; Barry McNulty (1-04,0-2f), Ryan O’Rourke (1-1,1-0 pen), Donal Wyrnn; Riordan O’Rourke (0-2), Darragh Foley (0-1), Tom Prior (0-1).
Subs: Jack Flynn for Oberwann (H/T), Evan Sweeney for Riordan O’Rourke (57), Conor Reynolds for McHugh (61)
Referee: Liam Devanney (Mayo).
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