Leinster U21 FC: Longford shock Dubs

March 06, 2013

Dublin's Paul Maguire with Diarmuid Cooney of Longford. ©INPHO/Donall Farmer.
Longford caused a major shock this evening as they knocked out defending champions Dublin at Parnell Park.

Longford 1-6
Dublin 1-5

After an emphatic 37 point win over Carlow two weeks ago, the Dubs were raging hot favourites to progress.

However, the Midlanders produced a sensational performance to record a memorable victory.

Ciaran Kilkenny, who was the scorer of the Dubs first half goal, had the opportunity to level matters at the death from a free but his effort went off target.

Longford who jumped into an early 0-2 to 0-1 lead trailed by the minimum at the interval (1-1 to 0-3). Scores were hard come by at a wet and windy Donnycarney.

Robbie Smyth's goal on 53 minutes proved to be crucial, leaving Longford 1-3 to 1-5 infront.

Diarmuid Cooney pushed Eugene McCormack's charges three clear two minutes later before substitute Gavin Ivory (2) led a late Dublin fightback.

Longford - P Columb; R Keogh, B O'Farrell, D Bennett; D Farrelly, P McCormack, D Cooney (0-1); P Thompson, D Gallagher; R O'Connor (0-1), B McKeon, D Mimnagh; R Smyth (1-3, 0-1f), M Hughes (0-1f), J McGivney. Subs: C Lynn for O'Connor, A Dalton for McGivney, D Quinn for Mimnagh.

Dublin - L Molloy; R McGowan, David Byrne, N McGovern; E Lowndes, C Mulally, J McCaffrey; S Cunningham, E O Conghaile (0-1); P Maguire, S Carthy (0-1'45), Danny Byrne; P Mannion, A Caffrey, C Kilkenny (1-1, 0-1f). Subs: N Scully for Danny Byrne, C McHugh for Caffrey, G Ivory (0-2) for Maguire, P Ryan for Mannion.

Referee - G Whelan.

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