Longford survived a determined last quarter offensive by Down at wintry Ballyconnell to claim their first All-Ireland SFC Masters title since 2000. Longford 1-10 Down 1-7 The Leinstermen were full value for their win and really ought to have won by more after out-classing their opponents to build up a healthy five point interval lead. Down played their best football in the last ten minutes of both halves but in between times failed to show the cohesion, accuracy or fitness to sufficiently trouble their opponents. The Mourne County impressed in the opening stages and led by the odd point in three after nine minutes with former All-Ireland SFC medallist Ross Carr very much to the fore at midfield. However, Longford settled into their stride and their sharper passing and their greater mobility in the wing positions began to tell. Excellent free-taking by the lively Michael O'Brien and a fortuitous goal by Ambrose Fogarty (28th) helped catapult the eventual winners into a comfortable 1-8 to 0-3 lead. Down showed a lot of heart on the day though and they responded immediately to Fogarty's major by netting themselves with Ross Carr converting a penalty after James Breslin was adjudged to have lifted the ball in his own square. Leading by 1-8 to 1-3 on the restart, Longford initially looked comfortable as they sought to defend their cushioned lead. However Down proceeded to gain a stranglehold on proceedings around the vital diamond area of the field and Longford were left to fight a rearguard action for most of the second half. But Down showed little penetration and even less ideas as they pushed forward and apart from a point by substitute DJ Kane (37th), they struggled to impress in the last third of the field. At the other end of the field, Michael O'Brien showed the Mourne County men the way with a neat point in the 40th minute which left six points between the sides. Amazingly that was to be Longford's final score of the game as wind-aided Down poured forward. Longford came under sustained pressure and poor distribution out of defence plus a faltering midfield compounded their struggle to hold firm. Down slowly ate into Longford's lead with points by Carr and an inspirational effort by corner-back John Farrell had Longford on the rack. But two bad misses, ironically by former heroes Carr and Kane (both shots hitting the upright), served to let Longford off the hook, leaving them to celebrate their first title in five years. Longford - Vinny O'Rourke; Tom Darcy, Mark Mimnagh, John Toole; Jack Healy, John O'Brien, Brendan Considine; James Breslin, Matt Duggan; Ambrose Fogarty (1-2), Ollie Rogers, Martin McNerney (0-1); Michael O'Brien (0-5, three frees, one '45), Seamus Boyle, Eugene McCormack (0-1). Subs - John James Reilly for Matt Duggan; John Breslin for John James Reilly (inj); Gerry Clarke for Seamus Boyle; Willie Finnerty for John Breslin; Matt Duggan for Martin McNerney. Down - John Heanon; John Farrell (0-1), Terence O'Higgins, Sean McGreevy; Donal Ward, Sean McRory, Martin Durkin; Ross Carr (1-2, one free, one pen.), Brendan McKiernan (0-1); Patrick Hardy, Kevin Savage (0-2, both frees), Paul Burden; Sean Devlin, Eamon O'Rourke, Audey McVeigh. Subs - DJ Kane for Patrick Hardy; Paul Doran for Kevin Savage. Tweet

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