LONGFORD 0-15
DUBLIN 1-10 (after extra time)
Longford’s underage heroes clinched the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football title tonight in Tullamore.
In a valiant display that took the game to extra time they overcame a dogged three-in-a-row chasing Dublin.
Longford appeared in their first Leinster Final since 2015, securing their first provincial title since 2010.
Man of the Match and captain Mark Cooney spoke to TG4 after the win describing the match winning point: “Yeah, as soon as I kicked it, I knew it was over.”
Cooney said the three scores in the second half of extra time from himself, Cian O’Donnell, who and Karl O’Hara proved crucial: “Cian had to come off, he wasn’t playing well, and then he came back on, it just shows the courage he has, what a player he is.”
In his captain’s speech Cooney commiserated with Dublin: “Lads, you’re a great team. It could have gone anywhere out there today.”
The centre back was full of praise for his team and their effort: “What a group of players. All the work, the training, three, four times a week for the last five to six months. You don’t know the work that went in.”
The captain thanked the management team, parents and the impressive turnout of supporters who made their way to Tullamore for the game.
Scorers for Longford: James Hagan 0-3 (0-2f), Luke Donnelly 0-3, Karl O’Hara 0-2, Cian O’Donnell 0-2, Alan Mimnagh 0-1, Ben Blessington 0-1, Mark Cooney 0-1f, Cormac Flynn 0-1, Liam Greene 0-1.
Scorers for Dublin: Rían Doherty 0-6 (0-5f), Senan Bolger 1-0, Ryan Ennis 0-1, Charlie Loughran 0-1, Finn Costello 0-1, Cillian McCabe.
Longford: James Ross; Conor McHugh, Darragh Mulligan, Alan Mimnagh; Conor Doherty, Mark Cooney, Ben Blessington; Seán Fagan, Peter Farrell; Cormac Flynn, Cian O’Donnell, James Shannon; James Hagan, Joshua Marsh, Luke Donnelly.
Subs: Oisín Kane for Flynn (24), Karl O’Hara for O’Donnell (37), Keelan Hudson for Shannon (47), Michael Glennon for Mimnagh (56), Cian O’Donnell for Marsh (56), Cormac Flynn for Farrell (full-time), Liam Greene for Kane (66), Joshua Marsh for Fagan (80).
Dublin: Finn McDonnell; Jack O’Keeffe, Dara O‘Sullivan, Shane Devane; Josh Kennedy, Finn McGinnis, Ryan Ennis; Cian Gavin, Killian Costello; Charlie Loughran, Senan Bolger, Donach Magee; Danny McGill, Fintan Lydon, Rían Doherty.
Subs: Finn Costello for Gavin (37), Cillian McCabe for Lydon (39), Eoghan O’Donovan for Devane (51), Cian Gavin for Costello (67), Jack McNair for Ennis (half-time in ET), Hugh O’Neill for Doherty (half-time in ET), Shane Devane for Kennedy (79).
Referee: Darragh Byrne (Wicklow)