Dromard push back the Gaels

Longford SFC Final/ Dromard 1-14 Fr Manning Gaels 0-12 : Dromard won the Longford title for the first time since 1999 when they…

Longford SFC Final/ Dromard 1-14 Fr Manning Gaels 0-12: Dromard won the Longford title for the first time since 1999 when they came from five points down yesterday to claim a terrific victory over Fr Manning Gaels in front of 6,000 spectators on the magnificent new all-weather pitch at Pearse Park.

The Gaels led 0-6 to 0-4 at the break and after a flying start to the second half looked well on the way to claiming a fifth Connolly Cup in 10 years.

But Dromard finally began to convert possession into vital scores and a stunned Gaels ended the tie with 14 players, with wing back Donie McLoughlin sent off for a second yellow card offence.

SCORERS - Dromard: F McGee (0-7, two frees), N Reynolds (1-1), J Martin (0-3, two frees), D Masterson (0-2), P Jones (0-1). Fr Manning Gaels: E Gallagher (0-4), P Davis (0-4, one free), D Cassidy (0-2, one free), M Mulleady, J Fitzpatrick (0-1 each).