Fennin strikes late for Kildare

Tadhg Fennin was the toast of Kildare this afternoon with a late goal and a pressure point in the space of ninety seconds to …

Tadhg Fennin was the toast of Kildare this afternoon with a late goal and a pressure point in the space of ninety seconds to condemn a brave Longford side to championship heartache, at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

The corner forward pointed beautifully with a long range free kick and then latched on to cheeky pass from Anthony Rainbow to seal the win, hitting the back of the net from close range.

Longford got off to a dream start after just three minutes when their burly target man Niall Sheridan plucked a high ball out of the sky ahead of his marker David Lyons and turned to neatly slot the ball into the net.

Kildare responded however with composure beyond their years and pointed three in response through Ronan Sweeney (2) and Karl Ennis.

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Longford's Paul Barden then pointed with his third chance of the game but it was Kidare who were looking more assured as Killian Brennan began to dominate in midfield.

Using the space created by their midfield dominance Kildare began to drop balls in on top of Stuart McKenzie-Smith who enjoyed some success with knock downs to Fennin and McCormack.

Fennin got himself on the scoresheet with just such a tap down in the 15th minute to level things up again before a John Doyle free put them in front for the first time.

But Longford had their own target man, in the formidable shape of Sheridan and it was his input that edged them in front again after he tapped down to Trevor Smullen who finished brilliantly into the top corner of the net.

Padraig Davis pointed another for Longford after Sheridan drew a foul from David Lyons but points from Derek McCormack and Doyle sent Kildare in at the break with a one point lead.

Longford were not to be denied however and came out in the second half to point twice. The two sides traded points for much of the half with Longford keeping their noses in front.

When McKenzie-Smith was denied by close range save from Gavin Tonra it looked like they might have let it get away.

But up popped Fennin with a priceless contribution to secure a semi-final spot for Kildare and send the Lily whites home happy.