After crashing to a disappointing defeat against Wexford in New Ross the previous week, Longford produced a much improved display in overcoming Wicklow at Pearse Park in the second of the round-robin games in the preliminary section of the Leinster championship.
Despite the fact they were reduced to 14 men within minutes of the start when full back Donal Ledwith was shown the red card for striking Trevor Doyle, the home side still dominated the first half and were well on the road to victory at half-time when leading by 0-9 to O-1.
A highly motivated Longford team battled for virtually every ball and while the visitors came a lot more into the game in the second-half, man-of-the-match Niall Sheridan scored a couple of crucial goals for the winners.
However, it might have been completely different had Wicklow not failed to convert two penalties, the first of which was brilliantly saved by Longford goalkeeper Gavin Tonra in the 46th minute and he also saved the rebound from Trevor Doyle at a stage when six points separated the sides.
Wicklow were awarded another penalty 10 minutes from the finish but Tommy Gill's effort was again saved by Tonra.
Tonra was eventually beaten in the 63rd minute when he parried a point-blank shot by Gill against the underside of the crossbar. This proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal as Longford led by nine points at the time.
Wicklow had right half forward Thomas Hanley sent off for flooring Longford centre half back David Blessington five minutes before half-time. While Padraic Davis, with five points, was very much Longford's main attacker in the first half, Sheridan really took control after the break, scoring his first goal two minutes into the second half.
That goal gave the home side a healthy cushion and while Wicklow fought back to narrow the gap to just four points, Sheridan then landed a glorious point with substitute Padraic Shanley also getting his name on the scoresheet. The decisive score for Longford came in the 58th minute when Sheridan again fired to the net.
Longford: G Tonra; E Ledwith, D Ledwith, P Jones; M Mulleady, D Blessington, C Conefrey; P Barden, L Keenan (0- 1), P Brady; S Hagan (0-1), P Ross, T Smullen (0-2); N Sheridan (2-2), P Davis (0-5, three frees). Subs: S Carroll, for Jones 52 mins; P Shanley (0-1) for Brady 54 mins.
Wicklow: T Murphy; S Nolan, B O'Donovan, T Burke; B O hAnnaidh, M Coffey, B Whelan; B SHeehan, S O'Neill; T Harney, J O'Keeffe, T Hannon (0-2, one free); T Gill, (1-6 four frees), R Coffey, T Doyle (0-1). Subs: O O hAnnaidh (0-1) for Nolan 22 mins; T English for Doyle 54 mins; D Jackman for O'Keeffe 60 mins; R Doyle for Whelan 62 mins.
Referee: M McGrath (Donegal).
