O'Mahony goes after Longford calamity

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIERS ROUND ONE Longford 1-12 Mayo 0-14:JOHN O'MAHONY resigned as Mayo manager after his side were knocked out of this year's All-Ireland Football Championship by Longford in Pearse Park on Saturday evening.

Seán McCormack was the Longford hero, firing over a last-gasp winner, but all over the field there were plenty of strong performances as Longford caused the shock of the qualifiers.

Mayo raced into a three-point lead in the opening 10 minutes. Alan Freeman opened the scoring in the seventh minute through a free. Séamus O’Shea and Barry Moran added to that score.

Longford’s first score came in the 12th minute with Francis McGee converting after Brian Kavanagh was fouled. A free from Kavanagh in the 18th minute was sandwiched in between Mayo points from Conor Mortimer and Alan Dillon.

As the first half went on Longford grew in confidence. McGee pointed his second free in the 24th minute. Four minutes later the deficit was just one point, Bernard McElvaney’s high ball was well caught by Kavanagh, who laid the ball off to the onrushing Paul Barden, who fired over the bar.

But two points from Andy Moran just before half-time gave Mayo a three-point advantage going in at the break, 0-7 to 0-4.

The game turned in the space of seven minutes when Longford took control and went in front for the first time. Points from Kevin Mulligan, McGee and Paddy Dowd brought them to within one point of Mayo.

Then in the 51st minute Dowd’s played in substitute Paul Kelly and he slotted the ball home. Kavanagh then put a goal between the sides with a fine score one minute later.

Mayo dug deep and Freeman pointed before Longford keeper Damien Sheridan brought off a great save to deflect his shot over the bar for a point.

Points were then traded between Kavanagh and Mortimer. As Mayo went in search of the equalising score Longford’s defenders throw their bodies at every effort.

Mayo were dealt a blow five minutes from time when Kevin Higgins was shown a straight red card. The sides were level as the clocked ticked down before McCormack popped up right at the end.

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; S Mulligan (0-1), E Williams, S Hannon; D Masterson, B McElvaney; P Dowd (0-1), P Barden (0-1), K Mulligan (0-1); F McGee (0-4, three frees), B Kavanagh (0-3, one free), S McCormack (0-1). Subs: P Kelly (1-0) or Barden (35 mins), P Foy for Hannon (60 mins).

MAYO: D Clarke; C Barrett, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; D Vaughan, T Howley, K McLoughlin; A O'Shea, P Harte; A Moran (0-2, 45), S O'Shea (0-1), A Freeman (0-5, one free); C Mortimer (0-2, one free), B Moran (0-1), A Dillon (0-3). Subs: L O'Malley for McLoughlin (35 mins), M Ronaldson for A O'Shea (42 mins), T Parsons for Howley (53 mins), WJ Padden for Harte (67 mins).

Referee: G Ó Conámha(Galway)