On a day when nothing minor seemed compatible with one of Croke Park's grandest settings what else could Longford and Meath do but produce football of such sheer wonder well beyond their grade.

What a perfect setting too for such a landmark in Longford football, who before yesterday had gone 38 years without any success at minor level. Of course they'll say this victory was almost worth the wait, an effort of ceaseless desire and determination.

The quality of scoring on view would have done justice to some senior games, but it was the quality of goals in particular that made Longford's victory so deserving. Corner forward Michael Hussey got two goals that he'll remember for the rest of his life, and full forward Declan Farrell got another he won't repeat for a while either. As a team, though, each player was as crucial as the next.

Meath never gave up in the quest for their first title since 1993, and in the closing moments when just two points separated the sides all the Longford defenders were proving themselves to be heroes.

When the battle was won the Longford captain, Enda Williams, was quick to pay tribute to manager Jimmy Gacquin, originally from Roscommon and teaching now at the traditional Longford breeding ground of St Mel's College. Many of the Longford players had come through the same school.

Not that the team was without any previous credentials. When they stunned Dublin in the semi-final, Meath had been given advance warning and certainly they took nothing for granted yesterday. They simply couldn't contain the fire that was now fully burning in their opposition.

Taking the knocks from the start Longford just got on with playing the sort of determined, spirited football they desired.

Hussey showed his sharpness with his first touch, undaunted by the size and scale of his surroundings and chipping over the opening point after three minutes.

However, with their far superior physical presence, Meath were first to make a deeper impression on the game.

Two goals were disallowed in the first six minutes (for a square ball and an illegal pass) but with Joseph Sheridan and Brian Farrell combining particularly effectively there was certainly no panic.

Farrell opened with a point and on 12 minutes Longford suffered their first moment of stage fright. David Murtagh's free floated towards the goal but was only half stopped, and so Sheridan flicked the loose ball into the net. A soft goal, but not undeserving of Meath's initial intent.

Around the quarter-hour mark, just when Meath threatened to take over, Longford shifted up a gear and started pressing forward in greater numbers.

At the same time the Meath defence started to lose a little shape and focus, and Longford midfielders Michael Kelly and Fergus Kelly were starting to carve open significant scoring chances with their long, searching passes.

Full forward Declan Farrell was the first to benefit from a goal chance but failed to connect well enough.

On 22 minutes though, Hussey made no mistake when, chasing a Michael Kelly ball, he rounded two defenders and rocked the net with his finish. Two further points in succession and Longford were up 1-3 to 1-1.

Just before the turnaround Longford pressed further ahead. Tony Murphy was the supplier this time but Farrell still chased the ball like it was his last. A few strides later he too buried the ball in the net.

So Meath came out for the second half chasing a 2-3 to 1-2 deficit, and immediately cut into it. Barry Regan took off from almost halfway and didn't stop until he had landed the ball in the net, though it did slip in off the post.

A Longford collapse now could have spelt defeat but instead they just rose even further. Hussey produced the goal of the game when he completed a series of passes with two sweet dummies and then a vigorous shot straight into the net. From then on Longford looked nothing other than winners.

Urged on by the now fearless Longford supporters, most of whom were buried in the two far corners of Croke Park's new upper tiers, the underdogs adequately coped with the trademark Meath comeback. Declan Reilly and Hussey added two blazing points and the foundation for victory was now firm.

Meath's last hope came eight minutes from time when David Murtagh caught the ball from Sheridan and turned it into the net. The sides then exchanged points in the nervous closing minutes but Hussey's free in injury time cued the wild and deserved Longford celebrations.

LONGFORD: G Evans; N Farrell, S Smith, C McKeon; D Reilly (0-1), S Mulligan, E Finn; M Kelly, F Kelly; P Masterson, E Williams (0-1), C Cooney (0-1); T Murphy, D Farrell (1-2), M Hussey (2-3, one free). Subs: J O'Brien for Cooney (41 mins).

MEATH: M Brennan; C King, B O'Reilly, D O'Halloran; R Brennan, T O'Connor, E Dunne; J Melia (0-1, one 45), P Murray; T Farrelly, F Murphy, B Regan (1-0); D Murtagh (1-1), J Sheridan (1-0), B Farrell (0-3, one free). Subs: S Stephens for Dunne (half-time), G McCullagh for Farrelly (41 mins).

Referee: B Duff (Kildare).