Longford defeat Clare in All-Ireland football qualifiers

Longford's Dessie Reynolds celebrates after scoring his side's first goal.

A first-ever senior championship meeting between Longford and Clare saw Longford come from behind in the second half to advance to the next round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers thanks to a deserved 2-12 to 1-12 victory in Ennis.

Jack Sheedy knew his Longford side would need a solid performance to oust a Clare side in their own backyard at Cusack Park, but they built on their win over Carlow last time out to advance.

But it is the end of the campaign for a Clare side who have had to battle a lot of injuries this season, not least the loss of Podge Collins.

His father, Clare manager Colm, has made the Banner men a formidable outfit for anyone in Ennis as Kerry found out last season on their way to all-Ireland glory.

And Clare must have fancied their chances of success when they led by 1-7 to 1-6 at the end of an opening half when they played against the wind.

Clare needed a good start and Gary Brennan, as usual, led the way with an early point to settle them.

But Brian Kavanagh, the key figure in this Longford success, was not long finding the range and by the end of the contest he had nabbed 1-5.

Longford's Brian Kavanagh in action against Kevin Harnett of Clare.

David Tubridy edged Clare back in front but then Longford got moving and hit 1-3 without reply in a blistering spell.

Kavanagh kept his composure to slot home a penalty in the seventh minute after Liam Connerton was fouled by Kieran Russell.

That goal saw Longford open up a 1-3 to 0-2 up after 14 minutes but Eoin Cleary pointed a free for Clare and Brennan’s second cut the margin to just two.

And then Clare made a big breakthrough eight minutes from the break when Dean Ryan found the net to restore their lead.

Pat Burke increased that lead to 1-6 to 1-4 up but Connerton and Dessie Reynolds shot scores with Sean Collins hitting the final score of the half.

Longford started the second half well and Rory Connor sent over a point shortly after the restart before Dessie Reynolds struck a crucial second goal for Sheedy’s men.

Again Connor was involved as he sent Reynolds in on goal and while he undercooked his shot for a point, it lobbed over Joe Hayes and nestled in the net.

That goal put Longford three points ahead, but three frees from Tubridy meant Clare were level by the 56th minute.

Wing-back Diarmuid Masterson pushed Longford ahead a minute later with a brilliant point from distance.

However Masterson followed it up with a second yellow card moments later for a high tackle, which left Longford down a man for the last 12 minutes.

Ryan punched a point for Clare to draw them level soon after Masterson's departure, but Kavanagh landed two frees, including a superb effort from distance to secure victory.

Longford: P Collum; C Farrelly, B O’Farrell, F Battrim; CP Smyth, B Gilleran, D Masterson (0-1); K Diffley, M Quinn (0-1); P Gill, D Reynolds (1-1), R McEntire; R Connor (0-2), B Kavanagh (1-5, 1-0 pen, 4f), L Connerton (0-2).

Subs: S Doyle for Gill (48), R McNerney for McEntire (61), P Foy for Connor (66).

Clare: J Hayes; C Russell, K Harnett, M McMahon; S Hickey, G Kelly, D Ryan (1-1); G Brennan (0-2, 1f), C O’Connor; Sean Collins (0-1), J Malone, K Sexton; E Cleary (0-2, 1f), P Burke (0-1), D Tubridy (0-5, 4f).

Subs: S McGrath for O'Connor (19), E Coughlan for Cleary (54), Stephen Collins for Kelly (60).

Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).