Longford's late charge sees them deny Wicklow and join Carlow in promotion
March 22, 2026
Longford's Dessie Reynolds celebrates scoring a goal against Louth in the O'Byrne Cup final ©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan
There was no shortage of drama at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this afternoon as Longford pulled off a remarkable comeback against Wicklow to earn promotion to Division 3 of the Allianz Football League at their opponents’ expense.
In the end, it was a last-gasp point from Daniel Reynolds that saw the Midlanders claiming the 2-21 to 2-20 victory to join Carlow in next weekend’s Division 4 final.
Having ran up a 1-8 to 0-2 lead after the opening 23 minutes, Oisin McConville’s Wicklow side looked to be well in control despite a couple of Dylan Farrell two-pointers, as Oisin McGraynor’s goal in the run up to half-time saw them go in with a 2-9 to 0-9 advantage.
The Garden men’s lead grew as they sent over the first four points of the second-half and a two-pointer from Chris O’Brien - along with the points of Dean Healy and Kevin Quinn - had them up by 2-17 to 0-13 in the 53rd minute.
Longford responded by registering the next five scores, including an Oisin O’Toole goal in the 61st minute, and, after Healy pulled back a point for the visitors, the ball would be in their net again via Patrick Moran. From there, the scores of Cian Brady, Joseph Hagan (2) and Reynolds would be enough for Mike Solan’s men to pull off the remarkable result and leave Wicklow stunned.
NFL Div 4 Rd 7 in Pearse Park FT
— Longford Leader / Longford Live (@Longford_Leader) March 22, 2026
Longford 2-21
Wicklow 2-20
UNBELIEVABLE
LONGFORD ARE PROMOTED
JOE HAGAN LEVELS AND DAN REYNOLDS WINS IT
In Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow’s path to promotion was much more straight forward as they dished out a 4-22 to 2-5 hammering to Leitrim.
Colm Hulton, John Murphy, John Phiri and Jamie Clarke netted the home side’s goals as they recorded their fifth win of the campaign, inflicting their Connacht counterparts with their fourth defeat in the process.
Waterford suffered their seventh straight loss of the campaign as Tipperary hit them for four goals in Thurles to record their third win of the campaign (4-19 to 0-18).
Sean O’Connor netted a hat-trick for the Premier men as they finished on eight points in the league table alongside Wicklow and Antrim, with the latter having edged London by 0-18 to 1-14 in Cargin this afternoon.
The Saffrons held a 0-11 to 0-6 lead at half-time and their opponents would have to play the entire second-half with 14 men following Ciaran Divers dismissal in the run up to the break.
Points from Tiernan McCormack, Niall Burns and Pat Shivers helped the host to get over the line in the end as Joseph McGill’s two-pointer late on left the Exiles one short in the end.
Tweet#AllianzLeagues Division 4 Table after Round 7.
— GAA League Tables (@GAALeagueTables) March 22, 2026
⬆️Carlow and Longford will play Division 3 Football in 2027.
Tipperary 4-19 v 0-18 Waterford
Carlow 4-22 v 2-05 Leitrim
Antrim 0-18 v 1-14 London
Longford 2-21 v 2-20 Wicklow#GAALeagueTables #GAA #Football pic.twitter.com/ekOS1kGscB
