Carlow triumph over Longford in extra time to clinch Division 4 title
March 28, 2026
Carlow captain Mikey Bambrick lifts the Allianz FL Division 4 trophy ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
Carlow are Allianz Football League Division 4 champions after coming through an epic battle with Longford this evening at Croke Park where it took extra time to separate the sides.
Joe Murphy’s men claimed the title on a 1-24 to 2-18 scoreline in the end, marking a first win at GAA headquarters for Carlow’s senior footballers since 1971.
The victors had opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead with the help of points from Lee Walker, Ross Dunphy and Colm Hulton before Oisin O’Toole struck the game’s first goal for Longford in the 17th minute.
Carlow surged ahead again with two singles being backed up by a Eoghan Ruth two-pointer ahead of Dessie Reynolds landing one beyond the arc at the other end and the scores of Joseph Hagan, Reynolds (2) and Dylan Farrell (free) ensured that it’d be ‘honours even’ when the sides went in at half-time (1-9 to 0-12).
All over after an epic Allianz FL Division 4 Final@Carlow_GAA 1-24@OfficialLDGAA 2-18
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 28, 2026
Watch the highlights here 👉🎥#AllianzLeagues #CARvLON pic.twitter.com/V2J0y16r0H
Ross Dunphy’s goal pushed Carlow back into a three-point lead 10 minutes into the second-half and, while the advantage would be increased to five, the Midlanders responded with an Oran Kenny goal in the 52nd minute to keep the heat on their opponents.
Conor Doyle’s free made it 1-17 to 2-11 in favour of the Barrowsiders with 14 minutes to go, but Longford came with a late push that saw points from Liam Glennon and Reynolds backed up by Matthew Carey’s equaliser which sent this decider to extra time.
The first of the added periods would see the sides sending over four points apiece, but Longford were dealt a hammer blow by the sending off of substitute Ronan Bleakley as they hand to play the remaining 10 minutes a man down.
It had a telling impact as the Mike Solan's men didn’t register a single score in the second-half of extra time, with the points of Chris Blake (2, 1 free) and Padraig Bolger steering Carlow to the sweet league title success in the end.
9722244197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2026
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