Wicklow 1-15
Longford 0-16

A Seanie Furlong goal early in the the second half was the decisive score as Wicklow got the better of visitors Longford in the Leinster SFC at Aughrim today.

The Garden County put their poor league campaign behind them to record a morale-boosting win against Glenn Ryan's team.

Harry Murphy's charges went in at half-time with a four-point cushion but Furlong's goal put additional daylight between the sides and Longford failed to reel in their opponents in the time that remained.

Wicklow conceded the opening score to a Seanie McCormack free but, despite playing against the wind, soon found their stride with points from John McGrath, James Stafford, Dean Healy, Furlong (free) and Joe Kelly giving them a four point lead after just 10 minutes of play.

Captain Paul Barden sent over Longford's second and Robbie Smyth added a third to leave the scoreboard reading Wicklow 0-5, Longford 0-3 by the 20th minute.

Anthony McLoughlin and McCormack (free) traded points before Kelly extended Wicklow's lead with his second point of the contest.

The hosts outscored the visitors by two points to one in the remainder of the opening period and led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the change of ends.

Longford reduced the deficit to three points with the first score of the second half but Wicklow replied in the best possible fashion when Furlong struck for the game's only goal.

The signs were ominous for Ryan and his team but, to their credit, they registered the next three points to leave just the goal separating the teams.

Furlong nipped their mini-revival in the bud with another point for Wicklow and with 10 minutes to go they were 1-13 to 0-13 to the good.

Bernard McElvaney made it a two point game but Stafford and Furlong (2) pushed Wicklow into a four point lead with two minutes left on the clock.

Longford pulled back two points but, try as they might, they were unable to conjure up the goal they needed to overtake the hosts.

The Garden County's reward is a quarter-final meeting with Meath at home on Saturday, June 15 while Longford are qualifiers bound.

Wicklow - J Flynn; C Hyland, D Power, A Byrne; D Hayden, P McWalter (0-1), D Healy (0-2); A McLoughlin (0-1), J Stafford (0-2); J Kelly (0-2), R Finn, D O'Sullivan; B McCrea, S Furlong (1-5, 1f), J McGrath (0-2). Subs: A O'Malley for McCrea, P Dalton for Kelly.

Longford - D Sheridan; D Brady, B Gilleran, D Reilly; C Smyth, M Quinn, S Mulligan; J Keegan (0-1), M Brady; B McElvaney (0-1), P Barden (0-2), P McCormack; R Smyth (0-1), F McGee (0-2), S McCormack (0-6, 3f). Subs: D McElligott (0-2) for Quinn, A Rowan for Brady, F Battrim for C Smyth, JJ Matthews (0-1) for R Smyth, N Mulligan for McElligott.

Referee - B Cassidy. Tweet

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