Cian O’Donnell scores the winner in injury time as Longford beat Louth to reach first Leinster MFC final in nine years

The hosts trailed by four points 12 minutes into the second half, but Louth failed to score again and an impressive finish from the hosts, which included conversions from James Hagan (2), Conor Doherty and O’Donnell (2), He saw them surpass the score. The little county at the end.

Louth led by five points after 17 minutes and could have been ahead only for Andrew O’Reilly’s shot to go wide of the goal line as Longford battled to stay in the contest.

The excellent Cillian McQuillan (2), Michael McGlew, O’Reilly (2) and Donnacha Skinnader scored for Louth during their most dominant period, with O’Donnell offering the home side’s only contribution until the centre-forward doubled his tally in the 19. minute.

This sparked an improvement in Longford’s performance, with Hagan finding the net on three occasions as the Midlanders outscored Louth by 0-3 to 0-1 during the latter part of the first period; McQuillan added to the visitors’ total from a free kick.

Trailing from 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time, O’Donnell halved Louth’s lead almost immediately after the restart as Longford maintained their momentum, but they wasted three more scoring opportunities, allowing the Reds, who were more clinical at all times, settled. and widen the gap to four through Tom Maguire, Conor Clinton and Luke Keenan.

Although the home side squandered the score, taking their goal tally to seven midway through the second half, they got a clear scoring opening when Joshua Marsh stole possession from Ciarán Devine and set up Hagan to run.

His attempt to hit Senón Connolly was unsuccessful but he scored a subsequent free kick.

Longford were already ahead and after Doherty’s point, Hagan flicked Mark Cooney’s pass over the bar with the net open, as Louth led by just the bare minimum with eight minutes remaining.

They remained ahead after the hour but a black card for influential midfielder Maguire was a blow to the visitors and a couple of successful free kicks from O’Donnell punished Louth’s indiscipline, sparking wild scenes of celebration at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Scorers – Longford: J Hagan (3f), C O’Donnell (3f) 0-5 each; C Doherty 0-1. Louth: C McQuillan (1f) 0-3; To O’Reilly 0-2; F Skinnader, M McGlew, C Clinton, T Maguire, L Keenan 0-1 each.

Longford: J Ross; Mimnagh A, McHugh C, Mulligan D; Doherty C, Cooney M, Blessington B; S Fagan, P Farrell; Shannon J, O’Donnell C, Flynn C; K O’Hara, J Walsh, J Hagan. Substitutes: L Greene for O’Hara (ht), L Donnelly for Farrell (43), O Kane for Shannon (43), Keelan Hudson for Mulligan (53).

Louth: S Connolly; McKeown B, Devine C, Coyle F; Clinton C, Skinnader D, McGlew M; T Maguire, M O’Shaughnessy; Devanney T, Keenan L, McQuillan C; A O’Reilly, B Cassidy, E Hoban. Substitutes: J Hanlon for O’Reilly (37), R Nugent for Keenan (49), F Markey for Cassidy (60).

Referee: E O’Connor (Offaly).