THE last time Longford scalped Offaly in championship combat, a famous old bulldog called Churchill was buried and, on this side of the Irish pond, Lemass was Taoiseach.
SCORERS - Longford: S McCormack 0-7 (5f); F McGee, B Kavanagh 0-3 each; M Hughes, P Barden 0-2 each; S Mulligan, M Quinn 0-1 each. Offaly: N McNamee 0-7 (3f); G Guilfoyle, J Maher, P Cunningham 0-2 each; R Allen, C Hurley 0-1 each.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan 6; D Brady 7, B O’Farrell 5, F Battrim 6; CP Smith 6, E Williams 6, S Mulligan 7; J Keegan 6, M Quinn 7; S Doyle 7, F McGee 9, P Barden 6; M Hughes 6, B Kavanagh 8, S McCormack 7. Subs: P Foy 6 for Doyle (inj 55), M Brady 6 for Keegan (57), A Rowan 5 for Hughes (61).
OFFALY: A Mulhall 7; D Brady 6, D Hanlon 5, N Darby 6; B Darby 7, J Moloney 6, M Brazil 6; R Allen 5, N Smith 6; E Carroll 5, G Guilfoyle 7, A Sullivan 6; J Maher 6, N McNamee 9, P Cunningham 7. Subs: N Geraghty 5 for Allen (45), C Hurley 6 for Guilfoyle (58), P McPadden 6 for Maher (64).
WIDES: Longford 12 (7+5); Offaly 11 (6+5)
YELLOW: Longford 2 (Kavanagh 58, Smyth 71); Offaly 1 (Moloney 28). BLACK: 0.
RED: Longford 0; Offaly 1 (Hanlon 67).
REF: M O’Higgins (Fermanagh).
ATT: 2,700 (approx).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Francis McGee (Longf’d).