Late scores from Matthew Carey and Daniel Reynolds gave Longford a hard-earned win over a battling Waterford at a windswept Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
Waterford will feel hard done by. They dominated the second half but they kicked a number of poor wides during the 70 minutes.
The football on show showed why these two sides are bottom of Division 4.
Playing against a strong wind in the first half, Longford started the game well. Points from Jack Macken, Daniel Reynolds and Jayson Matthews gave them an early three point lead after four minutes of play.
Waterford were back in the game when a shot from Jason Curry deceived Longford keeper Michael Hughes and ended up in the net in the sixth minute.
A point from Carey edged Longford back in front in the 13th minute.
Oran Kenny set Aaron Farrell up in the 15th minute and he buried the ball past Aaron Beresford. One minute later Cathal McCabe was the provider and Farrell the finisher once again.
Iarla O'Sullivan stretched Longford’s lead to eight points in the 21st minute. Waterford though were back in the game when Curry kicked over two two pointers and Conor Murray followed up with another two pointer to cut the gap to two points on the half hour mark. Kenny kicked over a point from a tight angle just before the break to give the Midlanders a 2-06 to 1-06 lead.
Matthews fired over a fine point in the 40th minute to put four between the sides but instead of kicking on from there, it was Waterford who worked hard to get themselves back into the game.
Points from Murray and Curry brought the Deise to within two of Longford in the 46th minute. Longford were reduced to 14 men in the 55th minute when Ryan Moffett received a black card.
Dermot Ryan got a point before a fisted point from their captain Murray drew Waterford level for the second time. A pointed free from Carey was Longford’s first score in 15 minutes of play.
Two points from James Power put Waterford ahead for the first time in the game in the 67th minute. As the rain lashed down Longford tried hard to get themselves back into the game.
Young Carey got a chance to put them back into the lead in the 70th minute and he did just that with a two pointer free.
Daniel Reynolds sealed the win for Longford deep into stoppage time with a fine point.
Longford: Michael Hughes; Patrick Fox, Oisin O’Toole, Bryan Masterson; I O’Sullivan (0-01), Ryan Moffett, Dessie Reynolds; Daire Duggan, Matthew Carey (0-04, 1f, 1tpf; Jayson Matthews (0-02), Jack Macken (0-01), Daniel Reynolds (0-02); Aaron Farrell (2-00), Oran Kenny (0-01), Cathal McCabe.
Subs: Harry Kiernan for Macken (57), Peter Lynn for Matthews (65), Keelin McGann for Kenny (70+3)
Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Colin Foley, Darach O’Cathasaigh, Liam Fennell; Donie Fitzgerald, Caoimhin Walsh, Dermot Ryan (0-01); Tholom Guiry, Rory Furlong; Conor Murray (0-04, 2tp), Jason Curry (1-05, 2tp), James Power (0-02), Alan Dunwoody, James Walsh, Conor Ó’Cuirrín.
Subs: Jamie Power for Fitzgerald (49), Dylan Guiry for Walsh (52), Adam Crawford for T Guiry (53), Ciaran Walsh for Dunwoody (69)
Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)
