Longford beat Clare at Cusack Park
Longford 2-12 Clare 1-12
Brian Kavanagh led the way as Longford saw off the spirited challenge of Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis.
The big full-forward hit 1-5 as Jack Sheedy’s men kept their summer alive.
They built on their qualifier win over Carlow to put further distance between their hammering by Dublin.
But Clare’s season is over, despite leading at the break in Ennis when a Dean Ryan goal helped them lead by 1-7 to 1-6 at the break despite playing against the breeze.
The Banner men made a good start when Gary Brennan pointed a free after two minutes, although Kavanagh quickly replied for Longford.
David Tubridy edged Clare back in front but then Longford got moving and hit 1-3 without reply in a blistering spell.
Kavanagh slotted a penalty in the seventh minute after Liam Connerton was fouled hauled by Kieran Russell.
That put Longford 1-3 to 0-2 up after 14 minutes but Eoin Cleary pointed a free for Clare and Brennan’s second put them just two in arrears.
Clare struck a telling blow after 27 minutes when Dean Ryan found the net to push them back in front.
Pat Burke increased that lead to 1-6 to 1-4 up but Connerton and Dessie Reynolds shot scores with Sean Collins hitting the final score of the half.
Rory Connor sent over a point shortly after the restart for Longford and then Dessie Reynolds struck a killer second goal.
Two frees from Tubridy kept Clare in touch but Connor got his second of the half.
Longford 2-8 to 1-9 up in the 51st minute but quick-fire scores from Cleary and Tubridy out the sides level again.
Diarmuid Masterson was sent off shortly after he regained the lead for Longford and Ryan brought Clare level again but Kavanagh saw it out for the visitors to advance to the next round.
Scorers for Longford: B Kavanagh 1-5 (1-0 pen, 4f), D Reynolds 1-1, L Connerton 0-2, R Connor 0-2, M Quinn 0-1, D Masterson 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: D Tubridy 0-5 (4f), D Ryan 1-1, E Cleary 0-2 (1f), G Brennan 0-2 (1f), P Burke 0-1, Sean Collins 0-1
Longford: P Collum; C Farrelly, B O’Farrell, F Battrim; CP Smyth, B Gilleran, D Masterson; K Diffley, M Quinn; P Gill, D Reynolds, R McEntire; R Connor, B Kavanagh, L Connerton.
Subs: S Doyle for Gill (48), R McNerney for McEntire (61), P Foy for Connor (66).
Clare: J Hayes; C Russell, K Harnett, M McMahon; S Hickey, G Kelly, D Ryan; G Brennan, C O’Connor; Sean Collins, J Malone, K Sexton; E Cleary, P Burke, D Tubridy.
Subs: S McGrath for O'Connor (19), E Coughlan for Cleary (54), Stephen Collins for Kelly (60).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow).
