Reynolds rescues Longford at the death in Waterford
A late, late goal from Daniel Reynolds saw Longford snatch victory at the death against Waterford in the refixed Division 4 encounter in Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field.
The midlanders looked to have lost it on the stroke of full-time when a long punt into the square from Liam Mulligan somehow wound up in the net, putting the home side 3-14 to 1-17 ahead.
A Dylan Farrell free brought it back to a two-point game and then Reynolds found the net in the 73rd minute to nab the win for Mike Solan's team.
The game was the only casualty of the weather in Round 1 and was refixed for football's gap weekend. In the meantime, Longford, whose O'Byrne Cup defence ended on a lost coin-toss, were beaten in their first match of the year at home to London, a sobering reversal.
It also went from bad to worse as they looked set for a defeat against the team who'd finished bottom of Division 4 for the past two years.
Aaron Ryan's goal put Waterford ahead on 19 minutes, at a time when the home side had been reduced to 14 men after Mulligan's black card.
Farrell hit back with a goal three minutes later, with further points from Reynolds and Peter Lynn leaving the visitors 1-08 to 1-07 ahead at the break.
Darragh Walsh found the net for Waterford immediately on the restart but Longford took control for the rest of the third quarter, Dessie Reynolds nailing a two-pointer.
They held a slender advantage until the closing stages when a late two-pointer levelled the game, followed by the chaotic goal to put Ephie Fitzgerald's team three in front. But there was another sting in the tail.
"The biggest bit of credit to the lads is we were three points down with two minutes and 20 [seconds] left in extra time and we dug it out," Solan told Longford GAA after the game.
