Longwood secure IFC final ticket in thriller

Longwood produced a sizzling IFC semi-final performance this evening in Pairc Tailteann as they dumped  Ballinabrackey out of the competition.

Longwood won by a point that arrived from Ryan Moore in added time for a sensational 1-10 to 0-12 victory.

Such an outcome looked unlikely when Ballinabrackey enjoyed a 0-9 to 1-3 interval lead although they had to work hard throughout a fiercely contested opening 30 minutes.

Anthony Healy's point opened Longwood account inside four minutes, but Stephen Donoghue replied for Ballinabrackey to leave it level.

Then Damien Healy, who was deployed at full-back to curtail Danny Quinn, surged forward and finished to the net for a superb individual goal in the eighth minute.

However, Longwood didn't score again for about 12 minutes during which time Quinn sent over two frees and one from play along with a fine Damien Carroll point. 

Ryan Moore's free kick-started Longwood briefly before points from Quinn and Seamus Curry (free) restored Ballinabrackey  dominance.

Anthony Healy added to his tally from a free, but it was only a temporary blip for Ballinabrackey who finished the half with a flourish as Richard Coffey and Seamus Curry skimmed the top of the crossbar with goal chances.

Ballinabrackey were well in control in the second-half and as the clock ticked towards the hour they started to play possession football and on this occasion  it didn't work and although they had claims for a penalty waved away they can't really complain about the outcome.

Longwood were much better in the second-half and will have to be considered serious contenders when they tackle Ballinlough in 
the decider.