Longford’s division three campaign began with a heavy defeat at the hands of Derry at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.
The result looked onimous at half-time with Derry leading eight points to two.
Only a solitary point separated the sides at the first water break with Longford trailing three points to two.
Darren Gallagher got Longford off the mark with a free while Daniel Mimnagh also got his name on the score sheet.
Padraic Davis side failed to score throughout the second quarter while Derry hit five unanswered points before the break.
Niall Loughlin and Shane McGuigan slotted over two points each, with Conor Glass was also on target.
Longford’s barren spell continued into the third quarter while the Oak Leaf men slotted over nine points during that period
Shane McGigan (3), Niall Loughlin (2), Emmett Bradley (2), Paudie Cassidy and Ciaran McFaul all kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Longford eventually ended the dry run in front of goal with captain Darren Gallagher bagging their third point of the game in the 58th minute.
The midlanders added two more points thereafter but it was too little, too late as Rory Gallagher’s en ran out convincing winners.
