Longford Slashers kept their club championship hopes alive after a 1-11 apiece draw with Dromard.
The draw was enough to see Dromard claim a place in the Longford senior football quarter-finals with one round remaining.
It was very much a game of two halves, Dromard leading 1-7 to six points at half-time. Where Dromard coughed up a host of goal chances.
The sides trading blows early in the first-half. Two Diarmuid Masterson points matched by points from Ronan Sheahan and a Robert Clarke free.
Clarke had big night from the set ball. His second free of the evening was cancelled out Joe Hagan’s point. Longford Slashers and Dromard continues to trade points through Francis McGee and Cian O’Nuallain.
Then Dromard coughed up their first goal chance of the game. Aaron Farrell rattled the woodwork, McGee’s hit the bar. The rebound fell to Matt Duffy whose shot was well blocked.
The fourth rebound came to Ronan McEntire whose shot was straight at David Sheahan.
Slashers moved ahead in response through a Daire O’Brien free to lead five points to four.
McEntire equalised and Aaron Farrell put Dromard ahead when the goal was gaping. Dromard leading six points to five.
Peter Reynolds moved Dromard two clear five minutes before the break. Then McEntire found the net followed a peach of a pass from Bernard Sheridan.
Robbie Clarke converted his third free of the day just before the half-time whistle, what turned out to be an important score. Dromard leading 1-7 to 0-6.
Tale of two halves
Strangley it took 15 second-half minutes for Dromard to find their ninth score of the day.
In that time Slashers brought it back to a two point game thanks to three Robbie Clarke frees. Fionn Hourichan beautiful finish on 45 minutes Dromard first score of the second-half.
However, Slashers responded brilliantly. A brilliant Robbie Clarke cross field ball found Ruairi Clarke who shot across Sean McNerney and into the Dromard net. Slashers moving ahead 1-9 to 1-8.
Another Robbie Clarke free had Slashers two the good with 12 minutes to go.
Dromard opened up the Slashers rear-guard moments later. However, Joe Hagan could only shoot straight at Sheahan.
Dromard rallied well with points from McEntire, Hagan and Diarmuid Masterson to lead 1-11 to 1-10 with three minutes to play.
It was than man Robbie Clarke who saved the day for Slashers, converting his eighth free of the day in a game that ended 1-11 apiece.
Heading into the weekend fixtures, Dromard top group one with six points. While, Slashers take fourth place with three points.
