FAI Cup Report: Longford Town 3 - 1 Sheriff YC

Longford Town advanced to the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2007, after goals from David O’Sullivan, Ayman Ben Mohamed and Lorcan Shannon ensured they eliminated giant killers Sheriff YC at City Calling Stadium on Friday evening.

After a back to back defeats, it was the home side who started brightest and were quick to settle into their stride and it was O’Sullivan, who was first to test the visiting keeper after a lovely ball from Gary Shaw - the forward raced through on goal, but Peter Halpin in the Sheriff goal stood tall to save the shot with an outstretched right leg.

O’Sullivan was again involved in Towns next opportunity after he turned and shot from inside the Sheriff box, but again Halpin made a good save. As the home side continued to push for the game's opening goal, O’Connor was next to try his luck from long range after the winger cut inside the defender before letting fly from a distance, but his effort just sailed over the visiting crossbar.

Despite being under pressure for the opening quarter Sheriff did have a chance of their own, but John Rock’s final touch saw the ball run away from him after Stewart Glen played the forward in on goal.

With Longford in control, O’Connor was unlucky not to open the scoring after his second long range effort skinned the Sheriff crossbar with the helpless Halpin watching the ball sail over his head. Moments later the game’s first goal did arrive when O’Sullivan latched on to a goalmouth scramble from a Shannon cross to give the home side a deserved lead.

Minutes after falling behind Sheriff, though they had an equalizer after Rock headed home from close range, but referee Neil Doyle awarded a free-kick against the forward for a push on Mark Rossiter.

In first-half stoppage time, Sheriff’s Joseph Flood saw Paul Hunt off his line and the Midfielder let fly from 35 yards and his looping shot sailed off the keepers head into an empty net to send the visitors into the break level.

When the sides emerged from the break, two goals in two minutes saw Longford put the game beyond the non-league side - first Ben Mohamed latched onto a pass before he cut in from the left to strik past Halpin from inside the Sheriff box.

Less than ninety seconds later, Shannon raced onto a ball from O’Connor before he sprinted through on goal and his shot from the edge of the box sailed into the bottom corner to send the home support into hysterics.

Despite falling two goals behind, Sheriff continued to show their fighting spirit that has seen them win nineteen trophies in the previous five seasons, first skipper Paul Murphy forced Hunt into a brilliant save after the defender found himself in space acres of space before firing on goal, with less than fifteen minutes remaining - Sheriff had a second goal disallowed after several players were adjudged to have strayed offside from Darren Dunne’s free-kick.

Substitute Darren O’Brien was the next to test Hunt after his long range effort had the Longford shot stopper worried and with the game heading for additional time, Sheriff’s slim chances of rescuing a draw were tarnished as O’Brien received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Longford Town: Paul Hunt, Mark Rossiter, Conor Powell, Rhys Gorman Noel Haverty, Lorcan Shannon, Stephen Rice, Ayman Ben Mohamed (Kaleem Simon 73), Kevin O’Connor (Mark Salmon 83), Gary Shaw, David O’Sullivan (Philip Gannon 65).

Subs Not Used: Paul Skinner (GK), Martin Deady, Pat Sullivan, Keith Beirne.

Booked: None.

Red Cards: None.

Sheriff YC: Peter Halpin, Paul Murphy, Anthony Kavanagh, David Browne, Mark Higgins, Joseph Flood (Daniel Joyce 81), John Lester (Darren O’Brien 71), Darren Dunne, Kevin Lynch, Stewart Glen (Thomas Dunne 63), John Rock.

Subs Not Used: Alan McCabe, Gavin McDermott, Jeff Flood, Joseph Lennon.

Booked: Rock (56), O’Brien (81, 90), Joyce (86), Murphy (88).

Red Cards: O’Brien (90).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 442.

Extratime Man of the Match: Kevin O’Connor (Longford Town).