League Report: Cork City 2 - 3 Longford Town

Longford Town secured a vital three points in their relegation battle after defeating Cork City in Turner’s Cross in front of 2,011 spectators thanks to an 84^th minute Kevin O’Connor goal.

Cork City manager John Caulfield made three changes from the side that drew with Drogheda United away last Friday night with Mark O’Sullivan recovered sufficiently from injury to take his place up front. John Dunleavy and Billy Dennehy returned to the starting XI in place of suspended duo of Gary Buckley and Ross Gaynor.

The visitors also drew last week and they made two changes from the side that played away to Sligo Rovers. David O’Sullivan and Mark Rossiter came into the side in place of Noel Haverty and Lorcan Shannon.

The home side nearly had a perfect opening to the game when after four minutes Steven Beattie made a long run down the end line before his deflected cross found Billy Dennehy at the back post but the winger could only hit the post from close range.

Billy Dennehy had another shot on 12 minutes but Gary Shaw blocked it to ensure the sides would remain level.

City had a let off on 21 minutes as Dean Kelly’s free kick found Aymen Ben Mohamed whose accurate cross found O’Sullivan but his shot was well blocked by Kevin O’Connor.

The Leesiders enjoyed the majority of the attacking chances in the opening 25 minutes with O’Sullivan heading over from a Beattie cross and then Beattie was unlucky with his first touch carrying the ball wide after a long clearance from Mark McNulty.

The rebel army got their reward for their early dominance though when they found a breakthrough on 34 minutes. Liam Miller’s ball over the top found Karl Sheppard and the ex-Shamrock Rovers striker benefitted from a Paul Skinner slip to finish to the net.

City nearly had another minutes later but Mark O’Sullivan blocked Beattie’s goalbound effort that was ruled offside.

Longford benefited from a stroke of good fortune on 40 minutes when a Darren Dennehy wayward pass found Kelly and he passed to O’Sullivan to shoot into the roof of the net.

Three minutes later Stephen Rice played the part of super sub when he got on the end of an O’Sullivan cross to give Longford the lead heading into the interval.

Kevin O’Connor had a shot tipped over from Paul Skinner on 48 minutes for a corner but they were to get an equaliser on 63 minutes when Beattie smashed a breaking ball to the net from close range after Danny Morrissey had seen his header from a Dennehy free kick parried by Skinner.

City changed to a 4-4-2 system but couldn’t a find a way past a resilient Longford rearguard. Morrissey had a few headers blocked and go wide but still Longford remained dangerous on the counter attack and that was to be City’s downfall.

O’Sullivan did well to hold up the ball and he passed to O’Connor who finished from 12 yards giving Longford their first league victory since the end of August 29^th when they beat Bray Wanderers.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Kevin O’Connor; John Dunleavy, Liam Miller (Gavan Holohan 46); Karl Sheppard, Steven Beattie, Billy Dennehy (John O’Flynn 76); Mark O’Sullivan (Danny Morrissey 46).

Subs not used: Alan Smith, Alan Bennett, Liam Kearney, Stephen Folan.

Yellow Cards: None.

Longford Town: Paul Skinner; Conor Powell, Rhys Gorman, Pat Sullivan, Mark Rossiter;Gary Shaw Philip Gannon, Kevin O’Connor, Aymen Ben Mohamed (Kaleem Simon 68);  Dean Kelly (Stephen Rice 41), David O’Sullivan.

Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Jamie Mulhall, Martin Deady, Lorcan Shannon, Mark Salmon.

Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin)

Extratime.ie man of the Match: David O’Sullivan (Longford Town)

Attendance: 2,011