League Report: Longford Town 1 - 3 Cabinteely

Deniese O'Flaherty reports from Bishopsgate

Cabinteely extended their lead at the top of the First Division to five points and remain unbeaten with a fully deserved 3-1 win over Longford Town at Bishopsgate on Monday night.

Despite having early chances Town were poor and made mistakes which Cabo were able to capitalise on.

The opening goal came from a mistake while Town keeper Lee Steacy gave away a penalty for the third.

Town pulled a goal back in the 75th minute but were unable to produce a dramatic fightback.

Longford had an early chance to break the deadlock when a mistake by Cabo allowed Aaron McNally through but his weak effort was gathered by Mick Kelly.

On the quarter hour mark Rob Manley cut the ball across the goal but Daniel Blackbyrne got back to clear the danger off the line with Karl Chambers rushing in.

In the 19th minute Cabo took the lead; Town’s Karl Chambers chested the ball down into the path of Shane Barnes, he played it to Zak O’Neill who made no mistake in finding the net.

Barnes had a chance that hit the upright in the 30th minute while Town came close to levelling matters in the 33rd minute but Mick Kelly saved Mick McDonnell’s header from a Dylan Grimes corner.

Cabo broke from that attack and doubled their advantage in the 35th minute; Barnes squared the ball to Kieran Marty Waters and he slotted the ball home.

Town felt they should’ve had a free kick in the 44th minute when Rob Manley was held back but the referee allowed play on.

Town struggled to try and get back into the game after the break. In the 67th minute defender Joe Manley tried his luck from distance but his powerful effort came off the cross-bar.

Things got worse for the home side in the 70th minute when Town netminder Steacy took down Kieran Marty Waters and referee Michael Connolly pointed to the spot; Kevin Knight dispatched the spot-kick to make it 3-0.

Town pulled a goal back five minutes later through substitute Joe Gorman but couldn’t add to it as they fell to their second league defeat in five games.

Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Shane Elworthy, Joe Manley, Mick McDonnell (Joe Gorman H/T), Aaron McNally (Aaron McCabe 57); Dean Zambra; Dylan Grimes, Aodh Dervin, Sam Verdon (Callum Warfield 57), Karl Chambers; Rob Manley.

Subs not used: Luke Dennison, Dylan Hand, Matthew O’Brien, Niall Barnes.

Booked. Mick McDonnell (20), Sam Verdon (39).

Cabinteely: Mick Kelly (Cory Chambers 85); Daniel Blackbyrne, Mitchell Byrne, Conor Keeley, Kevin Knight; Keith Dalton (Alex Aspil 82), Zak O’Neill, Vilius Labutis (Jack Connelly 82), Paul Fox; Kieran Marty Waters (Dean Casey 86), Shane Barnes (Stephen Kinsell 74).

Subs not used: Jonathan Carlin, Robert Dunne.

Booked: Daniel Blackbyrne (12), Mitchell Byrne (16).

Sent-Off: None.

Attendance: 0.

Referee: Michael Connolly.

Extraime.com man of the match: Daniel Blackbyrne (Cabinteely).