Report: Longford Town 1 - 2 Limerick 37

A Willie Bruton penalty proved the decider at Flancare Park last night as Limerick 37 beat Longford Town 2-1, and when Longford look back on this game they will realise that they were architects of their own downfall.

Two dreadful mistakes by the Town from their most influential players in recent weeks gifted Limerick their two goals and the three points. The Munster men have now completed the double over Longford, having beaten them 2-1 down in Limerick back in March.

Goalkeeper Neil Gallagher was at fault for Limerick's opener while the normally reliable Luke Hardy gave away possession for the second and forced Gallagher into bringing down Limerick substitute Willie Bruton in the box. The keeper was shown a straight red by referee Stephen Grant. In between the two comical moments Town had grabbed an equaliser and were the better side.

After claiming a point midweek away to Dundalk, Longford Town manager Aaron Callaghan retained that side for the game against Limerick and opted to stick with the 3-5-2 system. In this game the system didn't work and Callaghan should've made positional changes early on in the game as Longford struggled to make any impact on the game early on.

There was confusion before the game over the start time. Both teams thought the game was to kick-off at 8pm as had been advertised but the referee was told that it was a 7.45 start. A compromise was reached and the game kicked-off just before 10 to 8.

It was an uneventful opening half hour that failed to raise a cheer from the very small crowd with neither side creating any decent effort on goal. But in the 31st minute the game sprung into life. Limerick's Chimke Manjor made the run, he pulled the ball back for Darren Harrington who hit a cracking shot that Neil Gallagher in the Town goals was equal to.

Longford had to wait until three minutes from the break to have their first chance of the half and striker Darren McKenna should really have done a lot better with the opportunity that fell to him. A flick on by Gary Murphy put McKenna clear but with just the keeper to beat he dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the post. And just on the stroke of half-time Daire Doyle had a header that was just off target.

Barely 30 seconds had elapsed in the second half when the visitors opened the scoring. A mix-up in the Town defence between defender Ryan O'Donnell and Gallagher saw the ball fall to James Hayes and he was on hand to score from close range. One minute later McKenna had a very poor effort that was easily cleared by the Limerick defence.

In the 57th minute Town's Luke Hardy burst through from midfield, he laid the ball into the path of McKenna but the Limerick defence got in before the striker was able to take a shot.

Shortly afterwards Limerick manager Mike Kerley introduced Willie Bruton to the game and he was to make an immediate impact. The substitute's pace allowed him to get down the right hand side, he played a beautiful pass to Manjor who flicked the ball on for Hayes but he messed up with his shot.

The Town had dominated proceedings and in the 64th minute they deservedly found themselves back on level terms. Iarfhlaith Davoren did the hard work, he turned and played the ball to Gary Murphy who struck a cracking shot from a tight angle past Dave Ryan in the Limerick goals.

For all the possession the home side had they just couldn't get a second goal as Limerick soaked up all the pressure. And against the run of play the visitors restored their lead eleven minutes from time. Luke Hardy misjudged a clearance and the ball was picked up by Bruton who headed straight for goal.

Town keeper Gallagher came rushing out and upended the striker in the box and referee Stephen Grant had no other option but to show the Louth man a red card. With regular netminder Shay Kelly out injured the Town had no keeper on the bench and it was left to Cavan lad Alan O'Riordan to stand between the sticks. Bruton took the spot-kick himself, though he dived the right way O'Riordan couldn't prevent the ball from going in.

Longford pressed hard for an equaliser but it just didn't seem to be their night. Both Ronan Frawley and Davoren having attempts cleared off the line after a corner swung in from Gary Murphy.

Longford Town: Neil Gallagher; Andy Bermingham (Alan Lynch 63), Ryan O'Donnell, Ronan Frawley; Luke Hardy, Damien Rushe (Jimmy Hussey 90), Gary Murphy, Daire Doyle, Ryan Casey; Darren McKenna, Iarfhlaith Davoren (Alan O'Riordain 12).
Subs not used: Daithi Garry, Brian Kelly.

Booked: Alan Lynch (90).
Sent Off: Gallagher (77).

Limerick 37: Dave Ryan; Peter White, Paul Danaher, Tommy Barrett, Brian Cleary; Brendan Daly, Paraic Fogarty, Wayne Colbert (Willie Bruton 51), Darren Hartington (Dave Ryan 75); Chimka Manjor (Derek McCarthy 86), James Hayes.
Subs Not Used: Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ross Gosgrave.

Booked: Bruton (80).

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).