Salmon relief at penalty rebound goal
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After battling hard and covering so much ground for over 80 minutes in their FAI Cup 3rd Round replay with Finn Harps on Monday night, Longford Town midfielder Mark Salmon wondered would he have the energy to take the spot-kick his side were awarded eight minutes from time.
With neither team looking like they were going to make the breakthrough and with extra-time looming, Harps centre-half Packie Mailey decided to needlessly bundle over Lee Roche in the box. Salmon failed to find the target from the spot but got it from the rebound to help secure the win for the Town. “When I stepped up to take the peno I didn’t think I was going to reach the goals,” Salmon told extratime.ie.” It was a poor peno. I was lucky it bounced for me and I got the rebound. I was glad to get to the rebound after such a poor penalty.”
It was a fantastic result for a Longford squad stretched to the limit because of injuries. As well as having a number of players out for the replay, striker Austin Skelly and goalkeeper Alvin Rouse had to leave the field of play early through injury. Salmon said, “It was bad to lose the two lads so early on because it meant we had only one sub left to try and change the game. To get the result is major for us. It shows the strength of squad that we have. With players coming in they want to impress to stay in the team. We are a very close team, not just the starting eleven but the whole squad.”
After a quiet first half, Harps had a spell after the break where they had several chances on goal. They looked dangerous going forward but the Town defence stood firm and were superb with defender Des Hope, in particular, immense. “The boys at the back were brilliant, I don’t think they lost a header and worked very well as a unit. Des has been brilliant for us. With Deansy (Chris Deans) and Paddy (Collins) back there we have great height. We have a solid back four,” said the Longford midfielder.
As well as praising his team-mates, Salmon also mentioned the supporters who were very much the 12th man for them. “They were brilliant. We were talking about them after the game. They came all the way here and to give us great support. It drove us on in the second half and the lads are very grateful.”
With neither team looking like they were going to make the breakthrough and with extra-time looming, Harps centre-half Packie Mailey decided to needlessly bundle over Lee Roche in the box. Salmon failed to find the target from the spot but got it from the rebound to help secure the win for the Town. “When I stepped up to take the peno I didn’t think I was going to reach the goals,” Salmon told extratime.ie.” It was a poor peno. I was lucky it bounced for me and I got the rebound. I was glad to get to the rebound after such a poor penalty.”
It was a fantastic result for a Longford squad stretched to the limit because of injuries. As well as having a number of players out for the replay, striker Austin Skelly and goalkeeper Alvin Rouse had to leave the field of play early through injury. Salmon said, “It was bad to lose the two lads so early on because it meant we had only one sub left to try and change the game. To get the result is major for us. It shows the strength of squad that we have. With players coming in they want to impress to stay in the team. We are a very close team, not just the starting eleven but the whole squad.”
After a quiet first half, Harps had a spell after the break where they had several chances on goal. They looked dangerous going forward but the Town defence stood firm and were superb with defender Des Hope, in particular, immense. “The boys at the back were brilliant, I don’t think they lost a header and worked very well as a unit. Des has been brilliant for us. With Deansy (Chris Deans) and Paddy (Collins) back there we have great height. We have a solid back four,” said the Longford midfielder.
As well as praising his team-mates, Salmon also mentioned the supporters who were very much the 12th man for them. “They were brilliant. We were talking about them after the game. They came all the way here and to give us great support. It drove us on in the second half and the lads are very grateful.”
