Dundalk FC 1-2 Longford Town

Goals in either half from Darren McKenna and Alan Lynch gave lowly Longford Town a shock 2-1 win over league leaders Dundalk at Oriel Park on Thursday night. However, the midlanders can count themselves extremely lucky after somehow surviving a late onslaught and benefiting from a truly shocking referee decision.

A stunning 35-yard volley from McKenna gave the visitors an early lead and, after Tiarnán Mulvenna had a goal controversially ruled out for offside, Longford doubled their advantage just shy of the hour-mark when Lynch fired to the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Simon Kelly soon pulled a goal back for the Lilywhites as the midlanders defence went walkabout, however, despite laying siege to the Longford goal in the final quarter, an equaliser eluded the title chasers.

Paul Marney firstly shot wide from inside the six-yard box, before Derek Doyle was handed the clearest chance of the evening only to inexplicably miscue a header at the back post following a free from David Crawley. Another Crawley set-piece was then almost turned into his own net by Gary Murphy only for ex-Lilywhite Neil Gallagher to pull off an excellent reaction save. Gallagher was again to the rescue when he pushed away a goal-bound shot from Mulvenna moments after, before the ‘keeper denied Doyle at his near post.

Seconds later, Robbie Martin broke through and was clearly dragged back inside the area as he bore down on goal. However, for the second time in recent weeks, the referee decided that the foul had occurred four-yards outside the box. Unlike in the Waterford game, this decision proved extremely costly, yet this referee, Rob Rogers, will continue on without even a slap on the wrist. Truly one of the most shocking decisions ever seen at the ground, Dundalk failed to threaten thereafter on a night where nothing went right for the Oriel outfit.

For the visit of Longford, manager John Gill made just one change to the side that drew in Monaghan the previous Sunday. The only swap was enforced as suspended forward Robbie Farrell, issued with a straight red card in that North East derby, was replaced by Tiarnán Mulvenna. Experienced full-backs John Flanagan and David Crawley remained out of the starting XI, however, both were on the bench. Overall joint-top scorer Paul Crowley was laid low with flu, but Robbie Martin made a welcome return as he took his place on the bench after being unavailable since early July through a serious knee injury.

In an even and quiet start, the game sprung to life on eight minutes when Longford took a shock and stunning lead. Falling to Darren McKenna, the returning hitman caught the ball on the full volley and sent an incredible 35-yard volley to the top corner of Chris Bennion’s net. Just past the quarter-hour, Dundalk finally responded and should have found an equaliser. A ball over the top gave David Cassidy space, however, the young midfielder sent his effort over the crossbar from a good position.

The hosts continued to dominate and came very close to levelling the scores only for Dundalk old boy Neil Gallagher to deny Dessie Baker with a good stop. Then, from a free won following the resulting corner, a clever Baker effort came back off the post and was tapped in from close-range by Mulvenna. However, the striker’s goal was controversially ruled out for offside. Cassidy then had a 20-yard volley gathered by Gallagher as the Lilywhites upped the tempo, however, despite plenty of pressure, they went in behind at the break.

Following the resumption, Dundalk continued on the front foot, however, they were hit with another sucker punch just before the hour-mark, as Alan Lynch fired low to Bennion’s right-hand corner from 18-yards. Shocked by that, the Lilywhites found a route back into the game just five minutes later. From a David Crawley free-kick, the whole Longford defence pushed out but were too slow in doing so as they left four Dundalk players onside, with Simon Kelly having the easiest of tasks to head home from eight-yards.

Going in search of an equaliser, Dundalk had enough chances to win five games in the final twenty minutes. However, incredibly, not one went in. Firstly, Paul Marney made a surging run through the visiting backline but shot into the side netting, before a superb Crawley delivery was somehow missed at the back post by fellow sub Derek Doyle. Moments later, from another Crawley free, Gary Murphy almost turned the ball into his own net only for Gallagher to save tremendously as he tipped over. Then, yet again, Gallagher was to the rescue just sixty seconds later, as he got down brilliantly to palm away Mulvenna’s goal-bound shot.

On 83 minutes, Dundalk, now in full flow, once again should scored. Doyle broke into the area, however, the youngster’s shot was pushed onto the post by Gallagher, before the evidence that it was not going to be the Lilywhites’ night was made even more clear a minute later. Through on goal and bearing down on the lone Gallagher, sub Robbie Martin was blatantly pulled back inside the box. The referee saw the foul and awarded a free.

Dundalk: Chris Bennion; Paul Marney, Ben Whelehan, Simon Kelly, Shane Grimes (David Crawley 58); Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels (Robbie Martin 63), Davie O’Connor (Derek Doyle 72); Dessie Baker, Tiarnán Mulvenna.
Unused Subs: Aaron Shanahan (GK), John Flanagan.

Booked: Mulvenna (51), Cassidy (80), S Kelly (93).

Longford Town: Neil Gallagher; Stephen Gough (Jason Oladele 46), Andy Bermingham, Ronan Frawley, Alan O’Riordan; Gary Murphy (Robert Douglas 92), Daire Doyle, Shane Harte, Luke Hardy, Alan Lynch (Damien Rushe 80); Darren McKenna.
Subs not used: John McGuinness (GK), Stephen Brennan.

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,100 (estimate).