- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sun, Oct 12 2008
After the controversy of last Monday’s cancelled game in Wexford, Limerick 37 were hoping to put events down in Ferrycarrig Park behind them and they did just that with a deserved win in the midlands; their second away victory over Longford Town this season.
The Town haven’t won a game at home since they defeated Shelbourne at the end of June but for a few moments in the first-half, the home fans thought their luck had changed. However, strikes from Tommy Barrett and Chimka Manjor ensured that the three points were heading back to the Treaty City.
It was the visitors who had the best of the early chances. On 13 minutes, Barrett’s stinging long range shot was saved by Town ‘keeper Neil Gallagher and, eight minutes later, Paul Walsh had an attempt to open the scoring, but the midfielder’s effort was deflected out for a corner.
However, it was the home side who opened the scoring on 22 minutes, and what a goal it was. Gary Murphy played the ball through to Alan Lynch, who beat one player on his way into the box and jinked past two in the box before drilling a low shot past Lims ‘keeper Dave Ryan. Seven minutes later, though, and Mike Kerley’s men were back on level terms. Barrett was involved in all aspects of the goal. The midfielder was fouled, his free-kick came back off the wall and the rebound fell to him, and, from about 30-yards out, he drilled his shot past Gallagher.
Town had a chance to regain the lead on 34 minutes. Jason Oladele swung a perfect cross into the box but Darren McKenna headed wide. Two minutes from the break, a free-kick by Lims midfielder Dave Ryan was headed away from danger by Town defender Ronan Frawley.
The visitors bossed the second-half of the game and took complete control. Seven minutes after the restart, they had an excellent chance to take the lead. John Tierney played the ball into Walsh, who brought a fantastic save out of Gallagher. The loose ball fell to Garry Sheahan, however, he wasted a glorious opportunity to score.
For all their possession, they still could not find a way past the Town defence, but that all changed on 73 minutes when they grabbed the match winning goal. A cross from the right by Wayne Colbert found substitute Chimka Manjor, and he slotted the ball home from close range. It was no more than their second-half performance deserved.
Town came so close to getting an equaliser in the last few minutes of the game. Defender Paul Danaher came to Limerick’s rescue in the final minute of normal time when he slid to block Oladele’s goalbound effort. From the resulting corner, Nathan Weiss’ shot was deflected out for another corner.
A perfect night for the visitors was spoiled, however, in the dying seconds of the game when Brendan Daly, who had been on the pitch barely two minutes, was sent-off for a rash challenge on Town striker McKenna.
Longford Town: Neil Gallagher; Luke Hardy, Ronan Frawley, Andy Bermingham, Alan O’Riordan (Nathan Weiss 74); Shane Harte, Daire Doyle (Damien Rushe 61), Gary Murphy, Alan Lynch (Robert Douglas 68); Darren McKenna, Jason Oladele.
Unused Subs: John McGuiness (GK), Stephen Brennan.
Limerick 37: Dave Ryan; Peter White, Paul Danaher, Pat Purcell, Brian Cleary; Wayne Colbert (Brendan Daly 90), Tommy Barrett, David Ryan (Thomas Lyons 82), Paul Walsh; John Tierney, Garry Sheahan (Chimka Manjor 62).
Unused Subs: Kevin Fitzpatrick, Colin Scanlon.
Sent Off: Daly (90).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).
