Longford Town 1 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Fri, Aug 27 2010


Two second half errors proved costly for Longford Town as Shamrock Rovers advanced to the quarter finals of the FAI Cup.

After dominating the first half Town fell behind nine minutes after the break as Rovers broke the deadlock and it was totally against the run of play; Neale Fenn’s effort came off the crossbar, Gary Twigg hooked it back and Town defender Chris Deans headed into his own net.

They doubled their advantage in the 71st minute when Billy Dennehy’s free-kick from the edge of the box slipped through the hands of Town keeper Aaron Shanahan.

Though credit to the Town they didn’t give up the fight and pulled a goal back in the 79th minute when in a crowded box John Lester got to the end of Mark Salmon’s to toe poke it home.

Rovers were unconvincing as First Division Longford Town really put it up to their illustrious opponents and deserved so much more.

Rovers had started the game brightly and their only effort in the first half came in the third minute when Robert Bayly’s shot hit the post.

Town held their own in the opening period and had several chances on goals. In the 20th minute a corner from the left was swung in by Aidan Roche but his older brother Lee’s header just went inches wide.

In the 34th minute Town had calls for a penalty turned down after Hynes’ 25 yard shot appeared to hit the arm of Aiden Price.

As half-time approached the home side continued to press for the opening goal. Mark Salmon capitalised on a mistake by Chris Turner, he broke down to the endline and crossed into the box for Hynes but Price blocked his effort.

Price was called into defensive action again five minutes from the break; Thomas Hyland’s shot was parried by Mannus but just as Lee Roche went for the loose ball Price got back to clear.

Longford Town: Shanahan, O’Reilly, Lester, Deans, Lee, Freeman (Brady 76), Salmon, Hyland, A Roche (Cronin 86), Hynes, L Roche (Oladele 73).

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Chambers, Sives, Price, Stevens, Kavanagh, Bayly (Rice 68), Turner (Bradley 60), Dennehy, Twigg, Fenn (McGuinness 76).

Referee: R Winters

Extratime.ie man of the match: Aiden Roche (Longford Town)
Attendance: 1,000 approx