Longford Town 3-2 Finn Harps

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sun, Mar 07 2010


Second half goals from JP McDonagh, Peter Hynes and Chris Deans helped Longford Town claim all three points in an entertaining clash with Finn Harps at Flancare Park.

McDonagh opened his account for his new club ten minutes after the restart when he slotted home Cathal Brady’s right wing cross. John Lester then provided two more, crossing for Hynes and Deans to head home at Finn Harps back post.

Harps held the upper hand last year in their encounters with the Town; defeating them twice at Finn Park and picking up a point on the road. This season with the squad of players at Tony Cousins’ disposal the Town were a different proposition. It took them a while to get into their groove but at times in the second half they played some very good football with Cathal Brady, in particular, causing Harps problems.

In the last two seasons the Town’s opening fixtures have produced 12 goals; six in each game so there was always a chance there’d be plenty of goals in this fixture.

Finn Harps got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring in the eighth minute; Johnny Lafferty’s dipping shot beating Town keeper Stephen Conlon, albeit with a slight deflection off unlucky Town midfielder Thomas Hyland.

Town had two chances in the space of a minute to get back on level terms. In the 17th minute McDonagh’s cross from the left somehow eluded Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher but defender James Doherty was on hand to clear the danger off the line. One minute later John Lester’s rasping free-kick from about 30 yards out beat Gallagher but unfortunately for the midfielder it came back off the crossbar.

Eight minutes from the break Marc Brolly should’ve doubled Harps advantage but he headed over Stephen McLoughlin’s cross.

Five minutes after the restart Harps created another opportunity but Kevin McHugh’s close range header from McLoughlin’s cross just sailed over.

They were to rue those missed chances and in the 55th minute the Town were back on level terms; Cathal Brady’s cross from the right flashed across the face off goal and JP McDonagh was at hand at the far post to toe-poke it home.

Two minutes later and the Town took the lead; Peter Hynes finishing John Lester’s cross to the net. Town were now in the ascendancy and in the 69th minute they extended their lead; Lester was again the provider, this time from a corner, for Deans to grab Longford's third goal in fourteen second half minutes.

But the goals didn’t end there and in the 77th minute it was 3-2. Davitt Walsh found himself one on one with Town keeper Conlon after being played in by McHugh and he made no mistake from close range. Harps piled on the pressure in the final ten minutes as they went in search of an equaliser. Walsh hit the post with two minutes remaining but the Town stood firm to hold on for a fine win.

Longford Town: Stephen Conlon, Derek Tyrell, Philip Byrne, Kevin Cronin, Gary Cronin, Cathal Brady, John Lester, Thomas Hyland, JP McDonagh, Peter Hynes, Derek Glynn.
Subs: Chris Deans for Byrne 33mins, Ryan McEvoy for Hyland half-time, Mark Salmon for Hynes 83mins.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, James Doherty, Jon Minnock, Packie Mailey, Matt Crossan, Stephen McLoughlin, Michael Funston, Johnny Lafferty, Marc Brolly, Kevin McHugh, Davitt Walsh.
Sub: Mark Forker for Brolly 75mins

Referee: Phil Caschera (Dublin)

Attendance: 600 approx

Extratime Man of the Match: Cathal Brady (Longford Town) – Was a real threat all night.