Mervue United 2 - 1 Longford Town
- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Mon, May 30 2011
Tom King came back to haunt his former side Longford Town when he grabbed a last gasp winner in Fahy’s Field on Monday night.
Rory Gaffney broke down the wing and played the ball into King and he made no mistake to give Mervue the victory they didn’t deserve. The visitors will wonder how they didn’t get something out of the game but their failure to put away the chances that came their way proved costly. Mervue can also thank their goalkeeper TJ Forde who kept his side in the game especially in the first half with a strong of excellent saves.
Town also had claims for a penalty waved away near the end after Daniel O’Reilly was fouled in the box by Martin Conneely but referee Kevin O’Regan turned down Town’s appeals.
It wasn’t a great night all around for the Town. They were hit by injuries to key players both before and during this game. Striker Austin Skelly failed a late fitness test, while Cathal Brady missed out with a hamstring injury. During the game Craig Walsh picked up a knock and eventually had to leave the field of play while Jacques Morley had to go off just before the break.
Longford were dominant in the first half and completely bossed possession. They carved out numerous goalscoring opportunities and were unlucky not to break the deadlock
Mervue's Forde pulled off an excellent save in the 7th minute to deny Keith Gillespie from getting his first goal for the club. The winger got his head to Craig Walsh’s free from the right but Forde done very well to push his effort out.
Such was the Town’s dominance in the first half Forde was by far the busier of the keepers and definitely kept his side in the game on more than one occasion. In the 27th minute Don Cowan went racing into the box, he got past one Mervue defender but his shot from a tight angle was saved by the Mervue netminder.
Cowan was unlucky in the 31st minute not to get a proper connection onto a near perfect cross into the box by Walsh. One minute later the visitors thought they had taken the lead; Niall O’Reilly’s header from the right was met by the head of Lee Roche, his effort looked goalbound but Forde superbly pushed the ball around the post.
Longford were to rue not putting those chances away because totally against the run of play and with their first chance of the game Mervue scored. Tom King’s cross from the right met the head of Rory Gaffney and Town keeper Paul Hunt made an excellent save to deny him but unlucky for him the loose ball fell straight at Gaffney and he made no mistake from close range.
The midlanders were stunned but dug in deep to try and get something out of the game. They piled on the pressure and their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when they deservedly got back on level terms; Lee Roche’s cross from the right was finished to the net by Mark Salmon.
Near the end Longford had valid claims for a penalty turned down by referee Kevin O’Regan after Conneely bundled over substitute O’Reilly in the box. Amazingly he waved play on much to the annoyance of the Town players. One minute later Lee Roche was unlucky with his effort from O’Reilly’s cross.
A share of the spoils looked the likely outcome as the game entered the final seconds but King has other ideas.
Mervue Utd:TJ Forde; Nicky Curran (Kevin Crehan ht), Martin Conneely, James Casserley, Dan Cunningham; Tom King, John Mountney, Noel Varley, Mike Tierney (Jason Molloy 74); David Goldbey.
Subs not used: Eric Browne, Mark Ludden, Alex Lee, Michael Colllins, Eoin Martin. .
Bookings: Nicky Curran 45, Jason Molloy (89).
Longford Town : Paul Hunt; Niall O’Reilly, Chris Deans, Des Hope, Gary Cronin; Jacques Morley (Aidan Roche 45), Mark Salmon, Keith Gillespie, Craig Walsh (Thomas Hyland 59); Don Cowan (Daniel O’Reilly 88), Lee Roche.
Subs not used:Paddy Collis, Jason Oladele, Alvin Rouse.
Bookings: Craig Walsh 14, Gary Cronin 60.
Attendance: 263
Deniese O'Flaherty has yet to write anything about themselves but click on the bio link to view all past work.
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