Longford Town progressed to the second round of the FAI Irish Daily Mail Cup with a deserved 4-2 extra-time victory over Premier Division Sligo Rovers at the City Calling Stadium in an action packed contest that produced 40 shots on goal.
Report by Tony Ghee
It was a fabulous display by the Midlanders for whom keeper Brady, defender Haverty, and winger Peter Hopkins all excelled.
Keeper Brady made three tremendous saves in regulation time. On 14 minutes he was at full stretch to brilliantly save a superb low Moorehouse effort, on 52 minutes he produced a marvellous save from McCabe, tipping his powerful low 25 yard shot around the post, and in the 88th minute, he magnificently palmed McDonagh’s rasping close range strike onto the crossbar and over.
Haverty made numerous vital interceptions and tackles throughout the contest while Hopkins was a constant thorn in Sligo’s side with his tormenting, electrifying runs.
Longford took the lead on 27 minutes when Zambra played in Chambers, and he somehow managed to poke a well directed shot to the bottom corner despite falling backwards.
The Town lead only lasted 4 minutes as Rovers equalised when Kearns beat the Town offside trap to glance a header from Russell’s curling cross past Town keeper Brady.
Sligo should have gone ahead on 39 minutes. Donelon and Kearns linked down the left and Donelon’s pin-point cross picked out striker Igiehon just 6 yards out from goal but he incredibly headed over.
The big striker made amends for that glaring miss just 3 minutes later as he latched onto Donelon’s diagonal ball to fire home at the 2nd attempt to give ‘the bit o red’ a 2-1 half-time advantage.
Brady may have produced those 3 wonder saves to prevent Sligo adding to their tally but the Town had numerous chances to rattle the Sligo net.
In the first-half,Kelly’s 24 yard free-kick sailed narrowly over the Sligo bar and O’Sullivan should have found the target from a beautifully crafted Hopkins cross.
In the second-half, a breathtaking move involving Hopkins, Noack-Hofmann, and Chambers resulted in Kelly’s swivelling shot producing a fine save from Sligo stopper Schlingermann. Then O’Reilly’s powerful header was magnificently clawed away by Schlingermann, and on 76 minutes, Verdon’s fabulous weaving run set-up O’Sullivan who fired inches wide.
Longford forced extra-time with an 83rd minute equaliser when Kelly’s cross was superbly headed over Schlingermann into the net by the towering Verdon to make it 2-2.
Sligo substitute Faherty headed just over with the first opportunity of extra-time but it was the home side who fashioned a brilliant goal on 105 minutes. Hopkins and O’Sullivan exchanged passes with Hopkins powerfully blasting past Schlingermann to give the Town a 3-2 interval lead.
Sligo then had McDonagh dismissed on 114 minutes for a second bookable offence and a minute later Leahy saved the visitors when he cleared a Hopkins shot off the line.
Longford were not to be denied their Premier Division scalp as on 117 minutes a clever O’Sullivan pass put in Dillon and he calmly despatched his shot to the Sligo net to seal the victory.
Longford Town boss Neale Fenn spoke with Shannonside FM’s Tony Ghee after the game
Longford Town (4-4-1-1): Brady, Friel, Haverty, O’Reilly, Noack-Hofmann, Hopkins, Verdon, Zambra, Chambers, Kelly, O’Sullivan.
Substitutes: Cowan for Friel (76 minutes), Dillon for Verdon (104 minutes), Gorman for Kelly (112 minutes).
Sligo Rovers (4-3-2-1): Schlingermann, Boylan, McFadden, Leahy, Donelon,Russell, McCabe, McDonagh, Kearns, Igiehon, Moorehouse.
Substitutes: Faherty for Igiehon (58 minutes), Kenny for Russell (72 minutes), Cretaro for Kearns (75 minutes).
Referee: Derek McGraith.
