Ryan Rainey’s penalty eight minutes from time saw Longford Town lose 1-0 to Finn Harps at Bishopsgate.
The hosts dominated the first half but Harps had the best opportunity of the opening half two minutes in.
Ryan Flood latched onto Rainey’s cross ten-yards out, but the Harps’ midfielder blazed over the crossbar when he should have scored.
Town’s best chance arrived on 18 minutes. Stephen Meaney waltzed his way past two defenders before spraying the ball across to Francis Campbell on the edge of the box but he fired over the Harps’ bar.
Harps threatened three minutes into the second half, Noa Baba’s 25-yard deflected shot produced a decent save from Town goalkeeper Jack Brady.
Town almost scored on 55 minutes. Joshua Giurgi played a superb ball to Francis Campbell, he laid the ball-off to Aodh Dervin. Dervin’s 25-yard effort whistled narrowly wide of the post.
Harps were awarded a penalty on 82 minutes. Town defender Kyle O’Connor tussled with Okwuy Okwute. The latter hit the deck, and although it seemed like minimal contact, referee Daniel Murphy pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Rainey to send Brady the wrong way and put the Donegal side ahead. It was Rainey’s third goal of the season, all coming from the penalty spot.
Next up for the Town is a difficult match away to league leaders Galway United next Friday night at Eamon Deacy Park.
Longford Town (4-1-4-1): Brady, O’Brien, Elworthy, Byrne, O’Connor, Serdeniuk, Campbell, Armstrong, Dervin, Giurgi, Meaney.
Substitutes: Ibrahim for Giurgi, & Boudiaf for Campbell (both 67 minutes), Lynch for Meaney, & Fay for Armstrong (both 80 minutes).
Finn Harps (4-1-4-1): Hiemer, Porter, Cowan, McCallion, Farrar, Baba, Da Silva, Rainey, Flood, Harris, Lynch.
Substitutes: Jordan for Cowan (20 minutes), O’Donnell for Da Silva (62 minutes), Okwute for Lynch, & Keogh for Harris (72 minutes)
Referee: Daniel Murphy
