Longford Town’s winless start to the new season continues following a 0-0 draw with Cobh Ramblers at Bishopsgate.
The absence of a proven goal scorer was evident as both sides wasted numerous scorable chances.
Town’s first real chance arrived on 23 minutes. Jamal Ibrahim headed Shane Elworthy’s cross goalward but saw his header cleared away by Dale Holland.
Town almost took the lead 14 minutes later. Again, Elworthy’s perfectly weighted cross found Ibrahim but his header came crashing off the crossbar.
The Midlanders came close again on 48 minutes. Elworthy’s 30-yard effort was saved by former Town goalkeeper Lee Steacy.
Two minutes later, his manager Stephen Henderson was shown a yellow card for protesting against a refereeing decision.
Henderson claimed Cian Browne fouled Ibrahim but referee Marc Lynch gave the free-kick against the Town midfielder for alleged simulation.
Cobh threatened on 53 minutes. Tiernan O’Brien and Doherty combined to set up Luke Desmond who shot wide from inside the box.
15 minutes later, Browne dispossessed Joshua Giurgi out wide on the right but his subsequent 20-yard effort was easily saved by Town goalkeeper Jack Brady.
The visitors kept pressing for the opener and Brady was again called into action again seven minutes later.
James O’Leary teed up fellow substitute Pierce Philips and the latter’s shot was deflected out for a corner.
Browne spurned another chance for the visitors seven minutes from time.
Skilful control saw him evade the challenges of Gary Armstrong and Giurgi before shooting wide from 20 yards out.
Four minutes later, Town came close. Giurgi’s 20-yard shot was parried by Steacy and cleared away by Charlie Lyons.
Town thought they'd lost the game two minutes into injury time only for the visitors’ goal to be disallowed.
Having been fouled by Aodh Dervin, Doherty’s free-kick was headed in by Philips but was subsequently flagged offside.
Longford Town: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Cian Byrne, Oisin Hand, Kyle O’Connor; Aodh Dervin, Viktor Serdeniuk (Adam Verdon 79); Joshua Giurgi (James Doona 85), Gary Armstrong, Mohamed Boudiaf; Jamal Ibrahim (Darragh Lynch 69)
Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Cian Browne, Brendan Frahill, Charlie Lyons, Wilson Waweru (Jake Hegarty 59), Pierce Phillips, Jack Doherty, Luke Desmond (James O’Leary 59), Dale Holland (Callum Stringer 85), Tiernan O’Brien (Pierce Philips 59), Jason Abbott.
Referee: Marc Lynch
