Shamrock Rovers moved a step closer to winning the SSE Airtricity Premier Division beating Longford Town 1-0 at Bishopsgate.
A dull contest with a scarcity of chances in the first half-hour before substitute Graham Burke scored the winning goal.
Neither goalkeeper had a save to make in the opening stages. Rovers almost took the lead on 25 minutes when Chris McCann’s 35-yard shot deflected off Aaron O’Driscoll.
Lee Steacy was beaten but fortunately for Town, the ball missed the target completely and the resultant corner-kick amounted to nothing.
11 minutes later Town almost took the lead only to be denied by a fantastic double save from Alan Mannus.
Rob Manley outmaneuvered Lee Grace with a surging run into the six-yard box, but was denied by Mannus who subsequently repelled the follow-up Aodh Dervin effort.
The ball was deflected into the path of Aaron McNally who’s delightful left-wing cross was headed over by Dervin.
Town were awarded a free-kick on the stroke of half-time when Neil Farrugia fouled Aaron McNally out wide on the left.
Grimes’ delivery found Aaron Robinson who’s 12-yard effort hit the side net as it remained scoreless at the half-time break.
The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first with a notable absence of meaningful chances inside the first 25 minutes.
Rovers’ boss Stephen Bradley responded by introducing Danny Mandroiu and Graham Burke from the bench, both helped to break the deadlock on 65 minutes.
Burke initiated the move, releasing Gaffney wide left, his cross found Mandroiu who shot straight at Steacy. Burke steered the rebound home from six-yards.
10 minutes later, Town almost restored parity. The hosts were awarded a corner and Grimes’ delivery was headed over the crossbar by Manley.
The game petered out thereafter with neither side creating any meaningful chances resulting in a one-nil victory for Rovers.
The Hoops are now 16 points clear at the top of the table. Longford Town have now suffered four straight defeats.
Longford Town: L Steacy; S Elworthy, M McDonnell, A O’Driscoll, B Lynch; A McNally (71 A Dobbs), A Dervin, D Zambra (84 A McCabe), A Robinson (89 K Chambers), D Grimes (88 C Warfield), R Manley,
Shamrock Rovers: A Mannus; S Gannon, J O’Brien, S Hoare, N Farrugia (62 G Burke); R Finn (24 L Grace), R Towell (62 D Mandroiu), C McCann; A Greene, R Gaffney (93 D Duffy), A Emaikhu (D Watts 62).
Referee: Adriano Reale
