Longford Town 2 - 1 Mervue United

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sun, Apr 18 2010


Longford Town picked up only their second win of the season when they defeated Mervue Utd 2-1 in a scrappy encounter at Flancare Park.

The winning goal came five minutes from time when winger Cathal Brady shot home from about eight yards out. It was the ex Kildare County man’s first goal for the club and no more than his performance deserved.

There had been some controversy surrounding the visitor’s equaliser in the 69th minute. Town goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan dropped Eric Browne’s long range effort and the linesman adjudged that the ball had crossed the line. Despite the protests of the Town defenders the goal was given.

The Town had broken the deadlock five minutes into the second half; John Lester whipped in a corner from the right and defender Chris Deans was on hand to powerfully head his third goal of the season past Mervue keeper Ger Hanley.

In a poor first half it was the visitors who had the better chances in the opening exchanges. Rory Gaffney tested Shanahan in the 6th and 11th minute. And they came close to breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute but Shanahan pulled off a fantastic save to deny Kevin Crehan.

The home side’s first attempt on goal came in the 20th minute but Ryan McEvoy’s effort from just outside the box got a slight deflection and bounced out for a corner.

Mike Tierney hit his low drive wide of the far post for Mervue just before the half hour mark before Town midfielder Mark Salmon flashed his header just over.

Town created another scoring opportunity one minute from the break; Derek Glynn’s cross from the left found the head of Fiachra McArdle but his header was deflected out for another corner.

The momentum was with the Town as they went in search of the opening goal. That eventually came five minutes after the restart when Deans headed home Lester’s corner.

They had a chance to double their advantage in the 59th minute; Glynn picked the ball up about 25 yards out and made a run towards goal. Spotting the Mervue keeper off his line Glynn lobbed his effort over Hanley but unfortunately for the striker the ball bounced just wide of the far post.

Totally against the run of play the visitors were back in the game in the 69th minute. A long range effort from Browne was dropped by Town netminder Shanahan and the linesman ruled that the ball had crossed the line.

It was now game on and with the way things were going this game could’ve went either way. Town manager Tony Cousins decided to ring the changes and brought on JP McDonagh and David Freeman in the hope his side could find another goal.

They had to wait until five minutes from time to get their second, which proved to be the winner; Brady shooting home from close range to give the Town a much needed win.

Longford Town: Shanahan, Ekanem, Deans, Hyland, Cronin, Brady, Lester, Salmon, McArdle (Hynes 67), McEvoy (McDonagh 76), Glynn (Freeman 76).
Substitutes not used: Mooney, Tyrell.

Mervue Utd: Hanley, M Connolly, Farrell, Curran, Browne, Keogh (Lee 51), Tierney, Crehan, Gaffney, E Connolly (O’Dowd 65), Ludden.
Substitutes not used: Varlett, Burke, Barrett.

Attendance: 150 approx
Referee: S Templeman (Kerry)
Extratime man of the match: Cathal Brady (Longford Town)