Longford Town 3 - 2 Finn Harps

• Diarmuid Kelly
• Sun, Jul 10 2011


Longford Town came out deserved winners in this entertaining clash at Flancare Park against third from bottom Finn Harps. Two goals from Mark Salmon and a great individual strike from Don Cowan were enough to see the midlanders over the line with Keith Cowan and Kevin McHugh scoring for the visitors.

In near perfect conditions Harps got off to the perfect start in their search for an elusive win in Flancare Park. After only three minutes Keith Cowan had the ball in the hosts net. Mark Forker whipped in an excellent cross from the right in the first attack that Cowan rose highest to meet giving Paul Hunt no chance.

However from here it was all Longford as the midlanders piled the pressure on their visitors. Don Cowan almost got an immediate equaliser when he drove into the box from the sideline, the powerful forwards shot was palmed away by Ciaran Gallagher in the Harps goal.

Craig Walsh was impressive in midfield in the first half and twice in three minutes he tested Gallagher with stinging drives from the edge of the area, but twice Gallagher go across to meet the efforts with strong hands to turn them around the posts. Salmon partnered Walsh in midfield for the hosts and he too got in on the attacking play. When Cowan burst onto a long ball down the right the host midfield flooded forward to support. Cowan turned his man and pulled back in the direction of Walsh, the midfielder cleverly stepped over the ball allowing it to fall for Salmon. Salmons first time shot came crashing off the bar with Gallagher rooted to the ground.

As the first half wound down the Harps began to gain a much needed foothold in the game as the hosts had run them ragged for 35 minutes in search of the equaliser. Forker tried his luck from range but shot high and over as the first half came to a close with them still leading by Cowan's early header.

With the halftime rest behind them Longford came out in the second half reinvigorated and instantly set about their business of finding the equaliser. Cowan and Walsh both shot over with long range efforts, the latter going particularly close to Gallagher's goal frame.

Cowan should have levelled the scores in the 52nd minute when he rounded two defenders but couldn't find the net with only Gallagher to beat. It was looking increasingly like one of those nights and Cowan nearly made them pay when his volley crashed off the bar following Hunts punched clearance from a cross. Soon however the home sides superiority told.

When Lee Roach picked up a ricochet in an offside position he turned back inside, and despite seemingly overrunning the ball he was felled in the area by Ciaran Coll who was scampering back. Salmon stepped up to the spot kick and expertly sent Gallagher the other way from 12yards. The sides were now level and all the momentum was with the home side and Cowan would soon have them in the lead at the beginning of a frantic ten minute period.

The forward showed great athleticism on 72 minutes to beat two men down the left wing and cut in on his right before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to the elation of the sparse home crowd.

The lead was short lived however and three minutes later in form striker Kevin McHugh displayed striking ability on par with his midlands counterpart. When the ball broke to the forward 30yards out McHugh shot first time into the top corner leaving Hunt grasping at air in disbelief and the sides were level again.

Despite the excellence of McHugh's finish, it was against the run of play and Longford soon had the lead for the second and final time. Salmon picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area and after showing nimble feet to dance inside two defenders the midfielder rounded the advancing Gallagher to finish to an open net amid delirious team celebrations.

As the game wound down Longford were happy to press the visitors into their own half and Harps found it hard to manufacture a further opportunity at goal. There was still time for Salmon to put a further impression on proceedings when in the final moments his late challenge got him awarded a second yellow, his first came way of dissent, and he got his marching orders to somewhat taint an impressive attacking performance.

Longford Town: Paul Hunt; Des Hope, Graham Dowling, Chris Deans, Gary Cronin; Cathal Brady, Jacques Morley(Alan McGreal 62), Mark Salmon, Craig Walsh (Thomas Hyland 76); Don Cowan, Lee Roche (Austin Skelly 57).
Subs Not Used: Stephen Conlon, Paddy Collins, Daniel Reilly
Bookings: Mark Salmon (2)
Sent Off: Mark Salmon

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Aaron O'Hagan, Paddy McLaughlin (Martin Redmond 57), Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Stephen O'Donnell, Aaron McElwee, Mark Forker, Thomas Bonner; Kevin McHugh, Blaine Curtis (Gareth Harkin 76).
Subs Not Used: Christopher Patton, Gary Merritt, Oisin McMenamin, Peter Hutton.
Bookings: Stephen O'Donnell

Attendance: 300 approx.

Referee: Rob Rogers

Extratime Man of the Match: Don Cowan