Cork City 2
Longford Town 3
LONGFORD TOWN TOOK a giant stride towards safety after a huge 2-3 win against Cork City this evening at Turner’s Cross.
Two goals in as many minutes left the hosts shell-shocked, and despite drawing level, it was Kevin O’Connor’s goal six minutes from time which sealed three crucial points for the visitors, which elevates the midlands outfit five points ahead of the relegation play-off place.
The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute when Karl Sheppard capitalised on Paul Skinner’s slip to roll the ball into the net, after a fantastic Liam Miller through ball.
Longford hit back within five minutes, however, as Darren Dennehy’s dawdling allowed Dean Kelly to rob the former Barnet defender before laying the ball into the path of David O’Sullivan to smash home.
The second arrived less than two minutes later as O’Sullivan turned provider, putting in a perfectly weighted cross to the back post for Stephen Rice to side-foot into the back of the net.
John Caulfield’s men were back level after the hour-mark. Billy Dennehy’s floated free-kick was headed towards goal by Danny Morrissey, Skinner saved brilliantly but Steven Beattie was there to finish at the far post.
It seemed that the draw was sealed before — in the final stretch — David O’Sullivan held up a long ball before rolling it across to O’Connor to put the nail in the City coffin.
Dan Murray had a fantastic chance to earn his side a point with moments remaining, but he could only head Kevin O’Connor’s cross over from close range.
Cork City: McNulty; McSweeney, Murray, D. Dennehy, O’Connor; Beattie, Dunleavy, Miller (Holohan, 45), B. Dennehy (O’Flynn, 76); Sheppard, O’Sullivan (Morrissey, 45).
Longford Town: Skinner; Sullivan, Gorman, Rossiter, Powell; Shaw, O’Connor, Gannon, Ben Mohamed (Simon, 69), Kelly (Rice, 41), O’Sullivan.