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Cathal Noonan/INPHO
League of Ireland

Wexford Youths' top-flight debut game ends in disappointment as Longford play party poopers

Goals from Kevin O’Connor and Josh Hanlon gave the guests all three points.

Wexford Youths 0

Longford Town 2

LONGFORD TOWN STARTED the 2016 Premier Division season with a hard-fought three points after a 2-0 win against newcomers Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.

The visitors took the lead after just six minutes.

A left-wing throw found Kevin O’Connor and after beating his man on the edge, he duly fired low into the near corner for the opening goal.

Kevin O'Connor Kevin O'Connor opened the scoring for Longford Town this evening. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Minutes later, the home side went close to an equaliser when Eric Molloy forced Paul Skinner into a good low save after a through-ball from Jonny Bonner.

Youths’ Chris Kenny had two chances in two minutes. An overhead flick drifted just wide of the far post while he couldn’t direct a close-range header on target.

At the other end, the guests almost doubled their lead through David O’Sullivan. He saw his low strike blocked by Gary Delaney, the ball then dropped to Kaleem Simon but his strike was touched behind for a corner.

Danny Furlong almost had the home side level within 15 minutes of the second, but his header from Aidan Friel’s corner dropped narrowly wide of the far post.

Town made sure of the points in stoppage time when Josh Hanlon beat the offside trap before firing past Youths’ keeper Doyle.

WEXFORD YOUTHS: Graham Doyle, Craig McCabe, Gary Delaney, Lee Grace, Ryan Delaney (Danny Ledwith 81); Aidan Friel, Chris Kenny, Jonny Bonner, Eric Molloy (Andy Mulligan 65), Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy

LONGFORD TOWN: Paul Skinner, Mark Hughes, Mark Rossitor, Noel Laverty, Conor Powell; David O’Sullivan, Kealan Dillon (Jamie Mulhall 65), Kevin O’Connor, Philip Gannon, Kaleen Simon, Josh O’Hanlon

Referee: Dave McKeon

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