Cork City 4-1 Longford Town
Two goals from full back Billy Woods saw Cork City storm into second place in the eircom League Premier Division table with a decisive victory over ten-man Longford Town at Turners Cross.
By the final whistle, the home side were strolling, but Longford - for the second time in four days - were left ruing decisions by the match officials at a crucial stage of the game.
Town trailed 2-0 at the break to first half goals from Woods and John O’Flynn, but had forged back into the game after the break and had halved the deficit when midfielder Philip Keogh received his marching orders with a controversial straight red card.
Former Bray Wanderers man Keogh appeared to have an altercation with a member of the Cork City bench, and referee Pat Whelan had no hesitation in producing his red card.
That really deflated the Longford revival, and two goals in the final ten minutes, a Woods free kick and a strike from Kevin Doyle, aw the home side draw clear before the final whistle.
Cork’s win fully deserved, however, for the manner in which they took the chances presented to them during the game.
The first half goals, in particular, were thoroughly memorable. On 22 minutes, Woods - who has reverted to left back this season - saw his 30-yard drive evade the clutches of stand-in Longford keeper Michael Dempsey on its way to the top corner of the visitors’ net.
Then, just before the break, lethal front man John O’Flynn struck his eleventh goal in twelve league games for City this season. And there have been few better than this effort. He picked up the ball 30 yards out and advanced a couple of yards before sending a precision chip over Dempsey, where it struck one post and rolled across the line before going into the net off the other.
Longford boss Alan Matthews, in need of goals, sent on reputedly transfer-listed striker Eric Lavine in place of winger Brian Byrne at half-time. The change in shape gave the visitors more cutting thrust, and they got back into the game when Sean Francis capitalized on George O’Callaghan’s error in the middle of the park to lob Michael Devine in the Cork goal.
Just two minutes later came Keogh’s red card, and thereafter Cork enjoyed the edge in every area of the field as Longford’s shoulders sagged.
And the home side made certain of the points with those two goals in the final ten minutes to take up the chase of clear leaders Shelbourne, who moved six clear with a win over Drogheda United at Tolka Park, also on Friday.
Cork City: Devine, Horgan, Woods, Bennett, D. Murray, C. T. O’Brien, O’Grady, Doyle, Hedderman (K. Murray, 68), O’Callaghan (C. P. O’Brien, 75), O’Flynn (O’Halloran, 80).
Longford Town: Dempsey, Murphy, Dillon (Mulvihill, 82), Ferguson, McGovern, Sheridan, Keogh, Kirby (Perth, 45), Byrne (Lavine, 45), Barrett, Francis.
Referee: P. Whelan (Dublin)
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Was this some Championship Manager game they're reporting on?
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