Longford Town 5-1 Sporting Fingal
Saturday, 8 March 2008 21:52Five-star Longford Town started First Division life in impressive fashion as new boys Sporting Fingal failed to gel on their league bow.
Longford hit the front after 12 minutes when man-of-the-match Iarlaith Davoren latched on to a clever flick from Damian Rushe and his sublime lob left Steve Williams stranded in no man's land.
Fingal's 31st minute equaliser was not unlike the home side's opener. Peter Hynes gathered possession 35 yards from goal and brilliantly directed his shot over Longford keeper Shay Kelly.
However, Longford were back in front just five minutes later. Darren McKenna was played through by Davoren but saw his shot parried by Williams. However, Davoren followed up to smash the ball home.
Striker McKenna joined in on the scoring act after the break as Longford ran riot. He grabbed a second half hat-trick starting with Longford's third goal in the 51st minute.
He then headed past Williams for goal number four just eight minutes later and he completed his treble just after the hour.
It was an awful night for Fingal who had Brian Gannon and Dave Bracken dismissed by referee Hugo Whoriskey.
Longford Town: Kelly; O'Donnell, Bermingham, Frawley, Casey; Hardy, Doyle, Rushe (Kelch 75), Murphy, Davoren; McKenna (Barrett 68).
Sporting Fingal: Williams; Gannon, Deans, Collins, Rogers; James, Byrne, Caffrey, O'Neill (Crawford 45); Corcoran (Bracken 56), Hynes.
Referee: H. Whoriskey (Meath)
