Shelbourne maintained their 100% start to climb to the top of eircom Premier Division with a 3-2 victory over Longford Town at Tolka Park on Tuesday night. Jim Gannon gave the Reds all three points when he struck four minutes from time to add to earlier goals from Jason Byrne and Stephen Geoghegan.
Close season signing Byrne continued his impressive start to the campaign with the opener on 18 minutes when he slotted home after being put through by Jim Crawford. Longford's response was immediate as they were awarded a penalty two minutes later when Ollie Cahill, clearly hampered by a dead leg receieved minutes earlier, brought Alan Kirby down in the area. Barry Ferguson kept his nerve to slot home despite the best efforts of Shels goalkeeper Steve Williams.
The home side regained the initiative five minutes after the break when the trickery of substitute Wes Hoolahan set Geoghegan up for a cool finish. Longford refused to give up and they restored parity again on 58 minutes when Sean Francis volleyed home.
An entertaining contest saw both sides squander chances in the closing stages before Gannon stepped up to tap home the rebound after Richie Baker's powerful header was parried by Town 'keeper Michael Dempsey.
Filed by Shane Murray
