The FAI Carlsberg Cup will find a home at Flancare Park for the first time in its 81-year history after Longford Town overcame St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 in an absorbing clash at Lansdowne Road this afternoon. A first half own goal from Colm Foley and an injury-time strike from the impressive Shane Barrett sealed a deserved win for the Midlanders, who also saw a first half Barry Ferguson penalty saved. Pat's were reduced to ten men for the final quarter after Keith Fahy left 27-year-old referee Alan Kelly with no option but to dismiss him after a reckless challenge on Sean Prunty.
Longford, anxious to make up for their eircom League Cup final defeat to Pat's earlier in the season, started with greater intent and dominated the early exchanges. Pat's, who were rocked by the enforced retirement of key player Charles Mbabazi Livingstone during the week, failed to rise to the occasion as Longford began with purpose.
A Barry Ferguson header from a left-wing corner was the first serious chance of note from either team after seven minutes. Three minutes later, Vinny Perth was put through on goal by a clever headed flick from Barrett but his first touch let him down and the chance went awry.
Prunty was finding plenty of joy on the left as Longford camped in Pat's' half but despite dominating possession they failed to make any impact on the scoreboard. A period of sustained pressure by Town then saw left back Sean Dillon cross for Perth but his header failed to test Chris Adamson in the Saints goal.
On the half hour, Paul Donnelly came on for the injured Davy Byrne but his first contribution led to the opening goal of the game. The former Leeds United player carelessly squandered possession inside Longford's half and Alan Kirby was swift to release Sean Francis on the left.
Francis worked his way into the 18-yard box and teased and toyed Foley before unleashing a left-footed shot that took a wicked deflection before looping over the advancing Adamson. That was on 33 minutes and it was no more than Alan Matthews' men deserved after dictating proceedings, with goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien a virtual by-stander for the opening half hour.
Town should have doubled their lead four minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. Phillip Keogh and Alan Murphy combined on the right before the ball came inside for Barrett who was unceremoniously hauled down as he took the ball around Adamson for an undisputed penalty. However, Adamson redeemed himself when he saved well from Longford captain Barry Ferguson, who also missed a penalty in the League Cup final defeat.
Town led by a single goal at the interval and withstood the expected early second half onslaught from Eamonn Collins' side. First defender Clive Delaney went close with a header and Gary McPhee was wrongly pulled up for offside after breaking the Longford rearguard.
However, Town soon found their rhythm and the lively Barrett was again the main source of concern for the Saints defence. On 56 minutes he escaped the close attention of Delaney along the touchline but he wasted the chance by shooting wide at the near post from a narrow angle when there were players better placed than him in the centre. Minutes later, Barrett was booked for a bad challenge on Delaney after the former UCD man had dispossessed him with a well-executed tackle.
Barrett again breached the Pat's defence on 67 minutes but Francis failed to hit the target from the edge of the area with a poorly struck effort. Two minutes later Barrett was again the architect as he provided the opening for Perth but his shot was palmed behind by Adamson.
Pat's' hopes of clawing their way back into the match suffered a blow in the 76th minute when Fahy became the sixth player to be sent-off in an FAI Cup final for a two footed lunge on Prunty. The over-the-top challenge was totally unnecessary and out of context in a game that was otherwise sporting throughout, as the incident occurred on the touchline around halfway with no danger apparent.
Pat's, to their credit, kept pushing forward without seriously testing O'Brien and the game drew to a dramatic conclusion when Saints goalkeeper Adamson made a foray forward for an injury time corner. Longford cleared and the ball broke to substitute Eric Lavine inside his own half. However, with the open goal at his mercy he delayed and opted not to shoot, instead passing inside to Keogh who watched as his effort struck the upright.
In an identical move a minute later, Man of the Match Brian McGovern played Barrett through and the 21-year-old striker made no mistake by calmly slotting home with Adamson still in Longford's half for a fitting conclusion to what was a wonderful afternoon for the former Wolves player. Kelly, who impressed with his efficient and mature handling of the game, blew for full-time shortly after as Ferguson collected the FAI Cup for the first time in the Longford's 79-year history.
Filed by Shane Murray
