Longford Town 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
Damien Duff was named on the Shamrock Rovers bench, but it was Danny North who stole the show at the City Calling Stadium with two well-taken goals to sink Longford Town.
Ahead of his official unveiling at a press conference tomorrow, Duff did a long warm-up on the sidelines late in the second half, but wasn’t brought on.
The 100-times capped winger is now likely to make his debut in Monday’s clash with Cork City at Tallaght Stadium (Live on RTÉ 2).
Rovers boss Pat Fenlon made three changes to his side from their home defeat to St Pat’s last week.
Craig Hyland, guilty of mistakes for both goals in that game, dropped to the bench with Barry Murphy coming in. Max Blanchard replaced the suspended Patrick Cregg in midfield while Mikey Drennan started in a two-pronged attack.
Longford’s only change from their spirited 0-0 draw at champions Dundalk last week was a debut for new signing, midfielder Philip Gannon.
Rovers started brightly, buoyed by the award of a penalty for a dubious foul by Martin Deady on Gavin Brennan after just two minutes.
And though Drennan’s weak spot-kick was parried by Paul Hunt, the Rovers striker followed up to tap home his 11th league goal of the season.
Rovers might have doubled their lead from a further couple of chances in the following minutes.
First North’s angled drive was tipped away by Hunt with Gavin Brennan just not getting enough on the ball to direct it home.
Then, Gary McCabe let fly from distance with Hunt going full stretch to his left to parry the shot away.
Poor defending by Longford then gifted Rovers a second goal on 13 minutes.
North displayed good skill to take the ball around Hunt before showing excellent composure to calmly shoot home - despite the presence of a defender.
Longford gradually got back into the game, snatching a goal back on 26 minutes.
Pat Sullivan’s corner on the right was only partially cleared. A shot from Kevin O’Connor then pin-balled around the box before Lorcan Shannon forced it home at the foot of a post.
Remarkably, given their shambolic start to the game, Longford might have been level five minutes later.
Stephen Rice, playing in the hole, ran through onto striker Gary Shaw’s flick. His shot, though, was straight at Murphy.
In an open game, Rovers were close to regaining their two-goal advantage on 36 minutes; McCabe just off target with a fiercely struck drive from some 30 yards.
Longford then finished the half strongly with Ayman Ben Mohamed having an overhead kick from Sullivan’s long throw saved by Murphy.
Then, in stoppage time, Murphy was again called on to save with his feet from Shannon in a goalmouth scramble.
Though Longford pressed hard for an eqauliser on the resumption, they fell two goals behind again to a wonderful Rovers counter-attack on 58 minutes.
Drennan threaded a delightful through ball for the run of North, who confidently slipped the ball past Hunt to the net.
Longford Town: Paul Hunt; Pat Sullivan, Rhys Gorman, Conor Powell, Martin Deady; Lorcan Shannon (Don Cowan 67), Kevin O’Connor, Philip Gannon (David O'Sullivan 67), Ayman Ben Mohamed (Kaleem Simon 76); Stephen Rice; Gary Shaw.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Dave Webster, Luke Byrne; Gavin Brennan, Gary McCabe, Max Blanchard, Brandon Miele; Danny North (Gareth McCaffrey 81), Mikey Drennan.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
