Longford Town 4-2 Derry City
David O’Sullivan, Mark Rossiter, Gary Shaw and Pat Sullivan provided the goals as Longford Town finished the season with the flourish of a convincing third successive win as they saw off Derry City.
The victory confirmed that Tony Cousins’ midlanders achieved a creditable sixth-place finish in the Premier Division table in their first season back up in the top flight.
Apart from a last-minute change of goalkeeper, with Paul Hunt replacing Paul Skinner, who had been named on the team sheet, Longford kept the same side as secured their Premier Division status for next year with last week’s 3-0 win at Drogheda United.
Derry caretaker boss Paul Hegarty made five changes after his four-match unbeaten run in charge had been ended by Bohemians last time out. That included a full senior debut at left-back for 18-year-old Patrick McClean, brother of West Brom and Republic of Ireland winger James.
But it was Longford who started the better with O’Sullivan getting turned in the box to see his shot blocked by Derry skipper Ryan McBride seven minutes in.
A jinking run to the end line by Town winger Ayman Ben Mohamed, six minutes later, saw his cross-cum-shot tipped onto the crossbar by Derry keeper Shaun Patton.
Ben Mohamed troubled Derry again inside a further three minutes, his cross finding Stephen Rice whose diving header was straight at Patton.
Derry had to work hard to get into the game, not registering an effort on goal until the 31st minute when Stephen Dooley was over the top with a header from Patrick McEleney’s cross.
But Derry had Patton to thank again for the save of the first half on 37 minutes. Kevin O’Connor let fly with a stinging right-foot drive from some 35 yards. Patton got a finger tip to the shot to turn it out for a corner.
But the overworked 20-year-old Derry keeper was finally beaten two minutes into added time at the end of the first half.
Visiting right-back Rob Cornwall handled Sullivan’s cross to concede a penalty. O’Sullivan rifled home the spot kick despite Patton getting a hand to the ball.
Longford very much remained the better side into the second half, doubling their lead on 56 minutes.
Little appeared on as defender Rossiter ran onto a clearance some 40 yards out to find the net off a post with a cracking low drive.
Poor defending resulted in Shaw adding Longford’s third goal on 63 minutes when the striker headed home Rice’s free kick at the back post.
Patton then pulled down Shaw to concede a 68th-minute spot kick that was slotted home by Sullivan.
Derry got a goal back on 77 minutes; substitute Ronan Curtis heading to the net from Dooley’s cross.
Cornwall got a second goal back a minute from time when rifling to the net from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
Longford Town: Paul Hunt; Pat Sullivan, Rhys Gorman, Mark Rossiter, Conor Powell; Philip Gannon; Gary Shaw (Dean Kelly 70), Stephen Rice, Kevin O’Connor (Mark Salmon 74), Ayman Ben Mohamed; David O’Sullivan (Kaleem Simon 70).
Derry City: Shaun Patton; Rob Cornwall, Ryan McBride, Aaron Barry, Patrick McClean; Aaron McEneff, Barry McNamee; Mark Timlin (Ronan Curtis h/t), Stephen Dooley, Patrick McEleney; Ciaran O’Connor (Mark Quigley h/t).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
