Longford Town 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
A cruel own goal goal followed by a goalkeeping error gifted Shamrock Rovers the three points at a rain-sodden City Calling Stadium.
Victory moves Pat Fenlon’s Hoops back up to fourth place in the Premier Division table as Longford, now without a win since the opening night of the season, were left ruing their luck as they remain bottom.
Despite their coming from 2-0 down to earn a rousing draw in Galway last week, Longford boss Tony Cousins made five changes including dropping the experienced Mark Rossiter and Kevin O’Connor to the bench.
Craig Hyland was rewarded for his heroics in Monday’s EA Sports Cup shoot-out win over Shelbourne to make his first league start of the season between the Shamrock Rovers posts, while Gary Shaw returned to start in attack against his former club.
With two up front, Longford started positively and really should have been ahead with gilt-edged chance on 15 minutes.
Kaleem Simon worked a one-two with David O’Sullivan to be put clean through, one-on-one with Hyland.
But somehow the winger side-footed wide when it seemed easier to score.
Longford were then left incensed on 24 minutes when they ought to have been given a penalty.
Rovers’ central defender Dave Webster clearly hauled down Simon when he was in on goal, but Dublin referee Ben Connolly waved away Town’s call for a spot kick and their subsequent furious protests.
Gary McCabe then carved Rovers’ first clear chance four minutes later, skipping past Conor Powell and Philip Gannon before bringing a save at full stretch from Paul Skinner.
Longford remained the better side in the first half, though, with O’Sullivan shooting over the top from Peter McGlynn’s assist just past the half hour.
But the home side suffered a blow on 37 minutes when keeper Skinner had to limp off after injuring himself from a goal kick to be replaced by 19-year-old Ian Molloy for his league debut.
Rovers showed much more impetus on the resumption with McCabe cracking a shot off the Longford crossbar two minutes in after a jinking run into the box from Brandon Miele.
A surging run in from the right by Dean Clarke resulted in his rifling a shot narrowly wide of the far post.
A defensive blunder then gave Rovers the lead on 61 minutes when Jamie Mulhall turned Clarke’s cross into his own net.
A slip by Molloy then gifted the visitors their second goal on 78 minutes.
Molloy, 19, slipped on the wet surface as he came to clear a long ball leaving and Rovers substitute Danny North a clear run in to tap the ball home.
Longford Town: Paul Skinner (Ian Molloy 37); James Mulhall, Pat Flynn, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Conor Powell; Kaleem Simon, Kealan Dillon (kevin O’Connor 74), Philip Gannon, Peter McGlynn (Don Cowan 50); David O’Sullivan, Josh O’Hanlon.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Rob Cornwall, David Webster, Gavin Brennan; Stephen McPhail, Killian Brennan; Brandon Miele (Patrick Cregg 79), Gary McCabe, Dean Clarke
