Longford Town produced their best league display of the season to claim a well earned victory over leaders Dundalk at Bishopsgate, extending the title race in the process.
Town were full value for their win and had to play nearly 30 minutes with ten men after Daragh Murtagh was sent off.
Dundalk meanwhile will have to wait a little longer if they are to claim the First Division title and gain promotion as champions. They hold a six point lead over Cobh Ramblers with both teams having four games to play, both sides meet on the final day of the season.
Dundalk enjoyed much of the early possession but were unable to create anything to trouble the home keeper Kian Moore, and in the 22nd minute the Town took the lead. A freekick from the right was taken by Aaron Doran, it fell nicely to Alex O’Brien in a crowded box and he fired to the net.
The lead lasted only three minutes and it was former Town manager Stephen Kenny’s son who levelled for Dundalk. Gbemi Arubi’s header was flicked into the path of Eoin Kenny by Town’s Eric Yoro and he made no mistake; his third goal this season against the Midlanders.
Town looked shaky after that equaliser and made a few mistakes that the visitors should have punished. In the 41st minute Dean George very nearly came close to regaining the Town’s lead but his effort was cleared off the line. Down the other end Town keeper Kian Moore let Arubi’s header slip through his fingers but he was able to stop it crossing the line.
A stunning strike from Doran restored Town’s lead in the 51st minute; George’s cross was cleared but to Doran and he fired to the net.
Buoyed by that goal the home side went in search of a third goal. O’Brien had two chances in the space of a few minutes but Peter Cherrie was able to stop both efforts. Sub Rohan Vaughan had a chance for the Lilywhites in the 64th minute but he hit the side netting with his shot.
Town were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when Murtagh was shown a straight red for a lunge at JR WIlson. Minutes later the home side scored a third goal; Oisin Hand with a pass to George and he deftly chipped the ball over Cherrie. It was his first league goal for the club in nearly two years.
Despite trailing by two goals Dundalk didn’t really threaten. Kenny blasted the ball over the bar in the 85th minute. In stoppage time the Town netminder Moore stopped efforts from Arubi and Vincent Leonard.
Dundalk pulled a goal back in the fourth minute of stoppage time through captain Mayowa Animasahun.
Longford Town: Kian Moore; Eric Yoro, Oisin Hand, Jamie Egan, Osare Irhue; Alex O’Brien, Sean Moore; Aaron Doran, Pharrell Manuel; Daragh Murtagh, Dean George (Stefan Ugbesia 76).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Luke Mulligan (Rohan Vaughan 57), Vincent Leonard, Mayowa Animasahun, Vincent Leonard, Shane Treacy; Eoin Kenny, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 57), Declan McDaid, JR Wilson; Dean Ebbe (Keith Ward 56) Gbemi Arubi.
Referee: Glen Geraghty (Dublin)
