Longford keeper earns Town their first point
Saturday 14th April 2007, 1:27 am
Longford Town goalkeeper Shay Kelly.
Photo by Tom Carey.
13th April 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Galway United 1
Stephen O'Flynn 56
Longford Town 1
David Mooney 82
Terryland Park
Longford Town picked up their first point of the season Friday night as they battled back to draw 1-1 with Galway United at Terryland Park. Longford had goalkeeper Shay Kelly to thank for keeping them in a game Galway could well have wrapped up.
Alan Murphy and Ciaran Foley both tested Longford keeper Kelly from long range in the first half but the Offaly man was equal to them. Opposite number Gary Rogers also did well to save from a Dave Freeman volley at goal.
Kelly could do nothing to prevent Stephen O'Flynn from heading home the lead goal on 53 minutes. A perfect header guided the ball home from Murphy's corner kick.
Galway really should have killed the game off once they led but Kelly was in inspired form to keep them at bay.
Little was going Longford's way either - Pat Sullivan was sent off on 78 minutes to make their task that bit harder. Dave Mooney fired home a dramatic 82 minute equaliser to give Longford the chance for a draw.
However, more drama arrived when Galway won an injury time penalty. Kelly capped a stunning performance by saving Murphy's spot kick to earn Longford their first point.
Galway United : Rogers, James, Nootimer, Charles, O'Brien, Foley, Lester (Russell 58), Murphy, Daveron (Glynn 58), O'Flynn, Moran.
Longford Town : Kelly, Sullivan, Doherty (R Martin 14), Brennan, Prunty, Deegan, J Martin (Reilly 81), Doyle, Rutherford, Freeman, Mooney.