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Saints make tough work of getting past Longford

Sunday 15th July 2007, 5:15 pm

Alan Kirby, Saint Patrick's Athletic.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Saint Patrick's Athletic held on against a late Longford Town fightback to close back in on League of Ireland leaders Drogheda United. The Drogs lead at the top is back down to one point before both sides now head into UEFA Cup action.

Recent signing Michael Keane put the Saints ahead at Richmond Park after only 12 minutes when he forced the ball home from Dave Rogers' cross.

Anthony Murphy made it 2-0 just six minutes into the second half when he headed home his fifth league goal of the campaign as he connected with Keith Fahey's corner kick.

Longford mounted a response and after goalkeeper Barry Ryan failed to grab hold of Mark Rutherford's corner kick, Dave Mooney was on hand to turn the ball in from close range to leave Longford only one goal behind on 70 minutes.

The Saints however, re-established a two goal lead when Ryan Guy slotted home on 75 minutes after Fahey had played him in.

Although Longford are struggling adrift at the foot of the Premier Division, they again showed plenty of fighting spirit and Pat Sullivan fired home an 83rd minute free kick from outside the box to cut the gap back to just one goal.

The Dublin side eventually wrapped up the win deep into stoppage time when former Longford player Alan Kirby fired home his first league goal for his new club to make it 4-2. Mark Quigley's cut-back had set him up for his seventh goal overall this year.

St Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Rogers, Maguire, Paisley, Gibson (Brennan 75), A Murphy, Fahey, Keane (P Murphy 87), Barker (Guy 46), M Quigley, Kirby.
Longford Town : Kelly, Sullivan, Prunty, Brennan, Ryan, Duffy (67), Deegan, Doyle (Martin 60), Mooney, Freeman, Rutherford (Wexler 90).