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Longford ease past non-league Fanad

Saturday 18th August 2007, 9:39 pm

Dave Mooney, Longford Town.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Longford Town advanced to the last eight of the FAI Cup tonight with the minimum of fuss as they saw off non league Fanad United. Two goals in the opening half-hour settled the tie at Flancare Park sending two time FAI Cup winners Longford into the quarter-finals.

Kevin Doherty rose highest to meet Dessie Baker's third minute corner kick to put Longford ahead. It was just what Longford wanted to steady any early nerves against the non league side.

Dave Mooney slotted in his thirteenth goal of the season on 25 minutes as he ran onto Damien Brennan's long through ball. Mooney had scored for Shamrock Rovers when they beat the team from Donegal in 2005 and repeated the feat tonight to maintain his lofty perch in the goalscoring charts.

Mooney had just missed a great opportunity minutes before as he failed to hit the target when he had already done the hard work of getting past the visiting defence.

Paddy McNulty might have grabbed one back for Fanad ten minutes before the break after former Finn Harps player Paddy McGrenaghan played him in. However, Longford keeper Shay Kelly saved well to deny him one on one.

Fanad did well to keep the home side out in the second half but Longford never looked in any danger of letting their lead slip with Mooney looking likely to add to his seasons' tally more than once.

Longford Town : Kelly, Sullivan, Brennan, Doherty, Prunty, Martin (Rutherford 46), Freeman, Deegan, Duffy, Baker (Wexler 87), Mooney (Reilly 90).
Fanad United : Nash, S Friel, Gorman, Doherty, Sweeney, P Friel, Conaghan (Patton 50), Lynch, P McGrenaghan, Hagan (G McGrenaghan 77), McNulty.