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Longford advance to FAI Cup semi-final

Saturday 22nd September 2007, 9:37 pm

Dave Mooney, Longford Town.

Photo by Tom Carey.

It took them a while to get going but Longford Town eventually eased in the semi-finals of the FAI Cup - running out 3-1 winners against First Division Limerick 37 at Flancare Park tonight.

Dessie Baker and then Dave Mooney put Longford ahead before John Tierney's 85th penalty gave Longford some jitters. A late Jamie Duffy goal wrapped up a home win though.

A fairly lifeless encounter in the early going, Limerick created the first chance of note just past the mid-point of the first half. Longford were almost punished for giving away a needless free-kick in a dangerous position when Kevin Waters drilled the set-piece just wide.

The scare prompted some action from the two-time FAI Cup winners and Duffy saw his tame shot easily saved minutes later after a good build-up. Mooney eventually went top of the goal-scoring charts (of players still based in Ireland) but had a frustrating night before he eventually got his seventeenth goal of the season. The striker missed a couple of great chances shortly before half-time, failing to convert in a one-on-one with Jimmy Fyffe and turning wide after a scramble.

There wasn't a whole lot else in the way of action until Longford went in front on 72 minutes. Mark Rutherford created the opening and Baker lobbed home superbly to beat Fyffe. Buoyed by the lead goal, Longford hit a second on 81 minutes when Mooney made no mistake from inside the box. Baker played him in and Mooney blasted home to make it 2-0.

Limerick made sure of a nervous end to the game for the home side when Tierney slotted home a penalty with five minutes left on the clock. Robbie Kelleher was brought down in the box by Pat Sullivan and Longford were back to being just one in front for the closing minutes.

Duffy wrapped up the win in the final minute when his one-two with Sullivan opened up the extended visiting defence before the on loan Shamrock Rovers player fired home.

Longford remain in the running for a third FAI Cup - one that would be all the more remarkable given the difficult season they have had.

Longford Town : Kelly, Sullivan, Brennan, Doherty, Prunty, Rutherford (Martin 83), Deegan, Freeman, Duffy, Baker, Mooney.
Limerick 37 : Fyffe, Molan, Danagher, Purcell, Finnucane, Hayes, Colbert, Whyte, Waters, McCarthy (Tierney 57), Moran (Kelleher 73).