Airtricity League

Town hold on to grab 3 points

Longford Town got their season off to a winning start in a thrilling game at Flancare Park on Saturday evening. The initial prospects did not look good for the home side as it was the visitors who started the game in the ascendancy. And it was Harps who took the lead after 8 minutes when a shot from Jonny Lafferty from the edge of the area looped over Stephen Conlon in the home goal following a wicked deflection off Thomas Hyland.

The Donegal men continued to dominate with further chances falling to Davitt Walsh and Kevin McHugh but they failed to add to their advantage. As the half progressed the home team grew more and more into the game and were unlucky not to equalise before the break first when J.P McDonagh's cross from the left was cleared off the line by a Harps defender after goalkeeper Gallagher was found in no mans land. Then on 20 minutes, John Lester rattled the visitors cross bar with a bullet free kick from 25 yards following a foul on Derek Glynn.

The second half began as the first and Finn Harps should have doubled their lead when Kevin McHugh was found alone in the box but the former Derry and Linfield man failed to trouble Conlon from 5 yards out.

Harps would regret that miss on 53 minutes when the ever dangerous Brady crossed from the left and J.P McDonagh was at hand to prod the ball home at the far post. The equaliser inspired the home team and they grew in confidence. Three minutes later, a cross from John Lester was bundled to the net from close range by Peter Hynes as Gallagher again failed to command his area. The Town made it three on 69 minutes with John Lester again supplying the cross, this time from a corner. Substitute Chris Deans the man on hand to drive his headed passed the hapless Gallagher in the Harps goal.

Harps reduced the deficit on 77 minutes when danger man Davitt Walsh reacted quickest to a deflection off Kevin Cronin to stroke the ball passed Conlon and the same player could have levelled on 86 minutes when his shot from the right came off the left hand upright as memories of last seasons 3-3 opener came rushing back to the minds of home fans. Longford however held on to take the three points and manager Tony Cousins has plenty of positives to take on the road to Monaghan next weekend.

Teams

Longford Town: Stephen Conlon, Derek Tyrell, Philip Byrne, Kevin Cronin, Gary Cronin, Cathal Brady, John Lester, Thomas Hyland, JP McDonagh, Peter Hynes, Derek Glynn.
Subs: Chris Deans for Byrne, Ryan McEvoy for Hyland, Mark Salmon for Hynes.

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, James Doherty, Jon Minnock, Packie Mailey, Matt Crossan, Stephen McLoughlin, Michael Funston, Johnny Lafferty, Marc Brolly, Kevin McHugh, Davitt Walsh
Subs: Mark Forker for Brolly

Match Officials:

View all available fixtures, results and reports for 2010