Majestic Magerusan strikes again as Longford Town beat Finn Harps in Ballybofey

Finn Harps . . . 0  Longford Town . . . 1

This was a massive result in the fierce battle for a place in the First Division promotion play-offs and the matchwinner yet again was lethal striker Cristian Magerusan who scored the only goal in the 19th minute of this crucial clash at Finn Park. 

Longford move into sixth - just four points off the fifth and final play-off spot - and the fast fading hopes of the Donegal club featuring in the hunt for a return to the Premier Division were compounded with Matthew Makinson sent-off and Daithi McCallion stretchered off.

Makinson saw red in the 64th minute, a lunge on Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh earning a second yellow card in the second half. Just ten minutes earlier, the Harps defender was booked for a foul on Magerusan.

Longford had hit the front when Magerusan got on the end of a Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh cutback and his low effort from the edge of the box went in off the base of the post.

Harps were dealt a major blow just before half-time when centre-back McCallion - Makinson’s partner in the heart of the Harps defence - was stretchered off after sustaining what appeared to be a shoulder injury. The on-loan Derry City defender has been one of Harps’ leading lights this season.

With manager Dave Rogers unable to attend due to the death of his uncle in England, assistant manager Darren Murphy took charge of Harps from the dugout.

Harps began with some promise with Tony McNamee seeing a powerful effort from way out on the left take a slight deflection on its way over the bar after a Ryan Flood corner found its way into his path.

McNamee turned provider after a quarter-of-an-hour, but Max Hutchison couldn’t get a touch to the deft ball forward.

Longford stunned Finn Park into silence when breaking the deadlock. There had been an early warning shot just four minutes in. O’Brien-Whitmarsh fed Shane Elworthy, who bundled the ball into the net - only for the offside flag to swiftly end the celebrations.

The Town might have doubled the lead on 34 minutes but Magerusan was off target after good approach work by Gary Armstrong down the right flank.

Harps came out with a purpose in the opening minutes of the second half but Longford keeper Jack Brady saved from Patrick Ferry as the home side went in search of an equaliser.

Just shy of the hour mark, McNamee tried his luck again from distance when the ball fell into his path but his shot flew narrowly wide of the target.

Makinson’s dismissal rattled Harps but they did fashion a good opening when subs Sean O’Donnell and Aaron McLaughlin combined, only for the latter to be knocked over as he went for a connection.

Flood was denied by Jack Brady at the near post six minutes from the end after a well-worked free-kick and McLaughlin’s follow-up was blocked.

Bastien Hery, who had a spell at Harps under Ollie Horgan’s management last season, curled a shot wide in the dying moments with his attempt to score a second goal for Longford Town who take on the runaway league leaders Galway United at Bishopsgate on Saturday night next, kick-off 7.30pm. 

FINN HARPS: Rory Kelly, Scott Wara, Daithi McCallion (Ellis Farrar 45 mins), Matthew Makinson, Stephen Doherty; Jamie Watson, Max Hutchison (Aaron McLaughlin 71 mins), Ryan Flood; Tony McNamee; BJ Banda (Caoimhin Porter 65 mins), Patrick Ferry (Sean O’Donnell 71 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy (Mohammed Boudiaf 90 mins), Dylan Hand, Lewis Temple, Kyle O’Connor; Gavin O’Brien (Bastien Hery 65 mins), Viktor Serdeniuk, Gary Armstrong (James Doona 65 mins), Adam Wixted; Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Joshua Giurgi 65 mins), Christian Magerusan (Jordan Adeyemo 78 mins).

Referee: Robert Dowling.