What a fantastic result as Longford Town conquer Galway for the second time this season

Longford Town . . . 1   Galway United . . . 0

The runaway First Division league leaders suffered only their second defeat this season, both against the midlanders who are producing a storming finish in the fierce battle for a place in the promotion play-offs. 

This fantastic  victory moves Longford to within two points of Wexford FC in the final play-off place and Stephen Henderson’s side travel to Ferrycarrig Park for a crunch fixture in a few weeks time. 

The home side nearly struck first on eight minutes with the persistence of Magerusan creating the chance. A long clearance out of the Town defence bounced awkwardly between Galway defenders Rob Slevin and Killian Brouder, the Town striker judged the bounce perfectly, gained possession, and spread the ball out to Jordan Adeyemo on the right flank. Adeyemo picked out Adam Wixted on the edge of the Galway box, but Wixted’s deflected shot went narrowly wide.

Galway were causing problems for the Town defence with set pieces, especially from corners. On twenty minutes, a cross was headed back across goal by Slevin to Brouder who headed just over the Town bar.

Four minutes later, the impressive Wixted delivered a curling free-kick into the Galway box that was volleyed just over by Town centre-half Lewis Temple.

Longford took the lead on the half-hour mark. A superb ball down the left flank from Kyle O’Connor released Adeyemo, he raced away from Slevin and his low curling cross was dispatched to the Galway net from close range by Magerusan.

Another corner almost produced the equaliser for the Tribesmen on thirty-four minutes but Hurley’s corner from the right was headed inches over the Town bar by Slevin.

Galway produced a high energy start to the second half that created three chances in the first ten minutes. Ed McCarthy fired off a twenty-yard shot that was straight at Town keeper Jack Brady, then the unmarked Brouder fired over from fifteen yards out from a Hurley cut-back, and a Stephen Walsh bicycle kick from O’Reilly’s cross was saved by Brady.

Galway completely dominated the second half and laid siege to the Longford goal but resolute defending and superb goalkeeping from keeper Brady kept the Tribesmen at bay.

On sixty-nine minutes a dangerous curling ball whipped in by Hurley found its way through the crowded penalty area but Brady produced a great reflex save. 

Brady was called into action again just a minute later pulling off a world class save. Hurley’s corner found the unmarked Walsh at the back post but his close-range bullet header was brilliantly pushed onto the crossbar by Brady.

Galway should have equalised on eighty-four minutes when two substitutes,  former Town players  Rob Manley and Aodh Dervin, combined to unlock the Town defence. Manley was put clean through in on goal by Longford native Dervin, Manley raced away from the Town defenders and slipped the ball under the advancing Town Keeper Brady, but Brady somehow managed to flick the ball with the back of his heel away from the goal and just beyond the post.

Galway kept coming forward in waves but the superbly marshalled Town defence  propelled attack after attack, and the Town almost caught Galway on the counter attack in the last seconds of the match, but Doona’s low diagonal shot was saved by Galway keeper Brendan Clarke.

LONGFORD TOWN (5-3-2): Brady, Elworthy, O’Brien, Temple, Hand, O’Connor, Armstrong, Serdeniuk, Wixted, Adeyemo, Magerusan.

Subs:- Giurgi for Adeyemo, Doona for O’Brien, Boudiaf for Armstrong (all 74 minutes); Hery for Wixted, Olajuwon Adeyemo for Magerusan (both 83 minutes)

GALWAY UNITED: (4-1-2-3): Clarke, O’Connor, Slevin, Brouder, O’Reilly, McCormack, Borden, Hurley, McCarthy, Aouachria, Lomboto.

Subs:- Walsh for Borden, Dervin for O’Connor (both half-time); Clarke for Lomboto (59 minutes); Manley for Aouachria (64 minutes); Tarmey for O’Reilly (85 minutes).