Charlie Lyons’ late strike seals Cork City win over Longford Town
Seani Maguire gave Cork City a 65th minute lead against Longford Town. Pic: Chani Anderson.
It all came alive in the closing minutes, Charlie Lyons was first to react as he knocked home Seani Maguire’s saved penalty attempt and got Cork City back to winning ways. The Leesiders just about holding on against Longford Town in Friday night’s League of Ireland First Division clash.
Cracks in the Longford wall were tough to find but City eventually got through in the second half courtesy of Maguire, only for substitute Stefan Ugbesia to then draw parity in the 79th minute.
Ugbesia would quickly go from hero to zero though, as he was deemed to have handled Josh Fitzpatrick’s effort in the box four minutes later. Referee Ryan Maher pointed to the penalty spot, and ,after a brief kerfuffle between the teams, a few minutes’ delay and a few flashes of the yellow card, Maguire stepped up.
His low effort was brilliantly repelled by Kian Moore, but, Charlie Lyons was on hand to poke home the rebound and kick-start the Shed End party with the finger to the air as he wheeled away in celebration in the 86th minute.
It was a dramatic end and another three points for City, but the 2,446 in attendance would have been less than pleased with the struggle to convert all evening.
It was a Cillian Murphy cross intended for Hans Mpongo that saw City break the deadlock, Murphy’s delivery intercepted by Daragh Murtagh before falling kindly for Maguire, whose deflected strike found the far corner in the 64th minute.
Maguire would flash wide with a headed effort shortly after from Greg Bolger’s clever cross. But, in the 79th minute, Longford slipped through for the leveller. Osaze Irhue sent Andy Paraschiv through and after getting by Rory Feely, he squared for Ugbesia, who fired from point-blank to the roof of the net.
His hand ball moments later would be their undoing, however, as Lyons knocked the winner beyond Moore.
City had been lively inside the opening 10 minutes, but far less imposing for the rest of the first half.
De Town’s back five would prove tough to penetrate, and City’s only likely goal outlet during that first half was eventual man of the match Fitzpatrick down the right flank.
He fired in a number of first-half crosses – two of those inside the first two minutes – but neither delivery found a City shirt.
Hans Mpongo and Fitzpatrick both had chances in the 10th minute, Darragh Crowley’s incisive long ball finding the Dutchman for the first effort which he curled just outside the far post, while Cillian Murphy teed up Fitzpatrick for the latter’s attempt.
Longford’s only pertinent chance of the half arrived in the 32nd minute, Pharrell Manuel playing Daragh Murtagh through, but his attempt was wide.
Fitzpatrick had struck off target from outside the box moments before, and he was in again to send Maguire away for a 40th minute chance that was kept out.
City’s control on possession was near total but their chance conversion faltered. They would race through again on the restart – Fitzpatrick the provider once again – as Maguire’s one-on-one chance was kept out by Moore.
It would not be the only time that Moore denied Seani, but he would be unable to react in time to stop the rebound.
Brann; Feely, Lyons, Kiernan; Fitzpatrick (Nevin 88), Bolger (Bridge 80), Crowley, Mpongo; Murphy; Maguire (c), Keating (Murray 56).
K Moore; McKenna, Omorehiomwan, Errity, McCarthy, Irhue (L O’Brien 89); A O’Brien (c), S Moore (Doran 75); Manuel (Robinson 75); Murtagh (Ugbesia 75), Williams (Paraschiv 75).
Referee: R Maher (Offaly)
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