Longford regain cup with late show

Longford Town 2 Waterford United 1

Having lost only once in the past two years in cup competition, their second successive FAI Cup now joins the league cup in their trophy cabinet for this season. Alan Matthews and his side are responsible for quite a revolution in the Midlands.

It’s an astonishing achievement for this small club who now sit proudly alongside Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers, two of the marquee names in Irish football, as one of the few clubs to win back-to-back cups.

When Willie Bruton broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, most of the 9,676 around Lansdowne felt the cup would be going south. Although the quality of this encounter picked up substantially in the second half, after a dreary opening, it looked like a game the odd goal would win.

Bruton’s strike was no more than Waterford deserved. They were the more adventurous of the two, though that’s not saying much after the drab first half.

It was difficult to see how Longford could force their way back into the game. They looked devoid of inspiration for a long time but they found it again when they needed it most. Alan Kirby, Waterford born and bred, was teed up by Eric Lavine at the edge of the box in the 85th minute. His pile-driver almost burst the seams of the net. Dan Connor had no chance.

The equaliser was not without controversy. Lavine was fed possession from a throw-in, but there were two balls on the pitch. The referee allowed play to continue, despite the confusion. Kirby said afterwards he was gutted for Waterford.

The goal unsettled the United players and less than 90 seconds later, Lavine chased a through ball from Dean Fitzgerald, unnerving David Breen into making a mistake, and set up Paul Keegan for the winner. It took Longford just two minutes to create history, Lavine at the hub of both goals.

The Caribbean striker was dropped for last year’s final, so it was especially pleasing for him. His two ‘assists’ ensured he was bestowed with the man-of-the-match award.

With skipper Barry Ferguson suspended Dillon was moved into the heart of the Longford defence and he was superb in marshalling Darryl Murphy. With Murphy neutralised by Dillon, it was up to Waterford’s other front players, Bruton and Jose Quitongo, to probe for chinks in the Longford defence.

We had to wait until the 31st minute for the first real chance, Pat Purcell rising highest to meet John Frost’s cross. Again, O’Brien was equal to the task.

The first half petered out and the second half continued in the same vein with the defences on top.

Dillon and Gartland were excellent for Longford, and it looked like one goal was going to decide this game.

Unsurprisingly, Murphy, who worked like a Trojan despite the consistent attention of Dillon, was involved, flicking on Frost’s long pass for Bruton to latch onto. It was a good first-time finish from the Waterford striker.

Three minutes later, he had a chance to make it two-nil, when he found space on the right flank.

However, his attempt at a chip cleared O’Brien and the crossbar. Longford had never been behind in their two-year-long cup odyssey, so it was a test of the holder’s resolve.

Shane Barrett, who toiled manfully down the left wing all evening, skimmed the post in the 77th minute. With 13 minutes to go, the Midlanders found another gear.

The introduction of Paul Keegan gave Town more bite up front, and he had fairly legitimate claims for a penalty waved away in the 83rd minute when it seemed like Purcell upended him in the area. Waterford’s nerves were beginning to fray, however, and Kirby’s excellent finish two minutes later put the holders in the ascendancy.

Lavine might be getting the plaudits for his two wonderful ‘assists’, but this was about a team who simply refuse to die.

Longford Town, not so long ago threatened with extinction, have now a proud place in the record books.

European football returns to Flancare Park next year, and as Alan Matthews joined Ferguson and O’Brien in lifting the cup last night, those passionate Longford supporters realised they had witnessed an amazing chapter in the history of their club.

Defeat was tough on Waterford and their fans, who must have felt their barren 24 years without a trophy was coming to an end. In cup competitions however, this Longford team don’t know how to lose.

LONGFORD (4-4-2): O’Brien; Murphy, Dillon, Gartland, Prunty; Kirby, Martin (Keegan 72) Fitzgerald, Barrett (Perth, 90); Lavine, Baker.

WATERFORD (3-4-3): Connor; Whelehan, Breen, Purcell; Frost, Carey (Sullivan 61), Mulcahy, Reynolds, Quitongo (Waters 61), Murphy, Bruton.

Referee: J Feighery.