Late O’Callaghan penalty hands City win

Longford Town 0 Cork City 1

Longford enjoyed the lion’s share of early possession. Alan Kirby thought he had put the home side in front after 11 minutes but his fiercely struck shot was somehow cleared by former Longford player Greg O’Halloran.

Derek Coughlan headed wide for Cork two minutes later and the enthusiastic midweek crowd in Flancare Park had to wait a further 22 minutes for the game’s next opening.

Again it fell to the home side. Eric Lavine’s effort was blocked out for a corner by City’s Neill Horgan.

Cork’s best chance of the half fell to Colin T O’Brien in the 37th minute. He found himself on the end of Kevin Doyle’s cross but could only manage to direct his header over Stephen O’Brien’s crossbar.

Longford had another superb chance to hit the front five minutes from the break but Lavine headed badly wide with the Cork keeper Michael Divine well beaten.

Brian McGovern and Sean Francis had further chances for the midlanders in the early stages of the second half. Another chance fell to Sean Dillon in the 73rd minute. His well-struck shot was well saved by Divine as Cork continued to struggle to carve any openings.

However, Pat Dolan and his charges needn’t have worried as in the 88th minute Colin P O’Brien was fouled inside the penalty area by Longford substitute Vinny Perth and George O’Callaghan fired home the game’s only goal from the resultant spot kick.

LONGFORD TOWN: O’Brien; Dillon; Gartland; McGovern; Ferguson; Keogh; Kirby; Sheridan; Lavine; Francis; Prunty. Subs: Mulvihill for Prunty (71 mins); Perth for Sheridan (85 mins).

CORK CITY: Divine; Doyle; Horgan; K. Murray; Coughlan; D. Murray; Colin P. O’Brien; O’Halloran; Kearney; O’Callaghan; Woods. Subs: Bennett for Doyle (93 mins).

Referee: D. Hanney (Dublin).