Holders Longford always in charge
The home side scored two goals in one glorious first half minute from Paul Keegan and Andy Myler to set them on their way.
Keegan’s speculative 22nd minute effort deceived impressive visiting keeper Derek Hearne to gift Longford their lead while within 60 seconds Myler showed his quality as a freetaker, curling the ball home from just outside the penalty area after Keegan had been fouled.
Myler added a third from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, the kick dubiously awarded by referee Paul Tuite after Jimmy Barden was harshly penalised for what seemed a good challenge on Myler.
However, there was no doubting the quality of Longford’s fourth goal in the 84th minute.
Alan Kirby and Dessie Baker combined to set up Myler who duly completed his hat-trick. Baker tapped home a fifth goal for the home side just 2 minutes later as Crystal’s Cup aspirations were shattered.
Sligo Rovers 1 Malahide 1
Malahide showed excellent Cup-fighting qualities when they came from behind to force a replay tomorrow (Tuesday) with Sligo Rovers in the second round of the Cup.
Sligo looked to be well on their way when they jumped in front after 21 minutes with a goal from McTiernan. Malahide ensured a trip to North Dublin for the Sligo men by equalising in the 78th minute through Craven.
Kildare County had too much class for their non-league opponents in this extremely entertaining Cup tie at Station Road.
The home side opened the scoring after six minutes when Alan Byrne got the faintest of touches on a Shane Harte corner.
Kildare always looked threatening going forward, and doubled their advantage on 17 minutes when a clever ball from Robbie Shields freed man-of-the-match Darren McKenna who finished well.
Hibs weren’t creating the chances their possession warranted, and the Galwaymen were punished again on 23 minutes when Alan Kinsella’s pinpoint pass found Darren McKenna, whose cross was tapped home by Garrett Cooney to leave Kildare 3-0 at the break.
The second half was a comparatively drab affair, although Galway got the consolation they deserved when Eddie Ward headed a corner from Juan Rojas past Donnelly in the Kildare goal on 57 minutes.
However, a looping header from Darren McKenna three minutes from time sealed Kildare’s place in the next round.
It took a moment of magic by ace striker Kevin McHugh to put Harps through to the third round of the FAI Carlsberg Cup.
The goal was a clinically finished effort by McHugh who got on the end of a good move involving man of the match Paddy McGrenaghan and Chris Breen, and slid the ball neatly into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Kilkenny went desperately close to breaking the deadlock after 84 minutes when their Aidan Price rose brilliantly to nod a Mark Dempsey corner just wide of the target.
However, on second half performances, Harps deserved to win the game, only their second victory of the season.
Despite the second half dismissal of goalkeeper Adrian O’Donovan, Cork side Douglas Hall got the better of Munster rivals Carew Park in the all-non-league tie at Hogan Park on Saturday night.
The visitors took the lead through Keith Stanton after 12 minutes, and made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half through Declan O’Connell.
O’Donovan’s 69th minute red card gave the homers a lifeline, and when Paul Quinn halved the deficit a minute later, hopes of a recovery were high.
But Joe McSorley restored the advantage within three minutes and Carew’s misery was complete when Albert Slattery was sent off in injury time.
Non-league aristocrats Cherry Orchard advanced to the last 16 of the FAI Cup with a comfortable victory over fellow Leinster Senior League side Lissadell at Inchicore’s Richmond Park on Saturday night.
Former Coventry City youngster Barry Thornton opened the scoring after 13 minutes, getting on the end of a Mark Mearns corner.
It was 2-0 after the half hour mark when Carl Roache found the target, and substitute Barry Doyle fired twice in the space of three second-half minutes to seal the result.
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