City pay the penalty as Byrne nets Longford winner

Cork City 0 Longford Town 1 (aet)

For the second time in 12 days, Longford Town came to Leeside, kept the home side scoreless and continued their excellent form in cup competitions by virtue of an excellent Davy Byrne goal in injury-time, from only their second corner of the night.

After Neale Fenn had a shot blocked superbly by John Martin in the 8th minute, Longford created their best opening when Alan Kirby put Dessie Baker into the space and though he showed excellent balance and dribbling skills, his shot was blocked by Neal Horgan.

Roy O’Donovan’s finishing let him down in the 20th minute and Fenn again showed silken skills to find Gamble, and when the midfielder eventually set up O’Donovan on the right, the winger shot high over the crossbar.

John O’Flynn, keen to build on his hat-trick last Friday night, had his first chance in the 22nd minute. Fenn was again involved but the striker’s shot hit the side-netting.

George O’Callaghan was less prominent than in recent games for City, John Martin’s close-marking giving the former Port Vale man little show in which to conjure up his usual magic.

Flynn gave a glimpse that he is back to his very best, picking up a Kearney through-ball and after turning on to his right foot a fine strike veered just wide.

Stephen Paisley almost headed into his own net in the 37th minute after a Kearney free-kick on the edge of the box before O’Callaghan at last reproduced some of his weekend magic to launch a fine shot. However, Mick Dempsey was equal to the strike.

City restarted attacking the Shed End and, after two minutes, Fenn played a ball through to O’Flynn, but Paisley bravely blocked the Cork striker, injuring himself in the process.

A rare break by the Midlanders saw the dangerous Kirby link well with Davey Byrne but the latter’s shot was blocked by Devine.

Longford, for a period, revisited their old tactics of blanket defending, which worked to frustrated City, though Gamble and O’Callaghan had good shots on target in the 69th and 70th minutes that came close to breaking the deadlock.

A war of words broke out on touchline between managers Alan Matthews and Damien Richardson after John O’Flynn went in heavily on Mick Dempsey for one on one ball in the 84th minute. It resulted in Dempsey’s being stretchered off as the two managers continued to react angrily.

City had a wonderful opportunity to win the tie in injury-time when Roy O’Donovan was pushed off the ball by Paisley in the box, but O’Flynn’s well-placed penalty was brilliantly saved by replacement keeper Gary Cassin.

The drama continued off the field when Alan Matthews was sent from the touchline to the stand in injury-time for spraying water on Cork fans situated behind the Longford dug-out.

The game entered extra-time and Longford threatened in the early stages as they upped the ante considerably. The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes in when a Kirby cross was flicked on by Andy Myler and Davy Byrne, all alone, headed to the roof of the net.

City created very little in terms of chances, appearing leg weary as the game progressed.

Derek Coughlan was introduced in the second period of extra-time as City pushed forward at a relentless rate. O’Callaghan sent a blistering drive from outside the box wide right of the post before Denis Behan’s free-kick in the 115th minute had direction and conviction but it went a yard right of Cassin’s post.

City bombarded the Longford area but there was no way past the excellent Barry Ferguson and Sean Dillon.

CORK CITY: M Devine; N Horgan (D Coughlan 108), A Bennett, D Murray, D Murphy; R O’Donovan (B Woods 99), J Gamble, G O’Callaghan, L Kearney; N Fenn, J O’Flynn.

LONGFORD TOWN: M Dempsey (G Cassin 84); D O’Connor, B Ferguson, S Dillon, S Paisley; A Kirby, J Martin, D Byrne, G Cronin; D Baker, A Myler.

Referee: H Whoriskey.