Longford relinquish crown

Derry City 2 Longford Town 1

Derry City, therefore, will face UCD next month with the winner securing a place in next season’s Setanta Cup competition.

With the home side having moved into a 2-0 lead by the 68th minute, and Barry Ferguson reduced the deficit three minutes later. However, the Longford skipper was sent off in the 73rd minute.

That incident swung the pendulum in Derry’s favour but a superb save by Derry keeper, David Forde, in the 89th minute, following a Stephen Paisley header, saved the day for the home side.

Derry deservedly broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute following a fluent move down the right. Gareth McGlynn broke free and when he found Ciaran Martyn, the midfielder intelligently squared the ball to the unmarked Mark Farren who swept the ball home past the advancing Stephen O’Brien.

And Derry doubled their lead in the 68th minute when Farren added his second. A free-kick by Peter Hutton into the penalty area was headed on by Killian Brennan and the lively striker burst through to force the ball over the line.

However, three minutes later, Longford reduced the deficit. Substitute, Stephen Gough sent a free into the area and Ferguson dived to head the ball home.

But that goal was Ferguson’s final involvement in the game when, in the 73rd minute, he was involved in an off-the-ball altercation with Derry substitute, Gary Beckett off the ball.

Having already been booked in the 32nd minute, referee Hugo Whoriskey had no option but to send the central defender off. The home side had a superb opportunity to end the game as a contest when Martyn found O’Flynn with a perfect pass in the 80th minute but the striker sliced his shot wide of the target with the goal at this mercy.

Following the final whistle Longford substitute, Desse Baker, was sent off by the referee for what appeared persistent dissent.

DERRY CITY: Forde; D. Brennan, Hutton, McLaughlin, Brennan; McGlynn, Martyn, Molloy, McCourt (Beckett, 56 mins.); O’Flynn (87 mins.), Farren.

LONGFORD TOWN: O’Brien; O’Connor (Gough, 60 mins.), Ferguson, Paisley, Dillon; Kirby (Martin, 80 mins.) Fitzgerland Byrne, Cronin; Myler (Baker, 78 mins.), Keegan.

Referee: H. Whoriskey (Meath).