Bohemians ... 1 Longford Town ... 0: Striker Glen Crowe grabbed his 29th goal of the season at Dalymount Park last night to move Bohemians above Derry City and into fourth place in the Premier Division.
However, the manner of the victory was less than impressive on a night when the standard of football was hampered by wind, mud and rain.
Longford will regard this as a missed opportunity to ease their relegation worries. They did have their chances, notably when Wes Byrne struck the upright.
Keith O'Connor also wasted a clear opening before Stuart Holt had a fine 40-yard free kick brilliantly saved by Bohemians goalkeeper, Michael Dempsey.
It was Dempsey's heroics that eventually earned Bohemians the three points, as he produced a string of quality saves to deny the Longford attack.
Bohemians came closest to breaking the deadlock on 12 minutes when a defence-splitting pass by veteran defender, Tony O'Connor, provided the opening for Stephen Caffrey. But the midfielder's final effort from the edge of the box was wide off the target.
Longford's Keith O'Connor then fired wide with the goal at his mercy following a mix-up between defenders Avery John and Mark Dempsey, who were under pressure from Fergal Coleman.
Longford's Wes Byrne then saw his 40-yard free kick completely deceive the Bohemians defence, with the ball striking the upright and rebounding into the arms of grateful keeper, Dempsey.
The breakthrough eventually came on 56 minutes when winger, Mark Rutherford, cut inside Holt to deliver a perfect ball for Crowe. His first effort was only half blocked by goalkeeper, Stephen O'Brien, but Crowe was quickest to react, firing in the rebound from two yards.
Bohemians had opportunities to stretch their lead late on, when substitute Paul Byrne had one effort pushed over the bar by O'Brien, who then had to race from his area to head clear just when it looked as though Crowe would be on target a second time.
Limerick and Derry City will meet in the first leg of the Eircom League Cup final on Saturday, April 6th at Jackman Park, kick-off 5.0. The return leg will be at the Brandywell at 7.45 on the following Thursday evening, when extra-time and penalties will be used to decide the match if required.
BOHEMIANS: M Dempsey; T O'Connor, Hill, John, Mark Dempsey; Morrison, Hunt, Caffrey, Rutherford; Crowe, Ryan. Subs: P Byrne for Morrison (63 mins), Folan for John (71 mins), O'Neill for Ryan (82 mins).
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Holt, Kelly, S Byrne, W Byrne; Kirby, Perth, Reynolds, M Byrne; Coleman, O'Connor. Subs: Zellor for O'Connor (40 mins), Kenny for Coleman (74 mins).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)
