Longford Town - 4 Shelbourne - 1: Cork City's faint hopes of winning this year's league title received a boost in Flancare Park on Saturday night as the home side turned in a tremendous performance to end Shelbourne's weak resistance.
Longford fans were treated to a cracker of a game that had everything. Referee Declan Hanney had his hands full and there's no doubt he was the busiest man on the night as he issued two red cards and was responsible for sending off Vinnie Perth when he was warming up to come on as a sub. Perth prevented a shelbourne player form retrieving the ball when it went out of play and much to the amusement of the home fans, was sent off.
The cup holders were awesome at times and could afford to miss many glorious opportunities over the course of an enthralling 90 minutes. Shelbourne were flattered to lose by only three goals, such was Longford's dominance.
The home side went in front on 23 minutes when Shelbourne goalkeeper Steve Williams saw his clearance blocked down by home striker Eric Lavine.
The Barbados international kept his composure before slotting the ball into the empty net. The Dubliners drew level just 12 minutes later. Referee Hanney awarded them a dubious free-kick which was brilliantly drilled home by Dave Crawley.
Longford's response was immediate and very effective. Just three minutes later they were back in front when Dessie Baker fired the ball under the body of Williams. The home side extended this lead in the 57th minute when Sean Prunty finished off a brilliant move to leave Longford in the comfort zone
This was a night that Shelbourne will want to forget in a hurry. They had midfielder Alan Moore sent off in the 60th minute while a Jason Byrne penalty in the 79th minute was brilliantly saved by O'Brien.
The midlanders rubbed salt into Shelbourne's wounds in the final minute of normal time when Eric Levine set up Alan Kirby for a simple tap-in.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Dillon, Paisley, Martin, Ferguson, Gartland, Kirby, Fitzgerald, Lavine, Baker, Prunty.
SHELBOURNE: William, S Byrne, Crawley, Rogers, Doherty, Crawford, Cahill, Moore, Fitzpatrick, J Byrne, Hoolahan. Subs: Rowe for Fitzpatrick (74 mins). Cawley for Hoolihan (77 mins).
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin)
