National League Premier Division/Longford Town - 3 Drogheda Utd - 1: FAI Cup holders Longford Town ended their National League season in style with a rather facile victory over Drogheda United at Flancare Park last night.
The Louth side will be disappointed with the way their season has ended, as they have failed to qualify for European football next season. That being said, Longford have proved a real bogey side for them all season, including knocking them of the FAI Cup at the semi-final stage.
The home side went ahead after seven minutes. Drogheda defender John Flanagan made a complete mess of an attempted clearance and Eric Lavine nipped in to grab the game's opening goal.
The striker doubled his tally in the 27th minute, smashing the ball under the body of Drogheda goalkeeper Gary Rogers from just outside the area.
Longford added the third six minutes later when Paul Keegan put the finishing touches to a fine move that also involved Lavine and Sean Dillon.
Andy Myler scored a quite superb goal for Drogheda in the 64th minute. The striker took advantage of some woeful home defending before curling the ball into the top corner of Stephen O'Brien's net.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Dillon, Paisley, Martin, Ferguson, Gartland, Kirby, Fitzgerald, Lavine, Keegan, Barrett. Sub: Perth for Fitzgerald (75).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers; Flanagan, Cronin, O'Connor, Gray, Lester, Whelan, Reilly, O'Brien, Myler, McClare. Subs: Sullivan for Flanagan (35); Rooney for O'Brien (half-time).
Referee: Tony Kelly (Westmeath).
Kildare County, just three days after narrowly missing out on promotion, have agreed to part ways with manager Eric Hannigan.
The Kildare town native took over from Dermot Keely 18 months ago and having dramatically missed out on the play-offs last year, he again suffered similar disappointment.
Further surprise came as John Ryan was appointed as the new man in charge. The former Bray striker who scored an FAI Cup final hat-trick, left the assistant manager's role just a fortnight ago, citing personal reasons for his departure. However, yesterday he said he couldn't refuse such an offer.
Ryan's assistant will be Barry O'Connor who will also continue in a playing capacity at Station Road.
