Emotions ran high at Flancare Park on Saturday night, but in the nicest way possible as new Bohemians manager Stephen Kenny was moved to tears by the reception he got from his former club's supporters as he made his way to take his seat in the stand.
Prevented from having any interaction with his new team on the night by a High Court injunction, Kenny's arrival 15 minutes before the kick-off brought a standing ovation from the 3,500 Longford fans.
But that was as good as it got for the magnanimous home crowd as Kenny's influence on the holders told seemingly immediately as they romped to as comfortable a win as they could have imagined - only their third victory in 16 games - as they cruised into the third round of the FAI Cup in this repeat of last season's final.
"They are fantastic supporters," said Kenny with a tear in his eye. "I was delighted with their reaction."
His team then set about tearing a very nervous Longford apart as they ran up a 3-0 matchwinning lead within 33 minutes.
Tony Folan punished sloppy defending from Tony O'Connor's long throw to shoot Bohemians in front on 10 minutes. O'Connor intercepted a poor Alan Kirby pass to set up the second goal 11 minutes later. Trevor Molloy, having collected O'Connor's pass, followed up to head home after a shot from Stephen Caffrey came down of the crossbar.
Longford then lost right-back Alan Murphy with knee ligament damage after a clash with Avery John before Glen Crowe added the third, heading home Folan's ball into the box, again after poor defending by a Longford side that only resembled in name the one that had beaten Bohemians 2-0 in the league the week before.
The game effectively over, the second half was a non-event until the last five minutes when the sides swapped goals.
Kirby headed home Seβn Prunty's cross for Longford's consolation score before Crowe punished a mistake by Vinny Perth to round Kevin McCormack for his second of the night.
"I certainly didn't take any great pleasure in beating Longford," said Kenny. "It was a difficult night. My job was to get Bohemians into the next round and we managed to do that.
"It was very strange coming in here. The reception I got left me speechless. I didn't think I deserved it, to be honest.
"Longford supporters have established themselves as the best in the country and it was difficult to walk away from them.
"Football management is the most ruthless occupation you could possibly be involved in.
"When we lost to UCD six weeks ago things weren't going too well at the time. I knew I was just like any manager and I could be sacked any minute.
"It really brought things home to me.
"The main difference in my job now is that I am full-time at Bohemians whereas I was part-time with Longford.
"Longford Town is a fantastic club. The facilities and fans are top drawer and they will go from strength to strength. I'm replaceable. There are many candidates with great ability who can come in and take Longford on from here."
LONGFORD TOWN: McCormack; Murphy (Reynolds 31 mins), McNally, S Byrne, W Byrne; Kirby, V Perth, Holt (O'Connor h/t), Gavin (Prunty h/t); Lavine, Coleman.
BOHEMIANS: Russell; O'Connor, John, Hawkins, Webb; Morrison, Caffrey (Harkin 80), Hunt, Folan (Mark Dempsey 69); Crowe, Molloy.
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).
