A positive, determined approach was rewarded by an early goal and Derry City passed safely through to the second round as Longford Town's potential to produce a shock never materialised at Strokestown Road yesterday.

On a hard, frozen pitch that was close to dangerous, Derry managed to enjoy themselves right from the kick-off, taking the game to Longford and extinguishing any hopes of an upset with a goal after 24 minutes.

Michael McHugh and Sean Hargan had wasted glorious chances before 19-year-old rightback Darren Kelly showed them just where the goal was with a superb strike for his first of the season.

Longford stood indicted for allowing Kelly to get at them up the right from goalkeeper David Platt's kick-out and he ran on and took a delightful return pass from Liam Coyle before driving the ball past Longford goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien.

If anything, falling behind galvanised Longford, who gradually found ways to attack Derry as half-time approached.

Platt had to stretch full length to push away a header from Paul Perth from captain Wesley Byrne's free-kick on 30 minutes while Paul McNally, again after an intelligent ball from Byrne, burst through the Derry defence only to shoot over the crossbar.

Derry survived and only thanks to O'Brien, who made two stunning saves for Longford on the hour, the northerners would have wrapped up the match long before its finish.

Longford Town: O'Brien; P Perth, McNally, Thompson; Flanagan, Kenny, V Perth, Byrne; Zellor, Farrell, Lundy. Subs: Gavin for Lundy (63 mins), Vaughan and Toland for Flanagan and V Perth (both 81 mins).

Derry City: Platt; D Kelly, Curran, Hutton, M Kelly; Doherty, Hegarty, Beckett, Hargan; McHugh, L. Coyle. Subs: Gilmour for Coyle (58 mins), McCaul for McHugh (90 mins).

Referee: J Cassidy (Athlone).

Receipts: £3,170.