Derry City 0 Longford Town 1 Longford Town made a great start to their Premiership campaign on Saturday night, with a 1-0 win over Premier veterans Derry City at the Brandywell.

Longford, who have been promoted to the Premier league after an absence of 15 years, were more than keen to make their debut a game to remember.

And in the dying minutes of the first half, they got the breakthrough they wanted. They won a free kick deep in their own half and up stepped Wesley Byrne, who glided the ball into the Derry box.

A scramble for the ball followed, and Keith O'Connor swooped in a low header that looped over goalkeeper John Connolly.

Longford could have doubled their lead in the second half, when Colm Notaro's blast at goal was stopped by Connolly.

After the game, Longford manager Stephen Kenny spoke of the teams victory. "What a free kick, and what a finish", he said.

Derry City: Connolly, McLaughlin, Hutton, Kelly, Hargan, McCready, Hegarty, Doherty, McIvor, O'Loughlin, McCaul

Subs: Garnon for Doherty 51, Devlin for McCaul 58, Parkhouse for McIvor 72

Longford: O'Brien, Murphy, Smith, McNally, W Byrne, Notaro, Gavin, S Byrne, Coyle, O'Connor, Farrell

Subs: Holt for Gavin 62, Kenny for Farrell 76

Goal: O'Connor

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)