Longford falter on the brink - December 10, 2000
Longford 0 St. Pats 3
Having climbed to dizzying heights in the Eircom Premier division, promoted Longford made the mistake of looking down last night - and St. Patrick's Athletic profited handsomely from the Midlanders' severe attack of vertigo!
Longford started well and Seamus Kelly has to stretch to deny Shay Zellor as early as the 9th minute.
But the newboys - like many a team this season - found they had no answer to the Saints' excellence at set pieces. Centre back Darragh Maguire struck twice from corners - in the 22nd and 39th minutes - to knock the heart out of Longford's young team.
The visitors were content to soak up the pressure in the second half before rubbing salt into Longford's wounds eight minutes from time - substitute Jamie Harris beating Stephen O'Brien from what looked like an impossible angle.
Longford Town: O'Brien, Murphy, Smith, McNally, W Byrne, Gavin, S Byrne, Kelly, Coyle, O'Connor, Zellor
Subs: Notaro for W Byrne 43, Farrell for Zellor 64, V Perth for Smith 75
Booked: W Byrne 24, Murphy
St. Patrick's Athletic: S Kelly, Croly, Maguire, Foley, Burke, Byrne, R McGuinness, Osam, Griffin, Kelly, McCarthy
Subs: Harris for Kelly 79, Quinn for McCarthy 90, Holt for Byrne 90
Goal: Maguire 22, 39, Harris 82
Booked: Burke, Croly
Referee: P Murphy (Athlone)