Dundalk fall to defeat against Longford

Dundalk FC squandered the chance to all but seal promotion from the SSE Airtricity League First Division on Saturday night, falling to a shock 3-2 defeat against 10-man Longford Town at Bishopsgate.

The setback came just a day after second-placed Cobh Ramblers slipped to a 3-2 loss in Wexford, leaving The Lilywhites with the perfect opportunity to extend their lead at the summit.

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Instead, defeat ensured their advantage remains at six points with only four games left to play.

Alex O’Brien opened the scoring for Longford, only for Eoin Kenny to restore parity before the break with his sixth goal in as many appearances.

But second-half strikes from Aaron Doran and Dean George condemned Dundalk to just their third league defeat of the campaign, though Mayowa Animasahun’s first-ever goal for the club deep in stoppage time proved little more than a consolation.

The opening exchanges were untidy and lacking in fluency, with the first real chance arriving on 10 minutes when Dean Ebbe lofted a ball into the area for Gbemi Arubi, whose tame header was comfortably gathered by Kian Moore.

Dundalk’s muted penalty appeals moments later—after Arubi and Kenny combined before the latter went down under pressure from Osaze Irhue—were swiftly waved away by referee Glen Geraghty.

Longford struck first on 22 minutes when Doran’s free-kick caused chaos in the area, ricocheting off Vinnie Leonard before falling to O’Brien, who stabbed home from close range.

The hosts’ joy was short-lived; within four minutes, Declan McDaid’s corner eventually dropped to Kenny, whose first-time finish inside the box to brought the sides level.

Longford almost regained their lead before half-time when Dean George spun and shot after latching onto a Pharrell Manuel cross, drawing Peter Cherrie out of position, only for Harry Groome to clear off the line.

At the other end, Kenny turned provider for Arubi, though his header was weak and gathered at the second attempt by Moore.

Six minutes into the second half, Longford restored their advantage. Ebbe’s clearance from George’s cross fell invitingly to Doran, who appeared to control with his hand before dispatching a sublime strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Moments later, Longford might have added another when JR Wilson nearly diverted a Darragh Murtagh cross into his own net.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men on 67 minutes when Murtagh was shown a straight red for a rash challenge on Wilson, seemingly handing Dundalk a route back.

Yet it was Longford who capitalised. With 20 minutes remaining, Oisin Hand released George with a ball over the top, and the forward kept his composure to loft it over Cherrie, sealing a famous victory.

Even with a man advantage, Dundalk rarely threatened to mount a comeback. Kenny had a half-chance late on, but Longford looked the more likely to add to their tally.

Stefan Ugbesia flashed a shot across goal before Doran drew another save from Cherrie in stoppage time. Animasahun gave Dundalk late hope, turning home from a corner, but it was the home side who celebrated one of their standout results of the season.

Longford Town: Kian Moore; Eric Yoro, Oisin Hand, Jamie Egan, Osaze Irhue; Sean Moore; Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran, Alex O’Brien, Dean George (Stefan Ugbesia 77); Darragh Murtagh

Subs not used: Harry Halwax (gk), Emre Topcu, Francis Campbell, Daniel Norris, Emmanuel Oluwafemi, Kyle Robinson, Ryan Boyle, Troy O’Dowd

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Luke Mulligan (Rohan Vaughan 56), Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, JR Wilson; Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 56), Shane Tracey; Eoin Kenny, Dean Ebbe (Keith Ward 56), Declan McDaid (Norman Garbett 68); Gbemi Arubi

Subs not used: Enda Minogue (gk), Sean Spaight, Ethen Vaughan

Referee: Glen Geraghty (Dublin)

Attendance: 563