2 v 1 
Longford TownVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 April 2021 | 6:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Rovers grab late winner
Shamrock Rovers snatched a late, late victory with a last-minute shot from Séan Gannon against Longford Town at Tallaght Stadium.
The visitors will find themselves unlucky as they ran themselves into the ground and had a deserved half time lead. Rovers raised intensity however and eventually it paid off.
In what was a lightning-quick start to the game, both sides began with a very high tempo and Longford Town pressurised Rovers kick, defence with a high line. This paid some early dividends, after Aaron Dobbs broke through on a loose ball after putting pressure on Pico Lopes.
As he raced into the box, Dobbs went down under pressure from Lopes. This ensured he earned a penalty just seven minutes into the tie.
Dylan Grimes confidently placed the ball with the resulting spot to score his second goal of the season.
The hosts may have felt slightly shell-shocked, and they were over-enthusiastic in some of their efforts to get into the game. Lopes, Mandriou and McCann all earned yellow cards in the first half.
McCann at times, displayed a fantastic range of passing and much of Rovers’ best play during the half came through him. It was good interplay in midfield from McCann and Kavanagh which started Rovers best move of the half.
Gannon crossed into the box but it went just beyond the stretch of Aaron Greene. Kavanagh had a good effort when he struck a volley which fell outside the area from a corner-kick. Kelly in goals was relieved to see it go just right of the post. Aaron Greene also had a half-chance as he headed a cross into the keeper's hands.
After a couple of half-time substitutions, Rovers came out with a renewed energy and assaulted Longford’s defence with attacking vigour.
They won a few corner-kicks and it was from one of these corners that Pico Lopes was taken down in the box and Rob Hennessy blew for a penalty. Up stepped Graham Burke to rifle the ball to the back of the net.
Longford continued to hold a solid defensive shape, and an important run by Grimes after the hour mark was significant as it allowed Longford to play for a few minutes in the Rovers area.
Chambers had a decent opportunity after that sustained play but hit the ball over the crossbar. The Town made some more substitutions to try to bring some fresh energy to their play for the last 20 minutes.
As they camped outside their area, Rovers attempted to open them up and Graham Burke unleashed a wicked volley from the edge of the box which Longford fans were relieved to see off target.
Shamrock Rovers were displaying a lot of patience, playing in front of the Longford area with minutes left on the clock.
Longford had expended a huge amount of energy with a high-pressing game in the opening half and perhaps, it counted towards the end of the game as they dropped deeper and deeper around their penalty area.
In injury time, Aaron Greene earned Rovers a free-kick on the edge and although, Longford blocked the initial shot, Sean Gannon shot into the ground through an army of bodies and it went into the Longford net to make it 2-1.
Rovers withstood pressure from a late Longford free-kick into the area and penalty appeals for a handball were waved away as the ref blew the whistle for full-time.
With their title rivals, Dundalk and St.Patrick’s Athletic, drawing 1-all this evening, it was of vital importance for Rovers to earn three points tonight.
The late victory places them joint top of the table with St.Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers on 11 points.
Timeline
| 4. Roberto Lopes | 6' | |
| 7' | 10. Dylan Grimes | |
| 26. Chris McCann | 9' | |
| 14. Daniel Mandriou | 29' | |
| Lee Grace Gary O'Neill | 45' | |
| Ronan Finn Rory Gaffney | 45' | |
| 10. Graham Burke | 54' | |
| Daniel Mandriou Dylan Watts | 58' | |
| 71' | Aaron Bolger Sam Verdon | |
| 79' | Aaron Dobbs Rob Manley | |
| 2. Sean Gannon | 90' | |
| 9. Aaron Greene | 95' |
Past Meetings
9 - 1eLOI Group C
Online Event Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town |
|
(Series 10)
1 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers v Longford Town |
|
(Series 1)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Shamrock Rovers |
2 - 4LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Longford Town FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
1 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium Shamrock Rovers FC v Longford Town FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Shamrock Rovers FC |
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Paul Regan
A sports nut who has coached at underage level in the League of Ireland. Passionate about domestic football.
Again Rovers work right to the end of the match and score a late, late winner. That is a massive three points for Rovers, who would not have wanted to drop points today.
The free-kick is blocked by the wall but unbelievably, Sean Gannon shoots into the ground and it goes through an army of bodies into the back of the net. 2-1 Rovers!!
An Aaron Greene shot is stopped and Rovers win a free-kick in injury time in a dangerous area.
Four minutes injury time. Can either side get a winner?
As Shamrock Rovers probe from side to side, they are unable to break through to create a chance and Chris McCann's cross floats wide.
With five minutes remaining on the clock, Longford appear to be happy with a point on the road. Can Rovers break through the defiant Longford defence?
Shamrock Rovers earn another corner as Robinson heads clear for Longford.
Graham Burke unleashes a wicked volley from the edge of the box which Longford fans are relieved to see off target.
Longford are making subs as Rovers pile on the pressure. Sam Verdon enters for Bolger.
Good interplay between Burke and Mandriou earns a corner kick
At the end of that pressure, Chambers connects with a cross that just goes over Mannus' crossbar.
Good work from Grimes on the left wing earns a corner kick and Longford hold possession after it to try to take the sting out of the game as they spend time in the Rovers half.
Longford are holding a solid defensive shape and the question is, can they hold out for the next half hour?
Gary O\'Neill plays a great reverse cross into the box which is headed out for a corner
Pico Lopes is taken down in the penalty area and Burke scores the penalty
Shamrock Rovers have made changes for the second half and immediately put pressure on the Longford defence.
Second Half is underway
Aaron Greene has the last shot of the half as he headered a cross into the keeper's hands. At half-time, it is 1-0 to Longford, who will look to set up the exact same way in the second half. Can Rovers break them down?
Rovers earn another free-kick as they put further pressure on Longford and Sean KAvanagh again has a dangerous shot from outside the box after a corner-kick.
Longford are putting serious pressure on Rovers on the second ball in the middle of the pitch and earn another free-kick.
Good play from Rovers on the left hand side as they looked dangerous and Burke was almost played through but the Longford defence pushed up and caught him offside.
Good play from Elworthy on the right hand side isn't defended well by Rovers and Longford win a corner.
As we enter the final ten minutes of the half, Shamrock Rovers are trying to probe through the Longford defence who have remained resolute so far. Rovers will have to add some more creativity in their play to break down their opponents.
A great cross from Sean Gannon is just beyond Aaron Greene after some good midfield passing from Kavanagh and McCann
Danny Mandriou has earned a yellow card after a loose tackle in midfield. Longford have appeared very comfortable in this match so far.
Further pressure from Rovers as they are probing and they win a corner. Burke releases a shot from outside the box but it is comfortably saved by KElly in goals.
McCann's range of passing is very good today and most of Rovers' good play is going through him.
Lopes picks up a yellow for his tackle on Dobbs in the penalty area.
Rovers immediately attack and win a corner on the right hand side but the corner comes to nothing. As they counter-attack, Dobbs is fouled by Chris McCann, who earns a yellow.
Grimes finishes to the corner of the net from the penalty.
Aaron Dobbs breaks through on a loose ball and under pressure from Pico Lopes goes down in the box.
Penalty for Longford!!
Shamrock Rovers win a first corner-kick and from it, Kavanagh shoots from the edge of the box and wasn't too far away. It just needed a little more curl.
Chris McCann displays his phenomenal range of passing with a magnificent cross-field pass.
Can Longford Town bounce back from defeat last weekend to gain a win this evening?
Can Shamrock Rovers stretch their unbeaten league run to 27 games this evening?
Longford Town are out on the pitch in their away strip of yellow and blue.
Just ten minutes to kick off here in Tallaght Stadium and the teams are in. Feel free toread our preview of the game to get ready.