DUBLIN CITY...0 LONGFORD TOWN...1: Dessie Baker scored an early goal of the season contender as Longford got their campaign up and running, inflicting a second successive defeat on the Premier Division newcomers.
The goal arrived on 27 minutes with the former Shelbourne winger beginning the move and finishing it with a sublime strike.
Initiated by his back-heel pass to Paul Keegan, Baker ran across the edge of the Dublin area, shouted to Shane Barrett to leave Keegan's pass and hit a right-footed shot to the top of the net.
"It's up there as one of the best goals I've ever scored," agreed the 26-year-old former Manchester United trainee. "It felt really good. Everything worked out in the whole move. The little flicked ball to Keego, the return and the shot."
Longford enjoyed long periods of possession but almost conceded an injury-time equaliser. Robbie Collins swivelled onto Killian Brennan's shot only to turn the ball wide of an upright.
"Groundhog day," said City boss John Gill. "There was lack of concentration and we didn't pick up Baker as he came across the pitch. Bang. Goal. That's the difference at this level."
DUBLIN CITY: Horgan; Burke (Ennis, 64 mins), Whelehan, Crowley, Byrne; C O'Connor (Scully, 80), Tierney, Colwell, Brennan; Farrell (Collins, 75), O'Neill.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Murphy, Dillon, Paisley, Prunty; Kirby, Perth, Keogh (Martin, 88 mins), Baker (Gartland, 90); Keegan (Francis, 71), Barrett.
Referee: E Barr (Dublin).
