Longford - 1 Glentoran - 0: Glentoran, fresh from their Irish League victory against Linfield on Saturday, came to Longford in buoyant mood for last night's Setanta Cup group one clash with their Eircom League opponents but were brought crashing back down to earth by a fired-up home side.
In the end a one-nil victory for the home side was deserved and they will now be confident of reaching the inaugural final of this money-spinning competition.
Longford created the game's first real chance after eight minutes. Dessie Baker's cross fell for Shane Barrett inside the Glens' penalty area, but the striker's first time snapshot was wide of the target.
Barrett went close to giving Longford a 22nd-minute lead. After doing all the spadework, the Enfield man eventually saw his tight-angled drive whizz just wide of the goal occupied by Elliott Morris.
Longford continued to dominate proceedings but were almost caught napping just four minutes before the break when Darren Lockhart, put through by Gavin Melaugh, was narrowly off target when it looked certain the visitors would take the lead.
Longford, again, did most of the pressing in the early stages of the second half. Man of the match Dean Fitzgerald was totally dominant in the midfield sector for the home side and set up numerous attacks.
Indeed the midfielder went very close to opening the scoring in the 55th minute but his strike from just outside the box veered narrowly off target.
However, just when it looked like ending scoreless, Longford defender Stephen Paisley popped up with just a minute of normal time remaining to head home from Alan Kirby's pinpoint cross. The defender proceeded to celebrate by removing his shirt and was duly sent off by Dublin referee Dave McKeon.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; O'Connor, Paisley, Ferguson, Dillon; Baker, Martin, Fitzgerald, Prunty; Myler, Barrett. Subs: Kirby for Prunty (66 mins), Lavine for Myler (76 mins), Keegan for O'Connor (86 mins).
GLENTORAN: Morris; Nixon, Glendenning, Ward, Leeman; Keegan, Melaugh, McCallion, Lockhart; Parkhouse, Halliday. Sub: Kilmartin for Ward (76 mins)
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)
