A brilliant game of non-stop end-to-end football at Flancare Park last night saw Shamrock Rovers pick up three vital points in their quest to join those at the top of the Premier Division table.

This victory sets out a marker for the rest of the teams in the top flight and indicates that Rovers will be serious title-contenders this season.

Rovers were too good for Longford in the final third of the field and this proved the main difference between two hugely entertaining sides.

Rovers opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Billy Woods saw his strike come back off the legs of Longford defender Eric Smith but the deflection fell kindly for Derek Treacy whose brilliant finish curled past the out-stretched body of Longford goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien.

The visitors stretched their advantage in the 49th minute. Seβn Francis latched on to an excellent through ball from midfield, rounded goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien, and finished from a tight angle into the defenceless net.

Longford got back into the game just 13 minutes from time when Alan Murphy's cross was brilliantly converted by Seβn Prunty.

The home side went all out in search of a dramatic equaliser, but, in fact, it was Rovers who went closest to scoring when substitute Tony Cousins shaved O'Brien's crossbar with a close-range effort in the 86th minute.

LONGFOFD TOWN: O'Brien, Murphy, W Byrne, Reynolds, Smith, McLally, Kirby, S Byrne, Lavine, O'connor, Prunty, Subs: Riordan for Smith (half-time). Gavin for W Byrne (61 mins). Kenny for Lavine (74 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS O'Dowd, Costello, Dunne, Colwell, Palmer, Scully, Tracey, Vaudequin, Francis, T Grant, Woods, Subs S Grant for T Grant (71 mins). Cousins for Woods (85 mins). Deans for Vaudequin (85 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin)