Longford Town  1 – 0  Waterford United

You’d be hard pressed to deny the existence of a curse on Waterford United after their exit from the FAI Ford Cup tonight, at hands of Longford Town, for the sixth time in ten years. Down to ten men for over 80 minutes, and under the cosh for much of the match, United got themselves strongly back into the game, and had two glorious chances to tie up the score, before a late free kick crashed back off the crossbar, and with it went Waterford’s last hope.

An unchanged Blues team were quickly on the defensive as Longford got out of the blocks far more quickly, and the home side had already launched a couple of attacks when Mark Salmon broke clear of a hesitant defence and raced into the area. Chris Konopka was adjudged to have brought the midfielder to ground, and, as the last man, saw red. Willie John Kiely was the one to make way for sub Kevin Burns as United’s gameplan unravelled, but the young keeper couldn’t stop former Blue John Lester from tucking away the spot kick on 12 minutes.

Burns did produce a wonderful stop to keep his side in the match five minutes later, when the Waterford backline was bypassed once more, Mike Lee’s ball over the top setting Cathal Brady clear, only for the keeper to win the 1-on-1 duel. Longford kept up the forward momentum, and on 36 minutes did have the ball in the net again, but the whistle had already gone for a free out. United’s only chance of note in the half came when Liam Kearney fired right footed across the face of goal on 40 minutes.

After the break the home side tested Kevin Burns once more, a Craig Mooney strike forcing a superb save to the keeper’s right to turn it around the post. David Freeman and Mick Lee both saw shots flash across the face of goal around the hour mark, but an astute tactical switch on 61 minutes began to get the Blues back into the game. Kevin Waters came on for John Hayes, and slotted in at left back, allowing John Kearney into the middle of midfield. From then on, Waterford began to get on top in the match.

On 69 minutes Vinny Sullivan missed a real chance to level the scores, as he broke free and rounded the Longford keeper Aaron Shanahan on the edge of his area. His effort towards the empty net was mystifyingly timid though, and gave Chris Deans just enough time to get back and clear off the line. Five minutes later Thomas Hyland brought down Liam Kearney in the area, and the winger dusted himself off to take the spot kick. Well struck towards the corner, it was nonetheless superbly saved by Shanahan, and Longford’s lead remained intact. In fact, Burns had to make an equally impressive save on 79 minutes to prevent John Lester from stretching the lead with a fine free kick.

Kevin Murray moved up to bolster the attack for the closing stages, and he came close with a header over the top from a corner kick on 86 minutes. And just before the end of normal time, John Kearney stood over a free kick 28 yards out which came crashing back off the bar with Shanahan beaten all ends up. That was merely confirmation of what the travelling Blues fans knew long before, that it wasn’t to be their night, again. Manager Stephen Henderson was bullish after the game, focussing attention on the league, and getting the promotion that has always been the season’s aim, and when all is said and done that would be plenty good enough for the Blues faithful, so let’s start the season afresh with Salthill on Tuesday.

Longford: Aaron Shanahan; Niall O’Reilly, Chris Deans, John Lester, Mike Lee; Cathal Brady (Fiachra McArdle 81), Mark Salmon, Thomas Hyland, Craig Mooney; David Freeman, Peter Hynes (Derek Glynn 71) - subs: Justin Perrin, Victor Ekanem, Kevin Cronin, Gary Cronin, Stephen Conlon

Goals: Lester 12 pen

Booked: Lester

Waterford: Chris Konopka; Paul Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, John Kearney; James O’Sullivan (Gary Keane 81), Paul McCarthy, John Hayes (Kevin Waters 61), Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely (Kevin Burns 11), Vinny Sullivan - subs: Gareth Cambridge, Timmy Purcell, David Grincell

Booked: Long

Sent Off: Konopka 10

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)