Ten man Longford Town let victory slip in the draw against Wexford FC

Longford Town squandered a two goal lead to draw with Wexford FC at Bishopsgate on Saturday night in a big blow to their hopes of finishing in fifth position, the last of the promotion play-off places.

Longford Town . . . 2  Wexford FC . . . 2

Longford finished the game with 10 men after Osaze Irhue was sent off for a second yellow card in the 58th minute and this proved to be a decisive factor as the visitors came away with a point in the First Division clash. 

Daragh Murtagh and Aaron Doran (penalty) put Town 2-0 up going in at the break but goals from Ben McCormack (penalty) and Mikie Rowe earned a draw for Wexford FC.

The home side enjoyed early possession but for all the ball they had in the Wexford half they didn’t make their keeper Paul Martin work. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors in the 10th minute with McCormack hitting his effort over the bar.

Longford took the lead in the 25th minute and it was gifted to them by careless defending from Wexford. Kaylem Harnett tried to play the ball back to his keeper, it was picked up by Murtagh and he fired past Martin to break the deadlock. 

Wexford were given a soft free-kick in the 28th minute but Robbie McCourt’s effort was a poor attempt before the Town were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute; Dean O’Shea’s throw-in caused problems and Sean Moore was fouled in the box by Ajibola Oluwabiyi. Doran took the spot-kick and made no mistake to extend the advantage. 

O’Shea brought a good save out of Martin in the 37th minute; Daniel Norris took down the ball and laid it off to the defender but the Wexford netminder denied the Town a third goal that would have put the issue beyond all doubt. 

As half-time approached Wexford tried to get back in the game with Town having to defend well. The first opportunity of the second half fell to Stephen Elliott’s side; Town keeper Kian Moore couldn’t hold the ball and Oisin Hand had to clear Harnett’s effort off the line.

Wexford pulled a goal back in the 54th minute; Osaze Irhue gave away a penalty with a rash tackle on James Crawford with Ben McCormack converting the spot-kick. 

The Town were reduced to 10 men in the 58th minute when Irhue was sent off for a second yellow card after a trip on Oluwabiyi.

The visitors went in search of a second goal. Evan Osam’s free-kick was headed clear in the 70th minute. With his side under pressure Town manager Wayne Groves took off Daragh Murtagh, which left Longford with no striker as they went defensive.

In the 78th minute Town keeper Moore dived to save from Wexford sub Mikie Rowe as Wexford continued to press. Their pressure eventually paid off in the 80th minute; Oluwabiyi’s pace beat Eric Yoro, he put the ball in and Rowe got a touch to get the equaliser.

The Town broke in the 82nd minute but Norris’ hit his shot straight at Martin. Minutes later an unmarked Pharrell Manuel headed wide. 

Wexford almost snatched a late winner when Robbie McCourt blasted his shot over the bar in the 88th minute and in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils despite the numerical advantage. 

Longford Town are back at home on Friday night next when in-form Finn Harps come to Bishopsgate, kick-off 7.45pm. 

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Oisin Hand, Eric Yoro, Dean O’Shea; Pharrell Manuel, Sean Moore; Luke Wade Slater,  Aaron Doran, Daniel Norris; Daragh Murtagh.

Subs:- Stefan Ugbesia for Wade-Slater (54 mins), Andy Spain for Murtagh (72 mins), Kyle Robinson for Doran and Alex O’Brien for Norris (85 mins).

WEXFORD FC: Paul Martin; Kaylem Harnett, Dean Larkin, Robert McCourt, Evan Osam; Ajibola Oluwabiyi, Zayd Aada, Ben McCormack, James Crawford; Muhammad Haris, Aaron Dobbs.

Subs:- Conor Levingston for Haris (35 mins), Mikie Rowe for Harnett (60 mins), Callum Flynn for Dobbs, Cian Browne for Crawford and Matthew O’Brien for Abada (68 mins). 

Referee: Rob Hennessy,