Reaction | Defiant Longford Town players determined to show there is life after Neale Fenn

Despite the midweek bombshell resignation of their manager and the heartache of bowing out of the Extra.ie FAI Cup to Bohemians following a dramatic penalty shootout at Dalymount Park on Friday night, defiant Longford Town players took to Twitter to insist there is life after Neale Fenn's departure. 

In Fenn's absence, Daire Doyle called the shots from the dugout and a super performance saw Longford push Bohs all the way but ultimately their brave challenge against their Premier Division opponents came up short. 

Also read: Longford Town in unlucky cup exit as Bohemians triumph in penalty shoot-out 

While Fenn watched his new charges Cork City suffer a shock defeat against Galway United at Eamon Deacy Park, former Town boss and Ireland U21 manager Stephen Kenny was at Dalymount. 

Also read: Longford Town confirm Fenn departure

Long-time Bohs fan and actor Eric Lalor, who played villain Cathal Spillane in RTE drama Fair City, also took to Twitter to lavish praise on the performance of Longford dynamo Aodh Dervin. "Brilliant performance from you and your team Aodh. Best of luck with the promotion push," tweeted Lalor.

While his penalty was saved, 'gutted' Town 'keeper Lee Steacy tweeted: "In the grand scheme of things I’m immensely proud of my group of players and management. We showed tonight we can mix it with the best. Please god we can take inspiration into hopefully the play offs."

Sam Verdon suggested: "Very proud of the group of players, staff & fans. We showed incredible character. Big push now til the end of the season."

Thanking the Longford fans for their support, Dean Byrne tweeted: "I’m proud of everyone of the lads. We showed to everyone what we know we can do."

Aodh Dervin tweeted: "What a performance from everyone tonight , big push for promotion now. Thanks to the fans for travelling quality again!"

Absolutely gutted to have my peno saved but in the grand scheme of things I’m immensely proud of my group of players and management. We showed tonight we can mix it with the best. Please god we can take inspiration into hopefully the play offs. Best of luck to Bohs ⚫️⚽️

— Lee (@Lee_steacy) August 23, 2019

Very proud of the group of players, staff & fans tonight. We showed incredible character and fair play to Bohs fans clapping us off, it’s a testament to how well we played! Big push now til the end of the season ⚫️

— Sam Verdon (@SamVerdon10) August 23, 2019

Gutted to go out the way we did but I’m proud of everyone of the lads we showed to everyone what we know we can do , what an atmosphere from start to finish a proper game of football , thanks to our traveling fans absolute top class as always @LongfordTownFC

— Dean Byrne (@DeanoByrne10) August 23, 2019

Both teams gave everything they had tonight proper game think we deserved more but that’s football and nice to see a few familiar faces both sets of fans tonight top class and wish bohs all the best in the next round ⚫️

— Anto Breslin (@BreslinAnto) August 23, 2019

You won't see a better strike than this tonight! @jackdoc11 take a bow!@ExtraIRL pic.twitter.com/cB2NxmxtoS

— Longford Town FC (@LongfordTownFC) August 23, 2019

Longford Town's Aodh Dervin in action against Bohs on Friday night PICTURE: KEN KEENAN

What a performance from everyone tonight , big push for promotion now , thanks to the fans for traveling quality again! https://t.co/sM5jMZpUPa

— Aodh Dervin (@dervin_aodh) August 23, 2019

Brilliant performance from you and your team Aodh. Best of luck with the promotion push

— Eric Lalor (@ericlalor) August 24, 2019

Was he the ginger lad wearing 16?

— Eric Lalor (@ericlalor) August 24, 2019

Davy Keogh says up the Bohs. And so does Stephen Kenny and @ericlalor Another crazy night in Dalymount park. @bfcdublin pic.twitter.com/OvN0sdGDBM

— PJ Gallagher (@pjgallagher) August 23, 2019