Craven cracker the clincher for Longford Town as stunned Galway United suffer first defeat
SSE Airtricity League First Division - Round 7
Longford Town . . . 2 Galway United . . . 1
The stunned home supporters could not believe it when defender Mick McDonnell played a completely misjudged back pass intended for keeper Luke Dennison into the empty net with 11 minutes gone on the clock but there was a change of fortune for Gary Cronin’s side just the break.
Sam Verdon got the vital touch in a goalmouth scramble as the Galway keeper Conor Kearns just failed to prevent the ball crossing the line and that proved to be a turning point as hard working Longford went in search of a winner in the second half.
A draw was looking the likely outcome before Craven blasted an unstoppable shot from outside the box into the back of the net in the 77th minute and resolute Town stood firm during the remainder of the match to clinch a major result in their push for promotion.
Next up for Longford is a visit to the RSC on Friday April 1 to take on another of the main title contenders Waterford.
LONGFORD TOWN: Luke Dennison; Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Dylan Barnett, Ben Lynch; Eric Molloy, Aaron Robinson, Dean McMenamy, Ryan Graydon; Darren Craven; Sam Verdon.
Subs:- Callum Warfield for Verdon (injured, 76 mins); Michael Barker for Molloy (86 mins).
GALWAY UNITED: Conor Kearns; Conor O’Keeffe, Charlie Lyons, Killian Brouder, Max Hemmings; Ed McCarthy, Dave Hurley, Conor McCormack, Mikie Rowe; Wilson Waweru, Stephen Walsh.
Subs:- Gary Boylan for Rowe (57 mins); Dean O’Shea for Hemmings (57 mins); Jordan Adeyemo for Waweru (68 mins); Francely Lomboto for McCarthy (84 mins).
Referee: Oliver Moran.