Dramatic finish as Longford Town score shock win over Cork City

Stefan Ugbesia celebrating the dramatic winning goal for Longford Town against Cork City at Turner's Cross on Friday night Photo: Eddie Lennon | Eddie Lennon

placeholder image — Stefan Ugbesia celebrating the dramatic winning goal for Longford Town against Cork City at Turner's Cross on Friday night Photo: Eddie Lennon | Eddie Lennon

SSE Airtricity League First Division - Round 23

Cork City . . . 3 Longford Town . . . 4

Terrific Longford Town FC somehow found the energy to snatch a dramatic win over the stunned league leaders Cork City in a dramatic finish at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.

Building on the platform of a first half lead with Dean Williams converting a penalty to break the deadlock in the 11th minute, a second goal for the visitors materialised in first half stoppage time when Pharrell Manuel found the back of the net.

That was a real wake up call for Cork who scored twice in quick succession (70th and 72nd minutes) to hit the front and were looking good for another win in their relentless pursuit of the First Division title and an immediate return to the Premier Division

But spirited Longford just refused to accept defeat and after Daragh Murtagh got the equaliser in the 86th minute, a fantastic finish to this thriller was complete when substitute Stefan Ugbesia scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage time with wing wizard Andy Paraschiv creating both goals.

This unexpected result against all the odds (a very generous 9/1 shot with the bookies) is a massive boost for the Town in their quest for a place in the promotion play-offs and it must be said that the manager Wayne Groves is doing the business.

Despite their injury problems, Longford are climbing up the table and currently occupy fourth position as they grow in confidence.

The league takes a break next weekend with the Town in action against non-league outfit Baldoyle United in the second round of the FAI Cup at Bishopsgate on Saturday with a 5pm kick-off.

CORK CITY: Brann (Odumosu 46); O’Keeffe (Lyons 46), O’Connor, Kelleher, Drinan (Murray 81); Fitzpatrick, Crowley, Bolger, Mpongo; Murphy, Keating.

LONGFORD TOWN: Kian Moore; Osaze Irhue, Cole Omorehiomwan, Taylor McCarthy, Jake Hough; Sultan Adenekan (Mark Canavan 81), Daniel McKenna; Pharrell Manuel, Daragh Murtagh (Sean Moore 90+3), Andy Paraschiv; Dean Williams (Stefan Ugbesia 76).

Referee: JS Walsh (Waterford).