Keeper is the hero as Cabinteely progress
PROMOTION PLAY-OFF 1ST LEG
CABINTEELY keeper Stephen McGuinness was the hero for his side as they defeated Longford Town on penalties to advance to the 2nd v 3rd First Division play-off. McGuinness made three saves in the shoot-out after Sam Verdon had put away the first penalty to give the home side a 1-0 advantage. McGuinness went on to save from Jack Doherty, Aaron Dobbs and Paul Conor. In an entertaining encounter the home side nearly broke the deadlock in the sixth minute; Aaron Dobbs did well to hold the ball up and play it to Dylan Grimes but his shot was cleared off the line by Cabo defender Eoin Massey. Poor defending down the other end saw Cabo take the lead in the 18th minute. Town netminder Lee Steacy brought off a fine double save to deny Rob Manley and Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters but Paul Fox finished the rebound to the net. Minutes later Manley had a chance but his header was saved by Steacy. The home side pressed hard and got back on level terms in the 41st minute when Jack Doherty’s corner from the right was powerfully headed home by Aaron Dobbs. Seven minutes after the break Town had a great chance to take the lead; Dobbs with the pass to Dean Byrne who raced through on goal but shot straight at Cabo keeper Stephen McGuinness. Waters had a shot cleared off the line by Conor Kenna in the 73rd minute while McGuinness pulled off a fantastic save to deny Town substitute Sam Verdon in the 77th minute. Neither side troubled either keeper after that and the game went to extra-time. Conor Keeley had a header that went just inches wide in the 101st minute. On 112 minutes a Doherty free met the head of Dobbs, Stephen McGuinness caught the ball but appeared to cross the line with it. McGuinness was to be the hero in the shoot-out.
LONGFORD TOWN: Steacy; Elworthy (Manley 105), McDonnell, Kenna, Zambra; O’Conor; Grimes (Hopkins 76), Doherty, Byrne (Verdon 72), Evans (Dervin 95); Dobbs. Scorer: Dobbs 41.
CABINTEELY: McGuinness; Keeley, Massey, Tuite, Hudson; Dalton (Sasaki 87), Manahan (Blackbyrne 62), O’Neill (Barnes 110), Fox; Waters (Clucas 113), Manley. Scorer: Fox 18.
Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin)