Longford shock hosts Sligo

JAMIE HOLLYWOOD provided the moment of magic as Longford dumped Sligo Rovers out of the FAI Cup at the Showgrounds last night.

The midfielder’s 65th minute effort squirmed under Sligo keeper Mitchell Beeney as Rovers were knocked out of a cup competition at home for the second time in a week. Longford knocked Sligo out at the same stage last year, and the home side were also hoping to atone for their EA Sports Cup exit against Derry on Monday.

The visitors had an early scare when Mick Kelly handled the ball outside his area, but Mikey Drennan’s free-kick didn’t make it past the wall. And Kyle CallanMcFadden saw a header smash back off the crossbar from Rhys McCabe’s corner midway through the half. Rovers almost broke the deadlock on the hour-mark, only for Drennan’s close range shot to bounce back off the post, while Dylan McGlade forced a decent stop from Beeney at the other end.

But McGlade’s trickery set up Hollywood for the breakthrough soon after, as Rovers’ dismal run at home continued.