Hoops one step closer to title after Burke strike
Graham BurkE was sprung from the bench to score the only goal of the game at Bishopsgate to edge Shamrock rovers ever closer to their 19th league title.
The laboured victory moves Stephen Bradley’s hoops 16 points clear at the top of the Premier Division table.
It means they can now seal the deal at home to Finn harps at Tallaght Stadium on Friday, though they may not even have to wait until then. Should St Patrick’s athletic lose at home to Dundalk on monday night, then rovers’ backto-back titles will be secured.
Though rovers owned the ball in the first half, it was Longford who should have been ahead at the break.
rob manley tenaciously held off Lee Grace in a marauding run behind the visitor’s defence on 36 minutes. alan mannus parried his shot, and a follow-up from aodh Dervin, before the latter then headed over the bar from aaron mcNally’s cross.
another chance then fell the home side’s way in first-half stoppage time, aaron robinson drilling a shot into the side netting after Dylan Grimes’ free kick fell to him at the back post.
rovers continued to dominate possession into the second half but didn’t spark until a triple substitution on 62 minutes when Dylan Watts, Danny mandroiu and Burke were introduced.
Three minutes later they were ahead with Burke beginning and finishing the move.
The hoops’ number 10 sent rory Gaffney clear on the right to cross for mandroiu. and though his close range shot was brilliantly parried by Lee Steacy, Burke followed up to shoot to the net.
relegated Longford refused to lie down and might have been level following a succession of corners on 76 minutes.
Substitute aaron Dobbs looked set to score as he met Grimes’ delivery only to plant his header over the top.
Longford Town: Steacy; Elworthy, McDonnell, O’Driscoll, Lynch; Zambra (McCabe, 84), Robinson (Chambers, 88); Grimes (Warfield, 88), Dervin, McNally (Dobbs, 71); R. Manley.
ShaMrock roverS: Mannus; Gannon, Hoare, O’Brien; Finn (Grace, 23), McCann, Towell (Mandroiu, 62), Farrugia (Burke, 62); Greene, Emakhu (Watts, 62), Gaffney (Duffy, 90+3).
Scorer: Burke 65. referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare).v