Don Cowan strikes late to seal away win for Longford over Galway

Galway United 1 Longford Town 2

Longford Town claimed their first away win of the season as Don Cowan's injury-time strike finally broke down nine-man Galway United.

Galway United’s Sam Oji and Longford’s Pat Flynn were sent off after Cowan’s strike, while United also had Stephen Walsh sent off in the first half.

Jake Keegan’s early goal had given the Tribesmen the lead early on before Gary Shaw’s equaliser gave Longford hope.

After Walsh’s red, the reorganisation saw Andy O’Connell drop back into the centre of defence and they looked likely to have held out until half time, but just before the interval Shaw got the faintest of headers to Conor Powell’s cross as the clock hit 45 minutes to leave it 1-1 at the break.

It was tough on United to concede just before the break, but they continued to defend stoutly after the restart.

Chances for the home side were few and far between as Keegan ploughed a lone furrow up front and they had to be satisfied with long-range shots from the American and Enda Curran.

Longford largely failed to produce much better at the other end however.

Don Cowan continued to get plenty of space down the right, but too often the end product failed to materialise after some impressive build-up play.

Shaw was the real threat up front though and he had a good chance snuffed out by the United defence on 77 minutes.

But there was still time for Cowan to earn the points with his dramatic late winner.

GALWAY UNITED: Winn; Byrne, Oji, Walsh, Horgan; Shanahan, O'Leary, O'Connell, Molloy (Garcia 66); Keegan (Cunningham 66), Curran (Sinnott 84).

LONGFORD TOWN: Hunt; Sullivan, Flynn, Tyrell (Salmon 80), Powell; Cowan (Gorman 90), Rice, O'Connor, Shannon (Deady 55); Shaw, O'Sullivan.

Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare)