Longford saved by Keenan

It was little consolation that one of the few moments of skill in a dreadfully poor FAI Cup first round second replay provided its only goal. But Longford Town drew on another man-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Anthony Keenan to book their second round meeting with Whitehall Rangers and leave non-league Wayside Celtic to brood over what should have been.

The result, after five-and-a-half hours of football, was cruel on Wayside who had much the better of this latest 120 minutes, creating the better chances. Yet, on each occasion they found the target they also found an inspired Keenan who was equal to the task of keeping his side in the match.

Substitute Damien Gannon proved the match winner in the fourth minute of extra-time. A sweeping move out of defence caught a quickly tiring Wayside square at the back; Alan Doherty looped a delightful ball through to Gannon who showed admirable calm to shoot low beyond goalkeeper Alan Sullivan and into the far corner.

Ironically for Wayside, it was Longford's only shot on target in the entire game, but the lesson was surely not lost on Ian Callaghan, the Wayside striker, who wasted several opportunities.

The first-half was noteworthy only for a double sending off after 15 minutes. Longford's veteran defender, Ronnie Murphy, was guilty of a bad challenge on Colm Flynn, who took decided exception and retaliated. The players appeared to exchange blows and Dublin referee Pat Whelan had little option but to show them the red card.

The second-half offered a slight improvement as Wayside got well on top but just couldn't find a way past Keenan.

Callaghan should have scored when through on goal within four minutes of the restart, but Keenan parried well with his feet. Senan O'Douchan then had a shot cleared off the line by Frank Darby minutes later.

George Webb and Brian Leavy soon combined to put Callaghan through on goal again on 63 minutes, but once more Keenan outfoxed the striker to make the save.

Finishing was again Wayside's undoing as Andy Flynn wasted one of their clearest chances on 75 minutes by shooting a foot over the top after Matt Grimes had picked him out to perfection with a cross-field pass.

Despite Wayside's pressure, Longford might have won it in normal time, but Doherty delayed a shooting chance and Sullivan cleared 12 minutes from the end.

Having fallen behind four minutes into extra-time, Wayside laid siege to the Longford goal for the remainder of the game. But once more Keenan proved his side's saviour with his best stop of the match when brilliantly keeping out Mark Byrne's stinging drive.

Callaghan's day was then aptly summed up with further fruitless efforts; a shot cleared off the line by Enda Kenny and a glaring miss two minutes from the end.

Wayside Celtic: Sullivan; Grimes, Simpson, M Byrne, O'Douchan; C Flynn, P Byrne, Webb, A Flynn; Leavy, Callaghan. Subs: Fitzpatrick for Leavy (71 mins), Masterson and Roche for Grimes and A Flynn (both 105 mins).

Longford Town: Keenan; Darby, Malone, Murphy, Hardy; Kenny, Toland, Rooney, Lennon; Dunleavy, Doherty. Subs: Gannon for Toland (71 mins), Devaney for Doherty (105 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).