A good day all round for Shamrock Rovers who move up to joint third in the table with their first win at Morton Stadium in almost three months.
Longford stole the lead against the run of play on 17 minutes. Rovers' goalkeeper Robbie Horgan could only parry Stuart Byrne's deflected free-kick and Keith O'Connor scooped in the rebound. Tony Grant had a goal disallowed in the 29th minute for a foul on the Longford goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien. Rovers' equaliser on 34 minutes came through a Billy Woods header.
In the second half O'Brien saved a penalty from Francis after the Rovers striker had been pulled down by Eric Smith. The home side went ahead when Terry Palmer headed home Shane Robinson's corner on 71 minutes. Tony Grant grabbed their third 10 minutes from time.
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan; Vaudequin, Palmer, Cronin, Woods; Robinson, Colwell, Deans, Byrne; Francis, Grant. Subs: Daly for Colwell (78 mins.).
Longford Town: O'Brien; Murphy, Smith, McNally, W. Byrne; Gavin, Kelly, S. Byrne, Prunty; N. Byrne, O'Connor. Subs: Zellor for O'Connor (inj. 60 mins.), Notaro for Gavin (64 mins.), Kelly for Perth (70 mins.).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
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