Shelbourne back on track

Shelbourne ... 3 Longford Town ... 0: Shelbourne got their season back on track after their recent disappointments with this empahtic win. Having been on the receiving end of the odd set-piece goal themsevles in recent games, it was time Shelbourne got one themselves and they did just that to take the lead on 36 minutes.

Wes Houlihan won a corner which Ollie Cahill clipped in to the near post for the run of Stuart Byrne who finished with a glancing header; remarkably, the midfielder's seventh goal of the season.

Shelbourne increased their lead two minutes into the second half. Sean Purnty lost control as he tried to keep a clearance from goalkeeper Stephen O'Brien in play. He was robbed by Richie Baker whose cross was shot against a post by Mark Roberts.

Houlihan sent the loose ball back into the area where Cahill turned to fire home.

Houlihan was again involved for the third goal on 71 minutes, sending Roberts in on goal. The striker appeared to have wasted the opening when he went too far around O'Brien. But he unselfishly pulled the ball back for Jim Crawford to balst home form 12 yards.

Shelbourne: Bennion; Heary, Prenderville, McCarthy, Crawley; R. Baker, Crawford, S. Byrne, Cahill; Geoghegan (Roberts h/t), Houlihan (Gannon 84).

Longford Town: O'Brien; Murphy, Silke, Ferguson, Dillon; Mulvihill (Robinson 76), Kirby, Sheridan, Perth, Prunty (Holt 67); Lavine.

Referee: D. McKeon (Dublin).