Shelbourne stay on top as Byrne double sinks Longford

Shelbourne - 2 Longford Town - 1 Shelbourne stay on top of the Premier Division after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Longford Town at Tolka Park last night.

Jason Byrne was the league leaders' hero as he grabbed both goals, one from the penalty spot, in a tough game which, while not pretty, certainly contained enough action to keep those who attended entertained.

Despite featuring six bookings, it was rarely a bad tempered game though Longford defender Brian McGovern will be furious with himself after gifting the victory to Shelbourne with a needless foul on Jamie Harris that led to the winning penalty, which was coolly despatched by Byrne.

Shelbourne had the better of the opening minutes with Byrne shooting wide on a number of occasions, but Longford fought back and had the ball in the net in the 15th minute through Eric Lavine only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul by Graham Gartland on goalkeeper Steve Williams.

But as Longford were beginning to take control of the game, Byrne grabbed his first goal in the 18th minute.

An Owen Heary cross was helped into the box by Harris and when Phillip Keogh failed to clear the ball properly, Byrne was on hand to hammer the ball through Keogh's legs and past the unsighted O'Brien.

However, Longford battled back and kept Shelbourne penned in their own box, and in the 29th minute they conjured up the equaliser.

It was worth the wait, however, as Eric Lavine chased a Sean Prunty long ball into the left corner before turning inside Kevin Doherty and, from what looked like an impossibly acute angle, chipped Williams.

Lavine had the ball in the back of the net again in the 38th minute after he latched onto Keogh's fine through ball but the assistant referee flagged for offside.

Shelbourne re-emerged for the second half revitalised with Byrne going close on a number of occasions before they were awarded the decisive penalty for McGovern needlessly climbing on Harris.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Doherty, McCarthy, Rogers; Hoolahan, Crawford, S Byrne, Cahill; J Byrne, Harris. Subs: Rowe for Cahill (77 mins)

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Dillon, McGovern, Gartland, Prunty; Kirby, Kelly, Keogh, B Byrne; Francis, Lavine. Subs: Mulvihill for Kelly (71 mins), Murphy for B Byrne (73 mins)

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).