Peter Hopkins and Kealan Dillon hit extra time goals as Longford Town dumped Premier Division Sligo Rovers out of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup in a six goal thriller at City Calling Stadium. Longford took the lead on 26 minutes when skipper Dean Za
Peter Hopkins and Kealan Dillon hit extra time goals as Longford Town dumped Premier Division Sligo Rovers out of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup in a six goal thriller at City Calling Stadium.
Longford took the lead on 26 minutes when skipper Dean Zambra slipped Karl Chambers in behind the Sligo defence to calmly slide the ball past Micheal Schlingermann. The lead lasted five minutes as Daniel Kearns got his head to captain John Russell’s cross to flick home Sligo’s equaliser.
Benny Igiehon headed tamely over before making amends to put Sligo in front on 42 minutes when volleying to the net from close range from Regan Donelon's cross. Schlingermann rescued Sligo with a super save on 62 minutes, getting down well to his right to push away Jake Kelly’s shot on the turn.
But Town levelled on 83 minutes when Sam Verdon looped a header to the net from the Kelly’s cross. Town keeper Jack Brady then forced extra-time when brilliantly tipping Jamie McDonagh’s shot onto the bar and out for a corner.
Hopkins put Town back in front on 105 minutes, working a one-two with Davy O’Sullivan down the left to run on and blast his shot to the net for a big first goal for the club. Sligo then had McDonagh shown a second yellow card on 114 minutes.
Three minutes later substitute Dillon raced through onto O’Sullivan’s pass to shoot home Town’s fourth goal and put them into the hat for the second round draw.
