LONGFORD TOWN (0) 1 (Byrne s/o 23, Francis 90)
DERRY CITY (1) 1 (Moran 23)
*Longford won 2-1 AET (Murphy 120)
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Murphy scored with the last kick of the game after Alan Kirby's cross shot had come back off the post to spark jubilant celebrations by the Longford fans. Striker Sean Francis had scored a magnificent equaliser to send the game into extra time and set up the climatic finish.
The victory also maintained the Midlanders incredible record of never losing to Derry City since they were promoted to the Premier Division in 2000.
City took the lead on 23 minutes when former West Ham keeper David Forde saw his long punt miscontrolled by Longford defender Barry Ferguson, whose attempted header behind caught Michael Dempsey's post and fell into the path of the onrushing Derry striker Padraig Moran who gleefully netted the rebound.
Before the resumption, Alan Matthews' home side had midfielder Brian Byrne sent off for dissent in relation to the Derry goal. The Town boss brought on former U20 international Alan Kirby to shake matters up, with a brave switch to a back three for the second period. Derry seemed happy to sit back and hit their hosts on the counter, with Longford unlucky not to equalise through Francis who latched onto an Eric Lavine cross, only to see his shot blocked by Kevin Deery.
Francis made up for that miss with a 90th minute chip on the stranded Forde. Longford brought a cagey extra-time to a close on the two-hour mark when Kirby floated in a free-kick, won by substitute Shane Barrett, for Murphy to dink home.
Longford Town: Dempsey; A Murphy, Foley, Ferguson, McGovern; Perth, G Murphy, Byrne, Prunty; Lavine, Francis.
Subs: Kirby for G Murphy (half time), Barrett for Prunty (75 mins), Mulvihill for Perth (84 mins).
Derry City: Forde; Deery, McLaughlin, McChrystal, E McCallion; McGlynn, Martyn, Hutton, McCready; Moran, Beckett.
Sub: Gill for Moran (81 mins)
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).