Shamrock Rovers kept their hopes of a domestic double alive by doing just enough to beat Longford Town 2-1 in their FAI Ford Cup clash at Flancare Park.

 

An own goal from Chris Deans and a free-kick from Billy Dennehy proved to be enough for Rovers to snatch victory despite John Lester's late goal for the home team.

 

Even though the Hoops are sitting comfortably on top of the Premier Division, there wasn't much between the sides in this rollicking encounter as Longford fought hard throughout.

 

But there was a noticeable gap in quality that Robert Bayly exposed on 3 minutes when his effort bounced back off the upright.

 

Longford kept the pressure on though with Lee Roche heading wide and almost punishing keeper Alan Mannus for palming a shot into his direction. Then Peter Hynes came close with three different efforts.

 

But Rovers soon took control with James Chambers and Neale Fenn both trying their luck before Deans put the ball into his own net when Gary Twigg's cross caught him off-guard.

 

It took quite a while for the visitors to grab a second goal, but when it came through Dennehy's free-kick that keeper Aaron Shanahan spilled there was a degree of finality about it.

 

Lester did pop up on 80 minutes with a goal for Tony Cousins' side, although it came too late to ignite a stirring comeback for the First Division team.

 

Longford Town: Shanahan, O'Reilly, Lester, Deans, Lee, Freeman (Brady 76), Salmon, Hyland, A Roche (Cronin 86), Hynes, L Roche (Oladele 73).

 

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Chambers, Sives, Price, Stevens, Kavanagh, Bayly (Rice 68), Turner (Bradley 60), Dennehy, Twigg, Fenn (McGuinness 76).

 

Referee: R Winters (Wicklow).