Shanahan rescues Longford

Navan man Aaron Shanahan was the FAI Cup hero for Longford Town on Friday night when his 75th minute penalty save helped his side into the next round of the competition. Longford were leading 1-0 from John Lester's 12th minute penalty against Waterford Utd. The Munster side's goalkeeper Chris Konopka was red-carded after a foul on Mark Salmon which earned the hosts that spot kick. Shanahan's penalty save was his first at senior level, but on Friday night he had a quiet first-half. However, he was busy after the break as 10-man Waterford went in search of an equaliser. Shanahan previously played with Parkvilla in the Leinster Senior League and than had a season with Dundalk followed by a spell in Australia, but he is now looking forward to the next round of the FAI Cup, a competition Longford have won twice in recent years. Another Meath man, Gary Rogers, played a stormer for St Pat's at Oriel Park on Friday night as they knocked Dundalk out of the competition with a 90th minute Brian Cash strike. Dundalk had three players red-carded, two in the first-half and the third in second-half injury-time.