Derry City lose 4-2 to Longford Town in final game of season

Derry City's Rob Cornwall conceded a penalty before scoring the final goal of the game against Longford

Derry City ended seventh in the Premier Division after going down 4-2 to Longford Town in their final league game of the season on Friday night.

A David O'Sullivan penalty gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at half-time and Mark Rossiter and Gary Shaw added to Longford's lead after the interval.

Pat Sullivan scored another penalty midway through the second half.

Ronan Curtis headed in for Derry in the 76th minute and Rob Cornwall poked the ball home with one minute remaining.

The first half hour of this mid-table clash was something of a non-event, until Kevin O'Connor forced a fingertip save from young Derry keeper on 36 minutes.

O'Sullivan broke the deadlock from the spot after Cornwall had handled the ball in the area, Patton unable to keep the ball out despite getting a hand to it.

Longford increased their lead 11 minutes after the break when Patton misread the flight of the ball and Rossiter's shot from at least 40 yards hit the post and nestled in the Derry net.

Shaw scored with a free header at the back post in the 63rd minute and five minutes later Patton fouled Shaw in the box and Sullivan fired home from the spot.

Curtis pulled one back when he rose well to meet a Patrick McEleney cross and powered a header into Paul Hunt's net.

Cornwall completed the scoring after a bout of pinball in the Longford penalty area.