Shamrock Rovers 0 Longford Town 1 Shane Barrett, who scored in last year's final, was Longford's hero once again with an extra-time winner to eventually see the holders through to the quarter-finals after this epic third-round replay at Richmond Park.
Dessie Baker's corner from the left on 116 minutes was met by Barrett whose header had enough venom to make the net despite Rovers' goalkeeper Noel Mooney getting a hand to the ball.
As in the drawn game at Flancare Park on Saturday, Longford, better balanced and organised, were dominant. However, they again struggled to create scoring chances with just two to show for all their first-half possession.
The first on 12 minutes fell to Baker, scorer of a terrific goal in the first match. On this occasion he didn't display the same composure and shot straight at Mooney.
Baker's strike partner, Eric Lavine, did likewise on 35 minutes after turning past Keith Doyle to make space for a shot.
Rovers, with two changes in a newfangled 4-1-3-2 formation, were only in the game in fits and starts though switching to a more conventional 4-4-2 in the second half scarcely made a difference as Longford remained on top.
Rovers were left hanging on for extra-time once Steve Gough was sent off on 81 minutes for an off-the-ball elbow on Baker. They achieved that, with the personnel evened up 10 minutes into extra-time when Town's Alan Murphy was sent off for remonstrating with referee Alan Kelly after he felt he had been fouled by Grant.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: N Mooney; Gough, McGuinness, Palmer, Doyle; Croly; Robinson, Deans (O'Brien, half time), Rutherford; Molloy, Grant.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; A Murphy, Ferguson, Gartland, Dillon; Kirby (Martin, 105 mins), Perth, Fitzgerald, Barrett; Baker, Lavine (keegan, 105 mins).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).
