GALWAY United fell further off the promotion pace when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Longford Town at Terryland Park on Saturday night.

Galway now go into Wednesday's League Cup final second leg, defending a 3-1 lead, not having won any of their last five league games. The pre season promotion favourites now Ianguish sixth in the table, eight points behind second placed Kilkenny City.

Despite dominating much of the match, and taking an early lead, Galway failed to put any substance to their good approach play. Assistant player/manager, Noel Mernagh, gave them a 12th minute lead when shooting home from the edge of the box.

Third placed Longford absorbed all Galway's first half pressure before equalising eight minutes before half time when Paul Brady volleyed home after the Galway defence had failed to clear properly a Derek Murray header.

In yesterday's game at Hogan Park, Rathbane, St Francis earned their second away win of the season with a 2-9 victory over struggling Limerick.

Ciaran Duffy gave St Francis an eighth minute lead. Limerick defender Anthony Tobin was credited with St Francis' second goal nine minutes from time when he deflected a Dufiy flick into his own net.