MATCH PREVIEW: Shelbourne v Longford Town

Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town make the trip to Tolka Park this Friday to face Shelbourne in their third league outing of the season. It will be the Town's first away game and the first home match for the Dubliners.

The Town are second in the table behind Galway on goal difference on four points after two unbeaten home games yielded a 2 all draw against Cobh and a 3-0 victory over Wexford FC. UCD and Cobh Ramblers also have four points in a four-way tie at the top of the table.

Striker Chris Mulhall is in fine scoring form for Neale Fenn's charges with 3 goals in the two games to date, including a brace against Wexford FC at the City Calling Stadium last Saturday night.

Peter Hopkins and substitute Dylan McGlade were both outstanding for the 'Red and Black' against Wexford and McGlade may have done more than enough to earn a starting place at Tolka Park tomorrow night.

On the injury front, there are no new injury concerns, so the versatile Alan Kehoe is the only absentee from the Town squad ahead of the game.

It will be strange to see the club's all time record scorer David O'Sullivan lining out for the  opposition after 5 successful seasons with the Midlanders, and the Town faithful will be hoping that the mercurial O'Sullivan who scored against Finn Harps will be part of a Shels team that draw a blank in tomorrow night's contest.

Shels have a lot of quality in their ranks with an experienced back-line that includes keeper Dean Delaney, Derek Prendergast, Aidan Collins and Dave Mulcahy. Former Longford player, Gavin Boyne, will provide plenty of energy in the midfield sector, while O'Sullivan and James English will provide the main goal scoring threat.

Shelbourne go into the game with just one point from their opening two games after a 2-1  loss away to UCD and a 1 all draw away to Finn Harps.

The game kicks-off at 7.45pm.