Match Preview

Match Preview: Drogheda United FC v Longford Town FC

Thu May 2nd 2019

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Drogheda United FC v Longford Town FC
Friday 3rd May 2019
United Park | Kick-off 7.45pm

Match Preview By Kieran Burke (@kieranBTS)

Longford Town travel to County Louth on Friday night looking to banish the demons of last season, as De Town fell at the finish in the race for the play-offs against Drogheda United, Fridays hosts. A come from behind 2-1 win in the penultimate game of last season effectively secured the Drogs position in the play-offs, where Tim Clancy’s charges missed out on promotion after a dramatic two-legged tie against Shelbourne, who went on to lose in the final against Finn Harps.

With all that in mind, it has been a dramatic shift in form for both Longford and Drogheda United to start to 2019 First Division campaign with Longford Town currently the only unbeaten side in the League of Ireland, while Drogheda have struggled for consistency at times, leaving the 2007 Premier Division champions sitting in 4th place, four points behind Neale Fenn’s league leaders.

Captain Dean Zambra and Defender Mick McDonnell pictured in action last season against Drogheda United at the City Calling Stadium.

Drogheda United had a fantastic win on the road last weekend, traveling all the way down to St.Colman’s Park and coming away with an ultra-impressive 4-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers, while Longford showed their battling qualities in a scrappy 1-0 home triumph over a stubborn Limerick side. Dean Byrne was the match winner last Saturday for De Town and the former Hardwicke star will be hoping his stunning strike can kick start his 2019 campaign, having only returned to full fitness after a long term layoff last season.

In fact, Byrne was on the score-sheet with yet another sublime long range strike at United Park last season in a game De Town really should have won, conceding a 94th minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Ciaran Kelly was the Drogheda hero that night and the departure of the talented full back to St.Patrick’s Athletic has been a very difficult challenge for Tim Clancy and co to overcome at the start of this campaign. Double goal scorer in that crucial 2-1 win at the tail end of last season, Gareth McCaffrey has also since departed United Park and the strikers absence has clearly left Drodgeda lacking some cutting edge up front at times this year.

All in all, given Longford Town’s record breaking start to the 2019 season, many will fancy Neale Fenn’s team to repeat the win claimed over Drodgeda at City Calling Stadium earlier this season, a 3-0 victory that time, but having only lost at home once this season, Droghda will be yet another major test of De Town’s title credentials going forward.

Team News: Neale Fenn has a full selection of players to choose from.

MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Limerick

Thu Apr 25th 2019

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town go into Saturday’s home clash against Limerick FC in second place in the First Division. Last weekend’s draw away to Cobh leaves Neale Fenn’s charges a point behind league leaders Cabinteely, however, the Midlanders do have a game in hand.

Longford Town are the only unbeaten team in the league with five wins and three draws from their opening eight fixtures, while Limerick despite losing two-nil away to Shelbourne, are just four points off top spot in fifth place.

The earlier meeting between the clubs ended in a scoreless stalemate at the Markets Field with former Town keeper, Jack Brady making some crucial saves between the Limerick sticks to prevent the Town grabbing the winner.

Limerick were outplayed by the Town in the first half but were vastly improved in the second half and came close to scoring in the sixty-seventh minute only for Town stopper Steacy to brilliantly save a stinging effort from Kieron Hanlon.

Longford should have scored on eighty-four minutes after a brilliant move. Peter Hopkins weaved his way past several defenders and sprayed the ball out to Dean Byrne, his pin-point cross to the back post was headed back by Paul O’Connor to Dobbs, but the Town striker’s close-range shot was incredibly saved by Jack Brady with the Town striker firing the rebound wide.

Last week against Cobh, Longford Town were missing the services of strikers Dobbs, Doyle, and Verdon with Verdon and Doyle late withdrawals from the squad due to a slight knock and a dental appointment respectively. Verdon is expected to be out for two weeks, however, Doyle and Dobbs should both be available for selection.

It was great to see Carlton Ubaezuono making his Town debut last week after a lengthy spell out injured and he posed the Cobh defence numerous problems during his substitute appearance and he could prove to be a vital weapon in the Town’s armoury for the remainder of the season.

Carlton Ubaezuonu made his Town debut last week and available for this weekend’s game v Limerick.

Match Preview: Cobh Ramblers FC v Longford Town FC

Sat Apr 20th 2019

Match Preview by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Cobh Ramblers FC v Longford Town FC
Saturday 20th April 2019 | 7.00pm
St. Colman’s Park

The red and black make the long trip to Cork today to take on Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park with a 7.00pm kick off in the seaside town.

Neale Fenn’s side come into tonight’s game unbeaten and having only conceded twice since the start of the season. A dominant display against Bray last weekend saw De Town earn a comfortable 2-0 win at the City Calling Stadium. Impressive form has seen Longford climb the league table and should we get another win tonight, the team will remain on top for another week.

Cobh have had an ok start to the season but have been impressing lately and will prove worthy opponents tonight as Stephen Henderson’s men look to continue their decent run of form. They had a great victory away to Galway last week, winning 2-1 courtesy of goals from the in-form Jaze Kabia and Maurice Nugent. They also had fine wins over Shels, Limerick (league cup) and Wexford since the start of the season and will be looking to gain a bit of consistency now with a performance against Longford tonight.

LTFC Manager Neale Fenn spoke to Tony Ghee last week about the upcoming fixture against Cobh…

“The few times we’ve gone down there, or since I’ve gone down there, we’ve found it difficult but you know, there’s no easy games in this league, you know. As long as we take care of ourselves, respect the opposition, we should be OK.”

In terms of injury news, Aaron Dobbs is out for Longford.

Match Preview: Wexford FC v Longford Town FC

Thu Apr 4th 2019

Match Preview by James Donnelly

Wexford FC v Longford Town FC
SSE Airtricity League First Division
Friday 5th April 2019
Ferrycarrig Park | Kick-off 7.45pm

Longford Town make the long trip down to Wexford on Friday night, just three days after travelling to Derry City and bowing out of the EA Sports Cup, and just six days after a fantastic 2-0 win at home to Shelbourne in the league.

De Town go into the game unbeaten in the league and having only conceded one goal so far. Wexford haven’t had the best of starts to the league campaign but have shown great improvement in recent weeks narrowly losing out to Drogheda United through an injury time winner last week and then defeating Bray 2-0 the week before.

Neale Fenn’s side should be confident ahead of the encounter in the sunny south east with the Red and Black emerging victorious in 6 out 7 past league games between the two sides.

There are no injury concerns for Longford and Carlton Ubaezuonu has resumed training with the team after his injury and should be match fit within a number of weeks.

Longford Town FC Player Tristan Noack-Hofmann pictured during last years 2-0 over Wexford FC at Ferrycarrig Park. Pic: Ken Keenan

Wexford have the services of Danny Furlong to rely on this season and will no doubt be looking to their talisman to get them up and running. Chris Kenny is out injured for Brian O’Sullivan’s side and Sean Callan is out through suspension.

Neale Fenn spoke to LTFC.ie this week ahead of the game. “We’ve always found it difficult to go down there, the couple of times I’ve been down there, it’s been a dry pitch, and it’s been very slow, you know, we know what we’ve got to do. Wexford have been on a decent run the last couple of games and even though they lost to Drogheda, it was in the last minute, so they’ve improved but you know, we’re not scared, we’re gonna go down there full of confidence.”

Kick off at Ferrcarrig Park is at 7.45pm on Friday.

C’mon De Town!

Check out the highlights of last year’s 2-0 win away to Wexford by clicking the link below:

Wexford FC v Longford Town

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