Match Report

Match Report: Finn Harps 2-4 Longford Town FC

Tue Jun 5th 2018

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Finn Harps 2-4 Longford Town
Monday 4th June 2018
City Calling Stadium / 5.00pm

Match Report by James Donnelly

Longford Town rolled into Ballybofey yesterday evening high on momentum from the previous Friday’s brilliant win over Galway United at home. A trip up to Donegal only 3 days later seemed like a daunting task but De Town came away 4-2 winners in Finn Park in what was a physical, back and forth encounter.

Longford applied pressure on the northerners from the get go and there wasn’t more than 5 minutes on the clock when local star Aodh Dervin volleyed home from a Sam Verdon headed pass to put De Town 1-0 up. Dervin’s second goal in as many games for the club.

From then on, it was all Finn Harps. Ollie Horgan’s men began to hold possession and attack the Longford Town defence, Ciaran O’Connor going close from distance on 11 minutes, and Jesse Devers being denied by the finger tips of Town keeper Michael Kelly only a few moments later.

Sam Verdon could have put Longford 2-0 up on 14 minutes when a good solo run from the midfield saw the Dublin man’s shot hit the post of Ciaran Gallagher’s goal and bounce back out. A let off for the Donegal team.

Dylan McGlade got Longford’s second on the half hour mark when a beautifully placed pass from Dean Byrne found the pacy winger who easily slipped it past Gallagher in goal to put Longford in control.

Finn Harps had calls for a penalty waved away not too long after when Devers went down from what appeared to be an ok challenge from Dervin but Eoghan O’Shea immediately signalled no peno, much to the delight of the Longford Town travelling support and the dismay of Ollie Horgan.

The home side came out all guns blazing in the second half and it wasn’t long before they got their first goal back in the game. A challenge from Town defender Daniel O’Reilly resulted in a penalty for Finn Harps which Paddy McCourt duly put away with ease to get them back into the game. Only 4 minutes later, Harps got their equaliser when a through ball to Mikey Place saw him slip in behind the Town defence to slot it past Kelly to make it 2-2.

              Dylan McGlade pictured scoring his second goal of the night and Longford Town’s fourth. Pic: Ken Keenan

But Longford were having none of it. De Town marched straight back up the pitch from tip off and won a corner. The resulting cross was hit across the box to Dean Byrne who swung it back in to the head of Sam Verdon who headed home from close range to put Neale Fenn’s men back in the driving seat. Dean Byrne’s second assist of the game.

McGlade stunned the home support again with a brilliant solo effort on 80 minutes. Picking the ball up in the centre circle, he dribbled down field with speed before turning his man and blasting it low into the corner of the net to cement the win for Longford Town.

The game ended 4-2 in favour of De Town but not without controversy, a Finn Harps man being sent off after the final whistle, first for a kick at substitute Jamie Hollywood and then a disgusting headbutt on substitute Chris Mulhall.

Poor sportsmanship on display at the end of a great game for Longford Town.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher, Aidan Friel, Ciaran Coll (C), Keith Cowan, Jesse Devers, Ciaran O’Connor, Tommy McBride (red card), Mark Timlin, Paddy McCourt, Sam Todd.

Longford Town: Michael Kelly, Shane Elworthy, Daniel O’Reilly, Michael McDonnell, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dylan McGlade, Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra (C), Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon, Karl Chambers

Subs: Jack Brady, Peter Hopkins (used), Chris Mulhall (used), Evan Galvin, Jamie Hollywood (used), Jackson Ryan.

Attendance: 545

Match Report: Longford Town FC 3-2 Galway United

Sat Jun 2nd 2018

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town FC 3-2 Galway United

Friday 1st June 2018
City Calling Stadium |  7:45PM

Match Report by James Donnelly

 

19 year old local star Aodh Dervin shined brightly at the City Calling Stadium last Friday night as Longford Town ran out 3-2 winners over Galway United. Dervin, alongside man of the match Sam Verdon and Karl Chambers all picked up a goal each to earn Neale Fenn’s men all 3 points in what was an exciting back and forth encounter. Two goals also for Galway, a missed penalty and a sending off for Longford Town made the game one to remember for the 410 there to witness it at the Strokestown Road venue.

Longford started the game brightly with Dervin missing a chance just a few minutes in. Dylan McGlade’s cross was poorly cleared by former Town defender Stephen Walsh and it fell to Dervin on the edge of the box who blasted it over the bar. He made up for that miss not too long after when Dean Byrne found him near enough in the same position and this time he made no mistake, bending the ball into the far corner of the Galway net to put Longford Town 1-0 up with less than 10 minutes gone on the clock. A brilliant goal and a memorable one for the young Longford man’s first at senior level.

Galway almost immediately equalized straight after, a long throw in from the left side was headed on by Eoin McCormack to Gary Shanahan but his impressive effort was brilliantly saved by the fingertips of Town goalkeeper Michael Kelly who went on to make a number of key saves during the game.

The every lively Dylan McGlade created problems for Galway throughout and his crosses in the first half caused major headaches for Shane Keegan’s men, Tristan Noack-Hofmann going close with a header as a result of a McGlade corner.

Longford Town’s Shane Elworthy pictured in action during De Town’s 3-2 victory over Galway at the City Calling Stadium. Pic: Tiernan Dolan

Gary Shanahan and Eoin McCormack linked up again for Galway on 32 minutes, Shanahan beating Noack-Hofmann on the right side before putting in a cross that met the feet of McCormack who had gotten between the two centre backs Daniel O’Reilly and Michael McDonnell, but his shot from 5 yards out was hit high and over as Town escaped a possible equalizer for the tribesmen.

Town pressured Galway and didn’t allow them much time on the bal in the first halfl. The westerners struggled to clear and Darren Meenan gaining possession in the corner, played it across to Dean Byrne who’s shot was blocked by Walsh at the last second.

Aodh Dervin could have had his second of the night on 40 minutes when McGlade broke down the right wing before laying it inside to Noack-Hofmann who slipped it to Dervin but his shot was straight into the hands of Gleeson in goal.

Galway still managed to create chances with Eoin McCormack going close again on 42 minutes, this time for 30 yards out, his shot narrowly going wide of Michael Kelly’s right hand post.

It could have been 2-0 to Longford immediately after when centre back Michael McDonnell went up for a Darren Meenan free on the right hand side but his looping header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Gleeson.

Town eventually got their second just before half time when Sam Verdon struck low into the bottom right corner. A brilliant header by McGlade landed at the feet of Dean Byrne who slipped Verdon in behind the Galway defence and he made no mistake in slotting it by Gleeson to put Longford ahead, much to the delight of the home support who were loud throughout.

Longford suffered a major blow right at the half time whistle when Darren Meenan was given a straight red on what appeared to be a reckless challenge on Galway’s Conor Barry. No contact was made but referee Thomas Dempsey deemed it serious enough to issue the Dublin man a red card.

With Longford down to 10 men, Galway came out all guns blazing and proceeded to rain down attacks on the Town defence. Alex Byrne going close in the opening minutes, his shot from the edge of the box going wide after being deflected off his fellow team-mate McCormack.

Sam Verdon who scored Longford’s second, pictured alongside former Town player Stephen Walsh.

Dean Byrne missed a glorious opportunity to put the game to bed when on 50 minutes, he intercepted a bad pass from Galway’s Robbie Williams, went by the defender and ended up 6 yards out from goal but his left footed shot was blazed over the bar, much to the relief of the travelling Galway support.

Galway got one back on 56 minutes when Dylan McGlade, who had been playing superb, was caught in possession by McCormack, the ball fell to Conor Barry who went through on goal and expertly put it past Michael Kelly to make it 2-1. A lapse in concentration that luckily didn’t cost Longford in the end.

Again, McCormack was in the thick of it for Galway, this time winning a soft free kick against Longford’s McDonnell. The resultant free kick however, was straight into the hands of Kelly. Only minutes later, Marc Ludden went close for the Connaught side, his dragging shot going wide of the post.

Galway were given a very generous lifeline on 64 minutes when former Town player Ryan Connolly was awarded a penalty. The number 10 jumped up between Longford’s two centre backs after a botched clearance and fell hard on the ground which saw Dempsey blow his whistle, much to the astonishment of the Town players and supporters. Up stepped Alan Murphy who sky rocketed his shot high over the bar.

Ludden went close for Galway again, this time a 1-2 between McCormack and Connolly saw the ball land at the feet of Ludden in the box who’s shot brought a fine save from Kelly in the Longford goal. Kelly, proving invaluable during the game.

Longford finally got their third goal on 79 minutes when some lax defending from Galway saw the ball fall to substitute Jamie Hollywood on the edge of the box, he played it into Sam Verdon who laid it off to Karl Chambers who chested it down and volleyed it low past Gleeson, hitting the post, it came back out and hit Williams before ending up in the back of the net. Some would call it an own goal but we’re giving it to Chambers!

Galway got their second eight minutes later when a high ball wasn’t dealt with, the ball landed to Stephen Walsh who made no mistake hitting a powerful shot low into the bottom corner to make it 3-2 with 5 minutes remaining, hearts in their mouths for Longford fans.

Daniel O’Reilly almost made it 4-2 in injury time, his free kick from the edge of the box was saved by Glesson before Hollywood missed the rebound. Summing up Galways night, The free had been awarded after Gleeson had mistakenly walked outside his box while holding the ball, although no yellow card was issued.

The final whistle blew and City Calling Stadium erupted. A well needed win for Longford Town which puts them right back in contention for a promotion spot. Manager Neale Fenn said he was delighted with the team’s performance and result but stressed how important it is to follow it up with a good result in Finn Park on bank holiday Monday when Town travel to Ballybofey to take on Finn Harps.

Longford Town: Michael Kelly, Shane Elworthy, Michael McDonnell, Daniel O’Reilly, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dylan McGlade (replaced by Karl Chambers), Dean Zambra (C), Aodh Dervin, Darren Meenan (red card), Sam Verdom (replaced by Evan Galvin), Dean Byrne (replaced by Jamie Hollywood)

Subs not used: Jack Brady, Daniel Ridge, Jackson Ryan.

Galway United: Conor Gleeson, Maurice Nugent (replaced by Conor Melody), Robbie Williams, Stephen Walsh, Gary Shanahan, Alex Byrne (replaced by Stephen Kenny), Alan Murphy, Ryan Connolly ©, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry (replaced by Carlton Ubaezuonu), Eoin McCormack

Subs not used: Arek Mamala, Conor Layng, Ronan Manning.

Referee: Thomas Dempsey

Attendance: 410

Red Cards: (1) – Darren Meenan/Longford Town FC

MATCH REPORT: Athlone Town 1-1 Longford Town

Sat May 26th 2018

Match Report by Tony Ghee

Longford Town had to settle for a share of the spoils at the Athlone Town Stadium in the second El Classico of the season between the two Midlands rivals as the ‘Red & Black’ came from behind to snatch a draw but ended the contest with ten players as Mulhall was sent-off late on. It was a disappointing result for Neale Fenn’s charges as Athlone secured only their second point of the season and a Longford win was expected.

A repeat of the earlier five-one victory for Longford was always going to be highly unlikely as the Athlone defence have tightened up at the back since Terry Butler took over the helm and that was certainly the case in this match.

The first twenty minutes of the contest failed to produce any chances worthy of the name. The visitors played the better football but quality final balls were often the missing link for Longford as the Athlone keeper Lawless was not even tested once. At the other end, the Town defence were rarely tested as they comfortably dealt with the home side’s long ball game.

The best opportunity in that poor opening twenty minute period fell to the home side, as Hamzat muscled Dervin off the ball and raced in on goal from the right, but as he was about to pull the trigger, Noack-Hofmann crucially made a goal saving tackle.

The game burst into life on twenty-one minutes when Athlone took the lead with a brilliantly worked goal. Athlone won a free-kick and Grogan shaped to play the ball over the Town wall, but then suddenly played a clever low ball towards the right side of the box into the path of Brilly whose intelligent diagonal run from the right wing caught the Longford defence napping, and the former Longford player kept his composure to drill a low diagonal Shot into the bottom left corner of the Longford net.

The visitors responded with three opportunities in the remainder of the first half. In the twenty-fifth minute, a perfectly weighted pass from Dervin set-up McGlade but his shot was straight at Athlone keeper Lawless.

On thirty-four minutes, Galvin was thwarted by home keeper Lawless who raced off his line to make a fine save from the Longford winger’s sixteen yard effort, however, Galvin retrieved the ball and his chipped cross picked out striker Byrne, but Byrne’s shot came back off the Athlone post.

Four minutes before the interval, Mulhall headed an Elworthy cross wide of the Athlone goal, but Brilly’s goal gave Athlone a one-nil interval lead.

Athlone almost scored a second goal within two minutes of the resumption as Cabraley set-up striker Stokes only for Longford keeper Brady to produce a sharp save.

Longford’s first opportunity of the second-half arrived in the fifty-eighth minute. Elworthy and O’Reilly combined to snuff out an Athlone attack and O’Reilly launched a long clearance out of defence that Mulhall headed on into the path of Verdon, he shrugged off one Athlone defender but his shot was saved by Lawless.

Longford equalised just after the hour mark. McGlade’s corner was headed on by Verdon to O’Reilly on the right-edge of the Athlone six-yard box and his header back across goal was finished by Mulhall from virtually on the line.

Chris Mulhall, who equalised for De Town and also received a red card.

A spectacular overhead kick from Galvin on sixty-six minutes whistled narrowly over the Athlone bar and although Longford pressed for the winner, they could not find a winner.

The Town had striker Mulhall dismissed in the eighty-seventh minute for an off the ball incident after Mulhall and Athlone substitute Gaffey became entangled, although the collision seemed accidental.

Next up for Longford Town is a home game against Galway next Friday night at the City Calling Stadium.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Athlone Town: Lawless, Raftery, Smith, Nyakambili, Fletcher, Hamzat, O’Leary, Grogan, Brilly, Cabraley, Stokes.
Substitute: Kavanagh for Stokes (63 minutes), Gaffey for Hamzat (70 minutes), McCullough for Cabraley (81 minutes).

Longford Town: Brady, Elworthy, McDonnell, O’Reilly, Noack-Hofmann, Galvin, Verdon, Dervin, McGlade, Mulhall, Byrne.
Substitutes: Zambra for Byrne (55 minutes), Ryan for Dervin (81 minutes), Meenan for Hofmann (89 minutes).

Referee: Garvan Taggert.

MATCH REPORT: Lively stalemate between Longford and Shels

Sun May 20th 2018

Match Report by Tony Ghee

Longford Town and Shelbourne played out a one-all draw in an entertaining SSE Airtricity League First Division encounter at the City Calling Stadium with David O’Sullivan and Dylan McGlade both scoring goals against their former clubs as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Shels dominated the opening half hour creating six good opportunities but the Town eventually worked their way back into the contest in the latter stages of the first half and produced a much better second-half performance.

In the eleventh minute, Evan’s firmly struck twenty-yard shot was palmed away by Town keeper Kelly and just a minute later, Kelly was called into action again as he saved a downward header from English after an excellent cross from Brown.

Two minutes later, another Shellbourne attack resulted in Hughe’s crisp low drive from the edge of the Town box producing another fine save from Kelly.

On eighteen minutes, the visitors created another chance when a sublime diagonal long pass from the left from Kavanagh picked out the unmarked English on the right edge of the box, but he blazed narrowly over the Longford bar.

Two minutes after that, Shels came at the Town defence again with a pin-point Hughes right-wing cross picking out Evans only for his volley to crash into the Town side-netting.

Shels came closest to taking a deserved lead on twenty-three minutes when Fitzgerald’s inswinging right-wing corner was missed by Town keeper Kelly, but he redeemed himself by superbly tipping over Mulcahy’s goalbound effort that seemed destined for the top corner.

After being outplayed for the opening half-hour, the Town suddenly woke up and played much better in the last fifteen minutes in which they created some good opportunities. In the twenty-ninth minute, a looping Noack-Hofmann header took a deflection off Shelbourne defender Prendergast and landed on top of the visitors net.

On thirty-five minutes, an Elworthy cross from the right was headed over by Verdon, but the best Town chance came two minutes later. A brilliant curling right-wing cross from McGlade found Verdon whose effort was blocked, the ball was then threaded into the path of Hollywood by McDonnell, but Hollywood’s strike was brilliantly pushed around the post by Shelbourne keeper Stacey.

The Town almost broke the deadlock two minutes after the resumption when O’Reilly’s shot from a McGlade free-kick was blocked on the line by a Shelbourne defender.

The Dubliners opened the scoring on fifty minutes when Longford Town’s all time record goalscorer, David O’Sullivan, who bagged a hat-trick against his former club in the earlier clash at Tolka Park, struck once again, as he lost his marker and timed his run to perfection to head home Fitzgerald’s corner.

Longford struck back with a sixty-first minute equaliser when a stray pass from English was intercepted by Town winger McGlade and he charged forward before drilling a low shot from just inside the box past Stacey into the Shels net.

De Town missed a glorious chance to take the lead on seventy-seven minutes when McGlade trickery on the left bamboozled two Shels defenders and his cross picked out the unmarked Verdon at the back post, but somehow, Verdon headed wide when it seemed easier to score.

A chipped cross from Town defender Noack-Hofmann a minute later almost ended up in the net, but the back-peddling Stacey managed to tip the ball over the bar.

The home side had a very lucky escape on eighty-six minutes when substitute Rooney crashed a shot off the underside of the Longford crossbar with the ball bouncing narrowly over inrushing striker O’Sullivan, but at the other end, the impressive McGlade almost won it for Longford in the last minute of normal time, however, Stacey produced a sharp save to keep his goal intact.

Next up for Neale Fenn’s charges is a Midlands Derby clash away to Athlone Town next Friday.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Longford Town: Kelly, Elworthy, McDonnell, O’Reilly, Noack-Hofmann, Hopkins, Hollywood, Dervin, McGlade, Verdon, Mulhall.
Substitutes: Meenan for Hollywood (62 minutes), Galvin for Hopkins (62 minutes), Byrne for Mulhall (90 minutes).

Shelbourne: Stacey, Brown, Mulcahy, Prendergast, Fitzgerald, English, Byrne, Hughes, Evans, Kavanagh, O’Sullivan.
Substitutes: Rooney for Kavanagh (67 minutes), Boyne for Hughes (85 minutes).


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