Match Report

MATCH REPORT: Cobh Ramblers 1-3 Longford Town

Sat Sep 21st 2019

Match Report by Tony Ghee

Cobh Ramblers 1 (Cian Leonard ’32)
Longford Town 3 (Adam Evans ’24, ’58, Dean Byrne ’48)

Longford Town ended the regular league season with a three-one victory over Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park, to finish in third place, just behind second placed Drogheda on goal difference in the final league table.

The victory ensures second leg home advantage for the Town ahead of their October play-off against fourth placed Cabinteely who ended the regular season with a win away to Wexford FC.

Longford Town took the lead on twenty-four minutes with the game’s first real opportunity courtesy of a fine finish from winger Adam Evans.

A right-wing cross from Peter Hopkins was brilliantly controlled by Evans just inside the Cobh box, he danced to the right past defender Fleming and superbly drilled a low shot to the bottom left corner of the Cobh net.

The home side equalised on thirty-two minutes when striker Cian Leonard converted a penalty, after Town defender Joe Manley had brought down Ian Turner.

The Town regained the lead just three minutes after the resumption, after a fine flowing move
resulted in Dean Byrne firing home a brilliant shot from the edge of the Cobh box from a Hopkins left-wing cross.

The Midlanders increased their lead on fifty-eight minutes when Evans scored his second goal of the contest, heading home from Hopkins inswinging corner, to put the visitors three-one up.

The Town should have gone further ahead on sixty-eight minutes. A sublime, quick-footed move involving Byrne, Jack Doherty, Evans and Hopkins, ended with Evans cross being headed narrowly wide at the back post by Hopkins.

Longford Town’s promotion play-off first leg away to Cabinteely FC will take place at Stradbrook on Friday, October 4th, while Longford will host the second leg at the City Calling Stadium on Friday, October 11th.

Team Line-Ups

Cobh Ramblers (4-4-1-1): Hunt, Fleming, O’Riordan, Lyons, Taylor, Henry, Hurley, Turner, Lamb, Foley, Leonard.
Substitutes: Murphy for Lamb (64 minutes), Cronin for Foley (64 minutes)

Longford Town (4-2-1-2-1) or (4-3-3): Steacy, Manley, Kenna, Noack-Hoffman, Zambra, O’Connor, Doherty, Byrne, Hopkins, Evans, Dobbs.
Substitutes: McCabe for Doherty (79 minutes), O’Neill for Hopkins (85 minutes), Ubaezuonu for Dobbs (89 minutes)

Longford Town 1-2 Bray Wanderers

Sun Sep 15th 2019

Bray Wanderers defeated nine men Longford 2-1 tonight at the City Calling Stadium.

A goal from John Martin and a penalty from Dean Williams in the 88th minute saw Gary Cronin’s side steal it in Longford after a defiant Town team held out with 10 men before Shane Elworthy fouled in the box for Bray’s winner.

Longford took the lead through Dean Byrne on 10 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball in the box from Luka Lovic and slotted it by Hayden in the Bray goal.

Karl Chambers was harshly sent off for a second yellow 25 minutes in and that gave Longford an uphill battle. The seagulls got their equalizer right before half time taking advantage of the extra man, John Martin finished up a well worked move when he tapped in from close range.

Bray dominated possession in large parts of the second half but Longford held strong and could have taken the lead through Jack Doherty and Dean Byrne.

Bray finally got their winner n 88 minutes when Shane Elworthy was deemed to have pushed a Bray man in the penalty area. Anto Breslin was sent off in the aftermath and Dean Williams converted the spot kick to give Bray all three points.

(Match report by SSE Airtricity League website)

Team Line-Ups

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Anto Breslin, Shane Elworthy, Conor Kenna, Karl Chambers, Jack Doherty, Dylan Grimes (Adam Evans ’70), Michael McDonnell, Dean Zambra, Dean Byrne, Sean Boyd (Peter Hopkins ’63).

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan



Longford Town defeated 2-0 by Shelbourne who take one step closer to the title

Sun Aug 18th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Full match report on sseairtricityleague.ie

Shels took one step closer to the title after a 2-0 victory away to Longford Town tonight at the City Calling Stadium.

Shels controlled the majority of the first half. Enjoying a large share of the possession, they didn’t test Lee Steacy too much with Farrell and Brennan both having shots go high over the bar. The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes by Denzil Fernandez when he raced through on goal to round Steacy and score, despite the avid protests from the Longford defence and fans.

Dean Byrne could have equalized for the home side just before half time when he shot from distance but McCabe pulled off a great save to deny the number 20.

The second half saw Longford press Shels for an equalizer but it was Ian Morris’ side who got their second of the night through a skillfully worked free kick. The ball was played out to Fernandez who slipped in a cross that sub Greg Moorehouse easily tapped in from close range after just coming on the pitch.

Longford tried but they never truly tested Shelbourne in the second half. The ref nearly lost control of things with some flying challenges going in at the end with both teams picking up a few yellows.

The goals never came for the home side. Conor Kenna went close and Anto Breslin almost scored a beautiful free kick but was denied at the death by McCabe and Shelbourne go home with three massive points in the hunt for the title.

Team Line-Up

Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Anto Breslin, Shane Elworthy, Conor Kenna, Joseph Manley; Aodh Dervin, Dylan Grimes (Jack Doherty ’75), Michael McDonnell; Sean Boyd, Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon (Aaron Dobbs ’64).

Subs not used: Karl Chambers, Adam Evans, Jack Menton, Tristan Noack Hofmann, Dean Zambra.

Booked: Aodh Dervin (’35), Sean Boyd (’85).

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan



Longford Town beat Athlone Town in rescheduled FAI Cup First Round tie

Tue Aug 13th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Full report on sseairtricityleague.ie

Longford Town earned a spot in the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup thanks to a 3-1 victory over near neighbours Athlone Town.

A lacklustre first half performance from the home side saw Athlone go in 1-0 up at the break.

A great goal from Kealan Dillon had Terry Butler’s side in front just before half time when he latched on to a loose ball in the box.

The second half was a different story as it took the home side just 45 seconds to get the equalizer through Aaron Dobbs.

Longford were the better of the teams in the second but Athlone had their chances through Ciaran Grogan who forced a save out of Lee Steacy from close range.

Longford took the lead on 72 minutes when Joe Manley tapped in from close range from a corner.

Athlone rallied late on and had Longford’s backs against the wall but Aaron Dobbs sealed the win in the 93rd minute with a brilliant breakaway move before he rounded Myles to slot it home from a tight angle and send Longford on their way to a second round tie away to Bohemians.

Team Line-Up

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Joseph Manley, Michael McDonnell, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dylan Grimes, Aodh Dervin, Carlton Ubaezuonu (Dean Byrne ’80), Dean Zambra, Adam Evans (Sam Verdon ’72), Aaron Dobbs, Karl Chambers
Subs: Daniel Ridge, Paul O’Conor, Jack Menton, Sean Byrne, Paddy O’Sullivan

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan



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