Team News

MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Cobh Ramblers

Fri Jun 28th 2019

Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town’s first match after the mid-summer break is a home clash against Cobh Ramblers at the City Calling Stadium this Saturday night with the big match kicking-off at half past seven.

Neale Fenn’s charges are second in the table, four points behind leaders Shelbourne with ten matches to go. Only five points separate the Town from sixth place Bray, and the battle for the play-offs promises to be full of drama and excitement that will probably only be decided on the final day of the regular season.

Longford will be hoping to bounce back from their late collapse away to Bray last time out, as a two-one lead with five minutes to go finished in a three-two loss when Killian Cantwell and towering centre-back Hugh Douglas netted on eighty-eight and ninety-three minutes to sensationally earn all three points for the Wicklow side.

In contrast, seventh placed Cobh go into Saturday’s contest with a pep in their step after defeating Galway Utd two-one at Saint Colman’s Park with Denzil Fernandes and talismanic Jaze Kabia on the mark.

However, the loss of manager Stephen Henderson who resigned after the victory over Galway is a blow for Cobh, and it will be interesting to see how the Cobh players will react to Henderson’s departure.

Cobh are capable of beating big teams as demonstrated by their run to last season’s EA Sports Cup Final and their earlier two-one home victory over table-toppers Shelbourne this season.

The earlier league meeting in Saint Colman’s Park ended in a goalless stalemate, while last season Cobh won two-one and drew two all with the ‘Red & Black’ in the two league matches played at the City Calling Stadium, so Longford Town can expect another tough battle on Saturday evening.

On the team news front, Jamie Hollywood, Kevin Knight, and Sean Brennan have all departed the City Calling Stadium and the club would like to wish them well for the future.

Action from Town’s previous meeting with Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park


MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Wexford FC

Sat Jun 8th 2019

Match Preview by Kieran Burke (@KieranBTS)

Longford Town will be looking to avoid a potential banana skin when they host an awkward Wexford FC side in the SSE Airtricity League First Division tonight, kick-off is at 7.30pm. 

Despite sitting bottom of the second tier at present, Wexford FC have dramatically improved on their showings from last season, when heavy beatings and an uncompetitive nature were regular occurrences for the South-East based outfit. This year, under the watch of rookie manager Brian O’Sullivan, Wexford FC have been more than competitive, even against sides that dwarf the amateurs of Wexford in terms of budget and resources. You only have to ask Bray Wanderers, who Wexford turned over earlier this season how big of a danger underestimating this side can be.

That win over Bray is just one of two for O’Sullivan’s team this season with the other victory coming at home to Athlone Town, who sit just two points ahead of Wexford ahead of the latest round of First Division fixtures.

As for the hosts, Longford Town come into this latest home fixture off the back of a nervy win over Galway United on Bank Holiday Monday, as Neale Fenn’s troops appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second half, almost costing the Midlanders a vital three points. First half goals from Dean Byrne & Sam Verdon were enough to ensure Galway’s second half strike was nothing more than a conciliation but Fenn is sure to demand a more consistent showing across the ninety-minutes from his players tonight.

Underestimation of Wexford FC simply won’t be a concern for the Town management, given the major fright Longford received in the first meeting away to Wexford earlier this season. Going behind to a Danny Furlong goal, Town eventually rallied late to come away from Ferrycarrig Park with a crucial 2-1 victory but to say it wasn’t pretty would be a major understatement.

That result was built off determination, belief and character and while those attributes are of the upmost importance for any side with title ambitions, a more assured performance from a Town team, who will enter the game as heavy favourites, would be more than welcomed by the home faithful.

With league leaders, Shelbourne away to Bray Wanderers at 3pm today, Longford Town’s players will already know ahead of kick-off if they can go top of the table with a win tonight, however, with just Bray Wanderers to face (away) before the mid-season break, no team with title ambitions can afford to lose ground at this vital stage of the season.

Action pic from Town’s 2-1 victory at Ferrycarrig Park, earlier this season. Pic: Ken Keenan


Speedy recovery to LTFC goalkeeper Uli Keller

Tue May 14th 2019

Our U19’s goalkeeper and senior squad member Uli Keller suffered a very serious injury during a match over the weekend.

Everyone at the club would like to wish Uli well in his recovery and we hope to see you back on the pitch at the City Calling Stadium soon!

Uli is a fantastic example of hard work and dedication, earning a spot in Neale Fenn’s squad this season while still being the number 1 for the U19’s. This will only be a minor blip in this young man’s career and we know he will come back stronger than ever.



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.

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