Match Preview: Cabinteely FC v Longford Town FC

Match Preview | Cabinteely v Longford Town

by Andrew Dempsey

Longford Town make their first trip to the capital in the 2019 SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign for a mouth-watering clash against Cabinteely at Stradbrook Road on Friday night. (Kick-off is at 7.45pm)

Fresh off the back of three consecutive clean sheets and two wins on the spin, Neale Fenn gets his charges ready for a difficult challenge against Pat Devlin’s outfit who themselves have won their last two outings.

Longford began their season with a tight nil-nil draw away to Limerick at Markets Field before producing a stirring second half performance against Drogheda United on Saturday evening with three goals going unanswered in a three-nil win over Tim Clancy’s side.

Cabo on the other hand have surprised many with their performances thus far with Pat Devlin’s side impressing for the opening hour against East Coast rivals Bray Wanderers before falling away late on.

However, Cabo’s big result was against red-hot title favourites Shelbourne when they stunned the Reds in a barnstorming 3-2 clash at Tolka Park. Rob Manley, brother of Town defender Joe Manley impressed along with Marty Waters who is a major threat as all Longford fans know all too well of.

Tristan Noack-Hofmann in action against Cabinteely's Kieran Marty Waters during one of last seasons encounters at Stradbrook, Pic: Ken Keenan

Most recently, Longford ran out one goal winners over Ulster Senior League outfit Cockhill Celtic in the EA Sports Cup with new signing Adam Evans scoring the winner early on against the Donegal junior side.

On Longford’s last visit to Stradbrook, De Town were edged out in a one-nil defeat to the South Dubliners with new Town signing Kevin Knight scoring the winner for his former employers.

However, Longford do have a pretty good record against Cabo under Neale Fenn with four wins out of five since the Londoner came into the Longford Town hot-seat in late-June 2017.

In terms of team news for Longford Town, Carlton Ubaezuonu misses out through injury but apart from that, Neale Fenn should have a fully fit squad to choose from at the south Dublin venue.