MATCH PREVIEW: Cobh Ramblers v Longford Town

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town travel down south for their final league game of the season against Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park this Saturday evening with the game commencing at 7.45pm.

Cobh will finish the season in seventh place regardless of Saturday evening’s result, while a victory will gaurantee a third place finish for Daire Doyle’s charges which will ensure home advantage for the second-leg of the forthcoming promotion play-off tie with Cabinteely FC.

Town go into the contest on the back of a controversial two-one home defeat against Bray Wanderers last weekend, a game that resulted in Longford controversially finishing with just nine players at the final whistle after the dismissals of Karl Chambers and Anto Breslin. Dean Byrne had put Longford ahead before Bray’s comeback win.

Cobh impressively held Cabinteely FC to a one-all draw in their last home game, however, the Ramblers endured a heavy seven-one defeat away to Galway United last time out. Just like Longford, Cobh also finished that game with nine players after red cards were shown to Stephen O’Leary and Kevin Taylor after Cian Leonard had actually given the Cork side the lead.

In the earlier meetings between the sides this season, the first encounter ended in a scoreless draw, while the Town narrowly won the clash at the City Calling Stadium one-nil, courtesy of a Sam Verdon strike just after the half-hour mark.

Longford will be missing several players for the game as Karl Chambers, Anto Breslin, and Aodh Dervin are all suspended. Sean Boyd, Dylan Grimes and Mick McDonnell are all out injured, while Sam Verdon is doubtful with a minor knock.