MATCH PREVIEW: Limerick v Longford Town

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town travel to the Markets Field this Friday night to take on Limerick FC, hoping to secure a victory to cement their second placed position in the SSE Airtricity League First Division and to keep the pressure on league leaders Shelbourne.

Last weekend, fifth placed Limerick suffered their first home league defeat of the season when they lost one-nil to leaders Shelbourne, as the prolific Ciaran Kilduff scored the all important only goal of the contest. However, the Treaty side were very unlucky not to preserve their unbeaten home record as they missed a penalty before Kilduff's match winning strike

Longford Town were on the right side of a one-nil score-line as Sam Verdon's first half strike secured the three points for the Midlanders. Indeed, apart from a ten minute purple patch for Cobh which should have resulted in at least a goal for the Cork side, Longford dominated the contest and should have won by a much bigger margin.

Action from last week's game v Cobh. (Photo: Syl Healy)

Limerick have beaten Bray, Cabinteely, Cobh, Galway and Athlone at the Markets Field, while they have drawn with Drogheda, Wexford and Longford Town before suffering defeat to Shelbourne last weekend, so their home form has been impressive.

Apart from the opening day stalemate between the sides at the Markets Field, Longford won the other League meeting between the sides with Dean Byrne grabbing the winning goal at the City Calling Stadium in a one-nil victory.

However, before the Town's winning goal, Limerick's Shane Tracy missed a penalty which was saved by Town keeper Lee Stacey, and the Munster side also played the last half-hour with ten-men after Sean McSweeney's dismissal on the hour mark.

Limerick manager Tommy Barrett will be without dangerous striker Conor Ellis who has departed the club and that is a big blow to Limerick's play-off prospects, but he will be looking to the likes of former Longford Town keeper, Jack Brady, and defenders, Shane Tracy and Robbie Williams to help the home side to keep a clean sheet.

Longford Town have missed a lot of crucial chances in games this season that has resulted in points being lost, and manager Neale Fenn is hoping to sign a striker to rectify that shortfall very shortly.

Apart from midfielder Paul O'Connor's absence, everyone else is available for selection for the 'Red & Black'