Match Report: Longford Town 4-0 Galway United

Match Report by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Longford Town 4-0 Galway United
Saturday 27th July 2019 • Kick-off: 7.45pm
City Calling Stadium

Longford Town secured a vital 3 points at the expense of Galway United at the City Calling Stadium last night. Four goals in the second half completed a professional performance from De Town but the visitors didn't make things easy for us.

The first half saw chances from both sides with Sean Boyd going close for Longford on 21 minutes when he was played through by Dean Byrne but his shot was straight at Horgan in the Galway goal.

Galway could have opened the scoring only moments later when Conor Layng raced through one on one but Lee Steacy was out quick and pulled off a brilliant save to deny the Tribesmen.

Anto Breslin almost broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark when his curling free kick was palmed away by the outstretched Horgan.

Vinny Faherty had a chance for Galway but his shot never really troubled Steacy in goal and both teams went in all square at the break.

De Town started the second half brightly and Breslin had a chance again on 52 minutes but his low shot was easily saved by Horgan.

Boyd had another chance also as he pounced on a mistake in the Galway defence by former Town player Stephen Walsh but Boyd failed to take full advantage and dragged his shot narrowly wide.

The opening goal finally game on 68 minutes when Breslin played it to Dean Byrne after a run down the left wing before the Dubliner coolly shot past Horgan to put De Town in control.

From then on it was all Longford Town and just 2 minutes later, Sean Boyd finally got his goal when a brilliant move by substitute Aaron Dobbs saw the former Wexford man lay it off to his new team-mate in the box before Boyd expertly slipped it past Horgan for an easy goal.

Dean Byrne celebrates scoring his first goal of the night v Galway United. Pic: Tiernan Dolan.

Galway sat back and on 84 minutes, Byrne got his second and Longford's third when Aaron Dobbs, again, like a work horse won the ball on the edge of the Town box before running straight at the Galway defence before playing a through ball into Byrne who's finish past Horgan into the far corner will be up there as a contender for Longford Town Goal of the Season.

Three minutes into injury time and Joe Manley popped up with a header to make it 4-0 to De Town and cement the win. His first goal for the club, Joe was left unmarked during a corner and he headed in the loose ball after it was initially put back towards goal by Conor Kenna.

Longford now sit in second and are level on points with Drogheda United as the push for promotion intensifies.

Team Line-Ups

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Joe Manley, Conor Kenna (C), Anto Breslin, Dylan Grimes (replaced by Aaron Dobbs), Aodh Dervin, Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon (replaced by Peter Hopkins), Sean Boyd (replaced by Dean Zambra).

Subs not used: Jack Menton, Karl Chambers, Carlton Ubaezuonu, Paul O'Connor

Galway United: Kevin Horgan, Chris Horgan (replaced by Conor Melody), Marc Ludden (replaced by Dara Costelloe, Stephen Walsh, Maurice Nugent, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Vinny Faherty, Colin Kelly (replaced by Conor Barry), Killian Brouder, Donal Higgins, Conor Layng.

Subs not used: Cian Mulryan, Adam Rooney, Cian Murphy, Joe Collins.