Longford Town FC • Official Website
Longford Town Football Club would like to confirm that Manager Neale Fenn has resigned from his position and the club wish him the best for his future.
Daire Doyle has been appointed interim Manager.
The club will not be commenting any further on this issue.
Ends.
Longford Town’s homegrown midfield maestro, Aodh Dervin was just 4 years old when his club retained the FAI Cup way back in 2004 with a dramatic 2-1 win over Waterford United at the old, iconic Landsdowne Road.
A Town fan from birth, the 20 year old spoke fondly of his vivid memories of the time, recalling seeing the Longford players arrive at the stadium all suited up and ready for action.
“I was only four years old but I remember all the players, Sean Prunty, Eric Lavine…I remember them all coming out in suits and it was really professional and it was a moment that’s stuck with me since then and it drives me on in a way…”
Now, 15 years later, one of the brightest prospects’ that the midlands club has produced in recent years, is hoping to emulate his old heroes by going all the way and winning the coveted cup in the Aviva Stadium and fulfilling a boyhood dream.
“I think anyone that has any ambition of being a footballer (in Ireland) dreams of that so it’s obviously always been a goal of mine and it would be even more special to do it with Longford especially with our history.”
Longford have a rich history in this competition, having won it twice in the early 2000’s and been finalists four times. Having had a decent run last year under the guidance of manager Neale Fenn, Longford had some terrific wins in the cup, beating Sligo Rovers in the first round for the second consecutive year and defeating Shelbourne at home in the second round before bowing out to a superior Cork City side in the quarter final although an early sending off didn’t help the Red and Black. A crowd of over 1100 were in attendance and while the final result was one to forget for Dervin, his performance for the Town showed everyone that he’s capable of playing at the top level in our league. However, with the Town chasing promotion and welcomign Shelbourne to the City Calling only 4 days after their cup game on Tuesday, potential opponents and revenge isn’t on the mind of the young player.
“We all know that promotion is our main aim but I think these cup games are good, we want to keep the momentum going and the only way we can do that is by playing and winning…obviously you’d want to get revenge on Cork and you always want to play against the best players but I haven’t really thought about it. We’ve Athlone on Tuesday and that’s our main focus.”
With tomorrow’s game being the fourth ‘El Clasico’ of 2019 and with Longford having won the last three and obtaining a 5-1 win only last week, Dervin is aware that the midlands derby is not quite what it used to be but insists that he and the team will still prepare the same way as usual.
“Obviously the rivalry isn’t what it was a few years ago when Athlone were doing well, I remember going to games as a fan and busses of Athlone fans would be travelling but it doesn’t matter, we treat Athlone the same as any other team. I motivate myself by not wanting to lose any game as I hate losing and I’m a sore one at that but beating Athlone will always feel that bit sweeter for me and always will.”
Aodh Dervin pictured in action against Cork City last year during our FAI Cup quarter final clash at the City Calling Stadium.
With league leaders Shelbourne losing out to Cobh last week, their lead at the top is down to 5 points. They will travel to Longford on Saturday night in what could be both clubs biggest game of the season, just a few days Longford are in cup action. When asked if he still believed ‘De Town’ could win the league, Dervin revealed the team are just taking it one game at the time.
“This is the biggest game of the season for us, and with Shels slipping up in Cobh, we’re looking to close the gap even more by beating them. Then there will only be 2 points between us so we just need to take it game by game and see how it folds out..”
Kick off at the City Calling Stadium tonight is 7.45pm.
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.
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.
Longford Town FC welcome Galway United to the City Calling Stadium tonight in what is a must win game for the Red and Black if they are to keep the pressure on Shelbourne, Drogheda and Cabo in the race for promotion.
Galway’s last win in the league was all the way back in May against us! A 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Vinny Faherty saw Alan Murphy’s side gain all 3 points at Eamonn Deacy Park. Since then, they’ve had a tough time at home and away. With losses against Bray, Drogheda, Longford, Limerick, Cobh, and Shelbourne, Galway sit third from bottom, even with a few good draws against Athlone, Wexford and Bray. At home to Bray last week, they had to come from behind twice to earn a draw. Conor Layng and talisman Vinny Faherty got the all important goals after Bray went ahead, first through an OG from Kevin Horgan in goal on seven minutes and then through Dylan McGlade on fifty minutes. Galway left it late but got their equalizer with six minutes remaining on the clock to gain a share of the spoils.
Sam Verdon pictured celebrating his goal last time out when Longford Town defeated Galway United 2-1 at the City Calling Stadium.
De Town suffered a disappointing setback last week against Cabinteely in Stradbrook. Neale Fenn’s men just couldn’t break down the home side’s big defensive line and Pat Devlin’s young side took full advantage and scored two good goals to seal the victory. Cabo sit one point ahead of Longford after their draw away to Drogheda last night so the Town can go two points clear of them and go back into third with a win against Galway tonight at the City Calling Stadium.
Both clubs have a win over each other with Galway winning 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park back in May and Longford winning by the same scoreline in June thanks to goals from Dean Byrne and Sam Verdon.
Galway announced the signing of centre back Killian Brouder from Limerick FC today and the 20 year old goes straight into the squad for tonight’s game.
Jack Doherty is doubtful for Longford while Jamie Doyle is unavailable.
Come out and support De Town in what is a huge game for the club!
Come on the Town!