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MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Wexford FC

Sat Jun 8th 2019

Match Preview by Kieran Burke (@KieranBTS)

Longford Town will be looking to avoid a potential banana skin when they host an awkward Wexford FC side in the SSE Airtricity League First Division tonight, kick-off is at 7.30pm. 

Despite sitting bottom of the second tier at present, Wexford FC have dramatically improved on their showings from last season, when heavy beatings and an uncompetitive nature were regular occurrences for the South-East based outfit. This year, under the watch of rookie manager Brian O’Sullivan, Wexford FC have been more than competitive, even against sides that dwarf the amateurs of Wexford in terms of budget and resources. You only have to ask Bray Wanderers, who Wexford turned over earlier this season how big of a danger underestimating this side can be.

That win over Bray is just one of two for O’Sullivan’s team this season with the other victory coming at home to Athlone Town, who sit just two points ahead of Wexford ahead of the latest round of First Division fixtures.

As for the hosts, Longford Town come into this latest home fixture off the back of a nervy win over Galway United on Bank Holiday Monday, as Neale Fenn’s troops appeared to take their foot off the gas in the second half, almost costing the Midlanders a vital three points. First half goals from Dean Byrne & Sam Verdon were enough to ensure Galway’s second half strike was nothing more than a conciliation but Fenn is sure to demand a more consistent showing across the ninety-minutes from his players tonight.

Underestimation of Wexford FC simply won’t be a concern for the Town management, given the major fright Longford received in the first meeting away to Wexford earlier this season. Going behind to a Danny Furlong goal, Town eventually rallied late to come away from Ferrycarrig Park with a crucial 2-1 victory but to say it wasn’t pretty would be a major understatement.

That result was built off determination, belief and character and while those attributes are of the upmost importance for any side with title ambitions, a more assured performance from a Town team, who will enter the game as heavy favourites, would be more than welcomed by the home faithful.

With league leaders, Shelbourne away to Bray Wanderers at 3pm today, Longford Town’s players will already know ahead of kick-off if they can go top of the table with a win tonight, however, with just Bray Wanderers to face (away) before the mid-season break, no team with title ambitions can afford to lose ground at this vital stage of the season.

Action pic from Town’s 2-1 victory at Ferrycarrig Park, earlier this season. Pic: Ken Keenan


Bank Holiday win for Longford Town as they defeat Galway United 2-1

Mon Jun 3rd 2019

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan

It took Dean Byrne just 11 minutes to find the back of the Galway net this evening.

7 minutes later, it was Sam Verdon who put us 2 up. It looked then like the floodgates might open but in a tight and tense finish, we secured all 3 vital points with a 2-1 scoreline.

A few more pics from this evening’s win versus Galway.

Being a mascot is something really special…treated better than royalty and rightly so…a great evening for great memories.


Match Report: Shelbourne FC 1-0 Longford Town FC

Fri May 31st 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Longford Town players, staff and supporters will feel very disappointed leaving Tolka Park tonight after losing 1-0 to Shelbourne thanks to a 79th minute penalty courtesy of Conan Byrne.

The home side started the better of the two teams, with James English hitting the post from a header in the 5th minute before the ball was eventually cleared away by the Longford defence.

Shelbourne kept De Town pinned back for the opening 25 minutes or so before Longford started to come into the game. Dean Byrne, who was probably the Red and Black’s best performer on the night, laid it off to Anto Breslin on the left, he whipped in a cross that was headed just narrowly wide by Aaron Dobbs.

Only 10 minutes later, Byrne sent Breslin on his way again, this time the cross was pulled back for Sam Verdon but his shot went narrowly wide of the post.

Paul O’Conor was replaced by Jamie Hollywood just before half time after he picked up an injury.

The second half was all Longford Town. Neale Fenn’s side could have opened the scoring just 3 minutes in when Aaron Dobbs had a shot from close range but it was well saved by McCabe in the Shelbourne goal.

Longford really pressed the hosts back and had another chance on 57 minutes. Dean Byrne again going close but not close enough. He took a high ball down brilliantly before turning his man but his shot was high over the bar.

Shels struggled to get a foothold in the second half and had scarce opportunities to score as the game progressed. Some great pressure from Shane Elworthy and Aodh Dervin was causing the home side problems and they began to aimlessly hit it out of play.

Longford missed another opportunity just after the hour mark when Dean Byrne again beat his man and foud himself in space before laying it off to Sam Verdon who’s shot was hit straight into the hands of McCabe.

It felt as if it was not going to be De Town’s night and on 79 minutes, Shels got the winner. A challenge by Peter Hopkins was deemed a foul and a penalty was awarded. Conan Byrne stepped up and coolly slotted it into the bottom corner.

Longford bombarded the Shels goal with wave after wave of attack for the remaining minutes but it wasn’t to be as the final whistle blew with the home side gaining all 3 points in a game that De Town didn’t deserve to lose but will rue their missed chances.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Shelbourne: McCabe, Friel, Fitzgerald, Marku, Brennan, Farrell, Rooney, Brennan, English (replaced by Byrne), Moore (replaced by Noone), Kilduff.

Subs: Delany, O’Hanlon, Moorehouse, McKenna, Connolly,

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Conor Kenna, Anto Breslin, Sam Verdon, Paul O’Conor (replaced by Jamie Hollywood), Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra (replaced by Jamie Doyle), Dean Byrne, Aaron Dobbs (replaced by Peter Hopkins).

Subs: Jack Menton, Karl Chambers, Joe Manley, Sean Brennan.

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