Tag: eamonn deacy park

MATCH PREVIEW: Galway United v Longford Town

Thu Aug 16th 2018

MATCH PREVIEW BY ANDREW DEMPSEY

Longford Town know that is certainly win or bust when they make the trip west to face playoff chasing Galway United at Éamonn Deacy Park on Friday evening. Kick-Off is at 7.45pm at the Dyke Road venue.

After picking up a morale boosting back-to-back wins against near neighbours Athlone Town and Sligo Rovers, Neale Fenn’s Red and Black Army have found a little bit of momentum since the defeat at Tolka Park with four goals and two clean sheets.

Knowing full well that a win can all but end Galway’s promotion hopes, De Town can really catapult themselves back into contention with a big win at Éamonn Deacy Park. Currently in 5th, just four points off Drogheda United and Shelbourne, a win could see Longford just go one point behind one of those playoff chasing sides.

The current First Division table before our game v Galway United (Screenshot: RTE.ie)

Last time we met Galway United in a league game, Neale Fenn masterminded an epic three-two success over the then Shane Keegan managed Tribesmen with ten-men at the City Calling Stadium after Darren Meenan’s dismissal.

Local star Aodh Dervin set the Red and Black of the Midlands on their way with a superb strike from distance as Sam Verdon and Karl Chambers sealed the three points despite being a man down.

Aodh Dervin, celebrating his goal against Town’s last home match v Galway at City Calling Stadium.

Former Town defender Stephen Walsh scored a late consolation goal for Galway, but it was to no avail as we held firm to secure a valuable three points on a fantastic weekend for the club which also saw a 4-2 win away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

During our last visit to Galway, the Tribesmen came away from the game with a slightly fortuitous point as Longford were unable to find the back of Tadgh Ryan’s net on frustrating night in the West while Aodh Dervin announced his arrival on the scene with a typically brilliant display in the middle of the park.

Action from Town’s previous match v Galway, a 3-2 win for De Town.

Currently, Galway have three former Town players on their books as Ryan Connolly, Stephen Walsh and Sean Russell have all enjoyed prior stints at the City Calling Stadium.

Connolly played under Tony Cousins way back in 2013 while Sean Russell, son of former Bray manager Martin Russell, played for De Town in 2014 as Walsh had a brief stint in the Red and Black during the 2017 season.

On the other hand, no current Longford Town player has played for Galway in a competitive outing. Our most recent ex Galway players were Enda Curran and Stephen Walsh who both lined out for the club in 2017.

In terms of team news for Friday night’s game, Jamie Doyle returns to the fold following suspension while Dean Byrne must sit out the game with a long-term injury. Also, Sam Verdon won’t feature after his injury in Sligo last week.

Barring any late change to the official’s overseeing the game, David Keeler will be the man in the middle while he will be assisted by Eoin Harte and Ricky Crean. Jason Mannix has been handed the role of the 4th official.

Match Preview: Longford Town FC v Galway United

Fri Jun 1st 2018

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town FC v Galway United
Friday 1st June 2018
City Calling Stadium, 7.45pm

by James Donnelly

The last time De Town and the Tribesmen met, both clubs played out an entertaining scoreless draw at Eamonn Deacy Park, in a game where local star Aodh Dervin shined, both managers, in particular Town’s Neale Fenn, felt that they could have nicked a winner. A good result away for Longford Town all the same.

Coming into tonight’s game off the back of a disappointing away draw against Athlone Town, Longford will be looking for all 3 points to put them back in the run of things for a play-off spot come the end of the season. Luckily enough with the way league results have gone, Longford have not fallen behind by much. Galway are only 4 points ahead of us going into the game, albeit 3 places ahead on the table, so a win for De Town is a must.

Galway come to the City Calling Stadium off the back of a frustrating 1-0 loss at home to Drogheda United last week. Shane Keegan’s men have been doing well however, currently sitting pretty in 3rd place, they’re only 5 points behind league leaders UCD.

Longford’s Shane Elworthy pictured in action against former Town player Ryan Connolly during the club’s last encounter at Eamonn Deacy Park in March.

Longford Town will be looking to the likes of Daniel O’Reilly, Aodh Dervin and Dean Byrne tonight, should Dean get his chance to go in, with Town striker Chris Mulhall suspended after receiving a straight red in last week’s draw with Athlone. The experience of O’Reilly along with the creativity of Dervin in midfield may prove crucial in tonight’s game.

Galway have former Longford Town player Ryan Connolly in the centre of the field. Connolly, who is club captain, is one of Galways top players, and the Westerners will be looking to his leadership to guide them to a win. Throw in the the possibility of the always threatening Danny Furlong and Town’s defence will have their hands full.

De Town will have to do without Peter Hopkins, Adam O’Connor, Shane O’Connor, Cian Byrne and Alan Kehoe who all remain on the injured list. Chris Mulhall misses out through suspension. Galway are still missing Alan Conway (injured) while prolific goal scorer Danny Furlong remains doubtful along with Tadgh Ryan.

Kick off tonight is 7.45pm

#cmondetown

Pictures from Longford Town’s scoreless draw in Galway

Sun Apr 1st 2018

Pictures by Ken Keenan Photography

 



Match Report: Galway United 0-0 Longford Town FC 30/03/18

Sat Mar 31st 2018

Lights Out in Galway!

Match Report by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Galway United 0-0 Longford Town FC

30/03/18 / Eamonn Deacy Park / 7.45pm

Longford Town left the West Coast on Friday night with a share of the spoils after a hard earned but well deserved 0-0 draw with Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park. The Galway crowd of 1,029 left disappointed but probably relieved as Longford looked the most likely to nick it towards the end.

Galway came into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Drogheda while De Town had demolished a poor Athlone side 5-1 in City Calling Stadium the previous weekend.

Longford, minus the services of injured defender Alan Kehoe, winger Darren Meenan and Dylan McGlade (suspension), started the game cautiously. The back four of Shane Elworthy, Michael McDonnell, Daniel O’Reilly and Tristan Noack-Hofmann with-held early Galway attacks. Chris Mulhall almost struck first in the 11th minute when he latched on to a cross but it was easily gathered by Galway keeper Tadgh Ryan. Only two minutes later, former Town player Ryan Connolly put in a measured cross that was latched onto by Eoin McCormack but he failed to trouble Kelly in De Town goal.

The Longford midfield of local youngster Aodh Dervin and Dean Zambra settled into the game and soon began to take control. In the 20th minute, Dervin laid it off to Galvin who’s cross was met by O’Reilly but his header was straight into the hands of the tribesmen keeper. Galway captain Connolly had a chance soon after when his powerful shot from 30 yards sailed over the bar. 19 year old Dervin worked ferociously in the middle of the park and at times had the much older and more experienced Connolly in his pocket much to the disbelief of many Galwegians watching on from the stands.

Town looked to open the deadlock again when lively winger Karl Chambers cut inside on 32 minutes but his shot hit the side netting. The returning Sam Verdon who was playing just behind front man Chris Mulhall held up play a lot and released Chambers into space before Chambers shot wide.

Danny Furlong who has just one goal more than our own top scorer, Mulhall (5), this season, was 50/50 coming into the game but did start. He didn’t trouble Longford much until just before half time when he struck low and wide from a cross on the left wing.

The second half was interrupted after 10 minutes for a short while when one of the floodlight towers cut out. There was a collective groan heard around the stadium with many wondering was the curse of the floodlights that had hit Drogheda and Athlone in previous weeks about to hit Galway too! After consulting the GUFC officials and talking to both managers, play eventually resumed, albeit with a new addition on the pitch, a long shadow on the far side of the pitch in Galways goal half.

Things settled and both teams soon began creating chances again. Ubaezuonu began to create problems down the left wing, getting into space and putting in crosses for the Connaught side. Galway fans must have thought the opener had come when on 53 minutes Eoin McCormack struck low inside the box but his shot was narrowly wide of Michael Kelly’s right post. Town almost went ahead 15 minutes later when some slack defending from Nugent saw Sam Verdon dispossess him and race through on goal only for another former Town player, Stephen Walsh, to make a last ditch tackle and put it out for a corner. Galway were let off again when Aodh Dervin (who put in a man of the match performance) raced down the left wing and emerged from the shadows to put in a high ball that narrowly went over the bar and almost caught the Galway keeper off guard.

After 11 minutes of injury time due to the stoppage, both teams finished goal-less in what was a tough, back and forth game. The travelling town fans which numbered around 70 in total would have felt the happier of the two considering the result. This was shown when Town Manager Neale Fenn marched the team over to the away section to show their appreciation of the support. And well deserved too! In a crowd of over 1,000, 70 Longford fans made themselves heard.

Most town fans, myself included, would have taken a draw before the game started but the way it played out, the style of football, the stand out performance of Aodh Dervin, left a sense of great optimism for all who witnessed it. This Town team can play football and this Town team fears no-one.

Galway United: Tadgh Ryan, Marc Ludden, Stephen Walsh, Maurice Nugent, Gary Shanahan, Stephen Kenny, Alex Byrne, Ryan Connolly (C), Carlton Ubaezuonu, Eoin McCormack, Danny Furlong

Subs: Arek Mamala, Aaron Conway, Gary Kineen, Conor Layng, Conor Barry (replaced Kenny ’99), Conor Melody (replaced Ubaezuonu ’99), Alan Murphy

Longford Town: Michael Kelly, Shane Elworthy, Michael McDonnell, Daniel O’Reilly, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Evan Galvin, Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra (C), Karl Chambers, Sam Verdon, Chris Mulhall

Subs: Jack Brady, Cian Byrne, Peter Hopkins, Jamie Hollywood, Jackson Ryan, Adam O’Connor (replaced Elworthy ’99), Dean Byrne (replaced Mullhall ’90)

Referee: Damien MacGraith

Photo Credit: Ken Keenan Photography

LTFC.ie Man of the Match: Aodh Dervin


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