Tag: match preview

MATCH PREVIEW: Limerick v Longford Town

Fri Jul 5th 2019

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’

MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Cobh Ramblers

Fri Jun 28th 2019

Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town’s first match after the mid-summer break is a home clash against Cobh Ramblers at the City Calling Stadium this Saturday night with the big match kicking-off at half past seven.

Neale Fenn’s charges are second in the table, four points behind leaders Shelbourne with ten matches to go. Only five points separate the Town from sixth place Bray, and the battle for the play-offs promises to be full of drama and excitement that will probably only be decided on the final day of the regular season.

Longford will be hoping to bounce back from their late collapse away to Bray last time out, as a two-one lead with five minutes to go finished in a three-two loss when Killian Cantwell and towering centre-back Hugh Douglas netted on eighty-eight and ninety-three minutes to sensationally earn all three points for the Wicklow side.

In contrast, seventh placed Cobh go into Saturday’s contest with a pep in their step after defeating Galway Utd two-one at Saint Colman’s Park with Denzil Fernandes and talismanic Jaze Kabia on the mark.

However, the loss of manager Stephen Henderson who resigned after the victory over Galway is a blow for Cobh, and it will be interesting to see how the Cobh players will react to Henderson’s departure.

Cobh are capable of beating big teams as demonstrated by their run to last season’s EA Sports Cup Final and their earlier two-one home victory over table-toppers Shelbourne this season.

The earlier league meeting in Saint Colman’s Park ended in a goalless stalemate, while last season Cobh won two-one and drew two all with the ‘Red & Black’ in the two league matches played at the City Calling Stadium, so Longford Town can expect another tough battle on Saturday evening.

On the team news front, Jamie Hollywood, Kevin Knight, and Sean Brennan have all departed the City Calling Stadium and the club would like to wish them well for the future.

Action from Town’s previous meeting with Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park


Match Preview: Bray Wanderers v Longford Town FC

Fri Jun 14th 2019

Match Preview by James Donnelly

SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION
Bray Wanderers FC v Longford Town FC
Friday 14th June 2019 | Kick-off: 7.45pm
Carlisle Grounds

Longford Town make the trip to the Carlisle Grounds for the first time in three years tonight as they take on Bray Wanderers in a 7.45pm kick off.

De Town go into tonight’s game off the back of a dramtic 1-0 win over Wexford FC at the City Calling Stadium last weekend. A 91st minute goal from super sub Jamie Doyle broke Wexford hearts and gained all 3 points for Neale Fenn and co.

Bray narrowly lost out to Shelbourne last week. A well taken free kick from Karl Moore early in the first half was the sole effort that seperated the sides after 90 minutes.

With Wanderers currently in 6th on 25 points, 8 points behind 2nd place Longford, a win tonight is vital for the home side. Former Longford Town player, assistant & caretaker Manager Gary Cronin is Manager of Bray and will no doubt be looking for a response from his team.

Earlier in the season, Longford had a comfortable 2-0 victory at the City Calling Stadium over our opponents tonight. Neale Fenn will be hoping that the team can continue their fine form ad come away from the Carlisle Grounds with all 3 points before the break.

In terms of team news for De Town, Paul O’Conor and Kevin Knight are both out with Aodh Dervin doubtful.

For Bray, midfielder Brandon McCann is doubtful.

#CmonDeTown

Longford Town celebrate scoring during our last encounter with Bray Wanderers in which De Town won 2-0.



Match Preview: Shelbourne v Longford Town

Thu May 30th 2019

BY ANDREW DEMPSEY

Longford Town make their second trip to the capital this season when they face top of the table Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday evening. (Kick-off is at 7.45pm)

Town boss Neale Fenn will be hoping that his side can kick on from their convincing derby day win over Athlone Town with a big result against Ian Morris’ side.

The Red and Black also come into the game having won the previous two games against the Reds by two goals in each in both the FAI Cup and First Division.

In the most recent showdown against Shels, Peter Hopkins and Karl Chambers both scored in what was a dominant victory for De Town.

However, Longford Town have not won a league game at Tolka Park since 2009, a memorable 5-4 win over Shelbourne which handed UCD the 2009 First Division crown.

Speaking to LTFC.ie, Town midfielder Jamie Hollywood admits that he is looking for revenge after Longford Town’s most recent defeat at the Dublin venue.

“The crowd from Longford is always great down in Tolka. The Shels fans are coming out in numbers again so it does create a nice atmosphere.

“You want to be playing in games like that. I’ve mentioned it already; the 6-1 defeat still is a bit sore from last year with a lot of us.

“The game got away from us because we felt we were well on top in the first half and then the sending off killed us. We were three-one down and we went for it, going close to make it three-two and then just like that it was 4-1 and the floodgates then opened.

“It wasn’t a 6-1 game, and I think that hurt us a bit because we really were on top and we probably felt like we should’ve won the game and I know it’s hard to believe when you lose 6-1 but we never stopped going forward.

“We probably could’ve sat in at 3-1 but that’s not like us. a few teams might want to do that, but we wouldn’t be like that.

“The game is going to be high-tempo with both teams looking for a really big result.”

In terms of team news, Sam Verdon is Neale Fenn’s only doubt for the trip to the Richmond Road venue.

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