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Longford Town v UCD Match Preview

Thu Apr 19th 2018

Preview by Tony Ghee

After the disappointment of conceding a last gasp equaliser away to Drogheda United last weekend, to come away from United Park with just a point when all three points seemed to have been in the bag, Longford Town host new league leaders UCD at the City Calling Stadium this Saturday night with the big game getting underway at 7-30pm.

Longford Town are unbeaten at home this season with three wins and a draw from their four home league contests to date. The Town drew 2-2 with Cobh in their opening home game, but since then they have beaten both Wexford FC and Cabinteely FC 3-0, and they also emphatically accounted for Athlone Town winning the Midlands Derby 5-1.

On the road, UCD have won two of their three games, winning 3-1 at Athlone and 2-0 in Cobh before suffering that 2-0 reverse away to Drogheda.

UCD bounced back from their 2-0 loss to Drogheda with an entertaining 3-2 win at home to Finn Harps last weekend courtesy of a Georgie Kelly hat-trick which sent them to the top of the table.

Last season, College held the upper hand against the Town as they remained unbeaten in their four league encounters with two wins and two draws against the City Calling Stadium side.

UCD have plenty of quality in their ranks with Max Kouogun in defence, Greg Sloggett and Gary O’Neill in midfield, and strikers Georgie Kelly (last season’s First Division top scorer), Daire O’Connor and Jason McClelland, all top class players. A lot of the UCD team contain players who tasted Third level success this year as they won the prestigious Collingwood Cup with a late,late winner from Daire O’Connor to beat Queen’s University 2-1 in the final, despite playing the entire second-half with just ten players after Georgie Kelly’s dismissal.

The Town will be making at least two changes from the team that drew last week away to Drogheda, as both Shane Elworthy (ankle) and Peter Hopkins who had to be substituted are out through injury. Shane O’Connor and Alan Kehoe are also out through injury. However, towering centre-half, Mick McDonnell and Darren Meenan are both available again after missing out last weekend.

Darren Meenan, available again for selection.

MATCH PREVIEW: Drogheda United v Longford Town

Thu Apr 12th 2018

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

This Friday night sees fourth place Longford Town travel to United Park to face league leaders Drogheda United for a 7-45pm Kick-off. Only four points separate the top five sides but fifth place Galway on nine points do have a game less played than the top four. Drogheda lead a three-way tie at the top-of-the table on thirteen points ahead of Shelbourne and UCD on goal difference, with Longford Town two points further back on eleven points.

Drogheda and Longford Town have both lost one of their opening six matches to date with nine-men Longford losing 3-2 away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park courtesy of a last minute penalty converted by former star player and club record goalscorer, David O’Sullivan, which completed his hat-trick in his first match against the Town since leaving the club in the summer.

Drogheda’s only defeat was a surprise 3-2 loss away to Cabinteely two weeks ago, but the Louth men are on fire infront of goal in this year’s first division campaign as they have scored two goals plus in each of their six league outings to date. Indeed, they ran riot at Ferrycarrig Park registering an 8-1 victory away to Wexford FC and they also put six past Athlone Town in a 6-0 home triumph, so the Town defence will have their hands full in their bid to keep a third consecutive clean sheet, after an impressive nil-all draw away to Galway and last week’s 3-0 home win against Cabinteely.

During the week, the Drogs advanced to the second round of the EA Sports Cup beating Leinster Senior League side Saint Mochta’s 3-2 at United Park with former Longford Town players Kealan Dillon playing the full ninety minutes in midfield and striker Lee Duffy an unused substitute. Another former Town player, keeper Paul Skinner, will probably start in goal for the home side on Friday night.

As well as the former Longford Town players, Drogheda possess plenty of experience and talent in their ranks with the likes of Sean Brennan, Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland, and Chris Lyons all capable of doing damage, while Mark Doyle, Gareth McCaffrey and youngster Eoin McPhillips are also quality players to watch out for.

Longford Town are not quite at full strength as Alan Kehoe and Shane O’Connor will both miss Friday’s encounter, but Dylan McGlade is available again after serving his suspension and his return to the squad is very welcome. Centre-half Daniel O’Reilly is fit for selection after receiving seven stitches in last week’s contest that resulted in his sixteenth minute substitution and that is a further boost for Neale Fenn.

Town’s Chris Mulhall has been in electrfying form this season…

Although he did not score against Cabinteely, striker Chris Mulhall has been in electrifying form this season for the ‘Red & Black’, while Dean Zambra, Sam Verdon, and Daniel O’Reilly will be key to the visitors cause.

Also in excellent form for Longford Town this season are the two local players Aodh Dervin in midfield and Tristan Noack-Hofmann at left-full back, which is a massive boost for the club, the fans, and the locality’s underage players with both Longford Town FC and the Longford and District Schoolboys and Schoolgirls Soccer League.

MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Cabinteely

Wed Apr 4th 2018

Match Preview by Kieran Burke

Unbeaten in four of the five opening First Division games this season, Longford Town will be looking to continue their good start to the campaign with a home win against Dublin based Cabinteely.

The Stradbrook outfit come into this away tie off the back of a shock 3-2 win against free-scoring Drogheda United. Former Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers star, Kieran ‘’Marty’’ Waters is the main man in Pat Devlin’s ‘’Cabo’’ team and the diminutive forward got his season up and running with a goal just five minutes into that triumph over the County Louth side. Midfielder, Stephen Ball bagged himself a brace and he will have to be closely marshaled by Dean Zambra and co on Saturday night at the City Calling Stadium.

Local lad, Aodh Dervin was the top performer in ‘’De Town’s’’ fine away performance in Galway last Friday night, as the Midlanders claimed a valuable point thanks to a scoreless draw at Eamon Deacy Park. However, had Longford’s finishing been sharper, especially in the second half with the likes of Sam Verdon and Chris Mulhall missing glorious one on one opportunities, Neale Fenn’s charges could have left the West with all three points.

Local lad Aodh Dervin, hoping to have another influential game for Town.

Despite the missed chances, Neale Fenn and his coaching staff will be extremely delighted with the efforts at the back with Mick McDonnell again standing out for the ‘’Red and Black’’. The towering centre-half, who is experiencing his first ever League of Ireland season having signed from Paul Perth’s Newbridge Town, has been a fine addition alongside last seasons team of the year member, Dan O’Reilly. Throw in the eye-catching displays from new shot-stopper Mick Kelly, who of course played for Cabinteely last season, and Neale Fenn will be hopefully of a third clean sheet of the season on Saturday night.

Town custodian, Mick Kelly, who could be facing his old side, Cabinteely on Saturday

Target man, Chris Mulhall will collect his Supporters Club Player of the Month award before the Cabinteely game and should he replicate his scoring form from the recent meetings with Athlone Town and Wexford FC, there’s a very good chance the home faithful will leave City Calling Stadium happy on Saturday night. Kick-off at the Strokestown Road venue is 7.30pm with admission just €10 for adults, €8 for students/OAPS and €5 for children under 12. Bring a friend!

LONGFORD TOWN TEAM NEWS

Injured: Darren Meenan (hamstring), Alan Kehoe (ankle)

SUSPENSION NEWS

Dylan McGlade is still serving a 3 game ban following his sending off v Shelbourne.

MATCH PREVIEW: Galway United v Longford Town

Wed Mar 28th 2018

Match preview by Kieran Burke (@KieranBTS/@BetweenStripes)

On a weekend of big boxing action, undoubtedly one of the main events of the 2018 First Division campaign takes place this Friday night in Galway, as Longford Town travel to Eamon Deacy Park for a titanic second tier showdown.

Shane Keegan’s Galway United are the hosts as their Midlands visitors come into this one off the back of hammering local rivals Athlone Town 5-1 at the City Calling Stadium last time out.

Goals haven’t been an issue for either side so far this season with United putting four past Athlone, three past Cabinteely and two past a resilient Drogheda side, however they did surrender that two goal in their most recent outing against Tim Clancy’s ‘’Drogs’’, who managed to rescue a point despite having a man sent off at United Park. Keegan’s men also failed to shut out an impressive UCD side, who the Tribesmen drew 1-1 with a couple of weeks ago.

There is no doubt as to where Galway’s main threat will come from on Friday night and that is through former First Division winner and Wexford legend, Danny Furlong. The in form striker has already bagged six goals this season and will certainly return for Friday’s game having sat out that trip to Drogheda on Monday.

As for Neale Fenn’s Longford, ‘’De Town’’ will have to make to do without the services of three-time League of Ireland champion, Darren Meenan who suffered a nasty hamstring injury in Longford’s 3-2 defeat at Tolka Park a fortnight ago. Fellow winger, Peter Hopkins is rated as 50/50 having also done hamstring damage during that Tolka Park slugfest, while Dylan McGlade must again watch on from the stands through suspension.

However, in more positive news, Sam Verdon is once again available following his sending off in Drumcondra. Full-back’s Tristan Noack-Hoffman and Adam O’Connor both played a half against Athlone, as the latter was forced off through illness, meaning Fenn may have a selection headache for Friday’s game in more than one position with the likes of Dean Byrne and local lad, Aodh Dervin bang in contention for respective starting berths following their impressive performances in the Midlands derby. Alan Kehoe is the final player on the Longford Town treatment table as he continues to recover from a slight knee injury.

Kick-off at Eamonn Deacy Park is 7.45pm this Good Friday with a win for the hosts giving them the potential to reclaim top-spot from UCD, while a big away win for Longford would see them move onto ten points, which is the same tally Drogheda United and UCD currently find themselves on. A huge game to say the least as the 2018 SSE Airtricity League First Division really starts to heat up.

You can listen to Kieran Burke’s interview with Galway United manager, Shane Keegan on our SoundCloud channel.

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