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Match Report by Tony Ghee Longford Town 0-0 Finn Harps Longford Town and Finn Harps played out a scoreless draw at Bishopsgate to earn a point each after both sides bounced back from their narrow weekend defeats to Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers respectively. In truth, neither side deserved to win the contest and a
Match Report by Tony Ghee Longford Town 2 Derry City 0 Longford Towns’ first home Premier Division game since 2016, at Bishopsgate resulted in an outstanding two-nil victory over Derry City with goals from man-of-the-match Dylan Grimes and Joe Gorman sending the ‘Red and Black’ to the top-of-the-table. Longford Town created the opening opportunity in
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 missed out on all three points last night thanks to a Robert Manley brace that sealed the victory for Cabinteely in a tightly contested affair in Stradbrook.
De Town started the game brightly with Aaron Dobbs having the first major chance of the game after just 6 minutes. A long ball over the top was brought down by Sam Verdon who did well to play it into Dobbs in the box but his half-volley was straight at Stephen McGuinness in the Cabo goal who palmed it away to safety.
The home side pressured Longford and had a chance of their own on 24 minutes when a high ball was flashed across the box but Paul Fox’s connected header was high and over, much to the relief of Lee Steacy in goal.
Longford could have opened the scoring only minutes later when Conor Kenna snuck in un-marked at the back post and headed towards goal but it was easily gathered by McGuinness.
Cabinteely eventually got their goal after a period of sustained pressure on the Longford backline. Rob Manley got in between the defence and had his initial shot saved well by Lee Steacy but he recovered to slot it home from a tight angle to put Pat Devlin’s side in the driving seat after 36 minutes.
Town could have been on level terms just before half time when Karl Chambers played in Aaron Dobbs in the box but the Wexford’s man shot was blocked when it seemed destined for the goal.
The second half saw a number of changes for Longford with Aaron Dobbs and Karl Chambers being replaced by Dean Byrne and De Town’s newest signing, Sean Boyd. (On loan from Shamrock Rovers)
Sam Verdon had a chance on 58 minutes when he did well down the right side, getting into the box before shooting on goal, but again, it was straight at McGuinness.
Aodh Dervin, who put in a man of the match performance against Cabo. Pic: Ken Keenan
Verdon almost got an assist in the hour mark when he played in Sean Boyd. A brilliant move started by Aodh Dervin in midfield resulted in a expertly placed through ball releasing Verdon on the right before he squared it for Boyd in the box but the Rovers loanee hit the post from close range before it bounced off McGuinness’ back and was eventually cleared.
Cabo could have been two up when a ball over the top caught Mick McDonnell out and bounced over his head for Rob Manley to race onto but Town keeper Lee Steacy was quick off his line to smother the ball to safety.
Eight minutes from time, Verdon had a chance to level again but his header from an Anto Breslin corner was saved by McGuinness.
With 5 mins remaining, Longford threw everybody forward but it was the home side who would get the second goal of the game deep into injury time. Some sloppy play in defence led to Cabo sub Sasaki saw him play in Manley who did well to work it past Steacy to seal the win for the south Dublin side.
A disappointing result for De Town who are now in 3rd place in the league and face Galway United at the City Calling Stadium next Saturday night in a must win game in the promotion race.