Longford Town FC • Official Website
Towering Center Back Michael McDonnell has re-signed with De Town for the 2020 season.
Beating off stiff opposition to the Dubliner’s signature, Manager Daire Doyle spoke highly of McDonnell when revealing the confirmation.
McDonnell was an ever present figure in the Town back line in 2019 along side recently re-signed Shane Elworthy.
McDonnell pictured issuing instructions during a match in 2019.
Longford Town moved back to the top of the SSE Airtricity First Division as goals from Mick McDonnell and Peter Hopkins earned the Midlanders a comfortable two-nil victory over Bray Wanderers at the City Calling Stadium.
The Town took the lead in the eighth minute when Breslin’s corner picked out the Towering McDonnell whose downward header found the back of the Bray net.
The next decent opportunity arrived on twenty-eight minutes when Adam Evan’s effort from a tight angle on the left was saved by Bray keeper Gabriel Sava.
The Town doubled their advantage on thirty-three minutes when a sumptuous defence-splitting pass from Aodh Dervin put in winger Hopkins, he zoomed in on goal, calmly rounded Bray keeper Sava and slotted in the home side’s second goal.
Bray almost pulled a goal back on forty-three minutes but Killian Cantwell’s shot flashed just wide of the Town post.
The ‘Red & Black’ almost went three up on seventy-eight minutes. A superb reverse pass from Sean Brennan found Sam Verdon in space on the edge of the Bray box, but his curling strike which seemed destined for the bottom right-corner of the net was brilliantly saved by Sava.
Longford Town: Steacy, Elworthy, McDonnell, Kenna, Breslin, Zambra, Hopkins, Brennan, Dervan, Evans, Verdon.
Substitutions: Byrne for Evans (81 minutes), O’Connor for Brennan (87 minutes), Chambers for Hopkins (89 minutes).
Bray Wanderers: Sava, Nolan, Douglas, Heaney, Barnett, McGlade, Purdy, Cantwell, Keegan, Daly, O’Halloran.
Substitutions: Lovic for Heaney (72 minutes), McCann for Purdy (82 minutes).
Referee: Jason Mannix
De Town battled back brilliantly from 2-0 down to draw with the League and Cup champions, Dundalk in a friendly at Oriel Park last night. Dundalk got their opener through Daniel Kelly just before the half time whistle. Patrick Hoban put the hosts 2-0 up. Adam Evans and Mick McDonnell with the Longford Town goals. Another fantastic result for Neale Fenn’s side on the road!