Longford Town FC • Official Website
Head on over to our Soundcloud page where Kieran Burke sat down with Town defender Adam O’Connor. They discussed all things LTFC, the team’s form, the daily routine of a Town player and how Adam has settled into the City Calling Stadium.
As Longford Town FC head into a potentially massive away clash against Drogheda United at United Park on Friday evening, LTFC.ie reporter Andrew Dempsey sat down and spoke with new arrival to the club, Adam O’Connor.
Despite his busy schedule, the 23-year old Dubliner took time out of day to discuss his brief, yet enjoyable time at the club so far whilst also keeping his eyes firmly set on a big away day up in Drogheda as the red-hot First Division promotion race intensifies once again.
Having joined from Shelbourne during the long off-season break, the former Shels defender revealed that he has found life in the “Red and Black” quite enjoyable so far as he readies himself for a big push for promotion to the Premier Division between now and the end of the season at the City Calling Stadium.
“It’s been very enjoyable so far! It’s been different for me because I was at Shelbourne for so long and this is the first time I’ve moved club, but I’ve found it really enjoyable so far. To be fair to the lads, they’ve have been a great in helping me settle into the team since I joined.”
Switching styles of play is never an easy task for any footballer no matter who you talk to, but Adam spoke at length about how Neale Fenn’s footballing philosophy has made him enjoy his football as he enjoys the freedom of playing the ball around the back after coming from a more direct style of play at Tolka Park under previous boss, Owen Heary.
“I’ve enjoyed the football side of it better so far compared to my time at Shels and I mean absolutely no disrespect to Owen at all there, but I feel that the style of play here compliments Neale, and the way he wants to play in the philosophy he’s going by. To be fair to him, he’s stuck with it in games that’s it’s not worked in for him and we’ve not been going in with route-one football by just launching it in on teams. Especially with me being a centre-half and all I’m seeing a lot more of the ball and I am enjoying now.”
O’Connor also revealed that the fact that he knew a good few players at Longford Town before his arrival played a major role in setting up the deal for the former St Patrick’s Athletic Under 19 star to join Neale Fenn’s revolution at the City Calling Stadium.
Adam O’Connor pictured signing for De Town with manager, Neale Fenn
“For me it was a big thing in actually making the move to Longford. I’d be shy enough myself now and I wouldn’t know how other players would cope with it but yes it was a big factor in my move. I knew Dan O’Reilly and a couple of the lads before I went in. I knew Sam (Verdon) as well before I came to the club as well as the lads I’ve played with before and I was asking them what they thought of the club and it was a big factor for myself joining the club. It was important for me know what way the club was being run and what direction it’s looking to head in and it was a big thing that I knew some of the lads before I joined the club.”
After making his competitive debut for Longford Town against his previous employers Shelbourne at Tolka Park a few weeks back, the experienced, yet youthful First Division campaigner noted he was fully focused with the game on hand despite it being a rather “different” experience than normal.
“It was different, but we had a job to do and I was completely focused on the job that night. Personally, it was a big game for me with it being the first time I’ve gone back to play an old club and there was big crowd there and all that other stuff, but I was completely focused on the job I had to do that night. Obviously, we didn’t get the result we wanted on the night, but I thought we played really well and I thought we could have easily come away with a point, but that’s football and these things happens, and we’ll probably get the rub of the green against someone down the line!”
With all reports suggesting that there is already a great bond between the players at this early stage of the season, our new signing noted that he has already seen the benefits of how a positive atmosphere among the squad can help younger players break into the side without all the usual pressure that usually comes with it at such a young age.
“It’s really good now I have to say! Training is really good, and I think everyone is happy being around the team at the moment even with the young lads coming up through and they really seem to be enjoying it! It’s not like sometimes you see young players with the weight of the world on their shoulders, and you’ve seen that with Aodh (Dervin) as he seems to be really enjoying his football. Even around the training ground you see he’s already maturing into a decent player in the way he’s carrying himself, so I think the bond is really good among the lads at the minute!”
However, as attention turned to the game versus Tim Clancy’s “Drogs” on Friday night at United Park, O’Connor admits that the game is a big one for both, as the two opposing sides look to land that early statement of intent in terms of the promotion race on Boyneside.
“It’s a fact that it’s a massive game for us and for them. If you look at the league table already you can see that it’s really tight in the top four at the minute. I think that if we can get a win up there, it’ll be a big win for us and it puts a statement out for us among anybody in the top four and obviously it bunches up the table again but we’re obviously going to go up with a professional attitude and we’re going to try and win the game!”
And finally, Adam had this message to pass onto supporters ahead of the big game this weekend.
“Yeah of course. They’ve been really good so far to us. I know Drogheda is a bit of a trip for them but I’d love to see a big crowd up there again, making the noise and singing the songs and all that kind of stuff so if anyone can get down to the game, be sure to go to it because it should be an absolutely smashing game of football.”
Daniel O’Reilly is arguably one of the most highly regarded defenders in SSE Airtricity League First Division having been named in the PFAI’s First Division Team of the Year last season.
So, after a solid start to the season for both himself and the rest of his teammates, Daniel had a quick chat with LTFC.ie reporter Andrew Dempsey ahead of a crucial weekend of fixtures for the “Red and Black Army” whilst also reflecting on the opening few games of the season for Neale Fenn’s charges.
After picking seven points from a possible twelve on offer, O’Reilly admits that it has been a decent start to the season for “De Town” and is already casting his eyes on crucial few weeks ahead as the “Red and Black” head into vital league games against both Galway United and Drogheda.
“I think it’s been a decent start! Obviously looking back, I think we could’ve taken more points if we were more sensible in the Cobh game being two-nil up and obviously things went a bit mad in the Shelbourne game but overall, it’s not been the worst start to the season. Obviously, we’ve got some big games coming up against Galway and Drogheda, so we’ll see how we fare after them.”
After the obvious disappointment of a heart-breaking three-two defeat against promotion rivals Shelbourne during our last away outing, the former Fulham FC youngster noted on the importance of getting back on track in a massive derby day win over Midlands rivals, Athlone Town last time out.
“Obviously, it was great to get the win! It wasn’t ideal that we went one-nil down so early on, but we’ve got good character in the team and we knew that the quality would come out to show. It could’ve been more than five on the night and obviously it was great for the supporters on the night to beat our local rivals Athlone with such a large number of goals!”
Saying that, the 22 year old combative defender knew that there were positives to take from the Shelbourne defeat, noting that he felt as if there was plenty to look back on with positivity as Longford Town were in charge for vast swathes of the game at Tolka Park.
“I was listening to Neale doing an interview after the game and he was actually quite positive! After the game, like myself, it’s easy to jump to conclusions to say could’ve done this and that but we dominated the game with eleven men and then with ten men to come back to two-all would’ve made it a great point, but I do think overall, we were the better team on the night! Obviously, we were sloppy at times and that cost us, but they happen. We can take positives with the way we played, and we never really tried to change the way we played and, look, Shels are a more physical and direct side but I do think that we could take positives from the game. From the defensive side of things, three goals aren’t great but listen, these things happen, and we’ll learn a lot more about ourselves and other things throughout the season!”
Looking ahead to the big game on Friday night at Éamonn Deacy Park, O’Reilly is confident of leaving Galway with a win under his belt.
“I know they’ve had a good start and they’re one point ahead of us in the table but they’re probably one of the favourites along with ourselves to go up! They’ve got some really good players in Danny Furlong who’s just joined them alongside Ryan Connolly who’s just arrived there from Rovers, so they do have a lot of quality about them. Saying that, we’ll be going into the game believing that we can win, not just going into the game looking for a point. We know that we’ve got goals in our side now, so it’s just up to the likes of myself to deliver at the other end of the pitch to keep a clean sheet come Friday night!”
With the Shamrock Rovers game coming so soon after the trip up to Galway, the former Bray Wanderers defensive option admitted that he relishes those kind of occasions against the so-called bigger sides away from the rig-ma-roll in the league campaign.
“Yeah it’s nice to have those kinds of games to look forward to! I remember we played them last year and funnily enough and we lost one-nil. They’ve got a good squad and I’m sure they’ll want to be trying out their younger players or players that haven’t really got into their side yet, but they’ll be quality players. It’s a good opportunity for us to show what we can do! With the style of play that we play, it probably suits us to play to play against the bigger teams as we try to play and they try to plays I think it’ll be a good game, a good contest between two teams that want to play so I’m looking forward to that on Monday but obviously Friday is the first thing on our minds but it’s nice to have straight after it!”
And last but certainly not least, the only Longford Town FC defender in last year’s PFAI First Division Team of the Year called on supporters to come out and support the team, admitting that it is a big help to the team when there’s a good, healthy crowd present at the games, pushing the “Red and Black” on as Neale Fenn plots a return back to the promised land of Premier Division football for “De Town”.
“The crowds have been really good so far and it’s good to see! Obviously seeing the crowd on Saturday against Athlone was good with all the numbers in the crowd and even in the past two home games against Cobh and Wexford they were good! Even against Shels we could hear the fans and it was really, really good to see. I know there’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes that’s really trying to push on and encourage bigger crowds to come to the games no matter where we’re going! I saw there was a bus organised for Finn Harps already, obviously it was called off due to the weather, but still, it’s really good to see! The more that come, the better it is for us and it really does help us in the games.”
After re-joining the club following a spell away in England with Conference North side Blyth Spartans, Dylan McGlade got talking with LTFC.ie reporter Andrew Dempsey as the former Middlesbrough prodigy discussed how his move back to the City Calling Stadium came about whilst also comparing the League of Ireland to the Non-Leagues over in England.
Having decided to re-join the Red and Black after a brief spell across the water over in England with Conference North side Blyth Spartans, McGlade revealed that his previous relationship both Neale Fenn and Daire Doyle played a key role in getting the deal over the line.
“It actually just happened when the team I was playing with in England were having some difficulties and they just said, if you’d like to leave we can facilitate that. I think Daire and Fenny caught wind of that and we just had a chat. I know the lads already, I know Daire and Fenny for a couple of years now so the opportunity that I had to work under them was something I couldn’t really let go.”
With this being the first time that Dylan has worked under both Fenn and Doyle simultaneously in a professional capacity, the 22-year-old Dubliner has explained that he has found the transition to Fenn’s footballing philosophy an easy exercise so far.
“It’s been good so far! He knows what he wants and its good to have that clearness in your instructions. Everybody knows exactly the way he wants to play, and he doesn’t shy away from how he wants to play. I’ve been coached under him for the last couple of years with his academy, so I know how he deals with things and how he works so it’s been an easy transition for me.”
Having enjoyed a six-month spell at the club last time out, the former St Patrick’s Athletic star revealed that realisation of how a big a club De Town really are stood out for him in his last stint at the City Calling Stadium.
“Probably just realising how a big a club Longford is. I mean when you come down to the City Calling Stadium. I remember the first time I came down here in 2016 with Pats away and I just couldn’t believe how big the stadium was and how professional everything looked. Even walking down to the changing rooms and just stuff like that.”
With the good times not far gone, he also revealed that Daire Doyle constantly keeps on referring to the good old days at the club when the Red and Black were pulling in back in the mid 2000’s having had a spell at the club himself.
“That was probably the main thing but Daire always talks about when he was playing for Longford and how the club were nearly getting almost 2,500 at nearly every home game and all. Obviously back when I was with Shels as well I remember Longford always had a huge following so probably that would have to be the thing that really stood out for me.”
With there being far more positivity amongst Longford Town supporters this time round compared to this time last season, the 22-year-old noted that he believes that this year’s squad feels a lot more cohesive than the side starting last season’s campaign.
“I think the big difference this year would probably have to be the cohesiveness of the team. I look at the team this year and most of the boys all know each other. The way in which we’re setting up this year is much different to last year and how Neale wants to play, and I think everyone really fits into that. As well as that, I think that we’re a lot stronger this time around in all areas of the pitch. I mean, if you look at the team, we almost have two people to play every position on the park and we didn’t really have that last year. Last year we were a bit light up front and I know this year we kind of are a bit light up front, but we have a few boys that can play up there as well as me if needs be. we have a lot more competition which always helps.”
Having played at both Non-League and League of Ireland levels in his brief playing career so far, McGlade revealed that League of Ireland football has a far superior professional feel surrounding it compared to the Non-League set-up in England.
“It’s a lot different I have to say. At Blyth we were playing in the Conference North and there are massive teams in the league such as Southport, York and Salford. Darlington are a massive team as well in there. I remember we played them last year and there were thousands at the game, it was just crazy, but the professionalism isn’t the same. I remember we came back from one of the games and the chairman came on and put two crates of beer on the bus on the way home from an away game. After the games lads would be heading down to the pubs, downing pints and all. You would never see that here! I remember one of the lads used to have a Subway pre-match, and you just don’t do that! The standard is very, very good like, I’ve played with some very, very good players and played against some very good players as well but the professionalism isn’t over there with that whereas over here you wouldn’t see that!”
Personally at least, McGlade has said that he is looking to break into a highly competitive starting eleven at Longford Town but has also noted that he feels as if there is a lot more experience this season compared to last season at the City Calling Stadium available to Neale Fenn and his backroom staff.
“First of all, I’d like to break into the first team and get a good of games under my belt. I think that’s what every player coming into a team wants to achieve. I think also, looking around, even though I’ve only been here for two weeks or so far, we look a lot more penetrating than last season and I think we’ve brought in some good experience with the likes of Darren Meenan who has won the Premier Division a few times, you look at Shane O’Connor last year getting player of the season at Waterford and getting promoted with them last time round. You look at Chris Mulhall who done the same at Limerick when he went up with them. I really think that we’ve strengthened in areas and we’ve got a lot of experience available to us and we still don’t have an old team!”
Echoing all the sentiments from the Red and Black’s dressing room, the former Malahide United and Swords Rovers starlet knows that a tilt towards the SSE Airtricity League First Division is well within reach come the end of the season at the City Calling Stadium.
“This year we’ve got to look for a promotion spot and we have to look at going for the league title. I know Neale has told all the boys that he wants to win the league outright and that’s how we’re setting up to try and do. We’re going into each game looking to win and we won’t be going into games looking to take draws even though the league will be very tough to win so I think, if we can get a good run of games and get the boys confidence up, I think there’s no reason why I don’t think we can’t go on and compete for the title.”
