Tag: shelbourne

Supporters’ Club Notes (26/08/2018)

Sun Aug 26th 2018

EXCELLENT WIN

It was a grand evening for football and a right good crowd was in the City Calling Stadium on Saturday to witness De Town progress to the next round of the FAI Cup. With so many old familiar faces  back in the crowd, it was like the old times again. The best part of the night was the determined spirit with which the team played. Shels, on numerous occasions tried to play the ball out of defence but were harried non stop. It was an excellent team display from start to finish. With Mick Kelly outstanding once again between the sticks, each Town player in front of him played their part in the uplifting 2-0 win. It looked like  we’d go in on level terms but when Dylan Mc Glade fired home an added time penalty (we don’t get too many), there was a sense that justice was done.

We expected the visitors to emerge with all guns blazing and hoped that a certain former player wouldn’t find the back of our net. But it was the hosts who upped the tempo and took complete control of the game. Daniel O’Reilly smashed home a real cracker to soothe whatever nerves there may have been.

Some visiting supporters said they were happy to be out of the cup so that they could concentrate on promotion. Fake news. They beat us 6-1 in our last game and genuinely expected to beat us, if not by that same margin. If we can maintain the present momentum, we’d be a match for any premier side in the next round.

“Stand up if you’re Longford Town” rang out from the stands in the final minutes. Hopefully, that chant will become  familiar again- just like the old days.

CABINTEELY AT HOME

We have yet another vital game at home this Saturday. Cabinteely are our visitors, with kick off on Saturday September 1st at 7.30. While they may be 12 points between us, that’ll matter for nothing come kick off time. They’ve proved to be tricky opponents before but hopefully we’ll pull a few tricks out of the bag ourselves to keep the pressure on Drogheda. This Friday night, the Drogs face league leaders UCD at home . Hopefully the students can do us a favour up there.

But what we really, really need is a huge and vocal home support on Saturday night. We can only concentrate on our own games and get as many as possible out to support the effort. See you there, on Saturday night.

A BIT OF COVERAGE

You could be forgiven to believe that the FAI Cup is a state secret with its lack of decent coverage in the national media, particularly on our national broadcaster. Thankfully there are a number of social media platforms which are doing a pretty good job. Following our Saturday night win, the dedicated sports forum The 42 had a very good and detailed account of the win. They also included 3 top class photos from the INPHO agency. Contrast that to the 7 seconds on RTE Radio sport.

MATCH REPORT: Town Cup run continues after victory over Shelbourne

Sun Aug 26th 2018

Match Report by Tony Ghee

Longford Town progressed to the Quarter-Finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup with a comfortable two-nil victory over Shelbourne, as goals from Dylan McGlade and Daniel O’Reilly sealed a place in the last eight for the Midlanders for the second successive season.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the home side as they dominated proceedings and outplayed the visitors for much of the contest despite missing several key players.

Karl Chambers versatility was again demonstrated as he slotted in at left-back in the absence of Mick McDonnell, with Tristan Noack-Hofmann moving across to partner O’Reilly in the centre of defence.

Shane Elworthy and Peter Hopkins made welcome returns to the starting eleven after their injury absences and came through the game unscathed.

In the second minute, Dean Zambra gained possession and set-up Jamie Doyle, his shot was blocked, and Aodh Dervin fired the rebound just over the Shelbourne bar.

On nine minutes, superb wing wizardry from man-of-the-match McGlade bamboozled the Shels defence, and his cross resulted in Zambra glancing a header well wide from a good position.

Longford came close again in the nineteenth minute when the towering O’Reilly headed a McGlade cross inches over the bar.

Shels striker David O’Sullivan had the visitors first opportunity a minute later but he volleyed over from a John Ross Wilson cross.

The Dubliners enjoyed a good fifteen minute spell just after the half-hour mark creating three good chances.

On thirty-one minutes, Town keeper Mick Kelly produced a magnificent save to keep out Lorcan Fitzgerald’s close range strike from an Evans corner with Greg Moorehouse rifling the rebound over the crossbar.

Two minutes after that, Paddy Kavanagh skipped past the challenge of Town centre-back O’Reilly, raced in on goal, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Noack-Hofmann got across to make a brilliant goal-saving challenge.

Just before half-time, Town keeper Kelly was called into action again as he kept out Gavin Boyne’s deflected long range strike.

Longford Town struck in first-half stoppage time as McGlade calmly despatched a penalty to the bottom left corner after he had been brought down by Reece McEnteer.

Town stopper Kelly produced a stunning save five minutes into the second-half. Kavanagh played in Adam Evans but his fifteen yard shot was brilliantly stopped by Kelly.

The home side were in the ascendancy for the rest of the match and on fifty-three minutes, O’Reilly’s downward header from McGlade’s corner produced a marvellous save from Dean Delaney.

In the sixty-fifth minute, a quick-fire one-two between McGlade and Doyle carved open the Shelbourne rearguard, McGlade surged into the box and his cut-back found Meenan just inside the penalty area, however, Meenan’s firm strike came back off the post.

Longford ensured victory on seventy-two minutes when O’Reilly volleyed home a McGlade corner to finally beat Shelbourne at the fourth attempt this season, and book the Town’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup.

TEAM LINE-UPS:

Longford Town: Kelly, Elworthy (Tilou 94 minutes), O’Reilly, Noack-Hofmann, Chambers, Meenan, Dervin, Zambra, Hopkins (Dillon 90 minutes), Doyle, McGlade.

Shelbourne: Delaney, Ross Wilson, Prendergast, McEnteer, Fitzgerald, Moorehouse, Byrne (Boyne 26 minutes), Moore, Evans (Farrell 75 minutes), Kavanagh (English 57 minutes), O’Sullivan.

Referee: John McLaughlin (Athlone).

De Town defeat Shelbourne and go through to the last eight of the FAI Cup

Sun Aug 26th 2018

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan

A few pics including both goals from Dylan McGlade and Daniel O’Reilly and the joyful reaction of delighted supporters following our excellent 2-0 win in the FAI Cup v Shelbourne at the City Calling Stadium tonight. Town are now through the Quarter Finals! The remaining teams in the FAI Cup are Limerick, Bohemians, Dundalk, Waterford, Derry City, Cork City, UCD and Longford Town.



MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Shelbourne FC (FAI Cup 2nd Round)

Tue Aug 21st 2018

Match Preview by James Donnelly

Longford Town FC v Shelbourne FC

Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup 2nd Round

Saturday 25th August 2018 / 7.30pm / City Calling Stadium

Longford Town FC welcome Owen Heary’s Shelbourne to the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night for the Second Round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup. In what is sure to be a high tempo game, Neale Fenn and Longford will be seeking revenge after suffering a heavy loss at Tolka Park in the league only a few weeks ago.

Shelbourne took on Athlone at home in the first round. Gifted their first goal through an OG from Athlone’s Nika Kalandarishvili, Shels went on to score 3 more in the second half to go through convincingly. Athlone kept Shels at bay with a limited number of chances in the first half with Greg Moorehouse causing problems for the midlands side. Paddy Kavanagh got Shels’ second on the hour mark when he easily tapped in from close range after being left unmarked in the box. The North Dublin side followed this up with Moorehouse getting on the scoresheet on 84 minutes followed by Lorcan Fitzgerald in injury time to make it 4-0. A comfortable win for Shelbourne who now know they face a tougher challenge on Saturday night when they come to the Strokestown Road venue.

Longford faced a tougher task in the opening round of this cup, travelling to the Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers. Having knocked out Sligo in the same round of the competition this time last year, Neale Fenn and co had nothing but confidence going into the game. Maybe it was a bit of naivety on Rovers part but they didn’t take the challenge of Longford seriously and ended up losing 1-0 to De Town. Dylan McGlade and goalkeeper Michael Kelly were the stars of the show but it was Jamie Hollywood’s vital goal that sent Longford through to the next round. Town had to do without the ever present Sam Verdon (who is out for the season now) after he went off injured in the opening 20 minutes and was replaced by Peter Hopkins who performed greatly but then picked up an injury of his own.

The previous meetings between Longford and Shelbourne have been fiery encounters this season and not without controversy or incidents. Back in March, Shels ran out 3-2 winners thanks to hat-trick from former Town star Daivd O’Sullivan. In a game marred with controversy, Shels took the lead early when former Town player Shane O’Connor brought down O’Sullivan in the box who was awarded a penalty to which he easily dispatched past Kelly in goal. Sam Verdon equalised for Longford only a minute later when he capitalized on a loose ball at the edge of the box to drill home our first goal. Shels got their second on 72 minutes when O’Sullivan got between O’Reilly and McDonnell and headed home to put the home side in control again. Town were reduced to 10 men when Dylan McGlade was sent off for an off the ball altercation minutes later. Not to be undone, Sam Verdon got his second of the night and De Town’s equalizer on 87 minutes when in a similar position, Verdon pounced on a loose ball to blast it into the net. The controversy wasn’t over yet. Late into injury time, Shelbourne were awarded a penalty after Peter Hopkins was deemed to have handled the ball in the box. A harsh decision considering he was on the ground already and was trying to manoeuvre out of the way. Sam Verdon was then sent off for a second yellow for dissent and David O’Sullivan rounded off his hat-trick by converting the penalty. A tough result for Longford to take but a game many felt they should have won.

Sam Verdon celebrates scoring Longford’s equaliser during our previous league game with Shelbourne in July.

The league game just under a month ago in July was not without it’s moments also. A game that Shelbourne won comfortably on a flattering 6-1 scoreline, Town had to play with 10 men for the majority of the second half after former Shelbourne player Jamie Doyle was given a straight red for dissent. Trailing 1-0 at half time thanks to a Dave Mulcahy header on the half hour mark, Longford failed to take their chances, Jamie Doyle going close on a number of occasions along with Sam Verdon and Dylan McGlade. The second half saw Longford come out on the attack and it wasn’t long before the equaliser came. Sam Verdon tapping in from close range after a Michael McDonnell header wasn’t dealt with by the Shels defence. Shels took the lead again on 68 minutes when new signing Karl Moore found space on the left side after a cross and easily slipped it past Kelly in goal. Shels got their third goal through David O’Sullivan only 2 minutes later. Daniel O’Reilly was working it out from the back when he chose to turn right and lay it off to the waiting Sam Verdon. Somehow, referee John McLaughlin ended up in the path of the ball, it ricocheted off him and into the path of a Shels player who then slipped O’Sullivan in behind the defence and he made no mistake in scoring although Michael Kelly did get a hand to it. The games next controversial moment came soon after when Jamie Doyle was given a straight red for dissent. Doyle, who won a challenge clearly, was deemed to have fouled a Shels man and immediately showed his frustration at the decision. Up until that stage, Longford still had a good chance of getting something from the game. With the extra man, Shelbourne took full advantage and went on the attack. 3 more goals for the Dublin side, Karl Moore got two more to get his hat-trick and a soft penalty awarded in the dying moments saw James English get in on the action. Throughout all the madness, Assistant Manager Daire Doyle was sent to the stands also and will only return to the dugout on Saturday night after serving his suspension.

Longford go into Saturdays game off the back off a fantastic 4-1 away win over Galway United. A game that De Town were never in danger of losing from the get go, the returning Jamie Doyle scored twice along with Dylan McGlade who stamped his mark on top scorer of the season. Jamie Hollywood went off injured late into the second half with what looked like a nasty injury so he is doubtful for the game.

Shelbourne come to the City Calling Stadium following a 2-1 victory away to Wexford last week. Wexford took the lead but two goals in the second half from Greg Moorehouse saw the Red’s leave Ferrycarrig with all three points.

If we go by this season alone, Saturday’s game will no doubt be another entertaining clash. Town will have to do without the pivotal Sam Verdon who is now on the injury list along with Dean Byrne while Jamie Hollywood and Peter Hopkins remain doubtful.

Longford last won the FAI Cup back in 2004, a second cup title in successive years while the last time De Town competed in the final for the Cup was a 2007 loss to Cork. Shels last won the Cup way back in 2000. Both teams will be looking to continue on a good cup run as the league winds down. With only a few games remaining, Shels are only 4 points ahead of Longford in the hunt for a play off promotion spot.



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