Match Photos: Longford Town 1-0 Wexford FC
Pictures by Tiernan Dolan
Saturday Night Fever at the City Calling Stadium as Longford Town squeeze past Wexford with a late, late goal by Jamie Doyle.
It was a late, late show at the City Calling Stadium tonight as Jamie Doyle’s vital goal netted all 3 priceless points – and if you wondered just how important that goal was….check out the pics from the scoring of the goal to the unbridled celebrations afterwards.
The attendances have increased this season – it’s great to see our older supporters still enjoying the fare but it’s even more encouraging seeing so many younger fans turning up regularly to experience the real live atmosphere of the City Calling Stadium.
The talented future stars of Longford and District Schoolgirls added greatly to tonight’s enjoyment at the City Calling Stadium. Apart from showcasing their undisputed footballing skills at half time, they also provided a guard of honour for both sets of players after the game – which made some of the players feel like rock stars. The girls are a very polite, friendly bunch of well disciplined and skillful footballers and they’ve a super future – a credit to their management and parents.
Dean Byrne received his May Player of the Month trophy from Ciara McGuinness, aided by Shane Connolly. Shane, a son of the famed Pauric Connolly is also manager of Cherry Orchard FC, brought along his footie mad daughter for her second game this week at the City Calling Stadium to see De Town win again!! The night was also proved to be a bit of a reunion for Shane and our fabulous net minder Lee Steacy – Shane maintains he spotted Lee’s talent years ago and signed him up when only a young fella.
And that about concludes the pictorial record for an other memorable Saturday night game at the City Calling Stadium.
RTE’s Late Late season may be over….but ours certainly isn’t !!
Thanks to everyone for coming out tonight to support De Town – it’s hugely appreciated- thanks too to the lads….but please…don’t leave it as late again, it’s not good for the auld hearts… C’mon De Town!!
MATCH REPORT: Town’s six game unbeaten run ended by Cabo
Match Report by Tony Ghee
Longford Town’s impressive six game unbeaten league run was brought to a halt in Stradbrook last night as a goal on the half-hour mark from Kevin Knight gave Cabinteely a one-nil victory, a result that sees Longford drop down to fifth in the League table after Finn Harps won away at Galway United.
The Town came into the contest with four wins and two draws from their last six games and the momentum of those back-to-back wins over Galway and Finn Harps over the Bank Holiday weekend had propelled Neale Fenn’s charges into the play-off positions. However, this was always going to be a tricky contest as Cabinteely are very hard beaten at home. Their three home losses to Wexford, Cobh, and Galway were all one goal defeats, while they have beaten UCD, Shelbourne, and Drogheda at Stradbrook, so a draw would have been an excellent result.
The first twenty-five minutes produced very little to entertain the fans but the Town suffered a huge blow after just twelve minutes when striker Dean Byrne who had produced four assists in the wins over Galway and Harps, went off injured with a groin problem that will probably keep him out of action for several weeks.
Town forward, Dean Byrne, who will be out of action for a few games following an injury
The first real shot at goal came after twenty-six minutes when McGlade ran at the Cabo defence, turned inside his marker and let fly from the edge of the box, but his shot went wide.
Disaster struck for the visitors on the half-hour mark as Cabinteely took the lead with their first effort on goal. Dalton floated a free-kick from the left into the Town box that was misjudged by Zambra and his attempted clearance deflected the ball straight to Knight at the back post and the Cabinteely full-back fired home from close range.
The Town suddenly came alive and began to exert pressure on the Dubliners defence. On thirty-three minutes, an Elworthy throw found McGlade who cleverly lifted the ball over defender Knight, he ran onto the ball but his strike was well off target.
In the thirty-ninth minute, a sweeping Town move carved open the Cabo rearguard. McDonnell intercepted a Cabo pass and played the ball to McGlade who quickly moved the ball to Mulhall, and Mulhall set-up Verdon for a shot that went narrowly wide.
Just before the interval, Town defender O’Reilly almost equalised but his thunderous fifteen-yard goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked.
Cabinteely should have doubled their advantage just two minutes after the restart. Marty Waters superb ball put in Clucas on the left side of the Longford box, and although the angle was slightly narrow, he only had Town keeper Kelly to beat, but instead of shooting to the far bottom corner he played a harmless ball across the six-yard box that was easily cleared.
Verdon shot over on fifty-two minutes from O’Reilly’s excellent long diagonal pass, while at the other end on seventy-six minutes, clever play from Waters set-up Watson who fired a shot just inches over the Town bar.
Longford completely dominated the last twenty minutes but failed to snatch a deserved equaliser due to a combination of poor finishing, good defending, and a couple of excellent saves from McGuinness in the Cabinteely goal.
Longford almost scored a dramatic injury time equaliser. Galvin’s twenty-yard shot was well saved by McGuinness but the ball came out to Verdon at the back post and he seemed destined to rattle the net from close range only for McGuinness to somehow get across to produce a magnificent save with Mulhall’s rebound strike blocked away.
The Town finished with ten players for the third time in four games as Galvin received his marching orders deep into injury time.
Next up for Longford Town is a home tie against Drogheda next Friday night at the City Calling Stadium at 7.45pm.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Cabinteely FC: McGuinness, Tuite, Fitzpatrick, Lotefa, Knight, Dalton, Watson, Dolan, Casey, Marty Waters, Clucas.
Substitutes: Morgan for Dolan (59 minutes), McGee and Byrne for Clucas and Casey (71 minutes).
Longford Town: Kelly, Elworthy, McDonnell, O’Reilly, Noack-Hofmann, Chambers, Hollywood, Zambra, McGlade, Byrne, Verdon.
Substitutes: Mulhall for Byrne (12 minutes), Hopkins for Chambers (56 minutes), Galvin for Hollywood (71 minutes)