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MATCH REPORT: Longford Town 0-1 Cabinteely

Sat May 11th 2019

Town lose unbeaten record in top-of-the-table clash

An eighty-fifth minute goal from striker Kieran Marty-Waters ended Longford Town’s unbeaten ten game run as Cabinteely recorded a priceless one-nil victory at the City Calling Stadium to replace the home side at the summit of the first division.

Cabinteely started the brighter and fired the game’s first salvo in the tenth minute. The division’s top scorer, Rob Manley, charged down the right, he cut inside to the end-line and his brilliant pull-back found Marty-Waters sixteen yards out from goal, but his shot was smartly saved by Town keeper Lee Steacy.

On eighteen minutes, a Marty-Waters’ free-kick from twenty-five yards out on the right forced a save from Town stopper Steacy.

The Town’s first real chance did not materialise until a minute before the interval. Anto Breslin whipped in a thirty yard free-kick from the right that picked out striker Dobbs, but his header was well saved by Cabinteely keeper Stephen McGuinness.

The visitors responded immediately but substitute Eoin Massey’s shot was saved by Steacy.

A very non-descript second-half came alive in the eighty-fifth minute when Cabinteely took the lead. A superb through ball on the turn from Manley picked out Marty-Waters, he skipped past Town defender Conor Kenna and blasted the ball to the roof of the Longford net from just inside the box.

Town substitute Sam Verdon’s injury time free-kick was deflected narrowly over the Cabinteely bar, and Pat Devlin’s charges secured all three points with a deserved victory.

TEAM LINE-UPS

Longford Town: Steacy, Elworthy, McDonnell, Kenna, Breslin, Zambra, Hopkins, Brennan, Dervin, Byrne, Dobbs.
Substitutions: Verdon for Brennan (65 minutes), Ubaezuonu for Hopkins (65 minutes), O’Connor for Zambra (87 minutes)

Cabinteely FC: McGuinness, Hudson, Tuite, Keeley, Hurley, Dalton, Labutis, O’Neill, Aspil, Marty-Waters, Manley.
Substitutions: Massey for Labutis (13 minutes), Carlin for Hurley (72 minutes).

Referee: John McLoughlin

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan



Match Preview: Longford Town FC v Cabinteely FC

Fri May 10th 2019

Match Preview by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Longford Town FC v Cabinteely FC
Saturday 10th May | 7.30pm
City Calling Stadium

The two top teams of the first division come head to head at the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night. Neale Fenn’s unbeaten Longford Town side welcome Pat Devlin’s high flying Cabinteely who are just one point behind De Town in the league table.

Longford will be looking to make it 5 home wins out of 5 and extend their unbeaten run to 11 consecutive games. Cabo will be no pushover though as they are in great form away from home having beaten Wexford, Cobh, Drogheda and Shels on the road.

The last meeting between the two clubs back in March saw the points shared as the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Goals from Rob Manley (brother of current LTFC defender Joe) and Sam Verdon decided the encounter in a game that both teams felt they could have gotten the win from.

Since then, both clubs have been in flying form with the De Town just edging ahead by one point but also with a game in hand due to a home game against Galway being postponed for the June Bank Holiday.

The Red and Black had a brilliant win away to Drogheda last week thanks to an Aaron Dobbs goal just before half time. They had their work cut out for them in the second half however, as the home side brought wave after wave of attack but the back line of Lee Steacy in goal, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Conor Kenna and Anto Breslin held firm for yet another clean sheet.

Cabo are coming into Saturday’s game on a high. Pat Devlin has transformed this team over the last few months and they cannot be underestimated. A win away to Wexford was followed by a hard fought draw away to Bray and a brilliant win at home against Shelbourne thanks to Kieran Marty Waters. The threat of Waters is always present and throw in the first division top scorer Rob Manley and it makes for an interesting game. The top scorer of the division up against the best defence in the division should provide an intriguing contest.

In terms of team news for Longford, Neale Fenn has a full selection to choose from this week. Kevin Knight made his first competitive start against Drogs last week and may well start against his former club this weekend. Peter Hopkins returned last week also after being out ill, the week before.

No team news in for Cabinteely.

Kick off on Saturday is at 7.30pm.

C’mon De Town!



Match Preview: Drogheda United FC v Longford Town FC

Thu May 2nd 2019

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Drogheda United FC v Longford Town FC
Friday 3rd May 2019
United Park | Kick-off 7.45pm

Match Preview By Kieran Burke (@kieranBTS)

Longford Town travel to County Louth on Friday night looking to banish the demons of last season, as De Town fell at the finish in the race for the play-offs against Drogheda United, Fridays hosts. A come from behind 2-1 win in the penultimate game of last season effectively secured the Drogs position in the play-offs, where Tim Clancy’s charges missed out on promotion after a dramatic two-legged tie against Shelbourne, who went on to lose in the final against Finn Harps.

With all that in mind, it has been a dramatic shift in form for both Longford and Drogheda United to start to 2019 First Division campaign with Longford Town currently the only unbeaten side in the League of Ireland, while Drogheda have struggled for consistency at times, leaving the 2007 Premier Division champions sitting in 4th place, four points behind Neale Fenn’s league leaders.

Captain Dean Zambra and Defender Mick McDonnell pictured in action last season against Drogheda United at the City Calling Stadium.

Drogheda United had a fantastic win on the road last weekend, traveling all the way down to St.Colman’s Park and coming away with an ultra-impressive 4-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers, while Longford showed their battling qualities in a scrappy 1-0 home triumph over a stubborn Limerick side. Dean Byrne was the match winner last Saturday for De Town and the former Hardwicke star will be hoping his stunning strike can kick start his 2019 campaign, having only returned to full fitness after a long term layoff last season.

In fact, Byrne was on the score-sheet with yet another sublime long range strike at United Park last season in a game De Town really should have won, conceding a 94th minute equalizer in a 1-1 draw. Ciaran Kelly was the Drogheda hero that night and the departure of the talented full back to St.Patrick’s Athletic has been a very difficult challenge for Tim Clancy and co to overcome at the start of this campaign. Double goal scorer in that crucial 2-1 win at the tail end of last season, Gareth McCaffrey has also since departed United Park and the strikers absence has clearly left Drodgeda lacking some cutting edge up front at times this year.

All in all, given Longford Town’s record breaking start to the 2019 season, many will fancy Neale Fenn’s team to repeat the win claimed over Drodgeda at City Calling Stadium earlier this season, a 3-0 victory that time, but having only lost at home once this season, Droghda will be yet another major test of De Town’s title credentials going forward.

Team News: Neale Fenn has a full selection of players to choose from.

MATCH PREVIEW: Longford Town v Limerick

Thu Apr 25th 2019

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town go into Saturday’s home clash against Limerick FC in second place in the First Division. Last weekend’s draw away to Cobh leaves Neale Fenn’s charges a point behind league leaders Cabinteely, however, the Midlanders do have a game in hand.

Longford Town are the only unbeaten team in the league with five wins and three draws from their opening eight fixtures, while Limerick despite losing two-nil away to Shelbourne, are just four points off top spot in fifth place.

The earlier meeting between the clubs ended in a scoreless stalemate at the Markets Field with former Town keeper, Jack Brady making some crucial saves between the Limerick sticks to prevent the Town grabbing the winner.

Limerick were outplayed by the Town in the first half but were vastly improved in the second half and came close to scoring in the sixty-seventh minute only for Town stopper Steacy to brilliantly save a stinging effort from Kieron Hanlon.

Longford should have scored on eighty-four minutes after a brilliant move. Peter Hopkins weaved his way past several defenders and sprayed the ball out to Dean Byrne, his pin-point cross to the back post was headed back by Paul O’Connor to Dobbs, but the Town striker’s close-range shot was incredibly saved by Jack Brady with the Town striker firing the rebound wide.

Last week against Cobh, Longford Town were missing the services of strikers Dobbs, Doyle, and Verdon with Verdon and Doyle late withdrawals from the squad due to a slight knock and a dental appointment respectively. Verdon is expected to be out for two weeks, however, Doyle and Dobbs should both be available for selection.

It was great to see Carlton Ubaezuono making his Town debut last week after a lengthy spell out injured and he posed the Cobh defence numerous problems during his substitute appearance and he could prove to be a vital weapon in the Town’s armoury for the remainder of the season.

Carlton Ubaezuonu made his Town debut last week and available for this weekend’s game v Limerick.

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