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Match Preview: Shelbourne v Longford Town

Thu May 30th 2019

BY ANDREW DEMPSEY

Longford Town make their second trip to the capital this season when they face top of the table Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday evening. (Kick-off is at 7.45pm)

Town boss Neale Fenn will be hoping that his side can kick on from their convincing derby day win over Athlone Town with a big result against Ian Morris’ side.

The Red and Black also come into the game having won the previous two games against the Reds by two goals in each in both the FAI Cup and First Division.

In the most recent showdown against Shels, Peter Hopkins and Karl Chambers both scored in what was a dominant victory for De Town.

However, Longford Town have not won a league game at Tolka Park since 2009, a memorable 5-4 win over Shelbourne which handed UCD the 2009 First Division crown.

Speaking to LTFC.ie, Town midfielder Jamie Hollywood admits that he is looking for revenge after Longford Town’s most recent defeat at the Dublin venue.

“The crowd from Longford is always great down in Tolka. The Shels fans are coming out in numbers again so it does create a nice atmosphere.

“You want to be playing in games like that. I’ve mentioned it already; the 6-1 defeat still is a bit sore from last year with a lot of us.

“The game got away from us because we felt we were well on top in the first half and then the sending off killed us. We were three-one down and we went for it, going close to make it three-two and then just like that it was 4-1 and the floodgates then opened.

“It wasn’t a 6-1 game, and I think that hurt us a bit because we really were on top and we probably felt like we should’ve won the game and I know it’s hard to believe when you lose 6-1 but we never stopped going forward.

“We probably could’ve sat in at 3-1 but that’s not like us. a few teams might want to do that, but we wouldn’t be like that.

“The game is going to be high-tempo with both teams looking for a really big result.”

In terms of team news, Sam Verdon is Neale Fenn’s only doubt for the trip to the Richmond Road venue.

Pictures from last Friday’s defeat at Tolka Park to Shelbourne

Sun Jul 29th 2018

Pictures by Ken Keenan Photography

MATCH PREVIEW: Shelbourne v Longford Town

Thu Jul 26th 2018

Match Preview by Tony Ghee

Longford Town travel to Tolka Park this Friday night for a vital promotion clash against Shelbourne as both sides look to cement their play-off credentials with just six league matches remaining. Just one point separates fourth placed Shelbourne on 36 points from fifth placed Longford on 35 points with sixth placed Galway Utd on 32 points, so the pressure is on both teams in this Tolka Park clash to secure a victory to enhance their promotion play-off ambitions.

Longford Town have a tough run in to the season’s end with matches away to Galway, away to Drogheda and home to UCD to come, so defeat for Neale Fenn’s charges would be a serious set-back to say the least.

While Longford Town have beaten all of their other top six rivals this season, they have only taken a point in their two league meetings against Shels.In a rip-roaring encounter at Tolka Park, a hat-trick from Longford Town’s record goal scorer, David O’Sullivan, for his new club Shelbourne, secured a vital 3-2 victory for the Dubliners with O’Sullivan converting a last gasp penalty to earn all three crucial points.

Longford Town finished that contest with just nine players after McGlade was dismissed in the 81st minute, and Verdon who scored both the Town goals, was also red carded just before O’Sullivan converted the match winning penalty.

In the second league meeting at the City Calling Stadium, the sides finished level after a one-all draw. O’Sullivan again scored against his former club to put Shels ahead with a 49th minute header, but McGlade equalised for the Town on the hour mark after intercepting a stray pass from James English.

Last weekend, Longford Town defeated Wexford FC 3-0 with all the goals coming in the second-half courtesy of a brace from McGlade and a goal from Noack-Hofmann who diverted a Danny O’Reilly shot to the net. Shels earned a good point in Ballybofey with a scoreless draw away to Finn Harps.

On the team news front, Alan Byrne is suspended for Shelbourne while Longford Town will be without the injured Mulhall, Hopkins, and Dean Byrne.

The big match at Tolka Park kicks-off at 7.45pm and as usual there will be regular updates on the club Twitter account. (@LongfordTownFC)

Match Preview: Shelbourne FC v Longford Town

Fri Mar 16th 2018

Match Preview by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Shelbourne FC v Longford Town FC
Friday 16th March 2018
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Tolka Park

Longford Town head to Tolka Park tonight off the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Wexford FC at City Calling Stadium last weekend courtesy of goals from two former Shelbourne men; Chris Mulhall (2) & Dylan McGlade. Shels were away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey where they drew 1-1 courtesy of a goal from former Longford Town striker and record goalscorer David O’Sullivan.

Longford go into tonights game currently sitting on top of the First Divison with 5 points, Shels are in 8th place with 1 point. A hard fought 2-2 draw with Cobh Ramblers on opening day followed by last weekends win over Wexford saw Longford top the table. A defeat to UCD on the first day of the league saw Shelbourne head to Finn Harps after the weather cancellations, having not played a home game yet this season.

Alan Kehoe is still out injured from Longford and should not be expected back for a number of weeks. Shelbourne are missing Aidan Collins and Mark Hughes through injury while Alan Byrne and Derek Pendergast return to the squad this week.

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