Match Report

Longford Town defeated 2-0 by Shelbourne who take one step closer to the title

Sun Aug 18th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Full match report on sseairtricityleague.ie

Shels took one step closer to the title after a 2-0 victory away to Longford Town tonight at the City Calling Stadium.

Shels controlled the majority of the first half. Enjoying a large share of the possession, they didn’t test Lee Steacy too much with Farrell and Brennan both having shots go high over the bar. The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes by Denzil Fernandez when he raced through on goal to round Steacy and score, despite the avid protests from the Longford defence and fans.

Dean Byrne could have equalized for the home side just before half time when he shot from distance but McCabe pulled off a great save to deny the number 20.

The second half saw Longford press Shels for an equalizer but it was Ian Morris’ side who got their second of the night through a skillfully worked free kick. The ball was played out to Fernandez who slipped in a cross that sub Greg Moorehouse easily tapped in from close range after just coming on the pitch.

Longford tried but they never truly tested Shelbourne in the second half. The ref nearly lost control of things with some flying challenges going in at the end with both teams picking up a few yellows.

The goals never came for the home side. Conor Kenna went close and Anto Breslin almost scored a beautiful free kick but was denied at the death by McCabe and Shelbourne go home with three massive points in the hunt for the title.

Team Line-Up

Longford Town: Lee Steacy; Anto Breslin, Shane Elworthy, Conor Kenna, Joseph Manley; Aodh Dervin, Dylan Grimes (Jack Doherty ’75), Michael McDonnell; Sean Boyd, Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon (Aaron Dobbs ’64).

Subs not used: Karl Chambers, Adam Evans, Jack Menton, Tristan Noack Hofmann, Dean Zambra.

Booked: Aodh Dervin (’35), Sean Boyd (’85).

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan

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Longford Town beat Athlone Town in rescheduled FAI Cup First Round tie

Tue Aug 13th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Full report on sseairtricityleague.ie

Longford Town earned a spot in the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup thanks to a 3-1 victory over near neighbours Athlone Town.

A lacklustre first half performance from the home side saw Athlone go in 1-0 up at the break.

A great goal from Kealan Dillon had Terry Butler’s side in front just before half time when he latched on to a loose ball in the box.

The second half was a different story as it took the home side just 45 seconds to get the equalizer through Aaron Dobbs.

Longford were the better of the teams in the second but Athlone had their chances through Ciaran Grogan who forced a save out of Lee Steacy from close range.

Longford took the lead on 72 minutes when Joe Manley tapped in from close range from a corner.

Athlone rallied late on and had Longford’s backs against the wall but Aaron Dobbs sealed the win in the 93rd minute with a brilliant breakaway move before he rounded Myles to slot it home from a tight angle and send Longford on their way to a second round tie away to Bohemians.

Team Line-Up

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Joseph Manley, Michael McDonnell, Tristan Noack-Hofmann, Dylan Grimes, Aodh Dervin, Carlton Ubaezuonu (Dean Byrne ’80), Dean Zambra, Adam Evans (Sam Verdon ’72), Aaron Dobbs, Karl Chambers
Subs: Daniel Ridge, Paul O’Conor, Jack Menton, Sean Byrne, Paddy O’Sullivan

Pictures by Tiernan Dolan

[gallery link="file" ids="22293,22292,22291,22290,22289,22288,22287,22286,22285,22284,22283,22282,22281,22280"]



Match Report: Longford Town 4-0 Galway United

Sun Jul 28th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

SSE Airtricity League First Division
Longford Town 4-0 Galway United
Saturday 27th July 2019 • Kick-off: 7.45pm
City Calling Stadium

Longford Town secured a vital 3 points at the expense of Galway United at the City Calling Stadium last night. Four goals in the second half completed a professional performance from De Town but the visitors didn’t make things easy for us.

The first half saw chances from both sides with Sean Boyd going close for Longford on 21 minutes when he was played through by Dean Byrne but his shot was straight at Horgan in the Galway goal.

Galway could have opened the scoring only moments later when Conor Layng raced through one on one but Lee Steacy was out quick and pulled off a brilliant save to deny the Tribesmen.

Anto Breslin almost broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark when his curling free kick was palmed away by the outstretched Horgan.

Vinny Faherty had a chance for Galway but his shot never really troubled Steacy in goal and both teams went in all square at the break.

De Town started the second half brightly and Breslin had a chance again on 52 minutes but his low shot was easily saved by Horgan.

Boyd had another chance also as he pounced on a mistake in the Galway defence by former Town player Stephen Walsh but Boyd failed to take full advantage and dragged his shot narrowly wide.

The opening goal finally game on 68 minutes when Breslin played it to Dean Byrne after a run down the left wing before the Dubliner coolly shot past Horgan to put De Town in control.

From then on it was all Longford Town and just 2 minutes later, Sean Boyd finally got his goal when a brilliant move by substitute Aaron Dobbs saw the former Wexford man lay it off to his new team-mate in the box before Boyd expertly slipped it past Horgan for an easy goal.

[caption id="attachment_22075" align="aligncenter" width="616"] Dean Byrne celebrates scoring his first goal of the night v Galway United. Pic: Tiernan Dolan.[/caption]

Galway sat back and on 84 minutes, Byrne got his second and Longford’s third when Aaron Dobbs, again, like a work horse won the ball on the edge of the Town box before running straight at the Galway defence before playing a through ball into Byrne who’s finish past Horgan into the far corner will be up there as a contender for Longford Town Goal of the Season.

Three minutes into injury time and Joe Manley popped up with a header to make it 4-0 to De Town and cement the win. His first goal for the club, Joe was left unmarked during a corner and he headed in the loose ball after it was initially put back towards goal by Conor Kenna.

Longford now sit in second and are level on points with Drogheda United as the push for promotion intensifies.

Team Line-Ups

Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Joe Manley, Conor Kenna (C), Anto Breslin, Dylan Grimes (replaced by Aaron Dobbs), Aodh Dervin, Dean Byrne, Sam Verdon (replaced by Peter Hopkins), Sean Boyd (replaced by Dean Zambra).

Subs not used: Jack Menton, Karl Chambers, Carlton Ubaezuonu, Paul O’Connor

Galway United: Kevin Horgan, Chris Horgan (replaced by Conor Melody), Marc Ludden (replaced by Dara Costelloe, Stephen Walsh, Maurice Nugent, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Vinny Faherty, Colin Kelly (replaced by Conor Barry), Killian Brouder, Donal Higgins, Conor Layng.

Subs not used: Cian Mulryan, Adam Rooney, Cian Murphy, Joe Collins.

Match Report: Cabinteely FC 2-0 Longford Town FC

Sat Jul 20th 2019

Match Report by James Donnelly

Longford Town missed out on all three points last night thanks to a Robert Manley brace that sealed the victory for Cabinteely in a tightly contested affair in Stradbrook.

De Town started the game brightly with Aaron Dobbs having the first major chance of the game after just 6 minutes. A long ball over the top was brought down by Sam Verdon who did well to play it into Dobbs in the box but his half-volley was straight at Stephen McGuinness in the Cabo goal who palmed it away to safety.

The home side pressured Longford and had a chance of their own on 24 minutes when a high ball was flashed across the box but Paul Fox’s connected header was high and over, much to the relief of Lee Steacy in goal.

Longford could have opened the scoring only minutes later when Conor Kenna snuck in un-marked at the back post and headed towards goal but it was easily gathered by McGuinness.

Cabinteely eventually got their goal after a period of sustained pressure on the Longford backline. Rob Manley got in between the defence and had his initial shot saved well by Lee Steacy but he recovered to slot it home from a tight angle to put Pat Devlin’s side in the driving seat after 36 minutes.

Town could have been on level terms just before half time when Karl Chambers played in Aaron Dobbs in the box but the Wexford’s man shot was blocked when it seemed destined for the goal.

The second half saw a number of changes for Longford with Aaron Dobbs and Karl Chambers being replaced by Dean Byrne and De Town’s newest signing, Sean Boyd. (On loan from Shamrock Rovers)

Sam Verdon had a chance on 58 minutes when he did well down the right side, getting into the box before shooting on goal, but again, it was straight at McGuinness.

[caption id="attachment_22018" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Aodh Dervin, who put in a man of the match performance against Cabo. Pic: Ken Keenan[/caption]

Verdon almost got an assist in the hour mark when he played in Sean Boyd. A brilliant move started by Aodh Dervin in midfield resulted in a expertly placed through ball releasing Verdon on the right before he squared it for Boyd in the box but the Rovers loanee hit the post from close range before it bounced off McGuinness’ back and was eventually cleared.

Cabo could have been two up when a ball over the top caught Mick McDonnell out and bounced over his head for Rob Manley to race onto but Town keeper Lee Steacy was quick off his line to smother the ball to safety.

Eight minutes from time, Verdon had a chance to level again but his header from an Anto Breslin corner was saved by McGuinness.

With 5 mins remaining, Longford threw everybody forward but it was the home side who would get the second goal of the game deep into injury time. Some sloppy play in defence led to Cabo sub Sasaki saw him play in Manley who did well to work it past Steacy to seal the win for the south Dublin side.

A disappointing result for De Town who are now in 3rd place in the league and face Galway United at the City Calling Stadium next Saturday night in a must win game in the promotion race.

2019 SSE Airtricity League First Division
Markets Field
City Calling Stadium
Stradbrook
Athlone Town Stadium
City Calling Stadium
Ferrycarrig Park
City Calling Stadium
St. Colman's Park
City Calling Stadium
United Park
City Calling Stadium
Eamonn Deacy Park
City Calling Stadium
Tolka Park
City Calling Stadium
City Calling Stadium
Carlisle Grounds
City Calling Stadium
Markets Field
City Calling Stadium
Stradbrook
City Calling Stadium
Athlone Town Stadium
City Calling Stadium
Ferrycarrig Park
City Calling Stadium
St. Colman's Park
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2019 First Division Table

PosClubPWDLPts
124172553
224153648
324143745
424127543
524123939
62496933
724861030
824541519
924451517
1024251711
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