Longford will surely win away against Waterford!

Longford’s promotion hopes in Division 4 of the National Football League are hanging by a thread in the aftermath of the disappointing narrow defeats away to Laois and at home to Tipperary.

Even at this early stage of the season, the quest to recover from the severe setback of relegation in 2023 has developed into a difficult situation with the midlanders depending on other results going in their favour. 

For the second year in succession, the Longford manager Paddy Christie took the O’Byrne Cup seriously as the players put in a lot of energy to claim some silverware in the low key tournament and that decision has backfired so far.

Christie is badly in need of a positive result in the league to ease the pressure and a win will surely materialise in the Round 3 clash away to Waterford at the SETU Arena, Carriganore on Saturday evening, throw-in 4pm.

Facing a lengthy trip, it will be a major shock if Longford fail to collect both vital points against a very poor Waterford side who lost heavily to Leitrim (2-17 to 1-5) and Carlow (1-17 to 0-9) in their first two league fixtures. 

While the Munster minnows were guilty of missing four goal chances including a penalty against Leitrim, it is highly unlikely that Longford will slip up against Waterford who are now under the guidance of former Meath defender Paul Shankey and he will be hoping to improve matters.

For the record, Waterford lost six of their seven games in Division 4 last season to finish second from the bottom of the table and their solitary success was a 2-9 to 2-5 win against London at Fraher Field.

Note change of venue and throw-in time 

Longford’s NFL Division 4 clash against Waterford, originally scheduled for Fraher Field in Dungarvan, has been switched on Saturday to the SETU Arena, Woodstown, Carriganore X91 XD96, four miles from Waterford City via the Cork Rd/R680 with the earlier throw-in time of 4pm. 

NFL Division 4 Round 3 Fixtures

Saturday February 17

SETU Arena, Carriganore: Waterford v Longford, 4pm

Portlaoise: Laois v Carlow, 6pm

 Sunday February 18

Carrick-on-Shannon: Leitrim v Wexford, 2pm

Ruislip: London v Tipperary, 1pm

Round 4 Fixture

Sunday February 25

Glennon Brothers Pearse Park: Longford v London, 1pm