Longford Town score late winner against Kerry FC

Longford Town . . . 2   Kerry FC . . . 1 

The ’Red & Black’ are only five points off a play-off spot with thirteen games remaining and are a good bet to finish in the top five, which will book a place in the promotion play-offs.

  A poor opening twenty minutes produced little action with the visitors creating two half-chances, with new signing Martin Coughlan involved in both.

Coughlan shot well wide from inside the Town box after just two minutes and five minutes later, Coughlan latched onto a poor kick out by home keeper Jack Brady, played a superb pass to Leonardo Gaxha only for the Kerry skipper to drag his shot well wide.

It took Longford twenty-three minutes to register their first shot on goal. Brilliant build up play involving Gary Armstrong and Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh set up Jordan Adeyemo, only for the striker to fire his effort well wide.

The Town almost took the lead on thirty-six minutes when a poor clearance from Kerry keeper Lee Duggan was intercepted by O’Brien Whitmarsh, but his goal bound shot was somehow magnificently blocked by centre-half Samuel Aladesanusi.

Longford went ahead on forty-one minutes with a brilliant strike from Armstrong. Shane Elworthy won a corner, and Adam Wixted’s corner was not cleared properly by the Kerry defence. The ball came out to Armstrong and his exquisite out swinging twenty-five yard shot evaded Kerry stopper Duggan and nestled in the far corner of the net.

The visitors  were back on level terms just two minutes after the restart courtesy of a penalty converted by Gaxha. Daniel Okwute was fouled inside the box by Town defender Dylan Hand. Up stepped Gaxha and despite Brady getting his gloves on the ball, the Kerry captain converted the spot kick.

Kerry keeper  Duggan produced two quickfire saves on seventy-five minutes to prevent the home side from regaining the lead. A curling shot from Adam Wixted from just outside the box produced a fine save from Duggan and he responded quickly to also stop Magerusan’s rebound effort from a tight angle on the right.

Gaxha came close for the Kingdom side just a minute later, but he fired into the Town side netting.

Longford regained the lead in the 79th minute  when substitute Magerusan headed home Wixted’s corner for his third goal of the season.

It was an embarrassing debut for Longford substitute Bastien Hery as he was only on the pitch for four minutes before receiving a straight red card after an incident with Kerry substitute Ronan Teahan. However, the home side comfortably held on to secure all three valuable points.

Town manager Stephen Henderson has been busy in the transfer window with more new signings since the summer break. The addition of Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh before the break has proven to be an excellent signing, and since then, Lewis Temple, Adam Wixted, Bastien Hery, and the returning striker Jordan Adeyemo have further strengthened the squad. 

Temple and Dylan Hand in defence have compensated for the loss of Cian Byrne who has gone back to Bohemians after his loan spell ended.

 The dead ball accuracy and excellent passing range that Wixted demonstrated at Bishopsgate in this win over Kerry will prove to be a crucial asset in the chase for a play-off spot. 

The vastly experienced Hery  will add toughness and guile to the midfield sector. The Madagascar international has a proven history which includes a top-flight league title with Linfield in the north and being selected for the PFAI Premier Team of the Year in 2018 while with Waterford.

The return of striker Jordan Adeyemo, who scored nine goals in thirteen appearances for the Town in 2022,  plus the brilliant attacking combination of O’Brien Whitmarsh and Magerusan and the impressive telepathic understanding they have developed with each other is another reason for optimism for the remainder of the campaign.

Next up for Longford Town is a mouthwatering FAI Cup tie at home to St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday next July 23rd  at Bishopsgate, kick-off 6pm. 

LONGFORD TOWN (5-3-1-1): Brady, Elworthy, Walsh, Temple, Hand, O’Connor, Armstrong, Serdeniuk, Wixted, Adeyemo, O’Brien Whitmarsh.

Subs:- Daly for O’Connor, Magerusan for Serdeniuk, Doona for Adeyemo (all 66 mins); Giurgi for Wixted (81 mins); Hery for O’Brien Whitmarsh (88 mins).

KERRY FC (3-4-2-1): Duggan, Barrett, Aladesanusi, Kos, Gleeson, Silong, Coughlan, O’Connell, McGrath, Gaxha, Okwute.

Subs:- Teahan for Silong (60 mins), Keane for Coughlan (80 mins); Kelliher for Gleeson (83 mins).