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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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Longford Town substitute Emmanuel James celebrating his goal in the 76th minute of the league clash against UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night Photo: Eddie Lennon
Secure in the knowledge that they had avoided the embarrassment of finishing bottom of the Airtricity League First Division table, Longford Town almost ended the season with a flourish in the rather meaningless final fixture against UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Friday night.
UCD . . . 2 Longford Town . . . 2
When promising young local striker Emmanuel James hit the target in the 76th minute after connecting with a cross from Shane Elworthy, Longford held a commanding 2-0 lead with Oisin Hand breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time.
A string of excellent saves produced by the Town keeper Harry Halwax had kept the visitors in contention and a mistake in the students defence was punished as Hand availed of the opportunity to score the opening goal.
The Longford defender kept his composure to weave his way past the opposing keeper Kian Moore and that was a sickening blow for UCD who were the better side in the first half in their quest to consolidate the runners-up position in the First Division.
The home side continued to create chances in the second half but were denied by the inspired Harry Halwax and it was looking good for the midlanders when Emmanuel James planted the ball in the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Longford keeper Halwax was eventually beaten in the 79th minute. Harry parried a piledriver from Ciaran Behan but the ball broke kindly into the path of Hugh Parker who made no mistake to give UCD a lifeline.
The equaliser materialised in the 85th minute after Longford lost possession and up stepped substitute Mickey McCullagh to direct a well struck shot into the corner of the net.
And so a dismal season has ended for Longford Town, apart from the joy of the centenary celebrations, and it must be said that the new manager Wayne Groves gradually improved the situation when the struggle on the pitch had hit rock bottom.
UCD: Kian Moore; Eanna Clancy, Harry Curtis, Alex Dunne (Ciaran Behan 76 mins), Niall Holohan; Jake Doyle (Adam Brennan 61 mins), Donal Higgins (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 83 mins), Stephen Mohan (Mikey McCullagh 61 mins), Sam Norval, Adam Wells; Michael Raggett.
LONGFORD TOWN: Harry Halwax; Oisin Hand, Kyle O'Connor, Dean O'Shea, Eric Yoro (Jordan Tallon 72 mins); Shane Elworthy (Dean George 82 mins), Ross Fay (Adam Wixted 72 mins), Bastien Hery (Karl Chambers 72 mins), Daniel Norris, Emre Topcu; Jordan Adeyemo (Emmanuel James 72 mins).
Referee:Oliver Moran
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