Lightning start the spark for Longford Town in the win over Kerry FC

The encouraging aspect of much improved performances for Longford Town in the Airtricity League First Division continued in the sweltering heat at Bishopsgate on Saturday evening last with a deserved win over Kerry FC. 

Longford Town . . . 3    Kerry FC . . . 1

 A lightning start was the spark for the latest positive result as the visitors were punished for a couple of costly errors, the first as early as the 3rd minute as Abel Alabi lost possession to let Stefan Ugbesia clean through and he made no mistake in shooting past the opposing keeper Mathyas Randrianmamy.

The slick Longford striker Ugbesia was also involved for the second goal in the 10th minute after his effort was blocked down and the ball broke kindly for Town captain Dean O’Shea who slotted his shot into the corner of the net with a composed finish. 

The home supporters among the small attendance (estimated in the region of 350) on a beautiful sunny day watched in delight as the bewildered opposition failed to clear the danger.

 Pressing the self-destruct button left Kerry FC in a disillusioned state of mind in fighting a real uphill battle that might have been even worse as another couple of decent scoring chances fell  to the dangerman Ugbesia. 

Things did get better for the Kingdom in the second half and they were given a glimmer of hope following a fine individual goal from Robert Cleary as he weaved his way through to hit the target in the 51st minute.

Soon after Cleary was denied the equaliser when his close range strike hit the crossbar and this chance was quickly followed by a shot from Sean McGrath which was saved at the foot of the post by Town keeper Harry Halwax in the 55th minute.

The pressure was greatly eased on a relieved Longford side when another mistake gifted Ugbesia the killer third goal in the 58th minute as he blocked down the attempted clearance by the Kerry FC keeper and was left with the simple task of directing the ball into the empty net.

That proved to be a crushing blow for Kerry FC who have failed to win at Bishopsgate since joining the League of Ireland in the 2023 season, although they did go close to scoring a badly needed second goal when a shot from Cleary produced a fine point-blank stop from Halwax in the 65th minute.

That was as good as it got for the visitors and Longford could have got a fourth goal when a shot from Aaron Doran was saved by Randrianmamy in the 70th minute. 

Daragh Murtagh did find the back of the Kerry net in the 78th minute but the goal was disallowed for offside. 

The Town are pulling clear of the bottom spot in the First Division and take a break from league action next weekend when they travel to meet non-league Castlebar Celtic on Sunday, kick-off 5pm. 

LONGFORD TOWN: Harry Halwax; Oisin Hand, Osaze Irhue, Andy Spain, Dean O’Shea; Eric Yoro, Emre Topcu; Pharrell Manuel, Aaron Doran; Daragh Murtagh, Stefan Ugbesia.

Subs:- Luke Wade Slater for Yoro (67 mins); Daniel Norris for Ugbesia (68 mins); Francis Campball for Spain (injured, 70 mins); Dean George for Doran (81 mins); Emmanuel James Oluwafemi for Murtagh (81 mins).

KERRY FC:  Mathyas Randrianmamy; Kevin Williams, Christopher McQueen, Niall Brookwell, Sean O’Connell; Carl Mujaguzi, Abel Alabi, Ronan Teahan, Sean McGrath; Robert Cleary, Okwuy Okwute. 

Subs:- Aaran Healy for Alabi (24 mins); Joseph Adams for Okwute (68 mins). 

Referee: Daniel Murphy.