UCD a tough test for Longford Town at Bishopsgate

After picking up a very good away point against Kerry FC in Tralee last weekend, Longford Town face a tough home game on Saturday night when UCD come to Bishopsgate, kick-off 7.30pm. 

UCD, under manager William O’Connor,  has started the season well with six points from the 3 games played. They beat Kerry 2-1 in their opening game of the season and they beat Treaty United 2-0, both of which were played at home. 

The students lost their first away game two weeks ago when they were beaten 2-1 against Finn Harps in Ballybofey. 

In the three games played to date UCD have scored five goals and one player stood out.  Ciaran Behan scored in all the games accounting for four of the five goals scored with Carl Lennox getting the other goal. 

Like in previous seasons the Dublin club have lost some experienced players during the off season but they have such an array of exciting talented lads coming through the ranks.

 The very experienced Ronan Finn and the Brennans have left, Finn has rejoined Shamrock Rovers and Adam Brennan has also joined Rovers. 

There is no doubt that Behan is the big threat as he is a proven goalscorer but they also have other dangermen in Mikey Raggett and Mikey McCullagh.

Centre half Eanna Clancy from Carrick-on-Shannon is a very good defender and it will take a top class display from the Town strikers to get past him while keeper Dara Kavanagh is a good shot stopper. 

When we played UCD at Bishopsgate last season (in April), the visitors won the game 1-0 with the only goal coming from Raggett who came off the bench to score the all important winner. The next meeting between the clubs was in early May and on that occasion the game ended 1-1. 

Raggett scored for UCD and Emmanuel James scored for the Town to get our only point of the season against the very well organised college team. 

The teams met in Bishopsgate at the end of June and the students won on a 2-0 scoreline. Jake Doyle opened the scoring on 54 minutes and Mikey McCullagh got the second goal in the 81st minute.

The last meeting between the clubs was in mid September at Belfield and the home side won 2-1.

Jake Doyle scored the opening goal in the 26th minute and Ciaran Behan scored goal no 2 in the 68th minute, Daragh Murtagh scored a consolation goal for the Town in the 90th minute. 

Looking at all the statistics it’s apparent that we have a very tough game ahead of us on Saturday night but that seems to be a motivation for our youthful side, many of whom only seem to be settling in.

The Town went to Kerry on Friday last minus regulars Osaze Irhue, Aaron Doran and Dean George and Wayne Groves had to shuffle his pack and in came Luke O’Brien, Taylor McCarthy and Stefan Ugbesia and all adapted well to the task in this vital game.

Wayne has still to get a fully fit squad as Jamie Egan and Aaron Walsh have still to make an appearance in the league this season. 

Five of the starting eleven in Kerry are new to the club this season.

 At the end of last season the team showed that they were capable of beating any team in the league and hopefully it’s only a matter of time that this season’s side will start moving up the table.

One player who will be looking forward to the game on Saturday night is Kian Moore as he played with UCD previously. 

When he got into the Town team last season he made the number one jersey his own and we expect great things from this young keeper.  

 UCD had the indian sign on the Town last season so let’s go out on Saturday night and show an immediate change with a win. 

There is no doubt that for football to flourish in Longford we need people going through the turnstiles and we would like to see a very big crowd on Saturday night. 

There was a good crowd at the Cobh game despite the fact that there were doubts about the game going ahead due to the bad weather.

 A lot of hard work went into getting the pitch playable after the heavy rain on the day of the game. 

Over the years the local support has been very good and we hope that we can entertain our dedicated supporters this season and hopefully in return that we will have extra people coming through the turnstiles. 

It would be great if we could considerably increase the crowd that attended the Cobh game (533) for next Saturday night’s clash against UCD. 

Did you get your season ticket?

Just a reminder that season tickets are still on sale at half-time on match night. We are also looking for player and match sponsorship and if interested get in contact with Andy on 087 -6727859.

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town v UCD

At Bishopsgate 

Saturday 7 March

Kick off 7.30pm