Longford Town take on league leaders Cork City at Turner’s Cross

The new look Longford Town team face a very tough match this Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm) when they travel to league leaders Cork City who are everyone’s favourites to make it back to the Premier Division. 

Cork under the stewardship of Barry Robson, the former Celtic and Scottish international, is given the job to bring Cork back to the Premier Division and the club wants to put a team together which is good enough to stay in the top flight.

 Before a game was played in the 2026 league campaign Cork were installed as odds-on favourites to get promoted at the end of the season and their strength on the field would indicate that they are dead certs to go back up at the first attempt. 

To date Cork have played four games and their record is three wins and one draw. The draw was against near neighbours Cobh Ramblers last week. 

Seani Maguire gave Cork the lead in the 11th minute but Cobh struck back at almost the hour mark when Gourdie scored from the penalty spot. 

In their other away game, Cork travelled to Wexford and went away with a 4-1 victory. Seani Maguire scored twice in this game, the first in the 9th minute (a penalty) and got his second on 52 mins. 

Hans Mpongo scored in the 16th minute and Ruairi Keating made it 4-0 in the 66th minute. Flynn scored a consolation goal for Wexford in the 70th minute. 

Cork won their other two games which were played at home against Bray and Treaty United. Both games were 1-0 victories for Barry Robson’s side. 

City beat Bray with the only goal coming from Seani Maguire. The game against Treaty United also ended on the same scoreline. 

The goal in that game came from the boot of Ruairi Keating who scored the winner in stoppage time.

 Cork went into this year’s campaign with most of the players they had in the Premier Division last season. They are a huge club and they can pack Turner’s Cross for most home games. Any club who are basically getting gates of three to four thousand have to be favourites to get their position at the top table. 

There is no doubt that successful teams in any league need good financial backing and good returns through the turnstiles. Cork are that type of club and they are full time which is also a huge advantage.

 The fact that Cork were able to retain most of the players who played in the Premier Division last season is another reason to almost guarantee a quick return to the Premier Division. 

Results to date would indicate that this Cork side are strong and experienced and if they need to add players during the season they have the financial clout to do that.

 After wins over Wexford, Treaty and Bray and the draw against Cobh they are moving ahead of the rest and with only four games gone it isn’t looking good for the other teams who are looking for a return to the Premier Division. 

When the Town and Cork played each other in the First Division two years ago, City  had a 100% win rate in the four games played. The first game played at Bishopsgate in early March ended 2-0 to the visitors. The second meeting was played in Bishopsgate in late April and on that occasion Cork won the game 4-1.

The next meeting was in early June in Turner’s Cross and the home side won 2-0. The final game of the 2024 season was played in Turner’s Cross and the home side won a thriller on a 3-2 scoreline. Cork are top of the table at the moment as they have a great panel of players but no team is unbeatable and the Town can try to cause a major upset in Turner’s Cross.

Cork’s team is full of experience as they have players who have played in winning teams in different leagues. Midfielder Greg Bolger is the old man of the team at 37 years old but he has played senior football for almost twenty years and he has been in very successful teams and that is a major help to this new look Cork side. 

Seani Maguire, the former Republic of Ireland international (he has 11 caps) is a top class striker and he is capable of winning games himself and he is the man that we need to stop if we want to get anything out of Friday’s game. 

Ruairi Keating is also a top class player and he is capable of coming up with special goals, as we all know goals win games. 

Hans Mpongo was in the Finn Harps squad a few years ago but has now joined Cork and he is also capable of turning games for his new club. 

Rory Feely has been around the block also as he lists St Pat’s, Waterford and Bohs as his former teams. Defender Charlie Lyons has also got cross channel experience and he is a top class defender. 

The Cork manager Robson was not too happy with the performance of the referee during last Friday night’s game and anyone present at Bishopsgate on Saturday night would see an equally poor performance from the man in the middle.

Those Town fans present at Saturday’s game against UCD would be upset at some of the decisions on the night. 

With a new division being introduced in senior football one wonders where we will get officials who are good enough to officiate in these games.

 The Town were still minus Dean George and Aaron Doran for the visit of UCD on Saturday last plus long time absentees Aaron Walsh and club captain Jamie Egan.

Lack of goals seems to be a major problem at the moment and there is no doubt that we need strengthening up front.

 Thanks to our supporters who came out in big numbers for the two opening home games and their continued support during games. Your support is greatly appreciated.