Longford Town facing tough away fixtures against Treaty United and Athlone

Wayne Groves and his young Longford Town team have a testing weekend when they face two tough away games on Friday and Monday which completes their first round of fixtures for the 2026 season. 

On Friday the Town travel to Limerick to play Treaty United, kick-off 7.45pm.

Treaty currently sit on the bottom of the table on five points but they are only a point behind the Town, Kerry FC and Cobh Ramblers. 

When you look at their squad there are two very familiar names on the Treaty team sheet. Eric Yoro left the Town at the end of last season and he is a very good player who can play in defence or midfield. 

Another former Town favourite Jack Brady is the Treaty goalkeeper and he has been the man of the match for the club on a few occasions.

 Last season the teams played each other four times in the league and the Town came out on top results-wise with three wins and 1 defeat. The opening meeting between the teams took place at the end of March and the Town won 2-0 at home. The next meeting between the teams took place at the Markets Field and the home side ran out 5-1 winners.

The teams met at Bishopsgate again at the beginning of August and the Town won this game 2-0. Aaron Doran penalty after 25 mins and Daragh Murtagh were the Town scorers on that occasion. 

The final game between the clubs took place on the first weekend in October and the Town won 2-1 away in Limerick with Stefan Ugbesia scoring the winning goal at the hour mark.

 To date Treaty have played 7 games and they have won one game, they beat Athlone Town 2-0 at home.  They drew 2-2 with Finn Harps away with both goals coming from Oyenuga. 

The previous weekend they drew 2-2 with Kerry at home with the goals coming from Cian Curtis. There is no doubt that Friday night’s game will be a very close encounter and let’s hope we will come away with a positive result. 

Admittedly we still are short of regular players and we will have to be in top form over the weekend for the games against Treaty on Friday at Markets Field and also away to near neighbours Athlone Town in the first midlands derby of the year.

Midlands Derby on Easter Monday  

Last season Athlone were on the wrong end of some poor performances, thus the reason that ended as a bit of a disaster for all the Athlone Town players and supporters.

 Athlone ended the season at the wrong end of the table and the powers that be over there have decided that there has to be a change of fortune for the club. Last season the Town held most of the bragging rights in the Midlands with two wins and two draws in the four local derbies. 

The first meeting on March 1st at Bishopsgate ended 1-1. The second meeting at the end of April also ended 1-1 in Athlone. 

The next meeting was played at Bishopsgate at the end of June and the home side won this game 3-2. Aaron Doran scored two goals in the 24th and 73rd minute (pen) and Emmanuel James got  the winner in the 88th minute.

 Athlone’s goals came from Dean Williams (who will be in the red and black on Monday) and B Gilmore.

The final game between the clubs was played in mid October  in Athlone and the Town won 2-1 thanks to goals from Aaron Doran and Stefan Ugbesia.

 There is no doubt that this year’s fixtures between the clubs will be very competitive and we should have a cracker of a game on Easter Monday with the game kicking-off at 5pm. We expect a large travelling support for the game and hopefully another victory on the road, kick-off 5pm.

 Athlone have definitely improved since last season and with that in mind we may have to up our performance to get a good result. 

Athlone travelled to Cork on Friday night last and were well beaten by the home side on a 4-1 scoreline. 

Despite that setback, Athlone are in joint third in the table alongside UCD on 10 points. Bray are second in the table on 14 points with Cork flying on top of the table on 19 points. 

The Town are in 7th position on 6 points thus the reason to want two positive results over the weekend. 

Over the years we have witnessed poor officialdom but last Saturday night’s performance from the man in the middle left a lot to be desired. 

The home supporters were incensed by some of the decisions. The penalty incident which prompted the ref to give a spot kick was outside of the box as witnessed by everyone in the stadium In the second half the Town had a stonewall penalty turned down by the official. 

Games against Finn Harps over the years have always been tight games. The Town supporters are fair minded people but the ringing of jeers around Bishopsgate for most of the game showed their displeasure in the ref’s performance.