Longford Town on the road to Cork for clash against Cobh Ramblers

After last week’s home victory over Bray at Bishopsgate, Longford Town are back on the road again when they travel to Cork to take on a very useful Cobh Ramblers side at St Colman’s Park on Friday night, kick-off 7.45pm.

Cobh are just a point behind surprise packets Wexford who in turn are seven points behind table toppers Cork City who have a game in hand due to the postponement of their game away to Treaty United on Friday night last. Cobh are in joint third place with UCD and Bray, all of whom are playing good football at the moment.

Longford’s fine victory over Bray was a great result. The Town went into the game without Cole Omorehiomwan who was injured in the previous game in Athlone and Sean Moore who was suspended after his red card against Athlone in the Easter Monday game.

Manager Wayne Groves also had to plan without long time absentees Jamie Egan, Aaron Walsh and Dean George who are all still out injured.

Bray have a very young squad of players and the fact that Billy O’Neill, who was on the bench, has signed professional forms in England shows the talent they have in their squad.

Saying that the Town have some very good young players in their squad and when all the young lads get games under their belts we can expect a run in like the end of last season when they were the form team in the Division and were so unlucky not to make it to the play-offs.

We lost some very good players at the end of last season but we made some good signings despite their lack of experience at senior level.

When you have 18 and 19 year olds in your team they have to be nursed along until they get games and there is no doubt that the lads are beginning to get used to playing at a higher level.

The fact that the Town have 4 clean sheets speaks volumes for this new look and very young defence. Keeper Kian Moore is doing very well after moving up from being reserve at UCD and he is getting lots of practice in his debut season with the club.

Taylor McCarthy and Conor Errity, who are only out of youth football, are also doing very well in their debut season.

When the Town played Cobh back in February in Bishopsgate the Cork side got a 2-1 win. Goals from Rhys Brennan in the 17th minute and a second in the 38th minute which could be credited to Callum Honohan or an og against young defender Conor Errity. The Town got a goal back in the 55th minute when Aaron Doran scored from the spot when Callum Honohon was penalised for handball in the box.

The Town had a few chances to make the scoreline all square but poor shooting and some good saves from the Cobh keeper Corey Chambers ensured that the visitors got all three points.

Aaron Doran was so unlucky not to add to his goal tally as he was causing many problems for the Cobh defence. Cobh have a big Cork City look in their team as they have quite a few ex-Cork players in their squad.

Most of those players are used to winning especially in the First Division and that gives them a big advantage over other teams in the second tier of the League of Ireland.

Saying that there is no doubt that standards in the First Division have improved over the years when you look at Cork City this year and Dundalk last year.

Looking at the Premier Division table after last week’s games it’s great to see Dundalk fourth in the table only four points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers who went top after beating St Pat’s in the top of the table clash at Inchicore.

Rovers show what big spending can do. Their successes in recent years prove that big spending ensures success on the field. Other clubs have big troubles trying to survive especially in the Premier Division.

Last season the Town and Cobh played each other 4 times in the league with Cobh having the bragging rights with two wins, a draw and a defeat.

​The first meeting last season in Cobh in early March ended 5-0 to the home side. The next meeting in Longford ended 1-1 and the next clash ended 3-1 to Cobh at home. The final fixture between the clubs was at Bishopsgate and the Town won that game 3-1.

The Town’s goals were scored by Aaron Doran, Alex O’Brien and Stefan Ugbesia while the Cobh goal was scored by former Cork City player Barry Coffey.

As stated earlier there is a big Cork City look of this Cobh side but a player well known here some years ago is now a shooting star for Cobh.

Dylan McGlade rejoined Cobh recently. In two games he scored five goals. In the game away to Kerry he scored two goals in a 2-1 win and scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Treaty United.

McGlade didn’t score in the away 2-0 victory against Finn Harps at Ballybofey last weekend.

There is no doubt that Friday night’s game will be a tough one. Especially in Cobh, but this young Town team are beginning to find their feet after the first round of games have been completed. Taking four points from Bray shows that we can compete with the best.

The return of Cole Omorehiomwan and Sean Moore should strengthen the manager’s hand for the long trip to St Colman’s Park.

Daragh Murtagh could have more goals scored if he will take his chances. Players have to be ruthless in front of goal. We need to punish teams when we are dominating. One wonders was Stefan Ugbesia carrying an injury on Saturday as that game would suit him. Playing away to Cobh will undoubtedly be tough but if we are to compete in games like this we have to be ruthless in attack to pressure the opposition.

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