Longford Town tackle ever improving Kerry FC in tough task in Tralee
Town bid to get back on track after the heavy defeat against Bray
Longford Town FC are away again on Friday night when they take on ever improving Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, kick-off 7.45pm.
After being in Bray last weekend and badly hit by a 5-2 hammering at the Carlisle Grounds, the Town manager Wayne Groves will have a big job ahead to motivate his team after last Friday’s loss. Kerry were away on Friday last also and they were at UCD who are flying high in the First Division.
The only goal of the game came from Cian Brosnan who had a superb game for the league’s newest club and he is proving to be a real handful for opposing teams.
Colin Healy has assembled a very useful squad but a massive injection of money has meant the league’s newcomers have the financial power to compete with most clubs in the First Division.
This Kerry club are one of the biggest hitters when it comes to spending power and the arrival of manager Healy has the club and the team going in the right direction.
Like the Town Kerry had a bad start to the season but they have picked up some very good results along the way and could be considered a good bet to get into the play-offs.
Going to Belfield and getting three valuable points last weekend proved that Kerry are a team to be wary of.
The two games between the Town and Kerry this season have been close encounters with the Town just having the upper hand.
The first meeting between the clubs took place at the end of February in Kerry and the game ended 1-1. Sean McGrath gave the home side the lead after 52 minutes but the lead didn’t last too long as Alex O’Brien equalised for the Town on 66 mins.
The second meeting between the clubs was played at Bishopsgate at the end of April and the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Town with the winning goal coming from Aaron Doran who is currently on the injured list.
There is no doubt that Aaron is sorely missed from the midfield sector but in fairness to the rest of the lads they have ground out results in his absence. The Town manager Groves has to cover many injuries since the start of the season but these injuries have given other players a chance to prove themselves in the starting eleven.
It’s well known that the Town have a very small budget for the team and that means that the manager has to go for loan players and young players from bigger clubs.
The July transfer window for signing players will be on us next week and hopefully the manager can bring in some players to strengthen the current squad.
Top priority has to be another keeper as most teams have three keepers on their books and we need experience in that area.
When Kian Moore was harshly sent off on Friday night against Bray, the Town gave CJ Odum his debut in goal with the replaced Dean Williams having to be sacrificed and that meant that our threat up front suffered a setback.
There is no doubt that the dismissal of keeper Moore had a big say in the final result on Friday last and once again standards of officials come into question. One wonders if the observers are doing their job that they are being paid for as the standards must be at an all time low.
The Town have a few tough games coming up after the away game in Kerry, they have UCD at home and away to Cork coming up before the FAI Cup game against Baldoyle United which has been moved to Bishopsgate on Saturday 18th July with a 5pm kick off.
Last season the Town and Kerry played each other on four occasions in the League and it was honours even between the clubs as both won twice at home.
In the first meeting last year, the Town were at home for the game and they won 3-2. Joshua Giurgi was the hero with two goals and the other goal came from defender Aaron Walsh.
The next game was in Kerry and the home side won 2-0 with goals from Luke Palmer and Niall Brookwell.
The third meeting was played at Bishopsgate and the Town won the game 3-1. Stefan Ugbesia was the matchwinner on this occasion as he scored twice and Dean O’Shea got the third goal.
Kerry played the final game at home and they won 1-0.
Former Town keeper Harry Halwax is with Kerry this season but he is fighting for the no 1 jersey with Matt Connor who is starring for the team at the moment.
Connor was man of the match against UCD last weekend as he made a series of outstanding saves.
Winger Daniel Okwute is a very exciting player who makes some exciting runs and he will need to be closely watched.
Brosnan, as mentioned earlier, is an outstanding player while Jonas Hakkinen is a super defender. The suspended Town keeper Kian Moore will miss the game in Tralee and that will be a big headache for the gaffer Groves.
Hopefully the long injury list will start to improve soon as the club needs all the squad fit if they are to secure a spot in the top 5 in the promotion play-off positions.
Sponsor a player
With the second half of the season just commenced, we would like to see all the players sponsored for the remaining matches.
Anyone interested in doing a bit of sponsorship for the club and keeping us chasing a place in the play-offs at the end of the season can contact Andy Dardis at 087 6727859. Your support will be greatly appreciated.