Longford Town tackle Treaty United and Finn Harps

Longford Town FC are on the road again on Friday when they travel to Limerick to play Treaty United at the Markets Field, kick-off 7.45pm.

There is no doubt that this Treaty team is going to be a very tough nut to crack from now to the end of the season as Tommy Barrett has been busy getting players in to strengthen his squad.

Up to last weekend he has brought in three players to add to his squad and they no doubt will help to move his team up the table.

Dare Kareem has joined the club from Drogheda Utd while Billy Regan has joined the club from Galway United and by all accounts this is a really exciting young player with a great future.

Centre half Killian Cantwell has joined from Kerry and this very experienced player is back to the City as he previously played with Limerick City who left the league a few years ago and that’s how Treaty United came into being.

There is no doubt that Tommy Barrett is one of the shrewdest managers in the league and with a full hand he could produce a team capable of getting promoted out of the First Division.

The Treaty team has three former Town players in their squad. Jack Brady who was a very good keeper here has joined Treaty after being in the Premier Division. Jack was an excellent keeper who was very popular here but he left for Premier football and it’s every player’s hope to play at the highest level. Eric Yoro played with us last season and he, like Jack Brady, was an excellent player who gave everything for the club.

Ben Feeney played underage football for the club before playing for the first team and he was a very good defender. The Edenderry lad did well for us but he left to join Wexford a few seasons ago. With all the new faces in the team, Treaty will be hoping to move up the table and get into the play off positions as there are lots of games left to catch the teams ahead of them.

The teams played twice against each other this season and the Town have an advantage over them going into Friday’s game.

The first meeting between the clubs was at the Market’s Field Stadium back in early April and the game ended nil all which was a very good result for the Town after their shaky start to the season.

The teams met again at the end of May and that ended in a good three one victory for the Town. The opening goal came from Alex O’Brien on seven minutes. Dean Williams scored goal number two with an excellent volley on 67 mins. Treaty got a goal back on 90 + 1 which was followed by an excellent finish by Francis Campbell who made sure of the victory for the Town.

There is no doubt that the Town will be facing a different Treaty on Friday night but the Town are well capable of going down there and coming home with full points.

Last weekend Treaty played Athlone Town and won two one. Cian Curtis gave Treaty the lead just before halftime and they extended their lead on 54 minutes with a goal from Jason Oyenuga. Athlone got a consolation goal with a good effort from James Crawford on 83 mins.

After very impressive performances and results against the top two Cork City and UCD in successive games in the league and also the big win in the FAI Cup against Baldoyle in the FAI Cup.

Admittedly we were short Osaze Irhue and long time casualties Jamie Egan, Dean George, Aaron Doran but we have a decent squad of players for Wayne Groves to pick from and he has recently added to his squad as we usually bring in players during the July window. We were caught out by two goals from the excellent Mikie Rowe and Zak O’Sullivan who was putting himself about all during the game until he was replaced.

A big feature during the game was the promptings from manager Stephen Elliott on the sideline and there is no doubt he was really responsible for the three valuable points.

Let’s hope that we pick up three points as we prepare for Finn Harps' visit to Longford on Monday.

​Big game at home to Finn Harps on Bank Holiday Monday

The Town face a tough game on Monday next, August 3 when managerless Finn Harps come to Bishopsgate, kick-off 5pm.

The news filtered through that Kevin McHugh had left the club over the weekend. Kevin was a fantastic player in his playing days and it’s sad to see him leave the club that he spent most of his life with.

The Town and Harps played twice this season and Harps have the bragging rights after the games having won and drawn against the Town.

The teams met at the end of March at Bishopsgate and a controversial penalty was the only goal of the game that was scored after only 9 minutes by J Bradley-Walsh, a very well taken penalty.

The second game was at Finn Park at the end of May and on this occasion the Town threw away three points. Andy Paraschiv put the Town in the lead on 56 mins and Stefan Ugbesia added a second goal on 65 mins to put the Town in a commanding lead.

In a horror finish to the game the home side somehow drew level with goals in the 87th minute and in the 92nd minute. We can’t continue dropping points like the two mentioned if we are to stay in the race for a top five finish and a place in the play offs.

After the Harps game we are away to Bohemians in the Cup. There is no doubt that a team under pressure and with no manager can come up with good results and let’s hope we don’t come up with another defeat at home to Harps.

As the table stands at the moment Harps are bottom of the table on 22 points which is four behind Treaty and five behind Athlone. We will need to be in top form for the visit of Harps and three points are needed to keep us chasing the points for the top 5 finish. The game has a 5pm start and let’s hope that we have a decent crowd to shout the team on to a good victory.

​SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town v Finn Harps

at Bishopsgate on Bank Holiday Monday

Kick-off 5pm

​Car Boot Sale

At Bishopsgate on Bank Holiday Monday. Gates open at 6am.

Sam in Mayo

Congratulations to Mayo on their fantastic victory over Kerry on Sunday and bringing Sam back to the West. We would like to say a big congratulations to manager Andy Moran on a memorable victory. Andy played for us back in the early 2000s when our under 21s won the Cup. It’s great for football that Mayo won the Cup.

​Cian McPhillips

Congratulations to Cian McPhillips who won the national 800 metres final on Sunday last. It’s great to have another national champion in Longford. Congrats Cian and family on a superb victory.