Unbeaten run halted as Longford Town second best against UCD

Despite a spirited display at Bishopsgate on Saturday night, Longford Town fell short as UCD edged a lively contest between two youthful sides with Jake Doyle and Mikey McCullagh scoring the crucial goals for the students. 

Longford Town . . . 0     UCD . . . 2 

 Longford’s encouraging form with consecutive wins over Wexford and Athlone came to a halt in missing the chance to close the gap to the promotion play-off places, The midlanders remain second from bottom in the First Division, ahead of only local rivals Athlone Town.

Manager Wayne Groves will be frustrated not to have capitalised on this opportunity. His side now look ahead to a tough trip to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps next Friday.

Just five minutes in, Carl Lennox received the game’s first yellow card after a late challenge on Daniel Norris in a dangerous area. Aaron Doran stepped up for the resulting free-kick but fired straight at Dara Kavanagh — a comfortable save.

Moments later, Norris capitalised on a loose touch by UCD’s Adam Wells, sparking a sharp Longford attack. Dean George recovered from a mis-kick to whip in a cross that flew past Doran but fell to Stefan Ugbesia, whose half-volley was cleared off the line by Eanna Clancy. Longford were inches away from the opener.

UCD responded with their first threat when Mikey McCullagh cut inside and curled a shot that skimmed the outside of Halwax’s post.

On twenty-one minutes, Ciaran Behan delivered a thunderous corner to the front post. Mikey Raggett, looking for a third goal in as many games against Longford, rose highest but nodded just over.

Luke Wade-Slater showed great persistence down the wing in the twenty-sixth minute, eventually picking out George at the near post, but Kavanagh saved well with his feet.

Just past the half-hour mark,  Behan danced through both Longford central defenders before going one-on-one with Halwax, who stood tall and produced an excellent low save.

Minutes later, Clancy powered through midfield and fed Raggett, whose driven shot across goal fizzed narrowly wide as UCD started to assert authority. 

In the thirty-eighth minute, a moment of madness nearly cost UCD. Kavanagh, trying to play out from the back, passed directly to Norris but his heavy touch let the keeper off the hook.

Tensions flared just before the break after Sean Brennan caught Norris with a late challenge. Norris returned the favour two minutes later, and a brief scuffle broke out before the half-time whistle sounded at 0-0. 

Longford started the second half with intensity. Aaron Doran’s tame strike earned a corner after good pressing from Dean O’Shea. From the set-piece, Yoro’s header was well saved by Kavanagh, before George went close with an overhead kick that dropped just wide.

UCD’s breakthrough came nine minutes into the second half when Behan’s corner from the left skipped over Yoro at the front post, and after a messy scramble in the box, Doyle forced the ball over the line. 

It nearly became two just minutes later when Killian Cailloce found space at the back post, but Halwax made a brilliant point-blank save. From the resulting corner, Behan’s follow-up effort was tipped onto the post in a stunning double stop.

The match turned increasingly physical as both sides fought for control. O’Shea was shown yellow for catching McCullagh with a raised arm. Yoro followed for a soft foul down the line, before Adam Wells and Daniel Norris were also booked in an off-the-ball clash that reflected the rising tensions.

UCD eventually found the killer goal with ten minutes remaining. Behan’s shot from the edge of the box was parried, and McCullagh reacted first, finishing low into the corner despite Halwax getting a hand to the ball. 

Longford’s best late chance came from an O’Shea long throw that was flicked on and met by Kavanagh, as the shot hit the post. In stoppage time, Danny Norris miskicked at the back post with the goal gaping — a moment that summed up Town’s frustrating night.

LONGFORD TOWN (4-2-3-1): Halwax, Wade Slater, Irhue, Yoro, O’Shea, Doran, Manuel, Ugbesia, Topcu, Norris, George. 

Subs: Oluwafemi for Ugbesia, Murtagh for George, Boudiaf for Doran (all 62 mins). 

UCD (4-1-4-1): Kavanagh, McManus, Lennox, Clancy, Wells, Brennan, Cailloce, Behan, Doyle, McCullagh,  Raggett. 

Subs: McBrearty for Cailloce (72 mins), Brennan for McCullagh (89 mins), Mahon for Behan, Norval for Raggett (both in the second minute of stoppage time).