Details

Date Time League Season
3 July 2021 7:30 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Gibson goal sees Sligo go joint top

Jordan Gibsons spot kick mid way through the first half was enough for Sligo Rovers to claim all three points against bottom side Longford Town at Bishopsgate.

The victory ensured Sligo moved back level on points with Shamrock Rovers at the top of the table; albeit behind on goal difference.

A dominating first half performance from Sligo Rovers in Longford was key to success for the Westerners as they looked to continue their push in the title race.  

Without academy graduates John Mahon, Johnny Kenny and Regan Donelon, Liam Buckley had the returning Garry Buckley, as well as the enigmatic Romeo Parkes and Colm Horgan all to come in as replacements.  

Longford unchanged from their last outing, a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Finn Harps, started brightly with an early attack culminating in a strike on Ed McGintys goal by Aaron Dobbs.  

It didn’t take long to take control, as Ryan DeVries, Gibson and Parkes took the game to the Midlanders as Longford weathered a barrage of attempts for nearly 20 minutes when Dylan Grimes worked his way forward and found Aaron Dobbs with a sweet cross. Dobbs’ header, however, struck the outside of the post. 

It wasn’t long before the Bit O’Red were in the ascendancy once again, this time a mix up at the back saw Parkes through on goal before Joe Manley pulled the Jamaican down in the box to concede a penalty. 

Gibson stepped up for the Rovers, cool calm and collected he sent Longford's penalty saving hero from last week the wrong direction slotting the ball into the net. 

Moments later, as Dobbs chased down a long ball, unbeknownst to the referee, pushed Sligo defender Buckley into the onrushing McGinty. After some treatment and an attempt to continue, McGinty was forced off, his replacement Mayo native Luke McNicholas on his return from loan.  

The half petered out after this with neither side having a clear-cut chance, Sligo coming closest through Devries. 

Longford made a double sub at half time as they went in search of an equaliser and while they did have more opportunities in the second half, McNicholas was confident and assured as McGintys deputy. 

Much like the first half, Sligo had the better of the game and opportunities. On the hour mark another defensive error saw Parkes bearing down on goal with as many as five Longford players chasing. A heavy touch meant the summersaulting striker cannoned his shot of the crossbar; the rebounding effort was remarkably saved by Stacey in the Longford goal. 

As the game was coming to a close the Town had a number of chances to equalise with O’Brien striking wide and Dervin shooting over from long range as the McNicholas’ diving headed clearance found its way to the Longford academy graduate. 

Next up for Sligo is the Europa Conference Qualification tie in Iceland on Thursday, while Longford host Drogheda on Saturday. 

Longford Town

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
2Shane Elworthy 25 Defender
3Paddy Kirk Defender
4Aaron Robinson 8 Midfielder
6Dean Zambra 17 Midfielder
7Dylan Grimes Midfielder
9Aaron Dobbs 15 Forward
12Aaron O’Driscoll Defender
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder
21Aaron McNally 19 Defender
22Joseph Manley Defender
5Michael McDonnell Midfielder
8Rob Manley 4 Forward
11Callum Thompson Midfielder
15Aaron McCabe 9 Midfielder
17Matthew O’Brien 6 Midfielder
19Karl Chambers 21 Forward
25Conor Davis 2 Forward

Sligo Rovers

1Ed McGinty 16 Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender
3Colm Horgan Defender
6Greg Bolger Midfielder
7Jordan Gibson 10 Forward 25'
8Niall Morahan Midfielder
9Ryan DeVries Forward
12Mark Byrne 22 Midfielder
14Shane Blaney Defender
26Garry Buckley Midfielder
27Romeo Parkes Forward
4Danny Kane Defender
10Walter Figueira 7 Forward
18John Russell Midfielder
22David Cawley 12 Midfielder
25Cillian Heaney Forward
33Jason Devaney Defender
33Peter Maguire Defender
11Seamas Keogh Midfielder
16Luke McNicholas 1 Goalkeeper
  • Full Time Longford 0 - 1 Sligo Rovers

  • 90'

    McNicholas claims comfortably to thwart another longford attack,

  • 90'

    Buckley booked for time wasting

  • 90'

    Figueira replaces Gibson on the 90 as the 4th official shows 5 minutes added

  • 87'

    McCabe replaces Dobbs for the last few minutes

  • 87'

    McNicholas clears with his head but dervins rebound goes high

  • 85'

    5 minutes for sligo to hold out or longford to find an equaliser

  • 83'

    O'Brien strikes from range but curls high and wide

  • 79'

    Elworthy is replaced by Conor Davis

  • 76'

    Rob Manley comes on in place of Robinson

  • 73'

    David Cawley comes in to replace Mark Byrne

  • 73'

    Longford pushing for an equaliser but are struggling to come up with the goods

  • 69'

    Gibson turns in and out, lays it wide for byrne who finds Parkes but this header is wide

  • 68'

    Grimes send in a corner and McNicholas comes and collects comfortably

  • 66'

    longford with a surging attack but McNicholas is equal to the resulting strike from Robinson

  • 63'

    Bolger gets a Yellow for saying too much to the referee

  • 60'

    Parkes is through one on one with Stacey but he blasts it against the bar, Stacey saves the follow up from DeVries

  • 59'

    nice link up by DeVries and Horgan

  • 57'

    Scramble in the box, shots by Banks and Gibson are fruitless for sligo

  • 57'

    tidy play by Gibson and Horgan, Gibsons shot is deflected wide

  • 56'

    Longford really finding themselves in this second half

  • 54'

    Grimes hits it against the back of a sligo player

  • 54'

    Longford free about 35 yards out pretty central

  • 50'

    McNicholas' first real bit of action and he comfortably claims the longford free kick

  • 50'

    Heavy touch by Blaney leads to him reaching and catching Robinson

  • 46'

    Chambers and O'Brien come in at half time come in for McNally and Zambra

  • 45'

    Half time at Bishopsgate as Sligo lead 1 goal to nil

  • 45'

    2 minutes added as sligo still search for their 2nd, Banks hits one straight at Stacey

  • 44'

    Kirk goes in hard on Banks, gets a talking to but no card

  • 42'

    Sligo come close once again, this time back at the far post from a corner

  • 42'

    Sligo come close once again, this time back at the far post from a corner

  • 39'

    McNally is down receiving treatment after a ball to the face

  • 36'

    McNicholas comes in for McGinty who is unable to continue

  • 33'

    Sligo pushing for a second with DeVries coming so close

  • 29'

    McGinty collides with Buckley and is receiving treatment, after a push from Dobbs on Buckley

  • 28'

    Dean Zambra chips in a cheeky free kick but he find Dervin who is unable to control with his head

  • 25'

    Gibson steps up and sends Stacey the wrong way 1 nil Sligo

  • 24'

    Penalty to Sligo as Parkes is taken down in the box

  • 22'

    Grimes works a cross for Longford and finds Dobbs but his header hits the outside of the post

  • 20'

    Longford are making errors at the back but Sligo have yet to take advantage of it, with Gibson coming close once more

  • 16'

    Garry Buckley is sharp as ever, no sign of the injury which kept him sidelined for a number of weeks

  • 11'

    Nice play from Sligo culminating in a shot for Parkes but a deflection takes the sting off it

  • 9'

    Gibson whips it in but its easily dealt with

  • 9'

    Dangerous free for Sligo 30 yards out to the right

  • 8'

    Longford are employing a long ball tactic but it doesn't seem to be working

  • 5'

    Intent is their now for Sligo as Gibson comes close

  • 4'

    Sligo knocking the ball around nicely and really showing their quality, DeVries with a half chance

  • 3'

    Longford almost take advantage as Dobbs goes close

  • 2'

    Sligo reduced to 10 men momentarily as Bolger needs to receive treatment for a bloody lip

  • Sligo get us underway at Bishopsgate

  • Teams are out and ready to go

  • Longford name an unchanged side from last weeks draw with Finn Harps

  • Buckley, Parkes and Horgan start for Sligo while returnees Keogh and McNicholas start on the bench, John Mahon is rested ahead of Thursdays Europa Conference game.

Past Meetings

(Series 12)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Longford Town

(Series 3)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town v Sligo Rovers

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC

3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC

Officials

RefereeAssistants
Graham KellyAllen Lynch
Emmett Dynan

Ground

Bishopsgate, Longford
City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland