4 v 1 
Longford TownDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 August 2021 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Waterford impress against Longford
Four Waterford goals at the RSC this evening saw off a Longford Town side that look destined to be relegated from the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.
Cian Kavanagh opened the scoring with 10 minutes remaining in the first half despite Longford Town looking the better side.
The visitors responded early in the second as Dean Williams struck for the visitors on 47 minutes to silence the home crowd.
Waterford soon struck back however when Kavanagh won a penalty which was saved but John Martin followed up to put the Suirsiders back ahead.
Longford tried to get back in things but it was Waterford who struck again when Kavanagh found himself in space while a late John Martin goal put things to bed late on.
Longford were arguably the better side for most of the opening half. The visitors enjoyed most of the possession and offered the bigger threat led by Dylan Grimes runs on the left wing.
Most of the visitors efforts came from outside the box however, and they did not come close to scoring despite winning several set-pieces with the backing of a strong breeze.
Following a minute of applause in memory of ex-Waterford youth player Roy Butler on 23 minutes, the Blues’ John Martin came very close in the 25th as he slid onto the end of a cross but hit over the crossbar.
As already wet and windy conditions worsened, the tie was in danger of becoming lifeless until Cian Kavanagh touched into goal for Waterford from Jack Stafford’s excellent cross to put Waterford up a goal on 35 minutes.
With Longford holding the ball but lacking any serious attacking threat, the Blues went into the break a goal up.The second half began at a considerably higher pace, in improved conditions, as Paddy Kirk set up Dean Williams to strike back for Longford on 46 minutes to stun the previously vocal home crowd.
Five minutes later though, a quickly taken Waterford free-kick found Cian Kavanagh who was taken down in the box by Longford’s O’Driscoll.
Kavanagh stepped up to take the penalty only for it to be saved by Lee Stacey and roll dramatically across the Longford goal-line. John Martin was there for Waterford on the follow up however and smashed the home side back in front.
Following a short spell of dominance by Waterford, it was Longford back in control but once again things went the Blues’ way. A deflected ball found Kavanagh in acres of space with only keeper Stacey in his way, and the striker slotted it past to make it 3-1 to Waterford.
Though Longford continued to try, they lacked any serious threat and never really came close. Waterford finished the better and a late John Martin goal saw the home-side secure an important move out of relegation danger for now.
Timeline
| 11' | 14. Matthew O'Brien | |
| 19. Jack Stafford | 24' | |
| 12. Cian Kavanagh | 35' | |
| 45' | Dean Zambra Aodh Dervin | |
| 45' | Aaron McNally Karl Chambers | |
| 47' | 22. Dean Williams | |
| 10. John Martin | 51' | |
| 53' | Matthew O'Brien Conor Davis | |
| Shane Griffin Prince Mustwunguma | 58' | |
| 12. Cian Kavanagh | 71' | |
| Cian Kavanagh Isaac Tshipamba Mulowayi | 80' | |
| 10. John Martin | 84' | |
| 6. Kyle Ferguson | 90' |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 17)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town v Waterford |
|
(Series 7)
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Longford Town |
4 - 6eLOI Group C
Online Event Longford Town v Waterford |
Ground
| Regional Sports Centre |
|---|
| Waterford Regional Sports Centre, Inner Ring Road, Kilbarry, Waterford, County Waterford, Munster, X91 KT29, Ireland |
Full-Time at the RSC. Waterford 4-1 Longford Town
3 minutes added time
Waterford ending this game well on top as they strive forward
John Martin scores for Waterford's fourth
Darragh Power sees yellow for Waterford
Nugent gets past a number of Waterford defenders but can't put much power in his shot, easily saved by Murphy in goal for the home side
GOAL!!! Kavanagh gets the ball on the break and puts it past Stacey to make it 3-1 in Waterford's favour
Conditions have calmed in the second half as Waterford under more pressure from the visitors with a dangerous free-kick outside the box
Longford have had most of the ball in the last 5 minutes but no clear chances created
Longford probing the Waterford defense
Mustwunguma's shot comes close but goes right and wide
Longford controlling possession now
Longford have made three substitutions since half-time; Aodh Dervin and Karl Chambers replaced Dean Zambra and Aaron McNally at half-time while Conor Davis replaced Matthew O'Brien on 53 minutes.
Prince Mutswunguma replaces the injured Shane Griffin
Waterford looking the more confident since scoring the second at the RSC
Martin's header goes wide after Kavanagh leaves Stacey for dust and gets a cross into the Longford box
GOAL!!! Kavanagh's strike is saved by Stacey but John Martin follows up to score his side's second
Kavanagh wins a penalty for Waterford
Crowd is silenced at the RSC after the equaliser, Longford catching Waterford out early in this second half
GOAL!!!! Dean Williams equalises for Longford! 1-1
Waterford get things under way for the the second half to begin
Half-Time at the RSC. Cian Kavanagh's 35th minute opener gives the home side the lead after Longford arguably looked the better side for most of the game. Waterford 1 - 0 Longford Town
Kavanagh's header is too soft and easily collected by Stacey in the Longford goal
Goal has brought the home crowd back to life as Longford now seeking to get back to even terms in the final 5 minutes of the half
Great play by Waterford led to a run by Jack Stafford down the left wing. Sent a dangerous ball into the visitors box and Kavanagh's excellent touch sent it into the Longford net
GOAL!!!!! Cian Kavanagh scores for Waterford as the home side take the lead
Longford just edging it so far, with more possession and attacks than the home side
Martin's effort the closest either side has come so far in what has been a scrappy opening half-hour. Still 0-0
McNally's effort goes well over, helped by the strong breeze behind Longford at the RSC
Martin comes close for the home side but his effort goes over the goal after he gets on the end of an attacking cross
Stafford carded for Waterford
Shane Griffin's delivery is dangerous in the Longford box and is deflected out for a corner
Breeze favouring Longford at the Waterford grounds
Murphy comes out bravely to collect in the face of an onrushing Longford attacker
Wind and rain increasing at the RSC; dire conditions for football
Paddy Kirk's long shot goes over after he is set up by Dylan Grimes, who has been Longford's danger man so far
Both sides enjoying forays into each other's territory but no chances so far for either
Yellow for O'Brien after his challenge on Waterford's Kavanagh in midfield
O'Brien's shot goes well over
Murphy does well to clear for Waterford after he is left short by his defender
McNally's cross goes wide
Too much power on Stafford's cross and it goes wide as Waterford look dangerous on the counter
Longford applying some pressure to the hosts now, winning their second corner
Scrappy start to proceedings with Waterford seeing most of the ball so far
Longford get things under way at the RSC!
Minutes applause for former-Waterford player Roy Butler before kick-off
Damp conditions at the RSC as we wait for the sides to emerge from the dressing room. Home and away fans creating a great atmosphere!
10 minutes until Kick-Off at the RSC!
Niall O'Keefe captains the home side as Waterford look to go three from three against De Town this evening
Dean Williams leads the line for Longford tonight as the visitors will hope to recover from a 3 game losing streak
The sides have met twice already this season, with Waterford scraping by De Town on both occasions. It finished 1-0 to the home team at the RSC in April, while it was 2-1 to the Deise men at Bishopsgate in June. Both fixtures saw a man sent off in what have been fiery matchups!
Waterford and Longford sides find themselves in the division's relegation zone at present so this evening's fixture is sure to be a battle for those all-valuable three points.
Welcome along to Final Whistle's SSE Airtricity Premier Division coverage of Waterford versus Longford Town at the RSC. My name is Jack Joy and I'll be taking you through this evening's game. Kick-Off is at 7.45pm!