0 v 1 
Sligo RoversVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 April 2021 | 5:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Sligo scrape past Longford challenge in N4 Derby
Sligo Rovers maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a narrow one-nil victory away to Longford Town at Bishopsgate as a Gary Buckley second-half header secured all three points for the Westerners.
Both sides made one change to their teams that started last weekend. Longford Town brought in Callum Warfield for Sam Verdon in the lone striker role, while Sligo Rovers replaced Walter Figuiera with skipper David Cawley in midfield.
Sligo shaded the first half and created the better chances, the first of which arrived in the seventh minute, when Sligo defender Robbie McCourt directed a twenty-two yard free-kick into the Longford side-netting.
On twenty-one minutes, Sligo created another opportunity but a Jordan Gibson shot from just inside the Longford box that went through the legs of several players was well gathered by Town keeper Lee Steacy.
The Town’s best chance of the opening half arrived on thirty-three minutes. Substitute Callum Thompson whipped in a cross from the right that picked out Warfield, but he fired his effort into the Sligo side-netting.
The best opportunity of the first half went to the visitors on the forty-minute mark, but they were thwarted by a brilliant save from Town keeper Steacy.
Niall Morahan’s superb pass found Romeo Parkes just inside the Town box, he expertly held the ball up and then laid it off into the path of striker Johnny Kenny, however, his rocketing curling sixteen-yard strike was magnificently tipped away by Steacy.
Gary Buckley put the visitors ahead just two minutes into the second-half. Robbie McCourt's corner from the right was headed back across goal by Parkes and Sligo defender Gary Buckley reacts quickest to head home from close range.
Town almost equalized on fifty minutes as midfielder Aodh Dervin pounced on a loose ball inside the Sligo penalty area only for his shot to flash inches wide of the post.
Longford’s final chance of drawing level came on eighty-three minutes but Dervin’s angled shot from twelve yards out deflected off a Sligo defender and went narrowly past the far post.
Timeline
| 25' | 22. David Cawley | |
| Dean Byrne Callum Thompson | 29' | |
| Callum Warfield Aaron Dobbs | 36' | |
| 42' | 6. Greg Bolger | |
| 47' | 26. Garry Buckley | |
| 62' | David Cawley Mark Byrne | |
| Karl Chambers Aaron McNally | 67' | |
| Dean Zambra Conor Davis | 67' | |
| 71' | 27. Romeo Parkes | |
| 73' | Johnny Kenny Ryan DeVries | |
| 80' | Jordan Gibson Walter Figueira | |
| 10. Dylan Grimes | 82' |
Past Meetings
1LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds Sligo Rovers FC v Longford Town FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Sligo Rovers FC |
Officials
| Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
|---|---|---|
| Damien MacGraith | Darragh Keegan Shane O’Brien | John McLoughlin |
Ground
| Bishopsgate, Longford |
|---|
| City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland |
Tony Ghee
An experienced sports broadcaster and commentator for over two decades with Shannonside / Northern Sound Radio and the Longford Leader newspaper, amongst other regional outlets.
Full time at Bishopsgate: Longford Town 0 Sligo Rovers 1. Gary Buckley with the only goal of the match securing all three points for the visitors.
Full time at Bishopsgate: Longford Town 0 Sligo Rovers 1. Gary Buckley with the only goal of the match securing all three points for the visitors.
Longford come close to levelling the contest but Dervin has a shot from twelve yards that deflects of a Sligo defender and goes narrowly past the far post for a corner that is easily dealt with by the visitors.
Another substitution for Sligo as Jordan Gibson is replaced by Walter Figuiera.
Another substitution for Sligo as Jordan Gibson is replaced by Walter Figuiera.
McNally booked for the Town for simulation just before Sligo make a substitution.
Sligo substitution as Johnny Kenny is replaced by Ryan De Vries.
Sligo substitution as Johnny Kenny is replaced by Ryan De Vries.
Romeo Parkes picks up a booking which is the third for Sligo.
Conor Davies replaces Dean Zambra as Longford to complete the double substitution for Longford.
Double substitution for Longford Town. Dean Zamba is replaced by Conor Davies.
Double substitution for Longford Town. Dean Zamba is replaced by Conor Davies.
Double substitution for Longford Town. Karl Chambers is replaced by Aaron McNally.
Double substitution for Longford Town. Karl Chambers is replaced by Aaron McNally.
Sligo make their first substitution as skipper David Cawley is replaced by Mark Byrne.
Sligo make their first substitution as skipper David Cawley is replaced by Mark Byrne.
Town almost equalise as midfielder Aodh Dervin pounces on a loose ball inside the Sligo penalty area only for his shot to flash inches wide of the post.
Gary Buckley puts the visitors ahead. Robbie McCourt's corner from the right was headed back across goal by Romeo Parkes and Sligo defender Gary Buckley reacts quickest to head home from close range.
Half-time at Bishopsgate and it is still Longford Town 0 Sligo Rovers 0. The visitors had the better chances in the opening half but the Town goal remains intact.
In injury time, a corner from Town defender Paddy Kirk flashes across the Sligo six-yard box but no player gets a touch.
The second booking of the match for Sligo Rovers as Greg Bolger is shown a yellow card for a foul on Aaron Bolger.
A great move from the visitors as Niall Morahan supplies a superb ball into the feet of Romeo Parkes, he holds up the ball, and plays it into the path of Sligo striker Johnny Kenny whose curling effort is brilliantly tipped away by Town keeper Lee Steacy.
Another injury blow for Longford Town as striker Callum Warfield is replaced by Aaron Dobbs.
Another injury blow for Longford Town as striker Callum Warfield is replaced by Aaron Dobbs.
A chance for the home side but a right-wing cross from Town sub Callum Thompson is fired into the Sligo side-netting by Town striker Callum Warfield.
Substitution for Longford Town as Dean Byrne goes off injured and is replaced by Callum Thompson.
Substitution for Longford Town as Dean Byrne goes off injured and is replaced by Callum Thompson.
Yellow card for Sligo skipper David Cawley.
A low diagonal shot from Jordan Gibson through the legs of several players easily gathered by Town keeper Steacy.
Stoppage at Bishopsgate as Longford keeper Lee Steacy receiving treatment.
Longford Town with a chance but Dean Byrne shoots over from just outside the Sligo box.
Robbie McCourt fires a twenty-two yard free-kick into the Longford side-netting
johnny Kenny shot for Sligo blocked down by Town centre-back Aaron O'Driscoll
The match is underway at Bishopsgate.
The teams are in and both sides show one change from last weekends' matches. For Longford Town, Callum Warfield replaces Sam Verdon, and for Sligo Rovers, Captain David Cawley replaces Walter Figueira