Video
Details
Date | Time | League | Season |
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20 March 2021 | 6:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Match Preview: Longford Town V Derry City
Longford Town are back in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League after a four season absence and welcome Derry City to Bishopsgate on Saturday evening with the game kicking-off at six o’clock.
The Town who won the First Division title back in 2014 spent two seasons in the top-flight before relegation in 2016 sent them back to the second-tier.
They missed out in the play-offs in 2019, losing to Cabinteely on penalties, however, after finishing fourth last season, they powered their way through the play-offs, dispatching UCD, Galway United & Shelbourne to earn promotion back to the Premier Division.
Derry City are a long established top-flight team since 2011 having won the 2010 First Division League title. Despite finishing fourth and qualifying for the Europa League in the 2019 season, the Candystripes struggled last season only finishing a point above the relegation play-off place side Shelbourne.
Longford Town are tipped by most fans and pundits to be in the bottom two at the end-of-the-season, while Derry City are expected to finish mid-table.
Longford Town manager, Daire Doyle, has kept the core of last seasons’ promotion winning squad including the Manley brothers, Joe Gorman, Shane Elworthy, Mick McDonnell, Aodh Dervan, Lee Steacy, Aaron McNally, Dean Zambra and Dylan Grimes.
Karl Chambers, the club’s longest serving player, contributed hugely to last seasons’ promotion success, and he is back for yet another season, while youngsters Mathew O’Brien and Aaron McCabe displayed lots of promise last season and are expected to play crucial roles from the bench.
Longford have made several new signings with manager, Daire Doyle, focusing on youth in the main. Paddy Kirk is an excellent defensive signing from Bohemians, Aaron O’Driscoll is a highly rated centre-half that has signed on-loan from Mansfield, Callum Thompson is an exciting winger who has been snapped up from Bray Wanderers and Aaron Robinson is an exciting midfield prospect who signed from Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United.
Conor Davis is an experienced forward having played with UCD, Derry City, and Reading FC. He most recently was part of the Cork City squad, but his time there was plagued by injury.
Finally, goalkeeper Mick Kelly and striker Aaron Dobbs both return to their former club. Dobbs of course played against Longford for Shelbourne in last seasons’ promotion/relegation play-off final. Derry City have vastly experienced players in their squad including the likes of defender Danny Lafferty who has played regular league football cross-channel with the likes of Sheffield United and Peterborough United, as well as featuring for Shamrock Rovers.
Ciaran Coll is another vastly experienced defender with the Candystripes who also had a superb career with Finn Harps.
Midfielders Ciaron Harkin and Jack Malone have been retained in the squad, and so has last seasons’ striker James Akintunde.
Derry City manager Declan Devine has also made some promising new acquisitions to the squad, especially in midfield.
William Fitzgerald, an attacking midfielder, who has featured for Irish Under 21’s, arrives from Waterford, while former Manchester City Academy player, Will Patching is on loan from Dundalk. The most interesting new midfield signing may be Irish Under 19 player Joe Hodge who arrives on a six-month loan deal from Manchester City, and he is tipped to make a huge impact.
Finally, for a side that only scored eighteen goals last season, the return to the club of striker David Parkhouse could provide the Candystripes with the firepower to finish in a comfortable mid-table position. Parkhouse scored nineteen goals for Derry in the 2019 season in which they finished in fourth place, and he has featured cross-channel for the likes of Hartlepool United and Stevenage.
There will be full live text updates on Saturday evening from Bishopsgate on www.FinalWhistle.ie starting from 5pm.
Timeline
10. Dylan Grimes | 7' | |
45' | James Akintunde Jack Malone | |
45' | Ciaran Coll Danny Lupano | |
Dean Byrne Callum Thompson | 62' | |
33. Joe Gorman | 68' | |
Karl Chambers Joseph Manley | 69' | |
70' | 8. Will Patching | |
74' | 8. Jack Malone | |
79' | Will Fitzgerald Caolan McLaughlin | |
81' | Cameron McJannet Joe Thomson | |
Rob Manley Aaron Robinson | 83' | |
Aaron Bolger Aaron Dobbs | 83' | |
8. Aodh Dervin | 90' |
Past Meetings
2 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Derry City FC |
4LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Longford Town FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Derry City FC |
4 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Derry City FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Longford Town FC |
7:30 pmLOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford Longford Town FC v Derry City FC |
Officials
Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
---|---|---|
Adriano Reale | Rob Clarke Wayne McDonnell | Derek Tomney |
Ground
Bishopsgate, Longford |
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City Calling Stadium, L50021, Mullolagher, Cloondara ED, Longford Municipal District, County Longford, Leinster, Ireland |
The full-time whistle blows and Longford Town have beaten Derry City by two goals to nil, courtesy of goals from Dylan Grimes & Joe Gorman. Man-of-the-match is Longford Town's Dylan Grimes.
Aodh Dervin booked for Longford Town.
Town double substitution as Aaron Robinson replaces Rob Manley and Aaron Dobbs replaces Aaron Bolger
Longford almost make it three-nil but Aodh Dervin's thunderous 40-yard free-kick crashes against the Derry bar with Gartside beaten all ends-up.
Jack Malone booked for Derry City.
Longford substitute. Joe Manley replaces Karl Chambers.
Longford substitute. Joe Manley replaces Karl Chambers.
Goal for Longford Town. Dervin Free-kick was only parried by Derry keeper Gartside and Town defender Joe Gorman shoots home a simple tap-in on the rebound.
A Town counter-attack results in Grimes being fouled by Patching who gets a yellow card.
Town substitute as Callum Thompson replaces Dean Byrne.
Town substitute as Callum Thompson replaces Dean Byrne.
Great Town move results in a superb interchange of passes between Byrne and Paddy Kirk with Kirk's shot from the right flashing across the face of the Derry goal.
Derry with a chance but Patching's corner is headed just wide by the towering Eoin Toal.
Longford Town almost go two-nil up as Dean Byrne shot brilliantly saved by Derry Keeper Nathan Gartside with the rebound fired over the bar by Longford captain Dean Zambra
Half-time sub for Derry. Danny Lupano on for Darren Cole
Half-time sub for Derry. Danny Lupano on for Darren Cole
Half time substitution for Derry. Akintunde replaced by Jack Malone
Half-time substitutions for Derry City. Jack Malone on for Akintunde
Half-time at Bishopsgate, Longford Town 1 Derry City 0.
Derry almost equalise as Fitzgerald's cross from the right finds striker Parkhouse, but his goal-bound effort produces a stunning reflex save from Town keeper Stacey
A free-kick from Zambra results in O'Driscoll's pass on the stretch being fired just wide by Town's Dean Byrne
Derry with two successive corners with the second Patching corner headed over the Town bar by striker Parkhouse
Derry City having more possession of the ball in the last six or seven minutes.
A free-kick from Patching finds the head of Toal, but his header deflected out for a corner off a Longford defender as Derry threaten the Town goal for the first time
Derry win a corner but Patchings' delivery easily cleared by the Town defence with Aodh Dervin making the final clearance.
Free-kick to Longford Town in a dangerous position after a foul on Manley, but Grimes curls his twenty-two yard effort wide
Longford Town off to a great start in the Premier Division leading by one goal to nil courtesy of that super Grimes goal, while Derry are yet to threaten the Town goal.
Longford Town take the lead as Manley passes to Grimes and he weaves his way into the box and his low diagonal shot finds the left-side of the Derry net
Dylan Grimes shot from edge of the Derry box just wide after being put through by Rob Manley
Game underway at Bishopsgate.
15 minutes to kick off at Bishopsgate for Longford Town's first game back in the Premier Division since 2016 with Derry City the visitors.