Details

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

Match Report

Derry deliver in Longford

Derry City got their first win in the league since the start of July, after a well deserved 2-0 victory over Longford Town, at Bishopsgate in this evening's tie.

Goals by Danny Lafferty and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, were enough to give Ruaidhri Higgins side a valuable three points.

City looked the sharper side in front of goal, Longford did create chances, but did not test Nathan Gartside in the goal. A rather cagey affair in Bishopsgate, as the referee brandished six yellow cards. 

De Town had the first major chance of the game, within the opening minute, a half chance at goal was easily saved by Gartside. Derry however failed to make any chances of their own in the opening 15 minutes, their first effort coming from Evan McLaughlin, who striked at goal with the outside of his boot but his effort went just wide.

The rest of the half went the way of the visitors, as the visitors went ahead just after the half hour mark, Danny Lafferty finding the back of the net, smart play by Junior in the build up, as he managed to stay onside, he found James Akintunde in space, as the forward crossed across goal and Lafferty was on hand to finish from close range.

By half-time, the Candystripes were well on top as they looked to leapfrog Dundalk in the table, they continued to test the Longford side into the second half,  but struggled to create any clear chances at goal in the early exchanges.

Longford kept pushing for an equaliser, but similarly to how their season has gone so far, the home side could not test the Derry defence as they desperately tried for an elusive goal. 

Derry could have easily made it 2-0 in the 70th minute, Akintunde with the ball in the box, but a fantastic block by Aaron Robinson, kept his side in the game.

Eventually the Longford defence could not hold out much longer, as the Red and White Army got their second goal of the night, almost out of nowhere. A long ball ball up to the defence was chased down by Junior, with the forward getting in behind and finishing smartly to the net. 

Longford Town

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
2Shane Elworthy 19 Defender
3Paddy Kirk 9 Defender
4Aaron Robinson 17 Midfielder
7Dylan Grimes Midfielder 84'
8Rob Manley 24 Forward
12Aaron O’Driscoll Defender 71'
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder 24'
20Dean Williams Forward
21Aaron McNally Defender 28'
22Joseph Manley Defender
30Michael Kelly Goalkeeper
5Michael McDonnell Midfielder
6Dean Zambra Midfielder
9Aaron Dobbs 3 Forward
15Aaron McCabe Midfielder
17Matthew O’Brien 4 Midfielder
19Karl Chambers 2 Forward
24Callum Warfield 8 Forward
25Conor Davis Forward

Derry City

1Nathan Gartside Goalkeeper
3Ciaran Coll Defender
6Eoin Toal Defender
8Joe Thomson Midfielder 22'
11James Akintunde 10 Forward
15Ronan Boyce 23 Defender
20Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe Forward 82'
21Cameron McJannet Defender
24Danny Lafferty Defender 31'
36'
25Evan McLaughlin 20 Defender
29Jack Malone Midfielder
30Jack Lemoignan Goalkeeper
7Will Fitzgerald Midfielder
10Jamie McGonigle 11
16Mark McChrystal Defender
20Darren Cole 25 Defender
23Bastien Hery 15 Midfielder
31Patrick Ferry Forward
33Caoimhin Porter Midfielder
36Brendan Barr Midfielder
  • 87'

    Jamie McGonigle comes in for Akintunde

  • 84'

    Yellow for the Longford man Grimes

  • 82'

    Almost from nowhere, Derry are 2-0 up as Junior runs in and finishes a long ball

  • 76'

    Darren Cole comes in for Evan McLaughlin

  • 71'

    O'Driscoll goes into the book for a late tackle

  • 70'

    A great chance for Derry to make it 2-0, but the Derry man cant create a chance as Aaron Robinson makes a superb block

  • 57'

    Aaron Dobbs comes in for Paddy Kirk

  • 48'

    Sub for Derry, Bastien Hery makes his debut for the side as he replaces Ronan Boyce

  • 45'

    Half Time at Bishopsgate, Danny Lafferty's strike the main difference between the sides, as Derry are looking the better side after the first 45 minutes

  • 36'

    The Derry goal scorer goes into the book for a high leg tackle

  • 31'

    Great goal for Derry, Lafferty finds the net after Junior manages to stay onside, he finds Akintunde and Lafferty is on hand to finish at the far post

  • 28'

    Yellow for the Longford man for having his studs up in a challenge

  • 24'

    Dervin picks up a card for a foul 30 yards from goal

  • 22'

    Joe Thomson picks up a Yellow for a foul on Rob Manley

  • 16'

    Chance for Derry as Evan McLaughlin strikes at goal but his effort goes wide

  • 13'

    Karl Chambers comes in for an injured Shane Elworthy

  • 1'

    Early chance for the home side but Nathan Gartside makes a smart save

  • 1'

    Longford kick us off

  • A win for Derry tonight, would see them leap frog Dundalk, into 6th place in the league table, the side looking comfortable in mid table as they will have one eye on next season development

  • Longford have only one win in the league this season, they are looking for a league double at home, over Derry this season as they will be chasing the three points tonight

  • Looking at the two teams, Longford have Paddy Kirk coming in at left back with Aaron McNally coming back in also as he plays on the wing. For Derry Jack Malone and Evan McLaughlin are in replacing Harkin & Fitzgerald, while Bastien Hery & Jamie McGonigle make the bench

  • You are very welcome to tonights clash in the SSE Airtricity League, between Longford Town and Derry City, a pleasant evening for a game at Bishopsgate, my name is Diarmuid Kearney and I will bring you updates of tonights game

Past Meetings

(Series 10)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Longford Town

(Series 1)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town v Derry City

2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Derry City FC

4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Longford Town FC

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

Longford Town FC v Derry City FC

4 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Derry City FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Longford Town FC

7:30 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Bishopsgate, Longford

Longford Town FC v Derry City FC

Ground

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

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.