Details

Date Time League Season
21 June 2021 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2021

Match Report

Molloy delivers Waterford winner

Waterford took a huge step towards survival as they defeated relegation rivals Longford Town 2-1 away at Bishopsgate Stadium.

The home side came into the match bottom of the Premier Division by a point but are now four points adrift of their opponents after today’s crushing loss.

Longford are the league’s lowest scorers with just 12 goals scored in 17 games, and their lack of creativity was detrimental to today’s loss, despite enjoying decent spells of possession in periods.  

Striker John Martin broke the deadlock for the visitors with a diving header that keeper Lee Stacey couldn’t keep out.

But just a minute later, Aaron McNally intercepted a pass and ran rings around the Waterford defence and cooly slotted the ball past visiting keeper Brian Murphy.

McNally almost instantly after his goal, had a great chance to double his tally but his brilliant effort inside the penalty box beat the goalkeeper but not the crossbar.

However, after half time Waterford went in front once more as Longford’s defence endured a lapse in concentration with them switching off from a free kick, and Eric Molloy took advantage to score the winner.

Longford midfielder Michael McDonnell was shown a straight red card late on for a foolish high challenge on Adam O’Reilly, which he can have no complaints about the decision.

Longford pushed for a winner throughout the second half but were left unstuck and tensions rose in the closing stages, with manager Ray Matthews cautioned for a frustrated outburst on the touchline.

Next up for Waterford is a crucial home game against league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday at 7:45pm, with the Blues desperate to cause a major upset to further boost their survival bid.

Basement side Longford Town travel to Finn Harps on Friday for an 8pm kick-off, with Harps just two places above them, Longford will see it as an opportunity to revitalise their miserable campaign.

Longford Town

1Lee Steacy Goalkeeper
2Shane Elworthy Defender
3Paddy Kirk Defender
4Aaron Robinson Midfielder
5Michael McDonnell Midfielder 84'
6Dean Zambra Midfielder
7Dylan Grimes Midfielder
8Rob Manley 15 Forward
9Aaron Dobbs Forward
11Callum Thompson Midfielder
12Aaron O’Driscoll Defender
15Aaron McCabe 8 Midfielder
16Aodh Dervin Midfielder
17Matthew O’Brien Midfielder
19Karl Chambers Forward
20Dean Byrne 25 Midfielder
21Aaron McNally Defender 18'
22Joseph Manley Defender
25Conor Davis 20 Forward
30Michael Kelly Goalkeeper

Waterford

1Brian Murphy Goalkeeper
2Darragh Power Defender
6Kyle Ferguson Defender
7Shane Griffin Midfielder
8Adam O’Reilly Midfielder
12John Martin Forward 17'
92'
14Niall O’Keeffe Midfielder
15Jamie Mascoll Defender 76'
19Jack Stafford Midfielder
20Eric Molloy Forward 49'
23Prince Mustwunguma 10 Forward
3Cameron Evans Defender
10Cian Kavanagh 23 Forward
13Matthew Connor Goalkeeper
16Katlego Mashigo Midfielder
18Tunmise Sobowale Defender
26Callum Stringer Midfielder
30Kyle Cooke Midfielder
31Liam Kervick Midfielder
34Cian Browne Midfielder
  • 90'

    Full time: Longford Town 1-2 Waterford

  • 90'

    Tensions have boiled over here with Longford manager Ray Matthews being booked.

  • 83'

    Chambers is yellow carded for his involvement.

  • 83'

    Mick McDonnell is given a straight red card for a foolish high tackle on Adam O'Reilly.

  • 80'

    Aaron McCabe replaces Rob Manley

  • 76'

    Mascoll is yellow carded for his foul on Aodh.

  • 73'

    Longford substitution: Aaron Dobbs is replaced by Dean Zambra

  • 72'

    Good work down Chambers down the wing who feeds McNally and the cross is cleared out for a corner.

  • 68'

    Grimes picks up the loose ball and drives towards the Waterford goal, but his shot is saved comfortably by Murphy.

  • 67'

    Murphy is caught time wasting by the referee and is cautioned but no card.

  • 61'

    Grimes' free kick is low but is saved easily by Murphy.

  • 55'

    Good work by Aodh and he drives up the field to feed Grimes but the ball is eventually cleared by Kirk.

  • 55'

    Great work down the right by Rob Manley who gathered a long ball but his shot is blocked for a corner. The corner in is blocked and it sails out for a Waterford throw.

  • 53'

    Longford substitution: Dean Byrne is replaced by Conor Davis.

  • 51'

    Lee's clearance from a cross is headed onto McNally but a decent challenge by Mascoll knocks it out for a goal kick. Plenty of time for Longford to turn this around.

  • 49'

    GOAL! Waterford take the lead once more after Longford switch off from a free kick and the away side take advantage by Eric Molloy scoring.

  • 46'

    Back underway in the second half.

  • 45'

    Half time: Longford Town 0-0 Waterford

  • 40'

    Waterford cross in and the ball is flicked towards goal but Lee is there to gather.

  • 38'

    The game is becoming scrappy once again.

  • 34'

    Through ball to Rob Manley almost finds the target but he can't quite master the bounce.

  • 33'

    Free kick to Longford for a foul on Grimes.

  • 31'

    Martin breaks through the middle after picking out the loose ball but his shot is blocked and caught in the goal by the keeper.

  • 31'

    McNally breaks through but his first touch is poor and takes him away from goal and is then closed down.

  • 30'

    Fantastic skill by Chambers who feeds in Grimes, who plays in a nice chipped ball in but the linesman raises his flag for offside.

  • 28'

    Bit of a lull in the game, a bit scrappy. Long ball in by Waterford can't be controlled and is gathered by Lee.

  • 25'

    Paddy Kirk breaks through and plays in Rob Manley, but his pull back doesn't connect with his team mate Grimes.

  • 21'

    Chambers makes a good run up the field, passes to McNally where he has a shot blocked. Great response from Town!

  • 19'

    Dylan Grimes picks out McNally who goes close to scoring again with a great shot in the penalty area that beat the goalkeeper but not the crossbar.

  • 18'

    GOAL! Aaron McNally intercepts a pass and runs half the length of the pitch running rings around the Waterford defence and cooly slots the ball past Brian Murphy.

  • 17'

    GOAL! John Martin breaks the deadlock with a diving header after Lee Stacey makes a good save but couldn't keep the powerful header out.

  • 15'

    The corner is cleared well by Aaron O'Driscoll.

  • 14'

    Michael McDonnell slices his clearance and it goes out for a corner.

  • 12'

    Mascoll plays the ball across the Town box but Kirk picks it up and prevents the danger.

  • 10'

    Great wing play by McNally, but the cross is blocked out off McNally for a goal kick.

  • 8'

    Decent play by Waterford but Zambra blocks it out for a throw - long throw is cleared by the Longford defence.

  • 8'

    The pace of Prince Mustwunguma is causing the Longford defence a few problems.

  • 6'

    Positive start from both sides, with a free kick for the Blues with Shane Griffin over the ball.

  • 4'

    Mick McDonnell looked a threat from the corner but good defending from the Waterford defence prevents the games first chance.

  • 4'

    Longford with an early chance from a free kick that goes out for a corner.

  • 3'

    It's a great atmosphere at Bishopsgate, still getting used to fans being back in the stands after a long exodus.

  • 1'

    We're underway.

  • The weather in Longford is currently 14 degrees Celsius, 0% chance of rain, nine mph winds and humidity percentage of 56.

  • Scoring goals have also been an issue for Marc Bircham's side, with the Blues finding the back of the net just 10 times this season, which is a league low. However, problems have continued at the other end of the pitch, with Waterford conceding a league high 35 goals which is a huge concern for the relegation threatened side.

  • Last time out, the Blues fell to a 4-1 defeat by Shamrock Rovers, in which Waterford made a promising start through Eric Molloy's opener but four unanswered goals condemned them to another loss.

  • On the other hand, Waterford are enduring a miserable campaign of their own, sitting in ninth, just a point above their opponents with just nine points from 16 games. The visitors are yet to register a draw, after securing just three wins and a league high 13 defeats.

  • Friday's draw ended a miserable run of five consecutive defeats and they have picked up just three points in their last 10 games. Goals have been an issue for Doyle's side, having scored just 11 goals in 16 games and will look to top goal-scorer Dylan Grimes (three goals) to make a mark on today's must win contest.

  • Daire Doyle's Longford currently sit bottom of the table, with just eight points registered from 16 games. The home side haven't picked up a win this season since the opening day and last time out drew 1-1 away to Dundalk, with Aaron McNally's goal cancelled out by Chris Shields' equaliser.

Past Meetings

(Series 7)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre

Waterford v Longford Town

4 - 6
eLOI Group C
Online Event

Longford Town v Waterford

Ground

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

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.