Two unbeaten teams clash at Bishopsgate this Friday evening, as Longford Town and Sligo Rovers with four points each from their opening two matches, meet at the Longford venue.
Sligo drew with Dundalk at the Showgrounds before recording a fine two-one victory away to Waterford last time out, as two high quality goals from Romeo Parkes and Jordan Gibson secured all three points for the ‘Bit of Red’.
Longford Town started their campaign with a fine two-nil home victory over Derry City, and then last weekend, they rallied from two-nil down with seventy-five minutes on the clock to earn a point, as super sub Conor Davies scored a brace in the two all draw at Dalymount Park.
Sligo finished fourth in the top flight last season and have ambitions to finish higher this campaign, while avoiding the bottom two will be a very good season for the Midlanders.
Longford have had the upper hand in the last two meetings between the sides, as the then first division side knocked Sligo Rovers out of the FAI Cup in both 2017 and 2018.
In 2017, the Bishopsgate outfit defeated Rovers at home by four goals to two in the first round of the cup, and twelve months later, they again beat Rovers in the first round of the cup, on that occasion at the Showgrounds, as a sixty-fifth minute strike from Jamie Hollywood secured another shock victory for the ‘Red & Black’ army over the Premier Division side.
The visitors have a solid back four with Colm Horgan and Robbie McCourt flanking the central defensive partnership of Garry Buckley and John Mahon.
The impressive Greg Bolger adds defensive steel to the midfield and Niall Morahan is a proven talent, while Rovers possess plenty of attacking threat up front with the likes of Jordan Gibson, Romeo Parkes, and Johnny Kenny.
Parkes is back at Sligo for his second spell and Rovers fans will be hoping for a similar successful spell for the Jamaican who scored a brilliant goal last weekend for Sligo. Gibson is an exciting winger with plenty of flare and style, and his stunning goal into the top corner against Waterford was an amazing strike. Young Johnny Kenny has deserved his place in the Sligo first team after his underage exploits last season, scoring over thirty goals.
Longford Town have added seven new signings to the squad with Paddy Kirk and Aaron O’Driscoll slotting into the back four with admirable ease. Another new signing, Aaron Bolger has been impressive in an advanced midfield role, while Conor Davies came off the bench to score two vital goals on his club debut last weekend away to Bohemians.
When one considers that Shane Elworthy has to settle for a place on the Longford bench, that shows the strength in depth of the squad that manager Daire Doyle has put together for this Premier Division campaign.
The dynamic Aodh Dervin has stepped up to the challenge of top flight football with relish and gusto, while Dylan Grimes and Dean Byrne have both been outstanding behind the lone striker.
So two sides with plenty of quality will both be hoping to extend their unbeaten runs tomorrow and both sides could still be unbeaten after tomorrow’s clash, as a draw is very much on the cards.
On the injury front, Longford will be missing their talismanic striker, Rob Manley, who is suffering from a hip injury, while Lewis Banks is the only big doubt for Liam Buckley’s charges, as he is battling a thigh strain. Longford Town v Sligo Rovers kicks off at Bishopsgate, Friday evening at 5-45pm and can be watched on WatchLOI.
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.