Longford Town's Conor Kenna: 'It's important that we keep our heads and we do the job over the two legs'

Longford Town defender Conor Kenna insists that his side must focus on the task on hand this week as they prepare to face Cabinteely in the first round of the First Division playoffs.

Kenna, who has plenty of experience in winning league titles and FAI Cup’s, will be looking to lean on his past this week ahead of the first-leg of the Playoff against Pat Devlin’s Cabo.

“Looking at Friday, with that being the first game – the thing a lot people seem to think is that you’ve got to win the games in the first minute or two,” the 35-year-old told extratime.ie.

“It doesn’t happen that way. It can be lost in the first game alright but it’s more important that we keep our heads and over the two legs we do the job.

“It has been seamless to be fair,” the former Shamrock Rovers defender commented on the transition at Longford in recent weeks following the departure of Neale Fenn.

“I know Neale wouldn’t like to hear that but Daire has been great. He’s been there with Neale as well so he’s using that knowledge with us now.

“From that point of view, there has been no real change, they’re very similar and they’ve much experience in the league so it has been great for the lads.”

He added; “It’s never going to be easy against Cabinteely. They’ve set up well this year and they’ve got a great bunch of lads as well.

“It’s going to be a really tough game – they’ve Rob Manley who has scored a lot of goals as well, but they’ll always give us a good game.

“We’ve struggled against them this year, but we’ve identified where we’ve gone wrong and hopefully, we can put that right on Friday.”

With this being Kenna’s seventh club in the League of Ireland having returned home from Coventry City as a youth – the Dubliner admits he is pleased with how 2019 has gone compared to a disastrous campaign with Bray Wanderers last year. 

“To be honest I’m like a new man to be fair. The missus is happy with me again – I’m not walking around the place moaning and groaning so yea. I’ve really enjoyed the year – It’s been great to be at a club like Longford.

“Obviously the age stands out (at Longford) a good bit especially with all the young lads and it’s some of the lads first season and stuff.

“I don’t try and think about it that (age) way. I’m young at heart that way as well and I try and keep in with the lads as well.

“But there’s always a few lads that remind me like Anto (Breslin) and Shane (Elworthy) who like to remind how me how old I am as well!”

The Midlander’s begin their Playoff odyssey on Friday evening against Cabinteely with a kick-off of 7.45pm at Stradbrook. The return fixture will be played at City Calling Stadium the following week.