19.30 2 May 2015 -
Referee: Ben Connolly
League Preview: Longford Town -v- Derry City
- John O'Shea
- Sat, May 02 2015
LONGFORD TOWN
Longford Town come into their game with Derry City on the back of their 3-0 demolition of Drogheda United last Friday.
Longford have shown that they are more than able to hold their own at Premier Division level thus far, and Town supporters will be hoping that these sort of performances will continue over the summer.
Ahead of the Derry clash, manager Tony Cousins said “This is the last game of the first series, if we can get a win it’s a good start and something we can build on. Derry are on the same amount of points as us, so it is a chance to get ahead of them”
Longford have doubts over Pat Flynn and Pat Sullivan, while Paul Hunt and Don Cowan are both out for the game.
DERRY CITY
Derry City make the trip to Longford on Saturday evening looking to get back to winning ways. Last time out, Derry were defeated at home by Bohemians 2-1 and they head into their clash with Longford in 7th place in the table.
Derry have struggled to turn good performances into results recently and that is something which all the players will want to change.
Peter Hutton said, “Longford are always a very difficult opponent particularly when they are at home, and the results they have behind them this season so far shows that. They will come in off the back of a convincing three nil victory on the road last week and even though they are a newly promoted side they have a lot of Premier Division experience in their squad”
Derry will travel to Longford without the suspended Ryan McBride, while the Candystripes are also without the injured Patrick McEleney, Phillip Lowry and Stephen Dooley.
Referee: Ben Connolly
MATCH STATS
A Dave Mooney hat-trick was enough to give Longford all three points over Derry in 2007 on the final day of the season. This was the last time both sides played each other in the Premier Division.
The sides last played each other in the First Division in 2010, when Derry came out 3-1 winners.
The last nine Premier Division games between the sides have seen Derry win five, Longford win once and on two occasions a draw has been the end result.
BETTING
Longford 9/5; Draw 2/1; Derry City 9/5.
PREDICTION
Longford Town 2-1 Derry City
Longford Town
Injured: Paul Hunt, Don Cowan.
Doubtful: Pat Flynn, Pat Sullivan.
Suspended: None.
Derry City
Injured: Paddy Mc Eleney, Phillip Lowry, Stephen Dooley.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Ryan Mc Bride.
About John O'Shea
John is a Cork based reporter, mainly covering Cork City and Cobh Ramblers. John also reports regularly on Munster Senior League and Cork Youths League football for the Evening Echo. John has also freelanced for …