Derry City 6-0 Longford Town - Match Report

Under-19 League of Ireland

Derry City U19’s Vrs. Longford Town U19’s

Report by: Rachael Mc Keon

On Saturday last the Longford Town U19’s made the long trip north to face Derry City. Longford would have known before this game that it was going to be a tough day at the office as Derry are battling for top spot in the league and had put local rivals Fanad to the sword 7-1 the week before. In very wet and windy conditions the Town were on the back foot from the off as Derry’s Conor Tourish in the fifth minute with a strong wind at his back, hit a long speculative shot that spun off the wet surface and eluded Town keeper Fallon to make it 1-0. Derry continued to pile on the pressure with the very strong wind to their backs, but Longford were holding out well with some good defending from Sodje and O’Connell as well as two fine saves from Fallon. Unfortunately for the Town Derry got their second when the Town defence cleared a corner but it fell to Nathan Boyle who sent the ball in from the right and Michael Barr met it to head past Fallon. Within minutes of the restart Paddy Cheevers had a great shot but Derry keeper Kelly was quick to react and made a good save. Minutes later it was Town keeper Fallon who was to be called into action again and he made a great double save. Derry were to make it three soon after however with almost a carbon copy of the previous goal that saw Barr getting his second of the game. Worse was to come for Longford when right on the stroke of half time Sodje was caught in possession by Boyle who went on to make it 4-0 to Derry at the end of the first half.

Both teams began the second half well and within minutes of the kick off Cheevers was very unlucky to be called back for offside when bearing down on the Derry goal. The home side were to punish the Town once again when Duffy crossed a great ball in from the left which Fallon in the Town goal could only knock down to the incoming Curran to tap in. On the hour mark the home side hit Longford for six when Boyle this time sent a wonderful ball across which was tucked home by Tony McNammee. After this Cheevers once again was caught offside when one on one with the keeper but this time the linesman may have been wrong as Cheevers looked a yard or two onside when he started his run. From here on the game petered out and it was to remain 6-0 to Derry until the final whistle.

Next up for the Town is Sligo Rovers at home on Sunday next at 2pm in Flancare Park.

The Longford Town U19 team and management would like to thank Spar Express on the Dublin Rd. in Longford for their kind sponsorship.

The transfer window in the U19’s League opens on December 1^st and any players wishing to play for Longford Town are asked to please contact Assistant Manager Adrian Massop at LTFC_U19@hotmail.com or alternatively come along to the game in Flancare Park next Sunday at 2pm and talk to the management team there. Everyone welcome.

Longford Town: Noel Fallon, Patrick Clinton, Ciaran Fagan, Shane O’Connell, Effe Sodje, James Donnelly, Dean Cosgrave, Darren Carbury, Paddy Cheevers , Mark Rossiter, Padraig Gallagher.

Subs: Kamil for Fagan (70mins), Conor Devlin for Fallon (85mins).

Derry City: Ray Kelly, Luke Mc Geehan, Shane Curran, Caoimhin Bonnor, Michael Barr, Ray Foy, Michael Duffy, Conor Tourish, Ryan Curran, Tony Mc Nammee, Nathan Boyle.

Subs: Daniel Dillon, Daryl Brown, Cormac O’Brien, Carolan Mc Loughlin.

Match Report reproduced courtesy of Longford Town FC