End of Season Report Card 2018 - Longford Town

Team: Longford Town

Manager: Neale Fenn

Top Scorer: Dylan McGlade (15)

Adding much-needed goals to his overall superb play, the former Middlesbrough prodigy and Irish underage international Dylan McGlade scored 15 goals for Longford Town this term. McGlade was so prolific that he pushed former Longford Town striker and club legend David O’Sullivan all the way this term at the top of the goalscoring charts. McGlade’s fourteen league strikes for the Red and Black accounted for over a quarter of De Town’s goals all year as Neale Fenn’s young guns agonisingly missed out on a Playoff berth.   

Stadium: City Calling Stadium

Highest Attendance: 1,181 v Cork City

The largest crowd in over two years descended on City Calling Stadium as Longford Town made the FAI Cup Quarter Finals for the second year running where they faced familiar foes in Cork City for the third year on the bounce in the blue-ribbon competition. 

De Town, back-to-back cup winners of 2003 and 2004, suffered a harsh defeat at the hands of John Caulfield’s Rebel Army by seven goals to nil on that occasion as the 1,181 in attendance were left bamboozled by a wonderful personal display from Kieran Sadlier. 

The Cork City midfielder lit up the night with a 40-yard thunderbolt which will surely be a strong competitor to Ian Morris’ strike against City in the FAI Cup Semi-Final Replay for goal of the season.  

Lowest Attendance: 333 v Wexford 



Longford Town’s lowest attendance of the season came on the 23rdof July as 333 hardy souls brushed aside thoughts of a loss in form for a home clash against a managerless Wexford FC. 

A good decision it was, as Neale Fenn masterminded a 3-0 success over the Slaneysiders with Dylan McGlade and new signing Jamie Doyle proving to be on song on that particular night.

Star Player: Dylan McGlade.

Having returned from England once again following a brief stint away from League of Ireland football with non-league side Blyth Spartans, McGlade came to Longford Town with more than a point to prove.  

Magical displays against Sligo Rovers and Shelbourne in the FAI Cup and also against Cabinteely in the league put McGlade’s name onto the back pages with his technical play. However that wasn’t the young man’s only contribution of the season with other superb displays against the First Division’s elite sides as the Dubliner scored 15 goals for De Town

The PFAI First Division Player of the Year nominee was undoubtedly De Town’s star man for 2018 and Longford Town know that they will most certainly have a fight on their hands to keep their prized asset for one more tilt at the First Division title. 



Best Young Player: Aodh Dervin

Epitomising Longford Town in a nutshell, energetic midfield star Aodh Dervin burst onto the scene this year for his hometown club. Juggling the Leaving Certificate and his first season of regular senior League of Ireland football, Dervin performed admirably. 

It was telling that in the 18-year-old’s absence, De Town often looked lethargic in the middle of the park as Neale Fenn’s side lacked his drive and commitment on many separate occasions. 

2019 looks set to be promising year for the Longford native should he build on a superb 2018 season with the local youngster signing a professional contract with the club in July which keeps him at the club until the end of the 2019 season. 

Best New Signing: Michael Kelly

Having arrived from fellow First Division club Cabinteely during the off-season as a replacement for current Drogheda United netminder Paul Skinner, Michael Kelly enjoyed a fantastic personal year in the Red and Black of Longford Town. 

It was unclear whether or not Kelly was going to be first choice given the presence of fellow talented shot-stopper Jack Brady, however the former Shamrock Rovers B understudy to Irish international squad goalkeeper Conor O’Malley rubber stamped his claim as number one with many assured showings in the Longford Town goal. 

Acting almost as the launchpad for each and every Longford attack with his assured footwork and vision, it will be interesting to see whether or not the 22-year-old will give it one more go with De Town as some Premier Division clubs will surely be sniffing around looking to sign  physically imposing Kelly.

What we expected they would do: 5th

As a collective, the extratime.ie team expected Longford Town to finish 5th, just outside the Playoff spots with many of our staff predicting Neale Fenn’s young guns to give the Playoffs a right go. However, this reporter was a tad bit more optimistic as I tipped De Town to launch a sustained push for the title. You can read my season preview here. 

What they actually did: 5th

Coincidentally, that is exactly where the Strokestown Road outfit finished in the First Division league standings while I was left slightly red-faced with my prediction… 

What they need to improve on for next year: 

Similarly, to this time last year, there is plenty to work for Neale Fenn and his Longford Town side. While it was generally a positive year on the whole for the club, missing out on the Playoffs will have hurt, especially given the quality in and around the starting eleven. 

However, while the starting XI was generally quite strong, squad depth became an issue as the season progressed. Senior players such as Shane O’Connor and Chris Mulhall failed to both live up to their pre-season hype while injuries decimated, and ultimately destroyed De Town’s Playoff push. 

Consistency was also an issue for Fenn and his backroom team in 2018. For each big win over the likes of UCD, Finn Harps and Drogheda United, defeats arrived against the likes of Cabinteely and Cobh Ramblers while an away draw against Athlone Town certainly didn’t help matters at all. 

While we are still in the dark as to what kind of league structure may be in operation next year in the First Division, it is clear that De Town need to be more consistent next term. The retention of key players will also be important as will player recruitment. 

There is the nucleus of a seriously good squad at Longford Town and should they be kept, coupled with the arrivals of more experienced heads in the dressing room, De Town will most certainly be a force in next years First Division, without doubt.    

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