League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Longford Town

In their first game as a Premier Division side in Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford Youths face familiar foes Longford Town as both teams set out to prove doubters wrong. Kick-off is at 8pm this Friday.

WEXFORD YOUTHS

So here we are, nine years after being founded, the Wexford Youths are playing Premier Division football. Last year’s First Division winners have had a good pre-season, drawing against local rivals Waterford United and beating Cobh Ramblers, but their first test of a top flight side this year will come in this league encounter against Longford Town.

Wexford manager Shane Keegan spoke to wexfordyouthsfc.ie and feels his side are ready for the step up as he said, “We've tried to take everything up a few notches to get ourselves physically prepared for the challenge ahead” and he added that, “the players have responded terrifically to all that's been asked of them.”

Midfielder Eric Molloy also spoke to the club’s website and said that despite “Longford having been a bit of a bogey team for [Wexford]” he felt that “after a good pre-season I don’t see any reason to fear them.” Molloy also said that he’ll “go into the game with the belief that we can win this game and that’s how the rest of the players feel as well.”

Peter Higgins is the only player out injured for Wexford Youths and, while the club have said there are a few with minor injuries, it is hoped they will all be available for selection for their inaugural Premier Division match.

LONGFORD TOWN

Despite a sixth place finish in the Premier Division table last year, Longford Town are one of the clubs tipped for a relegation fight. Pre-season has gone okay for De Town as they have tried to bed in sixteen new signings and youth players into the side. While they did win games, their one friendly against a fellow league side saw a 4-0 loss to Galway United.

One thing that Longford will take heart from going into this match is that they scored more away goals last year than Cork City (22) and Shamrock Rovers (20) as they finished joint-third, alongside relegated Limerick, with 24 goals scored in opposition stadiums. They were only two behind Bohemians and St. Pats while Dundalk scored 32 away from home.

The bad news is that of the seven players who scored three or more goals in the Black and Red last season, only top goal scorer David O’Sullivan – who netted seven times – and midfielder Kevin O’Connor, who chipped in with three, remain at the club. New attacking players such as Josh O’Hanlon and Kealan Dillon will have to step up as well as O’Sullivan and Kaleem Simon.

Lee Duffy should also be a part of that list but the former Drogheda United striker is currently out injured for Longford. He is joined on the sidelines by recently converted central defender Rhys Gorman.

Referee: Robert Rogers

MATCH STATS

Wexford last met Longford Town in the 2014 First Division season and in the four fixtures between the sides, Longford won three of the bouts (3-2, 2-0, 1-0) with a draw (2-2) being the other result. Gary Shaw scored four of Longford’s eight goals while Danny Furlong scored all four for his team.

This match will see the top First Division goalscorers of 2012-2015 go head-to-head. Danny Furlong was joint-top scorer in 2012 with thirteen goals alongside Kevin McHugh and Sean Maguire before David O’Sullivan took over for the next two seasons with twenty-one goals in each. Danny Furlong then broke records with his thirty goal haul last year.

Wexford only drew one of their twenty-eight league matches last season.

BETTING

Wexford Youths 6/4; Draw 11/5; Longford Town 7/4.

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 3-2 Longford Town.

Wexford Youths

Injured: Peter Higgins.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Longford Town

Injured: Lee Duffy, Rhys Gorman.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.