Longford Town -v- Mervue United
Credit:
Longford Town play hosts to a badly out of form Mervue Utd side in a potentially season-defining game for both sides at Flancare Park on Saturday evening (kick off 19:30). Longford Town manager Gareth Cronin will be looking for a dramatic improvement from his side after a 3-1 defeat to Cronin’s former club Waterford United two weeks ago. Johnny Glynn’s side will be looking to turn around a run of poor results having shipped 19 goals in their last four games, the last losing 4-1 at home to bottom club Kildare County who were recording their first win of the season.
Cronin was not happy with Longford’s last performance saying “I was extremely disappointed because the first half was the worst we’ve played since I came to the club. We made a fight of it after the break but at 2-0 down it can be easier to play well. We got one back but then a decision went against us and we lost 3-1. That said, I was very impressed by Waterford; they’re big and strong and a very good team.”
First Division newcomers Mervue have a 3-2 win over Longford to their name already this season and sit one place and six points clear of Longford. But Glynn’s side have managed only one other win, against Limerick (1-0), since that game in mid April and have really struggled of late due to a long injury list and a real dip in confidence.
Mervue have been an unknown quantity this season, but Cronin knows what to expect. “I played with Johnny Glynn and he was always a fitness fanatic and his team will be no different. They are coming of the back of a couple of really bad results but they have done very well this season. Though I hate the term ‘must win’ this really is a game that we have to win.”
Cronin is still shaping his own squad since taking over the reins at Flancare Park last month having signed Kevin Cronin, Danny O’Leary and Michael Foley in the transfer window with a couple of players going the opposite way. More new faces are on the way according to Cronin “We are close to completing the signing of Darren McKenna (Longford Town’s top goalscorer last season) and a young defender Jordan McMillan from Shelbourne who is exceptionally quick and gives us options right across the back four. We’re still hopeful of adding one of two more so I have my eye out at the moment.”
Unfortunately Johnny Glynn doesn’t have that luxury, as with Mervue not paying their players, signing new faces during the transfer window is very limited. Although Glynn did confirm he was talking to 2 or 3 players who could come in to strengthen his injury hit squad. Two more of his squad have been added to that injury list as both Eric and Rynal Browne picked up injuries last weekend and will definitely miss Saturday night’s game. Nigel Keady and Martin Conneely do however return to the squad after missing the Kildare game.
Both sides will be looking to improve their low win ratio as Longford have only won twice this season while Mervue have won double that with four wins. Mervue will see this as a perfect opportunity to end an alarming run of five consecutive defeats and put their recent bad form behind them. Longford on the other hand will be hoping to make home advantage count and collect a vital three points to bridge that six point gap to Mervue.
Prediction: A 1-1 draw may suit Mervue more than Longford with the six point gap maintained
Cronin was not happy with Longford’s last performance saying “I was extremely disappointed because the first half was the worst we’ve played since I came to the club. We made a fight of it after the break but at 2-0 down it can be easier to play well. We got one back but then a decision went against us and we lost 3-1. That said, I was very impressed by Waterford; they’re big and strong and a very good team.”
First Division newcomers Mervue have a 3-2 win over Longford to their name already this season and sit one place and six points clear of Longford. But Glynn’s side have managed only one other win, against Limerick (1-0), since that game in mid April and have really struggled of late due to a long injury list and a real dip in confidence.
Mervue have been an unknown quantity this season, but Cronin knows what to expect. “I played with Johnny Glynn and he was always a fitness fanatic and his team will be no different. They are coming of the back of a couple of really bad results but they have done very well this season. Though I hate the term ‘must win’ this really is a game that we have to win.”
Cronin is still shaping his own squad since taking over the reins at Flancare Park last month having signed Kevin Cronin, Danny O’Leary and Michael Foley in the transfer window with a couple of players going the opposite way. More new faces are on the way according to Cronin “We are close to completing the signing of Darren McKenna (Longford Town’s top goalscorer last season) and a young defender Jordan McMillan from Shelbourne who is exceptionally quick and gives us options right across the back four. We’re still hopeful of adding one of two more so I have my eye out at the moment.”
Unfortunately Johnny Glynn doesn’t have that luxury, as with Mervue not paying their players, signing new faces during the transfer window is very limited. Although Glynn did confirm he was talking to 2 or 3 players who could come in to strengthen his injury hit squad. Two more of his squad have been added to that injury list as both Eric and Rynal Browne picked up injuries last weekend and will definitely miss Saturday night’s game. Nigel Keady and Martin Conneely do however return to the squad after missing the Kildare game.
Both sides will be looking to improve their low win ratio as Longford have only won twice this season while Mervue have won double that with four wins. Mervue will see this as a perfect opportunity to end an alarming run of five consecutive defeats and put their recent bad form behind them. Longford on the other hand will be hoping to make home advantage count and collect a vital three points to bridge that six point gap to Mervue.
Prediction: A 1-1 draw may suit Mervue more than Longford with the six point gap maintained
About Terry Flaherty
Terry has been writing for Extratime since 2009 and is based out west in Galway covering Mervue United, Salthill Devon, and now this season the newly formed, Galway FC. Terry has written articles for many … View Full Profile