Preview: Shelbourne vs Longford Town

Shelbourne welcome Longford to Tolka Park this Friday for the first time in over a year, on the back of some promising results in recent weeks. Longford, away in midweek in the cup against Galway, are on the road again and face Shels’ after five matches without a win in all competitions.

The last time these sides met was eighteen months ago in the Eircom Premier Division. With Dundalk having extending their lead at the top of the table after their Thursday night victory over Waterford, again Shels’ play catch up.

Alan Keely remains Dermot Keely’s only fitness worry leaving Damien Brennan to be partnered Greg O’Halloran in centre of defence. Lying third in the league at this early stage, Shels have been far from shy in front of goal and will be confident of more against a Longford side who have conceded eleven goals in all competitions so far this season. Shels’ hit man Anto ‘Bisto’ Flood now has five goals in as many matches after netting away to Wexford Youths last time out and Longford manager Aaron Callaghan will leave his men with strict instructions on how he is to be handled.

Although Longford are joint top scorers in the league, they have failed to impress in front of goal since their famed demolition of Sporting Fingal at the start of the campaign and will be up against it against this Shels’ side who have hit nine goals in five games since their opening day scoreless draw with Dundalk. Longford’s top scorer Darren McKenna was brought off injured in Longford’s stalemate with Kildare County at Flancare Park last week and missed the midweek loss to Galway in the cup.

Shels’ are resounding favourites in the bookies, and are at best 4/6, with Longford at 7/2.

Kick off 8pm