League Preview: UCD -v- Longford Town

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UCD 

Promotion hopefuls UCD will be seeking to maintain their good run of form on Friday night when they host managerless Longford Town (kick-off is at 7.45pm). 

The Students are unbeaten in their last eight league outings and have claimed back to back league wins over Wexford and Treaty United. 

But Willie O’Connor’s charges have struggled for consistency at home - winning just once with a 3-0 victory over Athlone Town. 

Their impressive run has also been more notable given their injury woes in recent weeks. 

Ronan Finn, Harvey O’Brien and Luke O’Regan have missed out on action - with Finn and O’Brien likely to remain out for the visit of Longford to Belfield. 

They have no suspension issues to contend with for Friday’s game.

LONGFORD TOWN 

Basement side Longford Town have a point to prove when they take on UCD. 

The Red and Black are without a manager following Stephen Henderson’s departure last month. 



And with interim boss Wayne Groves taking charge for now, they will be keen to impress a new manager if and when there is one appointed. 

But they are operating with a skeleton squad at the moment with a crippling injury list hampering their progress. 

First-team regulars Karl Chambers, Dean George, Jamie Egan, Oisin Hand and Chris Lyons have been out recently and are likely to remain out for Friday’s test in the capital.

And they will also be without defender Dean O’Shea for their clash against the Students as the former Treaty United defender serves a one-game suspension after being sent off against Wexford last weekend.

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd. 

 



PREDICTION 

UCD 3-0 Longford Town 

 

MATCH STATS

Longford Town are without a league win since September 2nd 2023 when they beat last season’s First Division winners Galway United at Bishopsgate. 

The Students have claimed just one win at home this season and that came against Athlone Town almost two months ago. 

Since 2017, the Red and Black have won twice at the UCD Bowl - once in the First Division (a 5-1 victory in 2018) while another arrived in a thrilling play-off encounter in the Covid-19 hit 2020 season. 

UCD have claimed 16 of their 21 points away from home this season, with just five coming at the UCD Bowl.   

 

UCD

Injured: Ronan Finn, Harvey O’Brien, Luke O’Regan.

Doubtful:N/A.

Suspended:None.

 

Longford Town

Injured: Karl Chambers, Dean George, Jamie Egan, Oisin Hand, Chris Lyons.

Doubtful:N/A.

Suspended:Dean O’Shea.

 

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