Skelly happy at Longford
Credit:
Austin Skelly must have wondered on Saturday night what else was going to prevent him from scoring for Longford Town against Waterford Utd. First he smashed the crossbar with a powerful drive in the first half and then, shortly after the break, his header came back off the post.
Although he was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet he was delighted that his side came away with a 1-0 win. “I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t score but I was in there and got the chances, that’s what it’s all about,” he told extratim.ie. “On another day they probably would’ve went in. We got the early goal and at the end of the day the three points are what we wanted.”
On the night the Town put in a commanding performance and it wasn’t until the 76th minute that Town netminder Paul Hunt had to make his first real save. Skelly admitted the game plan was to stifle Waterford. He said, “We stopped them from playing. The team-talk at the start of the match was to get in their faces and not to let them play. That’s what we did. They couldn’t handle us because we pressurised them.”
What pleased Skelly about the game was the impressive way that he and Don Cowan linked up and he was full of praise for his strike partner. “I’m delighted for the team and for Don especially. He got his goal and it was what he deserved on the night. We got the chances and on another day we’d get more chances. I know I will score. That’s the way I think and as a centre-forward you have to think like that,” he said.
Like a lot of players down through the years, Skelly joined the Town from local rivals Athlone Town. He was a popular player with supporters down there and built up a good rapport with them. The striker enjoyed his time at Lissywollen. He said, “I’ve nothing bad to say about Athlone. I had a good season there and scored a few goals and had a great time at the club. It was good. I got on so well with the fans and the people that work there and have nothing but good things to say about them.”
The affable Dub has no regrets about crossing the divide. He’s happy with the move he made and is enjoying his football at the moment. “I’m happy I came here. I’m looking to kick on and I’m enjoying my football at the moment. I got my first goal and we’re winning. We are up there with the big boys. No-one thought we would be up there and we have surprised everyone,” said Skelly.
Although he was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet he was delighted that his side came away with a 1-0 win. “I’m kind of disappointed that I didn’t score but I was in there and got the chances, that’s what it’s all about,” he told extratim.ie. “On another day they probably would’ve went in. We got the early goal and at the end of the day the three points are what we wanted.”
On the night the Town put in a commanding performance and it wasn’t until the 76th minute that Town netminder Paul Hunt had to make his first real save. Skelly admitted the game plan was to stifle Waterford. He said, “We stopped them from playing. The team-talk at the start of the match was to get in their faces and not to let them play. That’s what we did. They couldn’t handle us because we pressurised them.”
What pleased Skelly about the game was the impressive way that he and Don Cowan linked up and he was full of praise for his strike partner. “I’m delighted for the team and for Don especially. He got his goal and it was what he deserved on the night. We got the chances and on another day we’d get more chances. I know I will score. That’s the way I think and as a centre-forward you have to think like that,” he said.
Like a lot of players down through the years, Skelly joined the Town from local rivals Athlone Town. He was a popular player with supporters down there and built up a good rapport with them. The striker enjoyed his time at Lissywollen. He said, “I’ve nothing bad to say about Athlone. I had a good season there and scored a few goals and had a great time at the club. It was good. I got on so well with the fans and the people that work there and have nothing but good things to say about them.”
The affable Dub has no regrets about crossing the divide. He’s happy with the move he made and is enjoying his football at the moment. “I’m happy I came here. I’m looking to kick on and I’m enjoying my football at the moment. I got my first goal and we’re winning. We are up there with the big boys. No-one thought we would be up there and we have surprised everyone,” said Skelly.
