Longford Town U19 0 - 1 Limerick U19
Credit:
High flying Limerick FC made the long trip to a sunny Flancare Park on Saturday last to take on Longford Town in the U19 Southern Division. Despite the difference in league positions between the two sides this was an evenly contested game throughout with both sides producing some slick passing and impressive football at times.
The first half produced little in the way of clear cut chances for either side which was a credit to a strong defensive display from both teams. The best chances of the half fell to the Limerick left full back when a corner was cleared by the Longford defence and fell to him at the edge of the 18 yard box, but his shot went narrowly wide.
Longford’s best effort on goal came from a Kieran McNamara corner kick that found Steven Boateng coming in at the back post, he volleyed goal bound only to see his wonderful shot crash back off the crossbar and cleared to safety by the Limerick defence. In what was a very tight first half it was no surprise that both teams went in level at the break.
Within a minute of the restart Longford’s Paul Kennedy must have thought he had opened the scoring for his side when he unleashed a cracking shot from about 20 yards out but the alert Limerick keeper pulled off a super save to deny the Town striker.
Ten minutes later Town keeper David McNamara pulled off an impressive double save to thwart the efforts of the Limerick strike force. From the resulting kick out McNamara found his name sake Kieran. From between the half way line and the edge of the 18 yard box, McNamara spotted the Limerick keeper off his line and hit a dipping shot that was heading under the crossbar but somehow the back peddling Limerick keeper got his finger tips to the ball and deflected it onto the crossbar and over for a corner kick.
From here on, just as it was in the first half clear cut chances were few and far between with both teams having to rely on shots from distance despite some great build up play. This truly was a game that saw both defences in fine form and for this reason it was unfortunate for the home side when Limerick opened the scoring with only four minutes remaining.
The goal came following a free kick that was punched clear by the Town keeper McNamara, it fell to the edge of the area where the Limerick striker took a pot shot at goal and unfortunately for Longford it took a wicked deflection and sent it in the opposite direction of the now repositioned net minder McNamara who could only look on in despair as the ball hit the back of the net.
Longford pushed forward after the goal in an attempt to get back on level terms but time was against them and the referee blew the final whistle with the score at 1-0 to Limerick.
Longford were unlucky not to take at least a point from this game but they have showed yet again that they are no push over’s and despite their league position teams will take them for granted at their peril. Next up for Longford is the long trip to Mick Wallace’s Wexford Youths on Saturday next at 2pm.
Longford Town: David McNamara, Cormac Kennedy, Steven Boateng, David Mackey, Dean Cosgrave, Aaron Brilly(c), Kieran McNamara, Paul Kennedy, Jamie Coady, Alex Kenny, Ryan Carberry.
Subs: Michael James for Coady (45mins), Brian McNamara for Ryan Carberry (60mins), Ruairi Carberry for Cosgrave (73mins).
Not Used: Paul Rushe, Padraig Gallagher, Mark Rossiter, Sean Duarte, Cillian Glacken, Liam O’Farrell.
Limerick FC: Unavailable.
