Longford Town -v- Waterford United

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town’s push for promotion started in the best possible way when they recorded a 5-0 away to Salthill Devon, they followed that up with another road win against Athlone Town in the EA Sports Cup on Monday night.

It’s an early chance for Cousins to gain revenge after Waterford denied them in the First Division play-off with a 3-1 aggregate win.

Tony Cousins will be looking to start the season at City Calling Park with the best possible result and having seen his team score seven goals in two games, there will be no shortage of confidence floating around City Calling Park.

The addition of FAI Intermediate player of the year, David O’Sullivan is paying dividends for Longford, the former Wayside Celtic star bagged a hat-trick in his competitive debut for The Town. Josh O’Hanlon is another who is plucked from the senior leagues and who is contributing, he followed up his goal against Salthill with the second against Athlone Town.

Longford’s injury worries are confined to the loss of the experienced Des Hope and Keith Quinn while Gary Shaw will undergo a late fitness test.

There will be a sense of familiarly to this game as the sides met six times last year. Longford had the upper hand after the first two meetings, recording two wins before Waterford’s second half push began and The Blues took the following two wins.  

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford United were denied an opening night victory in the 89th minute against Finn Harps and Paul O’Brien will certainly feel that it was a case of two points dropped.

The Blues are looking to go one better than last year’s second place finish and it will be games against fellow promotion hopefuls which are going to be key. Although it’s only the second game of the season, the trip to Longford will be a game that Waterford should be targeting if they are to finish the season on top.

United will have the benefit of an extra days rest as their EA Sports Cup game against Cobh Ramblers was rescheduled after the weather made the conditions at the RSC unplayable. The game has been re-fixed for next week although Paul O’Brien will probably give it little consideration before this league clash.

O’Brien will probably have to do without the services of Michael Coady who is struggling with a groin strain. Young midfielders Jack Doherty and Kevin O’Connor are both in the Ireland Schools Centenary Shield panel for their game against Northern Ireland on Friday; what part they play against Longford will doubtless be determined by the previous night’s game. Peter Keegan’s return from a knee injury remains in the distance.

The Blues last trip to City Calling Stadium will bring back happy memories as they recorded a 2-0 win in the First Division play-off to take a firm grip of the tie.

Referee: Adriano Reale.

MATCH STATS

This will be the 20th meeting between the sides since they've both found themselves in the First Division in 2008, and the Blues have the better of the record with 12 wins, 2 draws, and 5 defeats.

Things are much closer in the past two seasons, though, with both sides having a 4-1-4 record.

Of the current Blues squad, only Peter White (twice), Peter Higgins and Peter Keegan have scored against the Town.

BETTING

Longford Town 5/4, Draw 11/5, Waterford United 15/8

PREDICTION

Although only one of the six games last season ended in a draw between these sides, I’m going for a 2-2 cracker.

Longford Town

Injured: Des Hope, Keith Quinn.
Doubtful: Gary Shaw.
Suspended: None.

Waterford United

Injured: Peter Keegan.
International Call Up: Jack Doherty, Kevin O’Connor.
Doubtful: Michael Coady.
Suspended: None.