- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sat, May 31 2008
It was a long time coming, seven games to be precise, but Longford Town finally got their first away win of the season against Kildare County at Station Road. After the calamitous game against Limerick 37 the previous week Aaron Callaghan's men put in a spirited and resolute performance against the Thoroughbreds and deserved to come away with all three points.
This win for the Town was made the more sweet due to the fact they had to play full-back Alan O'Riordan in goals because of a goalkeeping crisis at the club. Neil Gallagher was serving a suspension after seeing red against Limerick 37 last week and regular netminder Shay Kelly is out until after the break with a knee injury.
O'Riordan stepped into goals last week in the Limerick game after Gallagher was sent off and was unlucky not to save Willie Bruton's penalty straight after he went into goals. The Cavan man was told he had to go into goals just over an hour before the game. The Town had signed two keepers for tonight's game but the FAI wouldn't give a special dispensation to allow Callaghan to play either keeper in the game.
Longford were also missing full-back Ryan Casey who went off injured against Limerick so Ryan O'Donnell moved from the right side to the left side of defence while Daire Doyle changed from his regular central midfield position to centre half to partner Ronan Frawley. Doyle put in a commanding performance in the heart of defence.
The Town's first half performance was arguably their best of the season so far and they took the game to the hosts straight from the off, exorcising the ghosts of last week's horror show in Flancare Park. Longford created a number of fantastic chances in the first 45 minutes and should've went in at the break with a convincing lead. They also had a legitimate penalty appeal turned down and what looked like a perfect goal ruled out.
In the opening half O'Riordan had nothing to do as it was the Town who were in complete control. The second half proved a different story but O'Riordan was able for anything that was thrown to him. After starting the game brightly Longford had a glorious chance to open the deadlock as early as the fourth minute. Striker Darren McKenna found himself baring down on goals. Thoroughbreds' keeper Charlie Treacy came rushing out of goals and brought down the big striker as he tried to round the netminder but instead of pointing to the spot the referee booked McKenna for diving.
One minute later and Iarfhlaith Davoren found himself through on goals but a challenge from Michael Roche denied the Offaly lad a chance to shoot.
In the 18th minute the visitors had another attempt on goal. McKenna this time found space and played the ball back to Alan Lynch who curled his shot just inches wide of the crossbar. County were completely stunned and offered nothing of note as the Town pressed for the opening goal. Barely 60 seconds later McKenna squandered a fantastic chance. With the goal at his mercy and after doing all the hard work the striker shot wide when he had just the keeper to beat.
Four minutes later McKenna made amends for his earlier miss when he finally broke the deadlock. Iarfhlaith Davoren made a dash down the wing and whipped a pinpoint cross into the box for McKenna to head past Treacy to give the visitors a deserved lead. McKenna thought he had doubled his side's advantage seven minutes later. Davoren made an excellent run and crossed for McKenna to shoot past Treacy but lineswoman Hilda McDermott bizarrely ruled the goal out for offside.
Before half-time Lynch had a wonderful opportunity to make it 2-0. A long kick down field from O'Riordan was flicked into the path of Lynch by McKenna, he went through on goals but agonisingly dragged his shot wide.
Whatever John Ryan said to his team at half-time it was a completely different performance from them in the second half but despite gaining lots of possession they didn't create many chances that troubled O'Riordan who acquitted himself very well in the Town goals.
In the 63rd minute ex Athlone Town player Colin Fortune hit a cracking shot from about 20 yards out that just went wide and a minute later the same player had another effort that went over.
Town also had their chances in the second half. Luke Hardy hit a beautiful snapshot that just skimmed over the crossbar in the 75th minute and arguably the best chance of the second half fell to McKenna seven minutes from time. A lovely move involving Daithi Garry and Gary Murphy ended with Murphy heading towards the endline he put in a pinpoint cross but McKenna's powerful header was well saved by County's substitute keeper Austin O'Neill.
Kildare County: Charlie Treacy (Autin O'Neill 46); Paul Donnelly, Michael Roche (Ger Robinson 73), John Brophy (Willie Tyrell 31), Barry Clancy; Cathal Brady, Colin Fortune, Eoin Kavanagh, Barry Slattery; Ciaran Kilduff, Philip Gorman.
Subs not used: Alan Clarke, Thomas Morgan.
Booked: .
Longford Town: Alan O'Riordan; Daithi Garry, Daire Doyle, Ronan Frawley, Ryan O'Donnell; Gary Murphy, Luke Hardy, Damien Rushe, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Alan Lynch (Brian Kelly 67); Darren McKenna.
Subs not used: Dean Barrett, Colm Murray, Jimmy Hussey and Kyle Cawley.
Booked: Darren McKenna (4).
Refereee: John McLoughlin (Athlone).
