Kildare County 0 - 2 Longford Town

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sat, Oct 18 2008




Former Kildare County striker Darren McKenna came back to haunt his old club; grabbing a brace for Longford Town at Station Road against the bottom side. While Town have struggled to pick up a win at home, their form on the road is quite the opposite. Their game against Shels in Tolka Park two months ago being the only blip of late.

 

The home side started the brighter and Town ‘keeper Neil Gallagher produced fine saves in the opening ten minutes of the game. Philip Hughes was first to test Gallagher with barely one minute gone on the clock but the netminder pulled off a great save. Sixty seconds later and Hughes again had a chance to open the scoring but his cracking shot from just outside the box was fingertipped over by Gallagher for a corner. The Town keeper was called into action yet again in the 10th minute making a good save from Orrin Farrell’s effort.

 

The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute, against the run of play. County ‘keeper Austin O’Neill made a save from Robert Douglas but the ball fell to McKenna who lobbed Colin Osbourne who had tracked back. The game then faded a little and chances were limited. County’s Cathal Brady had an effort on the half hour mark that was easily handled by Gallagher.

 

Five minutes from the break the visitors doubled their lead. Douglas again involved in the build-up. His pinpoint cross met the diving head of McKenna. The striker has a habit of scoring against his former club at his old stomping ground; this was his third goal at Station Road this season for the Town.

 

After doubling their advantage Town took control of the game and dominated proceedings in the second half. They had several chances after the break to add to their tally as the home side struggled to find a way back into the game.

 

The visitors defence was resolute, Gallagher was equal to anything that came his way, midfield controlled affairs and the two lads up front worked hard. Town striker Alan Lynch missed a glorious opportunity to get his side’s third of the night on the hour mark. A fantastic strike by midfielder Daire Doyle was saved O’Neill but Lynch messed up the follow-up putting the ball wide, when it was easier to score. Shane Harte also had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet against his former club but he hit his shot wide when through on goals.

 

County tried to put pressure on the visitors near the end to grab a goal back and even sent ‘keeper O’Neill up but there was no way past the outstanding Gallagher.

 

Kildare County: Austin O’Neill; Eoin Kavanagh, David O’Connell, Colin Osbourne, Paul Donnelly; Cathal Brady, Colin Fortune, Barry Slattery, Orrin Farrell; Ciaran Kilduff, Philip Hughes (Ger Robinson 62).

 

Longford Town: Neil Gallagher; Stephen Gough, Ronan Frawley, Andy Bermingham, Luke Hardy; Damien Rushe, Daire Doyle, Robert Douglas (Stephen Brennan 88), Shane Harte; Alan Lynch (Ken Butler 80),  Darren McKenna.

 

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).