Preview: Longford Town vs Kildare County

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Fri, Apr 04 2008




Longford Town will be hoping to bounce back from two defeats in a row when they host Kildare County at home tonight in what will be the first league meeting between the sides.

The Town started the season with an emphatic 5-1 home win over new boys Sporting Fingal and followed this up with a hard fought draw away to Waterford Utd. These two results saw them top the table but it wasn't to last long.

Defeat to league favourites Dundalk two weeks ago was followed by another defeat, this time away to Limerick last Friday night in a dour encounter at Jackman Park.

If Aaron Callaghan's charges are to get back to winning ways performances need to be improved greatly.

Kildare County's start to the season has been hit by the weather. Their first game against Athlone Town in Lisseywollen was called off at the last minute and last weekend their home tie with Monaghan Utd also fell foul to the weather.

They have picked up one point from their two games played, that was a 1-1 draw away to Wexford Youths two weeks ago. Their first game was a 3-1 defeat at home to Shelbourne.

Town will have Andy Bermingham back for selection and he will come in t partner Ronan Frawley in the heart of defence. The young centre half who put in a solid performance in the opening game against Sporting Final was in the US and thus missed the last three games. Kildare County will a familiar face in their team. Striker Ger Robinson played under Aaron Callaghan at Longford Town a few years ago when Callaghan was assistant to Alan Mathews.

Promotion is not a realistic ambition for Longford Town this season but they will hope to finish as high up the table as possible, in order to achieve this they will have to win their home games. After the last two results they'll be hoping to get their campaign back on track tonight but John Ryan's men will provide formidable opposition.

Kick off at Flancare Park is 7.30.