- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sun, Mar 09 2008
For a team that could only score one goal in pre-season Longford Town made up for brushing aside the challenge of eircom League newcomers Sporting Fingal who finished the game with nine men. The strike partnership of Iarfhlaith Davoren and Darren McKenna were on fire. Davoren was superb grabbing a brace with McKenna going 1 better with a hat-trick.
Sporting Fingal had a who’s who of eircom League players in their starting line-up but their discipline will certainly have to be sorted, two players sent off for straight red cards and two receiving yellow cards.
It was a new look Longford Town playing their first game back in the First Division after nearly eight years in the Premier Division. Town have just two of last year’s squad at the club, captain Daire Doyle and goalkeeper Shay Kelly. Town Youth’s player Andy Bermingham was promoted to the first team partnersing Ronan Frawley in the heart of the defence.
It was the start that town manager Aaron Callaghan would have hoped for. 12 minutes had gone on the clock when Iarfhlaith Davoren picked up a knock on from the left and lobbed Sporting keeper Steve Williams’ from the edge of the box.
Sporting were on level terms on the half hour mark. Peter Hynes was given too much space and from about 35 yards out hit a cracking shot past the helpless Shay Kelly for Sporting’s very first goal in the league. But Town went back in front six minutes later. Davoren played the ball into Darren McKenna, his shot was saved by Williams but it fell to Davoren who smashed home from just inside the box.
Sporting were reduced to 10 men just before half-time when full-back Brian Gannon was shown a straight red card for striking out at Davoren.
Six minutes after the restart Town extended their lead. It was a lovely move involving Luke Hardy, Ryan O’Donnell with Darren McKenna finishing past Williams. McKenna found himself on scoresheet again eight minutes later. Man of the match Davoren did all the work, crossing for McKenna to head home and it was 4-1 to the Town.
The small but loyal bunch of Longford Town supporters were up on their feet cheering three minutes later when Town got goal number five. Sporting defender Aidan Collins attempted to head the ball back to his keeper and McKenna intercepted to get his hat-trick. It was no more than he or the town deserved. Town were in complete control and Sporting had no answer to a composed performance from Aaron Callaghan’s men who really showed great character.
Sporting’s misery was compounded in the 73rd minute when they found themselves down to nine men. Substitute Dave Bracken was only on the pitch 17 minutes when he was shown a straight red for a rash challenge on Ryan O’Donnell.
Longford Town: Seamus Kelly; Ryan O'Donnell, Andy Bermingham, Ronan Frawley, Ryan Casey; Luke Hardy, Daire Doyle, Damien Rushe (Kelch 75), Gary Murphy, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Darren McKenna (Barrett 68).
Sporting Fingal: Steve Williams; Brian Gannon, Chris Deans, Aidan Collins, Dave Rogers; Conan Byrne, Colm James, Paul Caffrey, Joey O'Neill (Jim Crawford 46); Dinny Corcoran (David Bracken 56), Peter Hynes.
Sent Off: Gannon (45), Bracken (75).
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey.
