Preview:Sporting Fingal vs Longford Town

• Gordon Hunt
• Fri, May 09 2008




Both sides go into this game on the back of victories last weekend. Sporting’s dominant display against Wexford youths last Friday was matched by Longford’s 3-0 victory over bottom of the table Athlone Town.

Longford humiliated the Dubliners on the opening game of the season, putting five goals past Steve Williams thanks to a second half hat trick by Darren McKenna, as both Brian Gannon and David Bracken were sent off. However Sporting look a settled side now and results since then have pushed them up the table. Longford however are unbeaten in three as both sides gear up to a fine looking fixture.

Sporting will be still missing injury victims Stephen Caffrey and Paul Malone (both calf) and Jim Crawford (thigh). However beyond that Liam Buckley has a full squad with no suspensions to be served.

As for Aaron Callaghan’s men, Goalkeeper Shay Kelly is the only player out through injury; he missed last week's victory over Athlone so Neil Gallagher will again be in goals. Darren McKenna came on as a sub last week so he could be in with a chance of starting the game.

Buckley said “I was delighted with our performance against Wexford last week. Even when it was scoreless at half-time, we persevered with our passing game and deservedly scored two cracking goals through Robbie Doyle and Colm James.

“Longford Town would have expectations of faring well in the First Division this season following their relegation and Aaron Callaghan has done a good job since he came in at the start of the campaign.”

A home win would see Sporting close the gap at the top of the table to six points after Dundalk’s loss last night, whereas an away win would see Longford leap-frog Sporting into fourth spot.

Odds on a repeat of the opening day score line of 5-1? 500/1 for Longford and 250/1 for Sporting to return the favour.