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Longford Town -v- Shelbourne
- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Sat, Mar 27 2010
After midweek defeats in the EA Sports Cup to Athlone Town and Monaghan United respectively it’s back to league action for Longford Town and Shelbourne this evening (kick-off 7.30pm).
Longford started the season well and picked up four points in their first two games but fell to their first league defeat last Friday night away to Limerick. That was followed by an early EA Sports Cup exit at the hands of their near rivals Athlone Town.
Town manager Tony Cousins was disappointed with those two defeats and the fact that, yet again, his side switched off at crucial stages and conceded silly goals. The Town have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. He said: “You have to be on your game every week, that’s the one thing we have to be. We can’t have any lapses in concentration. That’s something that I’m looking to get into the team. We are also a new team and that can have its problems, we’re trying to get a little bit of consistency.”
Looking ahead to the visit of Shelbourne to Flancare Park, Cousins hopes that his side can eradicate their defensive mistakes: “It’s another challenge. We have got to be really up for it and we’ve got to make sure that we can get a clean sheet under our belt, that’s the important thing now. It would be nice to get our first clean sheet. If you don’t concede you’ll always have a chance in a game.”
Cathal Brady and Philip Byrne are still out through injury for the Town. Chris Deans returns from suspension but is a doubt; he’d to be substituted against Athlone after feeling a twinge is his hamstring but Cousins is hopeful he will be available.
Shelbourne have their own injury worries ahead of the game. The defeat in Monaghan came at a price; Gareth Whelan picked up a fractured jaw and Ian Ryan an ankle injury. Both are doubtful for the game. Sean Byrne is definitely out with a thigh injury, while Philly Gorman and Andy Haran are doubtful too. Colin O'Brien is suspended.
On the plus side for manager Dermot Keely new signings Michael Coburn and Mark Leech go straight into the squad.
The last time these two sides met the Town edged Shelbourne out in a 5-4 thriller, with Derek Glynn grabbing a hat-trick. Will we have same drama again?
Venue: Flancare Park
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
Extratime prediction: It’s going to be tight, I’m going for a score draw; either 1-1 or 2-2
About Deniese O'Flaherty
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