Longford Town -v- Mervue United

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Mar 19 2011


A high flying Mervue Utd side travel to Flancare Park this evening to take on Longford Town with fifth taking on sixth in this Airtricity First Division clash. Kick-off is 7.30 p.m.

The visitors will go into this evening’s game full of confidence following a bright start to the new campaign, having won their opening game in the Galway city derby game with Salthill Devon, while a well-deserved point was earned against league leaders Cork City at home last weekend.

Longford tasted a 2-1 defeat at home to second placed Shelbourne in their opening game of the season but then put that defeat behind them with a 2-0 win away to Wexford Youths last weekend to kick start their campaign.

These two sides produced some very exciting games last season with goals a plenty in their three meetings in 2010, with fourteen goals scored in total in those games. A 2-1 Longford home win in April was followed by a 4-3 home win for Mervue, while they played out a 2-2 draw in the final meeting of season in October.

Johnny Glynn will be without key players, Rory Gaffney and Tom King, for tonight’s game as they both serve suspensions carried over from last season for four yellow cards. David O’Brien will also miss out having injured his ankle in last week’s draw with Cork, while both captain Damien O’Rourke (achilles) and John Mountney (knee) remain very doubtful..

On the plus side Kevin Crehan and David Goldbey return for tonight’s game along with Mike Elwood who returns from a one match suspension along with Peter Dravins..

Longford manager Tony Cousins has a full squad to choose from with no suspensions to deal with and they will go into the game also in confident mood having seen off midland neighbours, Athlone Town, with a 2-1win in the EA Sports Cup on Monday night..

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald

Paddy Power odds: Longford Town 8/15; Draw 5/2; Mervue Utd 5/1.

Extratime prediction: Mervue are a very generous 5/1 for an away win, 2-1 to the visitors.