League Preview: Shamrock Rovers B -v- Longford Town

• Macdara Ferris
• Sat, Apr 12 2014




SHAMROCK ROVERS B

On Sunday Shamrock Rovers welcome Longford Town to Tallaght Stadium for their very first competitive game at the venue, as Colin Hawkins’ Hoops team seek their debut win in the First Division of the SSE Airtricity League.

 

Rovers’ reserve team captain Corrie Treacy lines out against his old club, as does Daniel Purdy who scored five times for the Town last season as they missed out on promotion in the play off final. Purdy has already scored three goals this season including a cracker against Shelbourne in the 1-1 draw in the last First Division game in Tallaght (see here).

 

The Hoops thought they had earned themselves a hard fought point last Friday night in Wexford when they came from 2-0 down at half-time to equalise late in the game, thanks to a goal from Purdy and a penalty from Chris Lyons. However, Danny Furlong’s injury time strike for Wexford consigned Hawkins’ men to their second defeat of the season.

 

“Obviously this will be a big test for us,” said Hoops boss Hawkins ahead of the game. “Longford are considered by many to be the best team in the division and they certainly have plenty of talent and experience in their squad.

“We played well again last week, but were very disappointed to concede from a set piece again, so we have been working hard on that all week. We will freshen things up again for the game and will look to give a few more of the younger lads their debuts in the team. It will be a tough game but we’re more than prepared.”

Rovers finished runners up in the Under 19 elite league which concluded at the end of last month, giving Hawkins more time to work with his young players with First Division fixtures more in mind. Up front he has Muhanned Bukhatwa available for selection again after he missed last week’s game in Wexford but striker Azeez Yusuff will be out for the next two weeks with a knee injury.

 

It is unlikely that Longford will face any of Trevor Croly’s first team Rovers players. The only time some of that squad have made an appearance in Hawkins’ line up to date was in their last game in Tallaght, on a week where the first team had no mid-week game. However, with back-to-back games in Dundalk this week, starting on Tuesday in the Setanta Cup semi-final second leg, it is only First Division players in the squad for this game in Tallaght.

 

 

LONGFORD TOWN

Tony Cousins brings his Longford Town team to Tallaght to try and make it three away wins out of three so far this league campaign. Their two wins to date have come by way of a 1-0 scoreline with Rhys Gorman, a former Rovers Under 19 player, and David O’Sullivan providing the winning goals against Galway and Wexford respectively.

 

Cousins’ squad is full of experience and include a number of former Rovers players such as Don Cowan, Pat Flynn, Pat Sullivan, Lorcan Shannon and Rovers fan favourite Stephen Rice. Rice, a former captain with the Hoops, played 225 games in all competitions during a six year spell with Shamrock Rovers before being released by Trevor Croly at the end of last year. He has worn the captain’s armband for Town this season and he will be hoping his team can build on their 0-0 draw to Waterford United last week.

 

Longford left City Calling Stadium with just a point in that game having dominated much of the play, in a match where the opposition goalkeeper was the standout player. Their only defeat of the campaign to date was a 1-0 home loss to Shelbourne and they will still have a game in hand over their rivals after Sunday’s match after the recent postponement of their away game against bottom club Cobh Ramblers.

 

“We are getting teams coming here and sitting tight which makes it difficult,” said Tony Cousins speaking to the Longford Leader after their last game. “You need that first goal for the opposition to come out and the game opens up. Shelbourne, and now Waterford, got a lot of bodies behind the ball in their defensive gameplan. It’s something that we have to work on in training and maybe create a few more chances.”

 

Referee: John McLoughlin.

 

MATCH STATS

Longford Town did travel to Tallaght last year for a pre-season friendly, with the Hoops winning 3-1. It is four years since these clubs last played each other in competitive action. The Town gave Shamrock Rovers a real fright in their fourth round FAI Cup tie with Rovers winning 2-1 en-route to the 2010 final. The rules for Rovers’ reserve team means that they only play in First Division fixtures.

 

Among the familiar faces for Rovers fans in the Longford Town team are two players who were also familiar to referees during their time with the Hoops. Pat Sullivan managed to wrack up six red cards and 38 yellow cards from his 114 games played at the club between 2009 and 2013. He has yet to be booked this season, having got a yellow card in each of the first five league games last year when he wore the Rovers captain’s armband. Sullivan’s red card tally is one more than Pat Flynn. He recevied his marching orders five times during his four year spell with Rovers.

 

Daniel Purdy made 49 league appearances for Longford Town, scoring 10 goals, before making the move to Tallaght this season.

 

BETTING

Rovers B 13/2; Draw 3/1; Longford Town 2/5.

 

PREDICTION

2-1 away win.

 

SHAMROCK ROVERS B

Injured: Azeez Yusuff.

Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

 

LONGFORD TOWN

Injured: Mark Salmon, Etanda Nkololo.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.