- Macdara Ferris
- Thu, Jul 31 2014
SHAMROCK ROVERS B
Hoops fans have a choice as to where to get their Friday night football fix this week. With Rovers’ Premier Division side away in Limerick on Friday night, some supporters will likely keep it local and watch the Hoops B side play against First Division leaders Longford Town in Tallaght Stadium (kick off 8pm).
Colin Hawkins’ men come into the game on a dreadful run of form of eight defeats in their last eight games, having conceded 22 goals and failing to score in those matches. They are now 869 minutes without a goal.
While they shipped a heavy defeat to Longford the last time they played, when the two sides met earlier in the season in Tallaght the Hoops won 2-1. Daniel Purdy earned them their first victory of the season with an injury time goal in that game.
Rovers’ defender Michael Kelly is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the season and Ryan Doolin is also still suspended following his sending off against Finn Harps last month. Shane Fagan and Jack Watson missed last week’s 2-0 away defeat to Wexford Youths due to injury and it is unclear whether they are available this week.
The warm down session for Rovers after the game will likely be a run out on Saturday when Premier League side Queens Park Rangers play a friendly in Tallaght (kick off 3pm). It is expected to be a mixture of Premier Division and First Division players likely to be lining out for the Hoops of Tallaght against the Hoops from London, who are bringing a full squad to Dublin for the match.
LONGFORD TOWN
Town come to Tallaght looking to make it nine wins in a row in all competitions. Gary Shaw’s and David O'Sullivan’s goals have helped propel Longford into prime position for promotion. They are six points clear of second placed Shelbourne in the First Division table. Shaw scored five goals and O’Sullivan seven goals last month. O’Sullivan has 17 for the season and is now the all-time top goalscorer for Longford Town. He is just three shy of half a century.
Tony Cousins’ men lost 2-1 on their last visit to Tallaght when Pat Flynn was sent off late in the game. He received a red card five times during his four year spell with Rovers.
Stephen Rice has missed the last couple of league games for Longford but is expected to be available on Friday. Tom Morris has been added to the Longford squad this week with the defender coming in from Port Vale.
Referee: John McLoughlin.
MATCH STATS
There will be familiar faces in the opposing ranks for both teams on Friday night. Rovers’ Corrie Treacy and Daniel Purdy played with Longford last season. While Rovers fans not following their first team to Limerick on Friday are likely to see former Hoops Don Cowan, Pat Flynn, Pat Sullivan, Rhys Gorman, Lorcan Shannon and Stephen Rice in the red and black of Longford.
The two clubs were drawn against each other in the Third Round of the FAI Cup. Shamrock Rovers only have one team allowed in the cup competitions so the Hoops are likely to have mostly Premier Division players lining out for the upcoming cup clash. However, Rovers only used First Division squad players in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final against Pat’s with Colin Hawkins in charge of team affairs that night. In 2010, Rovers won 2-1 away in Longford en-route to the first FAI Cup Final to be played at the redeveloped Lansdowne Road stadium.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 11/1; Draw 4/1; Longford Town 2/9.
PREDICTION
2-1 away win
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Shane Fagan, Jack Watson.
Suspended: Ryan Doolin, Michael Kelly (89).
Longford Town
Injured: Glen O’Connor, Willie Tyrell.
Doubtful: Stephen Rice.
Suspended: None.