- Philip Morrissey
- Sun, Mar 06 2022
Longford Town finally got their season off the ground as they held Cork to a scoreless draw on Saturday night.
Gary Cronin can be delighted with the application his new side had with their solidity at the back and opportunities they managed to create.
It was a disappointing evening for the away side though. They struggled to create many clear chances, and those they did, they failed to convert them. They pushed towards the end but failed to land the killer blow.
Longford elected to start Luke Dennison ahead of Lee Steacy in goal. A lack of fitness meant that Shane Elworthy and Karl Chambers were only able to begin on the bench.
Former Bray duo Ryan Graydon and Darren Craven both started in attack. Richie Holland selected the side in the absence of Colin Healy, and he went with Kieran Coates in place of Jonas Hakkinen and Matthew Srbely replaced the injured Dylan McGlade.
Cork City started the encounter in positive fashion. Cian Murphy almost caught out Longford straight away as he skipped past Matthew Dunne, his effort was off target though.
Cian Bargary was next to threaten the backline as his precise low ball from the left-flank just evaded Ruairi Keating. He then ran onto a through-ball from Aaron Bolger but was ruled to be offside.
Eric Molloy was the first to have a chance for the home side, but his effort went straight into the arms of David Harrington.
The first proper chance fell to Keating. A set-piece was floated into the area and the former Galway United man spun on the ball with his back to goal. It trickled just wide with Dennison stranded.
Both sides were struggling to make too many clear chances, possession was being turned over too often and neither side willing to commit players forward in numbers.
Kieran Coates had a rare wriggle through his opponent before being crowded out, both Dunne for Longford and Ally Gilchrist for Cork looking assured at the back.
Bargary seemed to be the main player in an attacking sense. He broke free again and hared down the side-line. Only one player inside the area for his cross though.
Longford seemed invigorated as the second half begun. Coates was forced into a last-ditch block to prevent a McMenamy effort after the he was found in space just outside the City area.
The likes of Graydon and Molloy were getting onto the ball more often and forcing the visitors on the back-foot. In a rare chance during this period, Coffey had a shot after a one-two with Keating, but was unable to trouble Dennison. The keeper also denied Coates as he slipped through the defence. Both Aaron Robinson and Graydon hit the wrong side of the netting at the other end as Longford continued to press.
Whatever chances came City’s way were squandered. Matt Srbely headed over with the goal at his mercy and Cian Coleman flicked another one just wide from another set-piece. For as much as the home side frustrated Cork, they almost had a calamity. A slip in midfield allowed Coffey to race through. Dunne was alive to the danger and shielded it out.
They could not find the requisite response though. Murphy tapped home as the ball fell to him in the area, but the flag went up for offside. Dennison saved the point as he tipped over a last gasp header from substitute Matt Healy.
A decent point to get the home side up and going despite a much-changed side. Their next challenge is away to Treaty next Friday night. Cork need to find a cutting edge again as they face into a derby against Cobh on the same evening.
Longford Town: Luke Dennison; Michael McDonnell, Matthew Dunne, Dylan Barnett, Michael Barker; Aaron Robinson, Eric Molloy (Ben Lynch 82), Dean McMenamy; Sam Verdon, Ryan Graydon, Darren Craven.
Subs not used: Adam Hayden, Lee Steacy, Shane Elworthy, Matthew O'Brien, Matthew Butler, Callum Warfield, Karl Chambers.
Booked: Darren Craven (25).
Sent off: None.
Cork City: David Harrington; Kevin O'Connor, Ally Gilchrist, Cian Coleman, Kieran Coates; Matt Srbely (Mark O'Mahony 83), Barry Coffey, Aaron Bolger (Matt Healy 52); Cian Murphy, Ruairi Keating (Darragh Crowley 69).
Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, Uniss Kargbo, Jonas Hakkinen, Ronan Hurley, Josh Honohan.
Booked: Aaron Bolger (19) .
Sent off: None.
Referee: Michael Connolly
Attendance: 700
extratime.com Player of the Match:Matthew Dunne
