League Preview: Longford Town -v- Kerry

• Andrew Dempsey
• Sat, Aug 24 2024




LONGFORD TOWN 

Longford Town will have their eyes on their fourth league win of the season when they host Kerry at Bishopsgate on Saturday evening (kick-off is at 7.30pm). 

The Red and Black have not played a competitive game in a fortnight, which was a 4-1 loss at home to Treaty United.

Since then, Longford have welcomed Oisin Hand and Jamie Egan back from injury in friendlies against Dundalk, Wayside Celtic and Dublin Bus.

And despite defeating Kerry at home already this season, skipper Shane Elworthy is expecting a tough test at home. 

“We beat Kerry 2-1 at home last time,” he told his club’s match programme. 

“But we are under no illusions of how tough it will be. They had a really good result against Bohs in the FAI Cup and they are not to be underestimated.”

Dean George and Luke Wade-Slater remain out with long-term injuries.

KERRY 

Fresh from a battling FAI Cup display against Bohemians last weekend, Kerry travel to the midlands looking to move seven points clear of their basement rivals.

Kerry are ninth in the table and four clear of Longford at the bottom on 21 points.

And they will be buoyed that they took Bohemians to a penalty shootout last week in the cup at Mounthawk Park after playing out a 2-2 draw.

“We've had plenty of sore bodies this week after the Bohemians game but we gave the players a couple of rest days to get themselves back right,” boss Conor McCarthy told his club’s media team. 

“We’ve seen them in training since coming back and they are as hungry as ever to keep going. We are putting everything into Saturday’s game now, the boys know what we need to do and we have a target set for the last 9 games to finish the season as strong as possible.”

Kerry also have been boosted with the return of Valerii Dolia from injury, while Antonio Tuta remains a doubt.

Referee: Alan Franklin. 

 

PREDICTION

Longford Town 2-0 Kerry 

 

Longford Town

Injured: Luke Wade-Slater, Dean George.

Doubtful: None. 

Suspended: None. 

 

Kerry

Injured: Antonio Tuta.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

First Division Roundup- Wins for Cork, Bray, UCD and Wexford https://t.co/YRPD6bf2mOpic.twitter.com/TCvalZLuqH

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