SSE Airtricity League reporter Ruth Fahy was at Tolka Park last night for the 0-0 draw between Shelbourne and Longford Town, and has looked into how the newly-relegated side are holding up... ---------------------------------------------------------
SSE Airtricity League reporter Ruth Fahy was at Tolka Park last night for the 0-0 draw between Shelbourne and Longford Town, and has looked into how the newly-relegated side are holding up...
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Longford Town left Tolka Park yesterday evening with a well-earned point, but the hearts of the midland side will be weighted with slight regret at a game which they know could have gone a very different direction had one moment fell in their favour.
Instead, Dave O’Sullivan’s penalty miss in the 42nd minute meant that the visitor’s best chance of the game hovered over them in the latter half as Shelbourne sought to capitalise upon the missed opportunity.
It is always a massive challenge to prepare a team that has just experienced relegation from an upper division. Longford will look back on 2016 and shift with uncomfortable regret. Two wins from 33 games is a statistic that no one in the club will want to remember.
This is where the skill and expertise of the management and backroom staff will come into play and Alan Matthews and co look the part this season.
A player can take it match by match, consider the bad and commit to improvement, and relish the good and reconcile to continue to improve.
But the management will have done more. An in depth analysis of the form over last season will have been completed and then the plan put in place for 2017 on how exactly Longford Town will bounce immediately back up to where they feel they belong.
Yesterday evening’s performance showed signed of this intent. Certain players were clearly ready to undo the shackles of underperforming last year and step forward this season.
Noel Haverty in particular looked commanding. His domination in the air was outstanding and he seemed to relish the battle with Shelbourne’s lively James English. When Haverty was forced off through injury minutes into the second half, his presence was simply highlighted more as Shelbourne penetrated the final third multiple times.
New signing Dean Zambra looked comfortable in midfield. His link up play will improve as the season progresses and there is little doubt he will be crucial to Longford’s quest of promotion.
The attacking duo of O’Sullivan and another new signing, Enda Curran looked dangerous. Again, time together will tell whether these two can haul Longford back to the top tier.
No doubt regret at the result for Longford, but plenty of positives to take going forward. This year is a big test of strength – mental and physical – for the Town. And the structures are in place to see their plans through.
