Bad start as Longford Town suffer disappointing defeat against Athlone

Longford Town . . . 1    Athlone Town . . . 3

With just four players remaining from the 2022 season, it was always going to be tough for the much changed squad in the current campaign but no excuses can be made for the disappointing defeat against Athlone in the opening fixture at Bishopsgate on Saturday night.

Even the boost of the return of Aodh Dervin to his home town club in a loan deal with Shelbourne failed to inspire the home side in the midlands derby.

The Town supporters who comprised the vast majority of the big official attendance of 1,514 watched Stephen Henderson’s generally inexperienced young team concede the opening goal in the 27th minute following a fine close range finish from Athlone striker Frantz Pierrot. 

Back came Longford to enjoy a dominant spell with Darragh Lynch and Ross Fay going close with headers before they eventually equalised in the 41st minute. 

The ball broke kindly for Lynch who latched on to a right wing cross from defender Shane Elworthy for a well-taken goal and the Town almost took the lead from a cracking Sam Verdon free-kick with five minutes gone in the second half. 

Athlone keeper Enda Minogue produced a brilliant save to prevent the ball from finding the roof of the net and it then went all wrong for Longford in the space of a couple of minutes.

The visitors regained the lead in the 62nd minute when a dipping header from Jamar Campion-Hinds in the box ended up in the back of the net and Athlone struck a killer blow to score a third goal in the 64th minute.

Pierrot found the back of the net from a few yards out as the Longford defence were caught in another tangle but there was a glimmer of hope when Athlone were reduced to ten men in that same incident.

The already booked Pierrot pulled his jersey over his head in his wild celebration and was shown a second yellow card by Tipperary referee Eoghan O’Shea. 

With the advantage of the extra man, Longford pressed for a crucial second goal and it looked like materialising when they were awarded a penalty for a definite foul on substitute Jamal Ibrahim in the box. 

Up stepped Sam Verdon to take the spot kick but his shot was saved by the opposing keeper in the 77th minute with Athlone standing firm for the remainder of the match to protect their two-goal cushion in a deserved win. 

LONGFORD TOWN: Jack Brady; Shane Elworthy, Ciaran Hodanu, Oisin Hand, Kyle O’Connor; Joshua Giurgi, Aodh Dervin, Viktor Serdeniuk, Ross Fay; Sam Verdon, Darragh Lynch.

Subs:- Jamal Ibrahim for Lynch; Mohamed Boudiaf for Serdeniuk and Gavin O’Brien for Fay (all in the 70th minute). 

ATHLONE TOWN: Enda Minogue; Donal Curtin, German Fuentes Rodriquez, Noah Van Geenen, Jack Kavanagh; Charles Mutawe; Adam Lennon, Aaron Connolly, Jamor Campion-Hinds; Oisin Duffy; Frantz Pierrot.

Subs:- Haji Abdikadir for Mutawe (half-time); Valerii Dolia for Lennon (63 mins). 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.