Longford Town facing a very tough task away to Galway United

Galway have been league leaders from the kick off of the 2023 league campaign and they don't seem to be taking their foot off the throttle as John Caulfield chases a return to the Premier Division next season. 

John is one of the league's most experienced managers and he has got valuable help in his back room staff with the arrival of former Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan The top two, Galway and Waterford, are full time clubs who have a very big advantage on the other part time clubs in the First Division.

Galway is a very good soccer city and they get big home crowds as can be expected when a team is flying at the top of the table. To date Galway have played 19 games like all the teams in the First Division and they are the form club in both divisions with 17 wins, one draw and one defeat. 

To be at the halfway stage of the season and have such a grip at the top of the table is a big plus for manager Caulfield and by all accounts he may be bringing in some players during the July window to give his team that extra strength to get over the finish line sooner rather than later. 

Galway’s only defeat to date was against the Town in Bishopsgate on May 1. The only goal of the game was scored by Mohammed Boudiaf.

The fact that the Town took the lead after only three minutes and after that despite being under a lot of pressure the team held out for a tremendous victory. The first meeting between the clubs at Eamonn Deacy Park which came early in the season (end of March) and on that occasion it took a 75th minute goal from former Town player Darren Clarke to settle the issue in favour of the Connacht side.

The two games against Galway show that this new look Town team are capable of playing against and doing well against the best teams in the First Division. 

The fact that the Town have drawn twice against the big spending Waterford side this season is another positive note. 

Galway boss Caulfield brought in keeper Brendan Clarke to stabilise the defence and the former St Pat's man has played extremely well this season.

 Defenders Rob Slevin and Regan Donelon were signed to bolster their defence which has much experience. Galway had to play their last game against Wexford without the services of Killian Brouder who missed the game through suspension and he was replaced  by Slevin. 

The biggest success for Galway in the last  few years has been the form of club captain Conor McCormack who is undoubtedly a Premier Division player and his experience should get Galway over the line as they chase the league title and automatic promotion. 

Vincent Borden is also an accomplished midfielder who has a knack of scoring important goals for his team. Former Town player Stephen Walsh, despite being a defender, is operating effectively in an advanced role and is a player who can score important goals while his forward partner Francely Lomboto is also a big threat.

David Hurley is a key figure in the midfield sector. Such is the strength of this Galway team that the subs would be playing first team football with any other team. 

Longford Town go into Friday's game on a bad losing streak having lost their last three games. 

In their last fixture before the mid-season break the Town were so unfortunate not to have at least got a share of the points in the 3-2 defeat against Finn Harps in a game that they should have won but once again injuries and players being suspended has left us with a very understrength squad. 

A big plus for manager Henderson was the return to fitness of Cristian Magerusan who scored a very well taken goal against Harps. 

Losing also against Cobh and Athlone is hard to take as the team made enough chances to win both games. 

At this stage 18 points from 19 games played isn't good enough and let's hope that there is a bigger return from upcoming games to get us off the wrong end of the table. 

In recent games, the Town were short a lot of players due to injury and also suspension and the cause has not been helped by some very poor decisions by the match officials.   

Rumour has it that the Town management are hoping to strengthen their squad and then hopefully move up the table. 

One has to praise the young players who have come through to the first team squad and well done to the current under 19 players for their commitment in all the recent games.