Longford Town take on the league leaders Galway United at Bishopsgate

League leaders Galway are 16 points ahead of Waterford and their stats are frightening after 28 games. They have won 23 games, drawn four and lost only one. They have scored 74 goals and have only conceded 14.

 You have to go back to May 1 to the date of their only defeat this season and that was at Bishopsgate when Longford Town beat Galway 1-0.

The only goal of the game came after only 3 minutes with Mohammed Boudiaf on target. After scoring early on it was backs against the wall stuff. 

Galway won the other two games against Longford and both of those fixtures were played in Eamonn Deacy Park. 

The first meeting between the clubs took place in late March with the home side winning 1-0. The only goal came in the 75th minute and it was scored by former Town player Darren Clarke. 

The other meeting between the clubs in late June was a tough game for the Town who battled hard in the first half to keep the game at 0-0.

 The home side came out with all guns blazing in the second half and in form midfielder David Hurley started the scoring with two minutes gone on the changeover.

Defenders Slevin and O'Keeffe added goals in the 53rd and 74th minutes before Hurley scored again in the closing stages of the match. 

That 4-0 result made up for the surprise loss to the Town on May 1 but that game at Bishopsgate showed that this Galway team are beatable.

 Let’s hope that we can replicate the result in what should be a packed Bishopsgate for this huge game on Saturday.

The fact that this Galway team are through to the FAI Cup quarter-finals shows just how good a team they are. 

The Galway management team of John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan are doing a magnificent job but they are a full time squad and that is a big advantage against the part time clubs in the First Division. 

Keeper Brendan Clarke, who may be in the twilight of his career having reached 38 years of age, played his 500th senior game against UCD at the Bowl in the rearranged FAI Cup game which they eventually won 5-1 after leading the first game 2-0 but the game was abandoned at half-time due to the pitch being flooded. 

On Friday night last third in the table Cobh Ramblers went to Eamonn Deacy Park and went home after being given a footballing lesson in a game completely dominated by Galway.

 Recent signing Wassim Aouacharia put the home side ahead on 34 minutes but former Town player Jack Doherty equalised 5 minutes later. Vincent Borden scored  just past the hour mark and David Hurley scored two goals in the 71st and 80th minutes to give Galway a very impressive 4-1 victory.

The Galway team are getting ready for their return to the Premier Division and are one of the most progressive clubs in the league at the moment. 

The experienced Killian Brouder, along with Rob Slevin, Regan Donelon and Evan O'Connor make up a formidable defence and they also have the versatile Stephen Walsh who can play at the back or in the attack. 

The experienced Conor McCormack is a top midfielder who has the experience and strength to dominate the vital midfield sector where he plays alongside the free scoring David Hurley. 

Francely Lomboto is another useful player and they also have Ryan Manning who on his day is a real match winner. The Galway bench is packed with experienced players and included three former Town players on Friday last. 

Striker Rob Manley replaced Lomboto in the 76th minute while Darren Clarke and Aodh Dervin were also on the bench. 

The Town got three valuable points up in Finn Park on Friday night last after a tough game to record a first victory over the Donegal club this season.

 This was a real workmanlike performance from all the Longford players who are now chasing a promotion play-off spot and the manager Stephen Henderson is doing a very good job at the moment. 

SSE Airtricity League First Division

Longford Town v Galway United

Saturday September 2

Kick-off 7.30pm