Longford Town beat Athlone in the Leinster Senior Cup

Athlone Town . . . 0    Longford Town . . . 1  

Leinster Senior Cup Group Stage Round 2: New signing Conor Crowley scored the winning goal at Athlone Town Stadium on Tuesday night in the build up to the start of the new season on Saturday February 17 against Finn Harps at Bishopsgate.

Longford Town play their remaining group fixture in the Leinster Senior Cup away to Maynooth University FC on Monday night next (kick-off 7.45pm) in the quest to qualify for the quarter-finals.  

Longford Town FC Round-Up 

At home to Galway in pre-season friendly on Saturday  

As the opening game of the new season against Finn Harps on February 17 comes closer, the Town are still very busy with pre-season friendly fixtures.

Last week's friendly against Sligo Rovers at Bishopsgate had to be postponed during the day due to the inclement weather with much rain and the very bad wind. 

Town manager Stephen Henderson has assembled a strong squad at the moment and he is still using the pre-season games to check out new trialists. 

On Tuesday the Town made the short journey to Athlone to play the first midlands derby in the recently revamped Leinster Senior Cup which is being run differently this season as the teams are grouped and possibly they are better than pre-season friendlies.

 On Saturday night at Bishopsgate the Town will have a very good test against John Caulfield's Galway United, kick-off 7.30pm. 

Galway had an unbelievable season last year and they almost rewrote the record books during their amazing season which ended with promotion back to the Premier Division. 

Looking back to last season, Galway were only beaten twice and both defeats were at the hands of Longford. Aodh Dervin will be back in the Premier Division this season with Gawlay and we wish him all the best.

After the friendly on Saturday night the Town play their remaining group game in the Leinster Senior Cup. 

On Monday night Longford will head to Maynooth to play the local Maynooth University team and this will be another very useful pre-season preparation on the astro turf pitch, kick-off 7.45pm. 

The Town's final preparation game takes place on Saturday February 9th when they travel to Tolka Park to take on Shelbourne, kick-off 7pm. 

Damien Duff has assembled a very good footballing side who are expected to be chasing honours very soon as he continues strengthening his squad. 

That game will be an ideal preparation for the Town as they prepare for the visit of Finn Harps for the opening game in the 2024 First Division. 

Useful exercise against Shamrock Rovers in friendly 

Shamrock Rovers . . . 2   Longford Town . . . 1 

On Saturday last the Town travelled to Roadstone to take on Shamrock Rovers in a very competitive game with the home side just getting the better of a brave and competitive Town team. 

Longford’s new signing from Bray, striker Chris Lyons, scored his first competitive goal to give the Town a one nil lead. 

The very experienced Gaffney equalised for Rovers and the exciting Matthew Britton scored the winning goal. Those competitive pre-season games will give manager Henderson an idea how his new look team is progressing. 

A big crowd is expected to be at Bishopsgate on Saturday night for the return of Galway United for the friendly. 

We will have a better idea of the 2024 squad in the next week as the manager will be hoping to add a few players to enable us to push forward.

The Town club are a hundred years in existence this year and it would be lovely to finish off the season with promotion back to the Premier Division. It's nice to dream and sometimes dreams do come through.

Pre-season friendly

Longford Town v Galway United

at Bishopsgate

Saturday February 3 

Kick-off 7.30pm

Monster Car Boot Sale

Bank Holiday Monday February 5

at Bishopsgate Stadium

Gates open at 5am