Glentoran V Longford

[sullanefc]

Is this game on Setanta tonight? What time is kick off?

Anyone going to make a prediction?

[Hibs4Ever]

I've 20euro on Longford to win at 12/5

[sullanefc]

12/5 is good odds, but I'd fear for Longford in the way that they haven't played any competitive stuff yet this season. What time does this game KO at? From another thread in the City forum it looks like its on Setanta alright.

[pete]

1-1

Longford will be rusty.

Pity tv3 showing chaps league as may take from audience.

[joey B]

2-0 Glens :(

[dcfcsteve]

7:15pm KO from memory.

Definitely on Setanta - that's the whole point of their sponsorship.

I reckon Glens will pip it 2:1 . Longford will be very rusty, and I think the style of play in the IL won't be suited to them...

[patsh]

Longford will be very rusty, and I think the style of play in the IL won't be suited to them...
Why, do Glentoran play good passing football and rely on skill?
That style is definitely alien to Longford and won't suit them............:p

[Macy]

Going by what I see on Season Ticket, I'll be disappointed if we don't get at least a point, which in fairness is all we need. Linfield and Glens likely to take points off each other, so winning our home games is the key.

[paudie]

Is this game on Setanta tonight? What time is kick off?

Anyone going to make a prediction?

KO 7.15 and is on Setanta.

Pat Dolan is the expert analyst and Bryan Hamilton will be with the commentator.

[pineapple stu]

The NI v. ROI pre-season (for us) friendlies were all very close even with the eL teams only starting their pre-season. I think there's a bit of a gap between the two leagues to be honest, and this competition might show that up. Our season begins at the weekend, so I'd be surprised if Longford are too rusty. I'll go for a narrow Town win and two eL teams in the final.

[Slash/ED]

With Longford away, out of season and with a few new signings who may take time to gel they'll struggle, a point would be a great result for them. When the season kicks in they should start doing alot better so avoiding defeat here would set them up.

[A face]

Hate to say it but 2:0 to Glens .... Match fitness being the deciding factor.

Glens look to be on form of late (from what i've seen anyway)

[monkey magic]

towns pre-season has been going good, so theres no reason we should be rusty, i kinda fancy us to score a few goals, but it all depends on whether we last the full 90 mins....

[Rochey]

Whats the story with myler is he injured or did he pass the late fitness test.

[monkey magic]

no one seems to know, im guessin either he hasnt taken the fitness test yet,or matthews isint lettin anyone know whether hes playin or not.. either way theres only gonna be one way to find out...

[De Town]

Whats the story with myler is he injured or did he pass the late fitness test.
AFAIK, he's out :(

[Slash/ED]

towns pre-season has been going good, so theres no reason we should be rusty, i kinda fancy us to score a few goals, but it all depends on whether we last the full 90 mins....

There's a world of difference between pre season and competitive action though,

Maybe this Myler thing is a Mourinho-esque tactic Matthews is useing :D

[wakenuppaddy]

I fancy Glens to win 2 or 3 nil. They will also win the whole thing :)

[Poor Student]

Anywhere I could catch commentary for this on the web?

[liam88]

Anywhere I could catch commentary for this on the web?
can't find any...... :(

[EnDai]

Just be thankful you're not being put through the actual Setanta commentary on this... :eek: I think I may end up actually stabbing the next person I come in contact with! :mad:

[exile]

any one else watching looks like their is no one at the match some ok football being played great save by o brien in the first minute

[dortie]

looks like their is no one at the match

You obviously dont know much about the Irish league, thats the norm. The EL has bumper crowds in comparison.

[Poor Student]

First half must be nearly over. Anyone want to tell me how it went?

[dcfcsteve]

0:0 at half-time.

Not a classic match by any stretch. Longford broadly on-top - particularly in the earlier part of the half, but Glens geting back into it more.

Few chances of note by either side. Longford came closest- Barratt was one-on-one with the keep from a slight angle and somehow shot wide. Should really have put it in. Longford passing it arouns more and dominating the midfield.

Crowd looks very disappointing on TV, but the commentators said the main stand is packed (the gantry's over that stand), so much busier than it looks (itis a big stadium though). Quiet crowd.

At this rate it'll finish a draw, or Longford will just pip it....

[exile]

First half must be nearly over. Anyone want to tell me how it went?

0-0 at the moment good game to watch some nice football being played should be 1-1 both teams missed good chances 2nd half just starting

[exile]

glentoran 1 up a screamer of a volley

[Poor Student]

Do the Glens look any sharper due to the competitive match experience? Do the teams look to be taking it seriously or treating it like a friendly?

[dancinpants]

Glens 2-0 up now

[adamcarr]

Glens 2-0 up now
:eek: :(

[SÓC]

from Aertel


Longford have got one back in the 83rd minute, Keegan

[adamcarr]

from Aertel


Longford have got one back in the 83rd minute, Keegan
Well I predicted a 2-1 Glentoran win in the El prediction league! ;)

[dancinpants]

And thats how it finished :(

[dcfcsteve]

Ended 2:1 the Glens.

Glens came out much better at the start of the 2nd half, and got a goal early on. Then they dominated until the last 10mins of the game when Longford played 4 up front and put loads of pressure on.

Longford should have made more of their chances in the game (esp. Kirby), but that could be the lack of matches under their belt.

There wa sno real gap between the teams overall though. Glens were marginally the better side, but I could see Longford get a better result at home

[ShelsTim]

From what I saw, match fitness was a bit of a factor, Glens second goal was woeful defending from Longford. Longford seemed to be able to slice through their defence when they wanted to too, but never did. Glens played very professional at the end, didn't just defend, they kept the ball and frustrated Longford. All in all, I'm very optimistic for a Shels win overall.

[pete]

Glentoran definitely better passing & attacking. Longford even if crap for goals they left in are better defending.

Lot of long ball stuff from Longford.

Crowd were very quiet, everyone so nice to each other.

Maybe just coincidence but thought it was strange the way Glentoran Manager didn't look at matthews & same when MOTM never looked FAI President Corcoran in the eye.

[GalwayFrancis]

Glentoran start Setanta Cup with victory

Irish League side Glentoran won the opening game of the Setanta Cup with a 2-1 victory over Longford Town at the Oval on Tuesday night.

It was a game of two halves as Longford dominted the opening period without taking advantage only for Glentoran to come steaming back in the second half as goals from Michael Halliday and Stepheh Parkhouse ensured they claimed the first three points of the competition.

Paul Keegan did give Longford hope late on, though it was too little too late and they will hope that their improving match fitness will ensure better luck in the remaining three group games as they look to continue their impressive record in knockout competitions.

It was the visitors who dominated early on and they nearly opened the scoring after 15 minutes when a good interchange of play through the middle on 17 minutes involving Sean Prunty, Shane Barrett and Dessie Baker who pulled wide to cross deep from the right, Stephen Paisley could only find the left-hand side netting from a tight angle.

And just two minutes later the best chance of the half fell to Barrett who really should have done better when put clean through by a smart ball from Alan Kirby but only found the right-hand side netting with a feeble toe-poke.

The Glens almost took the lead on 27 minutes when Keegan's short free-kick found Gavin Melaugh whose 20-yard drive sailed just inches past O'Brien's left-hand upright. Glentoran ended the half the better but despite sustained pressure, Longford's defence held firm.

But the FAI Cup holders' back line was breached just three minutes into the second half when Glens striker and leading Irish Premier League scorer Halliday reacted quickest to a poorly-cleared ball on the edge of the Town area to brilliantly send a half-volley past O'Brien.

Glens, now playing with the wind, nearly added a second just a minute later but O'Brien got down quickly to intercept Gavin Melaugh's low, skidding cross from the right.

Halliday almost doubled his tally for the night but his effort from just inside the box hit O'Brien's left-hand upright. But it wasn't to matter as just a minute later the points were wrapped up as Parkhouse did well to hold off the close attention of Ferguson and O'Connor to steer the ball past the helpless O'Brien to the delight of the home crowd.

Kirby should have halved the deficit with a quarter of an hour to go but he blasted over the bar with the goal at his mercy following great work from Barrett though a goal did arrive with eight minutes remaining when Keegan headed home a Sean Dillon cross.

Longford pressed the home side in search of a late equaliser, but the eircom League's cup specialists couldn't salvage a point from their first trip up north in the 2005 Setanta Cup.

Glentoran: Morris, Ward, Glendinning, McGibbon, Leeman, McCann, Melaugh, Keegan, Parkhouse, Halliday, Holmes.
Subs: Walker for McGibbon (54 mins)

Longford Town: O'Brien, Dillon, Paisley, Martin, O'Connor, Ferguson, Kirby, Fitzgerald, Barrett, Baker, Prunty.
Subs: Byrne for Martin (half time), Lavine for Barrett, Keegan for Kirby (78 mins).

Ref: Frank Hiles

Man of the match: Halliday

[De Town]

Thought we played well enough in the first half. Barrett should have scored but Digger's save was excellent. 1st Glens goal came out of nothing. 2nd was terrible defending. Kirbs missed a sitter. Disappointed with the result but I feel with more match practice under our belts, we could gain a better result at home. Wasnt impressed with Glentoran at all considering they are fully fit. Pitch was crap aswell :mad:

[Slash/ED]

Longford were the better team in the first half, Glens the better in the second. I hope everyone who didn't see it gets to see the goals, some real quality. Okay the defending for the Glens second was shocking but great play by the striker, the first was a peach and even Longfords was a killer delivery into the box and a calm header.

Pretty even game but Longford were slicing through Glens defence at times but little things were letting them down, match sharpness was the big issue, Longford will do well in this group as it progresses.

[GalwayFrancis]

will rte news and sky news, have highlights of the match?
or is setanta keeping coverage of the cup to itself?

[Slash/ED]

The match is repeated tomorrow at around 5 on Setanta btw.

[Troy.McClure]

Is that a good crowd for the IL, considering it was a Tuesday night too?

[pineapple stu]

According to

http://www.glentoran.net/

the attendance was 1,292
Is that all? They showed the camera-side stand a couple of times and it looked fairly full, while the stand facing the camera was empty apart from the 50-100 Longford fans. Didn't sound like there was much of an atmosphere on the telly - don't know if that's how it was up there?

Decent enough game - some good football, and a brilliant opening goal, but Longford were woeful in the final third. The misses from Kirby and Barrett were very poor. I still think eL sides will be on top in the tournament overall (going into future years as well), but fair dues to Glentoran - a win's a win.

[GalwayFrancis]

According to

http://www.glentoran.net/

the attendance was 1,292

and how much can the Oval hold.....terrible attendence no matter what day it was on.....how much do glentoran usually get for il matches?

[pineapple stu]

On ILF (http://www.irishleagueforums.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27793&perpage=15&pagenumber=1), they're saying they thought the attendance was fairly good, but then dispute the 1,291 when it was announced. Varying views on how they did - most saying they were lucky Longford couldn't finish, some saying Glens deserved it. Apparently 150-250 Longford fans there (though bear in mind their overall crowd figures) who all arrived 15 minutes late, as anyone watching on the telly will have seen too! Don't know if they got the kickoff time wrong or if pints were being finished!

[pineapple stu]

Is that a good crowd for the IL, considering it was a Tuesday night too?
This (http://www.irishleagueforums.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22523) thread gives an idea, but all guesstimates. All fairly low by eL standards (300 to 1000), and most regarded as being way too high as well!

[Lossie Glens]

Are your attendances any better? On average I mean. The Glens and the blues would usually get about 2-3,000 per game, mostly depending when the match is played. During the week anywhere between 500-2,000. Which isn't to bad when you compare to the lower reaches of the Scottish leagues.

[fbtn]

Thought it was a decent enough game.

It being Town's first competitive fixture might have something to do with their sharpness (sic) in front of goal. While misses!

Cracker of a first goal for the Glens. They looked good going forward but defensively suspect. Shels will have a field day against them.

I think this tournament will be a great success in the years to come. Enjoyed watching a competive game between the eircom and Irish league.

[dcfcsteve]

Are your attendances any better? On average I mean. The Glens and the blues would usually get about 2-3,000 per game, mostly depending when the match is played. During the week anywhere between 500-2,000. Which isn't to bad when you compare to the lower reaches of the Scottish leagues.

Ignoring Shels, who have a notoriously low fan-base, the top teams in the south would equal or beat those attendances when doing well.

Cork average 4-5,000 a game, and when doing well can put-in the odd 8,000 sell-out. Bohs had a crap year last year, but still probably averaged 2/2,500. Pats had a woeful 2004, and when playing well would get 2-3,000. Derry City average about 2,000, even though haven't had a good season in years.

Time of the week wouldn't be as big a factor on attendances in the Eircom - most teams are used to playing games from Thursday through to Sunday, with the odd Cup or rescheduled game earlier in the week. Timing would only have a big impact if clashed with English football.

So the equivalent teams in the south usually get bigger crowds when in similar positions at the top of their league. As mentioned, Shels are the excpetion to this, with 1/1,500 average crowd (they're famously under-supported).

[Slash/ED]

Ignoring Shels, who have a notoriously low fan-base, the top teams in the south would equal or beat those attendances when doing well.

Cork average 4-5,000 a game, and when doing well can put-in the odd 8,000 sell-out. Bohs had a crap year last year, but still probably averaged 2/2,500. Pats had a woeful 2004, and when playing well would get 2-3,000. Derry City average about 2,000, even though haven't had a good season in years.

Time of the week wouldn't be as big a factor on attendances in the Eircom - most teams are used to playing games from Thursday through to Sunday, with the odd Cup or rescheduled game earlier in the week. Timing would only have a big impact if clashed with English football.

So the equivalent teams in the south usually get bigger crowds when in similar positions at the top of their league. As mentioned, Shels are the excpetion to this, with 1/1,500 average crowd (they're famously under-supported).

Stop making stuff up, Shels got the third best average attendence last year with over 2,000 and only a very short gap seperated us and Bohs. Get your facts right next time, thanks :) Derry weren't position one or two, if you're wondering.