2020 Promotion/Relegation Playoff: Shelbourne Vs Longford Town 15 Nov 2020

[Neish]

How do you think this will go, they both in pretty similar runs of form.Personally I prefer Longford as its a quicker away trip as a Harps fan and there is already 3 trip to Dublin as it is(here hoping there will be away trip in 2021)

[Mr A]

It's a massive thing to decide in one game, two legs is much fairer. Premier sides usually the favourites but you never know, I don't think many thought Longford would get this far so they are battle hardened and know how to eke out playoff wins. Fascinating tie and I am so damn relived we are not in it for once.

[2 Year Contract]

I think Longford should take a lot of confidence in seeing what a poor Athlone side did to Shels a few weeks ago but Shels will still be favourites based on the players they have, it’s just a matter of if they perform or not. Hoping for a good game, the more drama the better so I’ll go Shels on penalties after a 2-2 draw

[nr637]

Is this game a home game for Shels at Tolka Park?

[joey B]

Is this game a home game for Shels at Tolka Park?

It's at Richmond Park.

[placid casual]

Shels were a complete shambles against Rovers the other night, but they clearly have decent enough players to be able to overcome a 1st division side.
If Longford can score early I wouldn't be surprised to see shels fall apart, but the longer the game goes on you'd have to assume someone like kilduff or baldy sheppard will get their act together sufficiently to get shels over the line.
A jammy 1-nil victory for shels I think.

[sbgawa]

hopefully Longford will send Shels down but i think Shels will have enough for them.
Confidence in shels must be shot and that is Longfords best hope. They tried to kick rovers off the park on Monday , that wont work against Longford and they cant risk going down to 10 men in a final

[Nesta99]

It's a massive thing to decide in one game, two legs is much fairer. Premier sides usually the favourites but you never know, I don't think many thought Longford would get this far so they are battle hardened and know how to eke out playoff wins. Fascinating tie and I am so damn relived we are not in it for once.

It generally means the better side wins the tie but single legs is a great leveller too and there are plenty of people talking up the format due to less defensive tactics. Getting rid of the away goal advantage would also help with that mind. Regardless though, when thngs get back to normal, ye cant see UEFA et al giving up a load of games when there can be money spinners in the mix.

There is a bit more momentum for Longford imo, and Shels have to be shattered confidence wise in finding themselves in the relegation play-off on the last day - add in the cup 'run'. They were not put together on a bargain budget either and that adds to the pressure - if relegated probably the manager gone and a lot of players realising that probably this Shels side is their last football payday. Morris hasnt shown much tactical nouse and was a bit of a gamble so even if they win he could be on his bike - players get wind of that and down tools, could be why there was a bad slump including the cup game.

All that said I do think Longford have to be on their game and make chances count. Its a strange one as Shels are better equipped for the Premier Division especially if they replace ther manager. Longford could struggle to establish themselves if promoted. But I think that Longford have the better chance of winning this game. Shels have been a bit complacent (cluelessly thinking Harps didnt have in them to get out of the bottom 2), and Longford, like Harps, have been in a cut-throat battle all season. 3-1 Longford win with the 3rd goal coming late as Shels get desperate and commit everyone forward. I'd like to see Longford promoted, but I do like the away trip to Tolka, good luck to both!

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Shels were a complete shambles against Rovers the other night, but they clearly have decent enough players to be able to overcome a 1st division side.
If Longford can score early I wouldn't be surprised to see shels fall apart, but the longer the game goes on you'd have to assume someone like kilduff or baldy sheppard will get their act together sufficiently to get shels over the line.
A jammy 1-nil victory for shels I think.

Shels didn’t have enough to overcome a first division side a couple of weeks ago

[Martinho II]

I dont know if any of ye read Ian Morris comments about Daire Doyle coming up to check on them last Monday ?
I have a feeling that Shels are feeling the heat especially the mgr.
If it was a a few weeks back I wouldnt have fancied us at all but all of a sudden Daire has an incredible team spirit going all of a sudden and Aodh Dervin is a man possessed at present!

I wont comment publically yet but I am sure people can guess my answr anyway!

[Longfordian]

We haven't a hope. 5-0 Shels.

More seriously, I expect them to pull their collective finger out and do enough to see themselves through. But it being a one off gives us a much better chance.

[total hoofball]

I'll be genuinely amazed if Shels are still a Premier Division club come Sunday evening. We're a horrible footballing side with the wheels coming off and a pale shadow of the team that won the First Division last season, Longford will never a get better opportunity to achieve promotion via a one leg play-off than this

[redarmyfaction]

I would prefer Longford to come up, handy away trip, if there are away trips, no harm to Shels, but they weren't a whole pile of addition this year. Hard First Division next year for whoever ends up there.

[Neish]

Shels were a complete shambles against Rovers the other night, but they clearly have decent enough players to be able to overcome a 1st division side.
If Longford can score early I wouldn't be surprised to see shels fall apart, but the longer the game goes on you'd have to assume someone like kilduff or baldy sheppard will get their act together sufficiently to get shels over the line.
A jammy 1-nil victory for shels I think.

Athlone didn't take too much heed of that fact

[D24Saint]

Hope Longford can gain promotion. Its great to see Daire Doyle succeeding a management, im from the same area he grew up.

[holidaysong]

Longford are favourites for me.

Seen them against Galway and seen Shels against Athlone and I'm basing it all on those two games.

[EatYerGreens]

Is this being streamed anywhere ?

[holidaysong]

Yes it's on WatchLOI for free.

[Martinho II]

Hope Longford can gain promotion. Its great to see Daire Doyle succeeding a management, im from the same area he grew up.

I know Daire for years since he 1st played for us. Theres a famous picture of him with Aodh Dervin in 2008 season when Aodh was a ballbay. Superb picture found it in an old longford town program. Daire has proven me wrong. I was unsure earlier in the season but he obviously has the squads respect. Is Daire from Dublin 8 area D24?

[nigel-harps1954]

I know Daire for years since he 1st played for us. Theres a famous picture of him with Aodh Dervin in 2008 season when Aodh was a ballbay. Superb picture found it in an old longford town program. Daire has proven me wrong. I was unsure earlier in the season but he obviously has the squads respect. Is Daire from Dublin 8 area D24?

That's just the cross of a pen away from being a glorious misspelling.

[Mr A]

He is absolutely still a ballbag in fairness.

[D24Saint]

It’s good to see watch LOI doing coverage of the game tomorrow.

[Martinho II]

It’s good to see watch LOI doing coverage of the game tomorrow.

Yeah Jamie Moore is a superb commentator on it and Conan Byrne should be on it too!

[bluemovie]

I think Shels are vulnerable. I would've said all year that the Premier team would have the advantage and I'd have backed Harps or Derry to win, but Shels should be worried. On paper, they have a strong squad but they've woefully underperformed. You'd wonder have a lot of their senior players lost their hunger. Meanwhile Longford have momentum and have just pulled a bit of form together at the right time. Hard to call. Shels might have too much quality and win comfortably but I think there'll be panic stations if they fall behind.

[holidaysong]

Yeah Jamie Moore is a superb commentator on it and Conan Byrne should be on it too!

That was FAI TV that they were on for the Longford vs. Galway match. Agree though, they were very good.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

What’s happening with this Waterford appeal?

[Neish]

What’s happening with this Waterford appeal?

It wasn't an appeal it was a compliant and they really have no case, they failed to read the fin print lost and then looked for scapegoats. If anything were to happen it would of by now with the promotion/relegation playoff this afternoon

[DCSIL]

Everyone’s favourite commentator today then.

[joey B]

Madigan and Byrne dear God!

[pineapple stu]

Shels down to 10

Bottle o'clock?

[sbgawa]

shocking effort at the peno by manley
If he'd knocked it in they could have passed it around relaxed, now shels will try to fight to keep it level and go to penos

[sbgawa]

Goal !!
Long way back for Shels now

[BonnieShels]

Sake.

I don't want to have to play Cork next year.

The deflection was unfortunate.

[BonnieShels]

Jesus. This is putting years on me. Much like what this club has always done to me.

[DCSIL]

Congratulations Longford. Happy for Martinho II

[joey B]

Welcome back Longford!

[D24Saint]

Congratulations to Longford, good to have them back in the premier.

[sbgawa]

Bad year for Shels to get relegated.
Cork in Division 1 plus a rebuilding Galway.
Could be a few years before we see them back

[BonnieShels]

That always happens us.

I recall having to out up with Cork 2.0, Derry 2.0, UCD and Sporting Fingal. We're cursed.

[Longfordian]

Madigan and Byrne dear God!

If I wasn't fookin ecstatic I'd be giving out about the pair of them. Jesus they were bad. But we won so I don't really care. Hon the Town a great little club.

[pineapple stu]

Well done Longford - makes that 121st minute screamer all the more annoying now... :mad:

[Jack B]

Congrats to Longford, delighted for them. One of the more likeable sides across the league for me.

What is Luke Byrne playing at with all these red cards? Is that 3 for the season?

[Martinho II]

If I wasn't fookin ecstatic I'd be giving out about the pair of them. Jesus they were bad. But we won so I don't really care. Hon the Town a great little club.

If you asked me a month ago I would ave said no we arent going up but Im delighted for Daire Doyle as he got a superb team spirit. We have being superb the last three games!Great to see the Section O flag in one of the apts there. I believe there was a bit of cheekiness and bribery involved with owner/vacant owner with drink involved!

Wot a season 4 us. hopefully COVID restrictions would be relaxed fully once season starts later next year but I doubt it!

[D24Saint]

If I wasn't fookin ecstatic I'd be giving out about the pair of them. Jesus they were bad. But we won so I don't really care. Hon the Town a great little club.

Im sick of the PC nonsense she isn’t a sports commentator end of story. It’s torture listening to her drivel. In the second half she says “It’s last chance saloon for both sides” only 76 minutes were gone in the game.

[Longfordian]

Yes that was particularly nonsensical. We were winning, and there was extra time if Shels managed to get one anyway.

[redarmyfaction]

Congrats and well done to Longford.

[Neish]

Well done Longford, hopefully I'll get a trip to the midlands in 2021

[MKMK]

Congratulations to Longford Town on a great acheivement. Looked like it had all slipped away not so long ago. Great credit to all the people there. Love to go there and you will always get a smile and a welcome.

[placid casual]

I wasn't that pushed who was gonna get relegated, but after the appalling attitude of the shels players in the last Rovers game, I'm delighted they got relegated.
They have a Brennan in their team so what else were people expecting I suppose.
Morris is dying on his arێ in that job- he needs to clear out the geriatric deadwood and start from scratch in Division 1. It's gonna be super competitive in that league next year, that's for sure.

[Nesta99]

Well done Longford. Lot of soul searching for Shels, the temptation is really there now to pick up big earners players that will be released by Shels. Considering how few strikers about, Kilduff is possibly worth taking a punt on St Pats?