Longford Town v Cork City

[Neil]

City are without John Caulfield (suspended) while Pat Morley is only back from holidays leaving the way open for new signing Stephen O'Flynn to start up front with the outstanding James Mulligan who has netted 8 in 5 pre-season games.

With UEFA Cup goal hero Keith O'Connor suspended and Shay Zellor (knee) and John Rogers (virus) also out, Town boss Stephen Kenny must pick between Stephen Gavin, Steven Lynch or Henry Kenny to partner Eric Lavine in attack.

[City Hero]

I think City will win 2-0 or 2-1. Start the season off with a string of wins.

[Neil]

Under normal circumstances I'd say a 1-1 draw, but after Longford's efforts in the UEFA Cup during the week we might catch them at a good time for us: 2-0 City...

[Jim Smith]

That horrible wee goalkeeper has a habit of ruining my day.

It'll be good to see what the new blood is capable of. You can't really accuse the management of 'old boyism' when they wouldn't cough up to get Johnny C off the hook.

[an 'rock']

You may be in luck Digger(horrible wee keeper) had the first bad game of his career on thursday last.
Hopefully the pressure just got to him!
I still say Da town will win 1 - 0 (completely unbiased of course!)

[Casegrande]

1-0 City with Super Jimmy Mull on the mark

[Neil]

Report from James on-site in Longford: If anyone is wondering, City fans are gathering in Fallons before the game.

[Neil]

Latest from Flancare Park:

Longford Town 1 (Kirby)
Cork City 0

[Neil]

Longford Town 3 (Kirby, Coughlan og, Kenny)
Cork City 0

[rebel yell]

murphy out now! We need winners not debacles like a 3 goal
deficit against a team that played only on Thursday.

[Neil]

Longford Town 4 (Kirby 2, Coughlan og, Kenny)
Cork City 1 (Mulligan)

[Neil]

THREE goals in six explosive minutes got Longford off to a flyer against Cork City at Flancare Park.

It was a tight game in the first quarter but then the midlanders blasted their opponents with a salvo to dent Cork boss Liam Murphy's hopes of an opening win away from home.

Alan Kirby started the rout in the 28th minute, latching onto a rebound after Alan Murphy's centre was headed goalwards by Eric Lavine.

Then City centre-half Derek Coughlan put through his own net four minutes later from a Kirby cross - and the Leesiders were really in trouble once Henry Kenny headed home on 43 minutes.

Murphy tried to orchestrate a revival before the break by bringing on new signing Stephen O'Flynn and Mark Herrick, but it wasn't enough to inspire his disappointing side.

Longford were comfortable in the second-half, although Pat Morley did come close on his introduction, and fittingly it was midfield maestro Kirby who added a fourth goal for the home side five minutes from the end of normal time.

James Mulligan rifled home a late consolation for Cork, while in the last minute of extra-time Longford lost sub Stuart Holt as he was red-carded for getting involved with Conor O'Grady of Cork.

Longford Town: O’Brien; Murphy, McNally, Smith, W Byrne; Kirby (Perth 85mins), S Byrne, Reynolds, Prunty (Gavin 64); Kenny (Holt 86), Lavine.

Cork City: Devine; Napier, Coughlan, O’Rourke, Horgan (Herrick 43); O’Brien,Flanagan (Morley 56), O’Grady, Cahill; Hartigan (O’ Flynn 40), Mulligan.

[Neil]

For fu*ks sake, Hartigan was playing....

Pis* off now Liam Murphy - you fuc*in chancer.
Take that Judas Patsy with ya.....

[pete]

Worst i've seen City play since santry under Mountfield. City were abismal & really gifted the game to Longford. Looked like they been taking it too easy in the last few weeks.

Looked like a strange team with Napier arriving from nowhere into the right back slot :rolleyes:
Colin O'Brien was truelly shocking & i'm fairly sure never got past his man ONCE dispite numerous attempts to kick it past him & chase it :( Could someone get him a brain before letting him back on the pitch!!!!!!! Maybe Guther could tell him its hard to score from the corner flag especially when theres no player there & its better to pass to a free player INSIDE!!!!!

Longford looked more up for the game & played us off the park with FOOTBALL. We were so bad had to resort to playing Skippy in attacking midfield role!

BTW Stephen O'Flynn didn't look up to much & seemed a bit off the pace but suppose was hard coming on when 3-0 down. He was no worse than Hartigan anyway & hopefully can only improve.

Flancare Park is an excellent ground. Unfortunatley didn't look like any City Board members were there to see except Noelle :(