Take two as Longford travel to Cusack Park for this local derby.
Storm Franklin called a halt to this one two weeks ago. The extra week hasn’t improved Longford’s chances as a relegation battle begins.
The seven point defeat to Fermanagh leaves Longford one off the bottom spot with just one point from six. Westmeath lost out to Louth last week by two points. Good or bad for Longford it’s hard to tell.
Mickey Quinn misses this one for Billy O’Loughlin’s men after a red card last week and that loss may be too much for O’Loughlin to bridge.
O’Loughlin cites the rebuilding job in his side, but already his mind seems to be moving beyond survival. Talk of performance over results.
Performance won’t cut it for this team, who lack leadership outside Quinn.
David McGivney, Kevin Diffley, Robbie Smyth and Rian Brady were men Longford counted on in the past. Their absence from the team is all too much to keep division three football.
Longford may be rebuilding, but with 13 players aged 20 or under, the rebuild is happening too fast.
There can only be one winner in this derby game and that winner will push Longford closer to division four.
Longford: Paddy Collum, Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Barry O’Farrell, James Moran, Eoghan McCormack, Iarla O’Sullivan, Ryan Moffat, Darren Gallagher, Joseph Hagan, Dylan Farrell, Aidan McGuire, Jayson Matthews, Mark Hughes, Jack Duggan
Westmeath v Longford
TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar
Saturday March 5th, 2pm
