The last chance saloon!
London have one final game to try to rescue their dismal campaign
 By DAVID THORPE
London’s footballers have the chance to end their dismal league
campaign on a high when they travel to Carlow in their final game on Sunday.
It’s been another barren season for the side who have been brushed
aside this year by the likes of
Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Lietrim and Longford. If London could pull off
a surprise victory in Carlow it would provide the perfect lift ahead of
their Connacht Championship tie with Mayo later in the year.
London have struggled all over the field this year and will have to be
at their very best if they are to defeat the midland minnows.
London have had just one league win in seven years that being against
Carlow in 2004. The closest London have come to victory this year was
against Leitrim when they were defeated by 1-12 to 1-04. The side have
conceded an average of 19 points per game and have scored an average of
just six points in their six fixtures so far. Rooted to the bottom of
Division 2A relegation was a certainty some time ago and so a morale-
boosting display against Carlow would be crucial if London are to have
any hope of frightening high flying Mayo this year.
The Exiles are sweating on the fitness of the experienced Johnny Niblock
going into the clash with the Barrowsiders but otherwise London have no
fresh injury concerns.
Carlow and London currently occupy the bottom two spots in the Division
but exiles boss Noel Dunning is not underestimating the challenge posed
by the Leinster side.
He said: “We have played Carlow for the last two seasons in the
league and also in a challenge game in the autumn. They impressed a bit
and I thought they would go on and progress from what they did last season.
They have been ravaged with injuries during the league which perhaps goes
some way in explaining their poor form but they have improved in recent
weeks, just coming into the Championship.”
Carlow will be without long-term injury victims Brian Carbury, Liam Murphy
and Paul Kelly, while promising young forward Alan Kelly is suspended
having being sent off against Longford.
Dunning is acutely aware of the pressure he and his players have come
under during the course of what has been an abysmal league campaign. Drawn
against far superior sides such as Donegal and Clare the Exiles have failed
to trouble any of their opponents this campaign, and have been damaged
by a spate of defections and injuries in recent weeks.
The London management has also been forced to dismiss rumours of a serious
rift in the camp following the Donegal defeat, calling tales of a bust-up
absolute nonsense.
He said: “We have essentially been building a whole new team from
scratch this year. The purpose of the league has been to introduce new
players with an eye to the Championship, No-one likes losing matches,
but the championship gets priority, especially at a time when we are rebuilding.
I think Carlow are a bit stronger than their league position indicates
but we will be going all out for the victory to boost confidence ahead
of the championship.”
Carlow were unlucky in their last league clash to lose to Luke Dempsey’s
Longford on a scoreline of 0-15 to 2-07 and will see their clash with
London as an attempt to restore some pride having also had a poor league
campaign.
|
