London face severe test against
Longford
London’s footballers kick off 2007 with as tough a league match
as they are likely to face all year against a Longford side that are an
emerging force in football.
The Midlanders have always had the backbone of an excellent team with
Paul Barden but the addition of several players from their successful
minor and under-21 teams of recent years has added a touch of class to
Luke Dempsey’s side.
Teenage corner-forward Brian Kavanagh will return from the All-Star trip
to Dubai in time to take part in this game. He is as good a young player
as there is in the country while Padraig Berry is the kind of battering
ram attacker who would inconvenience any defence.
In contrast London will be without two of their better attackers. Stewart
McKenzie-Smyth and Chris Donnellan are currently injured but Francie Cleary
could be pushing for a starting place.
The London team will be captained by Brian McBrearty and manager Noel
Dunning believes that his charges could hardly have had a tougher opening
to their League campaign.
Dunning said: “Longford came on a lot last year and have had a few
lads returning to the panel who were not previously involved. They will
be high on confidence and will be taking the competition seriously because
they will want to finish in the top four to make sure that they get a
qualifier match in the Championship in 2008.”
The Exiles have been drawn in an exceptionally tough group this year but
if they put up a performance of quality against Longford it could set
the tone for a happy new year for the London footballers and supporters
of the Exiles.
As well as Longford Noel Dunning’s men will face Clare, Offaly,
Leitrim, Monaghan, Roscommon and Carlow with the chances of putting points
on the table remote in the extreme.
Still Dunning and his selectors are confident that playing some high-quality
sides in this year’s league will provide the perfect preparation
for the summer’s Connacht Championship clash with Leitrim.
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