Longford Town's Aodh Dervin - I thought we should've nicked it

Andrew Dempsey reports from Stradbrook

Longford Town held out for a one-one draw against a revitalised Cabinteely who threw everything at the Midlander’s during a pulsating second half.

It seemed as if Longford were on course for their second win of the league campaign at the break before Pat Devlin’s side hit back in the grand manner during the second half.

Speaking after the game with extratime.ie, Longford Town midfielder Aodh Dervin noted his disappointment at not being able to secure three points at the South Dublin venue.

“I thought we should’ve nicked it.” We were all at it in the first half but that’s what happens when you don’t finish games that’s what happens. We’re not too disappointed and we now have Galway to look forward to next week.

“The pitch wasn’t great, and we started off very well in the first half and they came back well in the second half and raised it up a few levels. It was always going to be one of those games, but we got a point out of it which will be good in the long term.

“We’ve the whole season ahead of us and we’re still unbeaten. Coming to Cabinteely is never easy with the pitch the way it is, and you’ll drop points and we got a point out of it.”

The Cabinteely response was emphatic after going behind before the break and looking at the way things panned in the second period, the local lad from Longford noted that a battling performance from Pat Devlin’s side was nothing more than he expected in the end.

“They’re big and they’re physical. They’ll try and bully you and that’s the way they’ll play. They’ll look to win their battles and that’s the way they play, and it suits them, and we saw that in the second half.”

In terms of next week for Longford, De Town host Galway United in what will surely be another thriller at City Calling Stadium.

“Galway are always Galway.” The 19-year-old added.

“They’ll go for it and they’ll press you all over the pitch. They’ll be hard to beat again, like everyone is in this league so we’ll know we have to be at our best and we’ll try get the three points.

“Towards the end of last season and the start of this season the fans have been great. It was hard for them, there was nowhere to sit in the rain.

“They’re always there for us and pushed us on. Even though it was one-all they still stuck behind us and fair play to them and hopefully we’ll get the same next week!”