Longford aiming for final promotion push

Longford Town will look to capitalise on their dramatic comeback at the Carlisle Grounds when they take on Bray Wanderers in the second leg of the Airticity League play-off tonight at Strokestown Road.

Des Hope is unavailable for the game having limped out of Monday's 2-2 draw early on with a hamstring problem while Gary Shaw is considered a 50-50 shot to start by manager Tony Cousins who has the option of starting Josh O'Hanlon if that Shaw doesn't make it.

“Josh is a fantastic talent and it’s great to have him there knocking at the door,” says Cousins. “I think the whole team did exceptionally well the other night, though, and after the way they came from behind they’ll have that little more belief . . .”

Cousins is hoping home advantage can help sway the tie in Longford’s favour.

"I'm glad it's going to be settled at our place; we've a good record there and the pitch is bigger, which suits us. We just to make sure that we make it count now."

Top flight
Pat Devlin knows his side will have to stay on things for the entire 90 minutes this time if they are to retain their top -flight status but he'll have been encouraged by a first -half performance at home that suggested Wanderers would have a bit too much for their younger, less experienced opponents.

Dean Zambra is almost certainly going to miss tonight’s game having reportedly broken a bone in his foot during the first leg. Danny O’Connor is Bray’s other absentee.

Former player Keith Gillespie will be signing copies of his autobiography – How not to be a Football Millionaire – at the ground ahead of tonight's game.

Elsewhere, cup finalists Sligo Rovers have confirmed that Séamus Conneely and Jeff Henderson have signed new contracts with the club.

Limerick have staged of a clearout with Joe Gamble, Stephen Bradley, Brian O’Callaghan, Alex Bossekota, Carel Tiofack, Jeffrey judge and Stephen Walsh all having been released.