Understrength Devon blown away by title favourites on opening night

Date Published: 11-Mar-2013

Jason Byrne at Drom

Salthill Devon’s fourth season in the Airtricity League First Division could not have got off to a worse start as they were trounced by title favourites Longford Town at Drom on Friday night.

David O’Sullivan bagged a second-half hat-trick for the visitors as Daniel Purdy and Josh O’Hanlon also got on the scoresheet, as Devon failed to cope and created little in a game which was played at Drom, Devon having ditched both the experimental name ‘SD Galway’, and using Eamonn Deacy Park as their home ground, from last season.

Devon were on the back foot from the off, as they were missing four key players in Brian Geraghty, Michael Harty, Willie Enubele and striker Enda Curran. All four were ruled out through suspensions carried over from last season, and as a result Tony Mannion could only name four substitutes for the game.

After just six minutes, Longford created their first chance when Gary Shaw nodded a fine ball from Keith Quinn back to Purdy, who shot wide in an early warning for Devon.

Five minutes later, Tony Cousins’ men hit the front when Purdy’s free-kick curled into the Devon net via a deflection which caught James Keane off guard, to register the first League of Ireland goal of the 2013 season.

Just three minutes later Keane was called into action again, this time saving a header from Longford’s Willo McDonagh, as the Leinster men were in complete dominance of the early stages.

Nine minutes before the break, a familiar face was introduced as former Devon player Ethan Nkololo – who joined Longford from Mervue for this season – replaced the injured Quinn to make his Longford debut.

Just three minutes later, Longford were forced to make another change as Gary Shaw received a heavy knock and Josh O’Hanlon was introduced to the fold, and Devon finally created their first chance minutes later. Nicky Curran embarked on one of his forward runs from right-back and had a lash at goal but his effort flashed wide.

Chances of a repeat of Devon’s shock 2-1 win over Longford last September were dashed nine minutes into the second half when the visitors doubled their lead as O’Sullivan netted his first after a fine ball inside from O’Hanlon.

Desperate to try and bolster his midfield Mannion, sent on Colm Horgan in place of Gerry Dolan, just before the tie was put beyond doubt as O’Sullivan turned provider for O’Hanlon who finished with aplomb.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.