Longford Town travel to the Carlisle Grounds to take on back-to-back promotion finalists Bray Wanderers in First Division season opener.
Bray are coming into the season off yet another impressive but unfruitful playoff run after losing to Waterford in the promotion/relegation final in November last year. Bray are undefeated in their three opening Leinster Senior Cup games with two wins including a 3-1 victory over Bohemians at the Carlisle which sends them into the quarter finals. Paul Heffernan will look to start the season strong as his squad looks set to contend for the First Division title.
Longford missed out on the playoffs by only 3 points last season despite ending the season with a 5-game winning streak including a win over 5th placed Treaty United. Longford have failed to record a win during pre-season and the Leinster Senior Cup including a 5-nil loss to St Pats in the cup. Wayne Groves will want his squad to make the push into the playoff spots which they came so close last season.
Key Information
Kick Off: 7:45, February 13th
Where to Watch: LOITV
Betting Odds: Bray @4/7, Draw @14/5, Longford @4/1
Team News
There are no injuries for either team.
Longford’s new signings Daniel McKenna, Jake Hough and Taylor McCarthy will be available for selection.
Bray’s new signings Rian Hogan, Ryan Kelly, Dan Ring, Dean O’Shea, Ifunanyachi Achara, Marc Chidi, Declan Osaige (loan from Bohemians), Tyreik Sammy (loan from Shelbourne) and John Bilili Sesay will be available for selection.
Key Statistics
Bray scored 63 goals in the league last season, the 3rd highest tally in the division. Bray embarked on an historic winning run last season including 7 league victories in a row. Bray finished with a +10-goal difference. 69% of Bray’s matches in 2025 had 3 or more goals.
Longford tallied a goal difference of –16. Longford only kept 6 clean sheets last season (17% of games). Longford came away winless in 14 out of their 18 away games last season.
Players To Watch
Billy O’Neill will be a player to look out for after his impressive 2025 earned him a spot in the PFA Ireland Men’s First Division Team of the Year for 2025. He was part of the Republic of Ireland U‑17 squad that qualified for the 2025 FIFA U‑17 World Cup despite not being selected in the squad for the tournament itself. His 12 goals in the league last season propelled Bray to the playoff final.
Aaron Doran picked up Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year in 2025 for Longford Town and officially resigned with the club on a year-long deal last November. Doran was the club’s top goal scorer netting 11 goals in 35 appearances across the year of 2025. Bray defenders will be sure to keep a close eye on the 22-year-old.