- University College Dublin FC have won ten, drawn two and lost five of their 17 home games in the First Division 2026.
- Longford Town have won four, drawn seven and lost six of their 17 away trips in the First Division 2026.
UCD are The Students, not The Swings
Andy Myler's side have been up and down the league like a yo-yo in the last few months and their last three results shows just how swingy their momentum is. The Students had a 5-1 thumping away to Cork City, then they were beaten at home 1-3, before a stunning turnaround with a 0-4 win over Treaty United away.
UCD are the better side on paper and Longford will surely come here and try to keep it tight and stingy. Myler's men like to play a possession-based game with quick passing, good tempo and lots of movement in the midfield third. They will look to pin Longford back and it's no surprise then to find out the visitors have conceded 28 away goals.
The 3rd placed side (52pts from 34 games) have enough quality in their ranks to be a problem for the 5th placed Longford (48pts from 34 games) if they are on. Longford Town have a good record in this fixture but have only won one of the three in the First Division 2026, a 2-1 result here.
Longford have more grit and bite
Gary Cronin's side have been more pragmatic this season with a much more compact shape and quick transitions. This should be a fixture where the possession footie meets the direct footie and the balance of the game will be fascinating to observe.
De Town have more bite and come into this game following a 0-1 win away to Finn Harps, a 2-1 home win over Cork City and a 3-3 draw with Wexford FC away in the previous three.
There is an even head-to-head record in the First Division 2026 between these two sides (W1, D1, L1) and we're expecting a tight game. However, with Longford's recent goalscoring touch and UCD's firepower with Hugh Smith on form (3 goals in last 5 games) we are backing both teams to score and the home side to nick it.
