PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB Burnley have rewarded Kevin Long with a new contract.
The Republic of Ireland central defender has been tied down on a deal until June 2021.
Having joined from hometown club Cork City in January 2010, Long is Burnley’s longest-serving player.
“Ever since I’ve been here the club has gone from strength-to-strength,” he told Burnley FC’s official website. “It’s progressed massively, and I think it will continue to do as long as we keep making sure the performances on the pitch are moving forward.”
While his early years at Turf Moor were hampered by injury, last season was Long’s most productive at the club. He made 16 Premier League starts as Sean Dyche’s side qualified for the Europa League by finishing seventh.
Providing back-up for the likes of Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, Long has been restricted to just one league appearance from the bench so far this season, although he did make three starts during their European campaign.
“Last season I played quite a few games in the Premier League, which is the highest level and where you want to be,” the 28-year-old said. “I’m not in the team at the moment with Tarky and Ben doing well and so I’ve got to bide my time again.
“You have to wait for a chance and then try and take it when it comes, which I think I did last season. I want to be playing games and I’m not happy when I’m not in the team.
“My main aim is to get in the starting line-up. But you can only pick 11 and I have to be patient and keep working hard. And when the chance comes, I like to think I help the team and I want that to continue.”
Long, who won his eighth senior cap for Ireland in last month’s draw with Poland, is currently with Martin O’Neill’s squad in Dublin as they prepare for the Uefa Nations League double header against Denmark and Wales.
Long said: “Playing in the Premier League is the highest level, which has definitely helped me. I’m delighted to have been called up by my country again and it’s a big week for us.”
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Id imagine the referee is more disappointed with that Cork win than Kilkenny themselves. A shambles of a refereeing display. Kilkenny cynical all night. Good win for the Rebels.
@IrishOwl: Kilkenny cynical? Go way outta that. If Cork never win an All-Ireland again it’ll be too soon.
@LaoisWeather: lol… Good man. Well.. it’ll be a Cold day in Laois before they make any impact.. in any sport. More lemons ?
@LaoisWeather: kilkenny were absolutely cynical tonight. Ball dropping and a sneaky pull of the helmet or coming out with the ball and swinging the Hurley. Walter Walsh nearly bust Tim o mahonys back when he he threw a shoulder full force into his spine. Kilkenny have always been like that.
@James horgan: Kilkenny hurled, as they always have. Typical Cork, not happy with a flukey win.
@LaoisWeather: killkenny hurled and lost again to cork. Cork not been put off by the sly digs as much anymore. Question is do killkenny have anything else to offer?
@michael o farrell: Cork won’t get out of Munster
@LaoisWeather: Wake up, Kilkenny, while obviously have been a fantastic hurling team over the years, have also been one of the most cynical and dirty teams ever, but they are so cute and sly at doing it.
@James horgan: and Cork got a free and Walsh got yellow carded. What more could the ref have done in that situation
@Patrick O Connell: correct action was taken by the ref but the situation shouldn’t have happened. Could have seriously injured o mahony but Walsh didn’t care less and full pelt into the back. Just the kinda stuff kilkenny have been doing for years but you can’t call them out cause their supporter’s get offended. Even though it’s clear to everyone what they’ve been upto for years
@LaoisWeather: kilkenny wrestled and cork hurled. That’s why cork won out in the end. It was a hurling match not wreslemania
@LaoisWeather: what a bitter böllix you are mate.
The ref should never officiate again, trying to make a name for himself, at least 2 reds in game, lost the game in 2nd half
I don’t know if it’s wrestling the boys from Kilkenny think they’re playing or what. The amount of dragging and pulling off the ball that all of us in the crowd could see and the ref ignored was ridiculous.
Cork were sloppy enough with their passing game and had some bad wides . Hard to know where they are at . Kilkenny should have put them away but they hurled well the last 15 mins and got over the line
All Ireland favourites now,
@Chris Tobin: Limerick, Galway, Waterford and then Cork per the bookies with Limerick odds on.
@T Dawg: Galway will do well to make it to the semis. Nobody will lay a glove in Limerick again this year
@T Dawg: cork 5th favourite.
I’ll take that all day
@T Dawg: Yawn
Lads, Cork stop moaning and get on with. Soft as f. All the talent in the world (which ye have btw) won’t win anything relying on refs and a soft culture created by Dog etc. Brian Cody has not blown a whistle in Nowlan Park for 23 year! Its a war ffs
@Gary Quirke: will ya stop for crying out loud. What game do you want to see? Is it hurling or a mish mash of wrestling, rugby and hurling? Cody not blowing a whistle in 23 years doesn’t prove anything other than ye haven’t got the talent and so want to win dirty. That’s not something to be proud of. Hurling is supposed to be a fast and skillful game, not the awful yoke of a spectacle ye want it to be. I lost count of the amount of times a Kilkenny man used his hurley to tackle a player around the neck last night. Thats not hurling and all the ‘man’s game’ propaganda yer past players spout will never make it so.
@Gary Quirke: who won the match?
poor little Cork, depending on refs as usual
@Kevin Shortall: ah cmon now, take the loss like a man
Lads, see this moaning and complaining that Cork do? Its’ now ingrained in yere behaviour, culture and youth. Get on with, ye have the hurlers but do ye have it in the belly? Send up yere youth to St. Kierans College and ye might win a senior this decade
@Gary Quirke: We’re coming in this year off the back of winning the last 2 U20 All Irelands and last years Minor All Ireland and you want us to send up our young lads to St. Kierans, any more jokes like that
@Gary Quirke: sir did ASR beat Kierans lately
@Gary Quirke: so rattled from losing to cork again. Just take the loss on the chin like a man.
Where will the final take place?
@David O’Brien: Thurlas, next Sunday as far as I know. Expect waterford to beat wexford so an all munster final
@David O’Brien: league final always Thurles . So next Sunday in Thurles
@Eileen Hennessy: I recall Limerick winning the league in Croke Park recently?