Obviously not aware of the standard of football elsewhere, but I know Cockhill Celtic of the Ulster Senior League have as good as ran away with the league title the past two years, winning league and cup double both those seasons. They came up against Harps this year in the first round of the League Cup, with local football folks claiming they'd easily go through, seeing themselves as a much better team. They got an awful shock when Harps fairly easily disposed of them with a weakened side.Originally Posted by DRDoc
Couple of Junior teams here have fancied beating Harps in pre-season matches too, Erne Wanderers of Ballyshannon being one that were talking up a scalp, saying Harps were 'sh!te' and the usual rubbish sprouted. They got beat 9-0 if memory serves right.
People largely over-estimate the standard of junior football in this country. Any team are capable of a big performance, but the jump in standard from non-league to First Division is huge, as Mervue and Salthill both proved.
The First Division was absolutely woeful for a couple of seasons, but this season has proven a lot closer, more competitive, and quite enjoyable to watch.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
The league teams have advantages at this stage of the year.
The Junior/Intermediate teams being at such an early stage and the league teams being in full flow.
Also the competition runs over 2 seasons which can lead to players being cup tied from earlier this year.
Having said that I would expect Avondale or St Michaels to be at a better standard than any USL team.
"Must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing."
http://worddok.blogspot.com
People always say the first division is particularly poor, and indeed that the league in general is going backwards- but I don't really believe it. D1 this year has a lot of very well organised and committed teams.
And these junior clubs that don't have clowns running them- have said non-clown ever taken on a league where they probably have to spend 200k before they pay any wages while meeting licensing requirements?
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
Whens the last time a non-league side beat a first division or premier division side in the Cup?
Here on a technicality.
Bluebell put out Athlone last year.
We better not mention Sheriff beating Shels.
Last edited by razor; 27/08/2014 at 9:48 AM.
"Must you tell me all your secrets when it's hard enough to love you knowing nothing."
http://worddok.blogspot.com
Last ten years
2004 Rockmount bt Monaghan (last 16)
2005 Wayside bt Cobh (lasst 32)
2006 none
2007 Douglas hall bt Cobh (last 32)
2008 Wayside bt Monagahan (last 16)
2009 Crumlin bt Shels (last 32)
2010 none
2011 Sherriff by Salthill (last 32), Sheriff/Shels etc (last 16)
2012 Cherry orchard bt Longford (last 32)
2013 Bluebell bt Athlone (last 32)
2014 none so far
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
---
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Bluebell defeat only the 2nd time we lost to a non-League side. And the other time, the NL side were also the defending Cup winners!
Plus, after the Bluebell defeat we did go on a 14 game unbeaten run to claim the First Division, so who cares!
Celebrating 130 Years of Athlone Town Football Club - Pride of the Midlands Since 1887
Still you by the looks of things
Here on a technicality.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks!
I don't think any club can match Dundalk's record of 6 losses to non-league opposition, stretching from 1940 to 2001.
Beat that!
Last edited by orielabu; 27/08/2014 at 6:34 PM. Reason: Date change
Clubs have put stars on their crests for less.
That made me proper snort and snigger. Well played sir.Clubs have put stars on their crests for less.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
The last 3 also involved Dundalk teams that won things too.
2001 v Portmarnock (won FD later that season)
1991 v Ashtown (would go on to win the PD that season 90/91)
1983 v Cobh, as defending league champions in 82/83 (single div at the time)
I also think the 6 time defeats by non league sides is a LOI record and by some margin too.
Last edited by oriel; 27/08/2014 at 9:56 PM.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
I'd love to see more competitive junior sides back in the cup. Sheriff getting past Shels then getting thrown out has been the only proper run in recent memory.
Ashtownvilla still haunts me! Half expected the Portmarnock one at the time. Didnt we lose to Drogheda in Oriel as champions 95/96 when they were 2nd bottom of the first division and in financial ruins (when FAI bought United Park?) felt like a loss to a junior outfit anyhow!
Not quite - t'was a 1-1 draw in gundalk then 2-1 in utd park with a trev crolly strike into the bottom corner in ET. Great game. Cant remember the other scorers (maybe tressen for drog) duns goal was a cracking volley if memory serves.
You have a better memory than I! Im painfully starting to recall the incident. Think we beat Drogheda by big score (7-0) in the LC earlier in the season too or am I merging seasons...
Unbelievably the replay is on youtube..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xerFWghIkbo
The volley wasn't quite as good as I recalled at the time. I remember thinking the crowd was huge there (I suppose I was quite small).
We were in the Premier division for that cup tie win in 95/96 season. There was also a league game in Oriel the following weekend, another draw I think.
You've merged 3 items from about 10 years into 1 season there.
James Impey was immense for the Drogs that day lol...an Aston villa loanee I think
Only another 9 titles till Drogheda become pride of county louth!!!
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