LOI match scores w/e Monday 20th August

[Lim till i die]

Tommy Dunne must be on his way out at the end of the season.

Tedious draw specialists now starting to lose.

Matthews at Shels is surely ****ed as well if they've any few bob at all.

[dong]

Matthews at Shels is surely ****ed as well if they've any few bob at all.

They have gone backwards alright.
My heart bleeds for Matthews and that dirty ******* Cronin.

[sullanefc]

Tommy Dunne must be on his way out at the end of the season.

Tedious draw specialists now starting to lose.

We have been dreadful this season. I have never seen worse TBH. But the transition from 1st to Premier can be difficult and when we are not up their challenging at the business end of the season it can be hard to be motivated. I'm sure that shouldn't be the case for pro footballers but I'm sure it creeps into some of their thoughts.

I think some of our signings have been dodgy but I'd give Tommy until the end of the season to keep us up, learn from this season, and then improve the team in the close season. If we haven't improved by then, then he will be under serious pressure IMO.


Matthews at Shels is surely ****ed as well if they've any few bob at all.
I never really rated Matthews as a manager when he was at City but to be fair to him, his team have also made the same transition as City. So I'd cut him some slack until next season.

[born2bwild]

Matthews at Shels is surely ****ed as well if they've any few bob at all.
Maybe Limerick will make a donation?

[placid casual]

good wins for Rovers and sligo. cant see sligo slipping up now.
Am I right in thinking they've lost only once this season ? thats how you win leagues, in fairness

windy o'connor up to his old tricks against bray I hear, and they still lost! karma.

and the boez lost. which was nice.

[trevy]

I was listening to today fm at 10 and rte radio 1 at 11 and neither bothered to give the first division results on their sports news. Should the FAI or fans put pressure on media outlets to at least give out the results of the forgotten division which only takes a few seconds?

[Mark]

RTE Radio often give the First Div results , but not often. I rarely hear LOI news on Today FM and never listen to them for results.

[GalwayRed]

He was pretty biased alright I thought. Shels were very poor. Struggling to think of a team we've played this season who were worseI don't think I've seen a team in the league this season that I'd actually be confident of us beating at this stage. That's saying a lot too because the standard this season has been pretty weak.
We were awful last night. We never at any stage looked capable of getting back into the game. Most of the team didn't look interested last night anyway. Playing Stephen Hurley and Sean Byrne at right and left midfield makes no sense to me. None of Mathews changes made any real impact except for Kavanagh which was more down to individual ability more than anything else anyway. I haven't seen anything we can really build on for next season.
Sligo barely had to get out of second gear last night. I can't see anybody but them picking up the title at this stage.

[nigel-harps1954]

I was listening to today fm at 10 and rte radio 1 at 11 and neither bothered to give the first division results on their sports news. Should the FAI or fans put pressure on media outlets to at least give out the results of the forgotten division which only takes a few seconds?


RTE Radio often give the First Div results , but not often. I rarely hear LOI news on Today FM and never listen to them for results.


League of Ireland tends to be the "and in other news" section.

It's sad to see that £24 million Rob Van Persie is all over the main headlines, first on sports news, yet the title run in, in our own domestic league takes a back seat, and of course, there's no such thing as the First Division.

[SkStu]

and the boez lost. which was nice.

we've only had 3 victories in the last 28 encounters in Derry, 4 in 29 if you include The Tavern Bar.

(joke, joke, relax)

[gufcfan]

How much is a red card worth to the FAI?

0.000000001% of Delaney's salary.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Longford 1-0 Mervue. Gary Shaw.

[NeverFeltBetter]

And 2-0. Purdy. Longford already at a stroll it seems. More pressure on Limerick now.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Finn Harps 0-1 Limerick - Shane Treacy near HT.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Finn Harps 1-1 Limerick, Paul McVeigh. 20 mins or so to go, Longford/Mervue in final stages.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Full time in both games. Finn Harps 1-1 Limerick, Longford 2-0 Mervue. Limerick lead FD by 4 from Longford, who are ahead of Waterford by 3. Six games to play.

[nigel-harps1954]

Cracker of a match in Finn Park. Really battling performance by Harps, great defensive display got us a point in the end up. A young, but very confident Harps team at the minute. On the way up, 4th place now. We'll catch Waterford yet ;)

[dfx-]

we've only had 3 victories in the last 28 encounters in Derry, 4 in 29 if you include The Tavern Bar.

(joke, joke, relax)

That's as bad as Rovers' record in Cork..

[Longfordian]

Purdy's goal was an absolute belter. Lobbed the keeper from about 40 yards. He's come on a lot this season. A lot of potential.

[adamd164]

Anyone looking to have a bet tonight, Drogs for some reason can be had as high as 11/5 to beat us. Or perhaps a safer option is Drogs draw no bet at 6/5.

With no win in 6 games, 5/4 is a crazy price for us.

[adamd164]

Put the jinx on it, FT City 3-2 Drogs. Still, happy out with that result :)

[dong]

Silencing all the doubters week after week.What a team.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Still quite a bit to go yet. Huge game on Friday night.

[Pablo Escobar]

What an utterly disgraceful display of refereeing in Turners Cross tonight. Drogs got their first from a free that really wasn't a free. Their second was from a penalty that came from a ball over the top, blatant offside and McNulty winning the ball. The ref was in the other half of the pitch when he gave it. Red card for McNulty.

[sullanefc]

What an utterly disgraceful display of refereeing in Turners Cross tonight. Drogs got their first from a free that really wasn't a free. Their second was from a penalty that came from a ball over the top, blatant offside and McNulty winning the ball. The ref was in the other half of the pitch when he gave it. Red card for McNulty.

Disgraceful refereeing. Justice done in the end.

[dong]

Nothing is won yet I agree. I just hope we can maintain this.
Pascal getting injured tonight is a big loss but there's a determination about this side that's very impressive.

[dong]

Disgraceful refereeing. Justice done in the end.

Which of our treasured men in black was doing his stuff there tonight?

[Pablo Escobar]

Which of our treasured men in black was doing his stuff there tonight?
Derek Tomney and his trusty side-kick.

[adamd164]

Staggeringly, we're only 2 points off 5th place. The gap between the top 4 and the rest is widening, 8 pts between Pats and Derry now.

[PartySaint]

Still quite a bit to go yet. Huge game on Friday night.

We will win on Friday but Sligo will still win the league.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

We will win on Friday but Sligo will still win the league.

I'd settle for that. We've an awful record in Inchicore although we're playing very well the last few weeks. Certainly a lot better then when Pats came to the Showgrounds

[Fivesilver]

We will win on Friday but Sligo will still win the league.

If that comes with a guarantee you can beat us 10-0. 35 years is a long time.

[redarmyfaction]

We will win on Friday but Sligo will still win the league.

God, preserve us all from the hubris but we are going to kick ye'er sorry arses come Friday. Look on our works ye mighty and despair.

[nigel-harps1954]

Staggeringly, we're only 2 points off 5th place. The gap between the top 4 and the rest is widening, 8 pts between Pats and Derry now.

Have you seen the First Division? 15 points between Harps in 4th and Waterford in 3rd. Crazy stuff.

[redobit]

Have you seen the First Division? 15 points between Harps in 4th and Waterford in 3rd. Crazy stuff.

A litigate argument not to have a 16 team league !!!!

[gufcfan]

A litigate argument not to have a 16 team league !!!!

Exactly. And the points gaps in a 16 team league would be bigger and even gigantic only for the fact that 3 points is the maximum haul for annihilating a basement team.

[nigel-harps1954]

A litigate argument not to have a 16 team league !!!!

Yes, I'm loving the fact now that Harps are on a good run of form, and we still can't get a big crowd in. Be pretty handy if Shamrock Rovers or Sligo came to town now, while they're pushing for the league.

But sure..not any sort of argument for helping a clubs finances.


Exactly. And the points gaps in a 16 team league would be bigger and even gigantic only for the fact that 3 points is the maximum haul for annihilating a basement team.

There's points gaps in the current Premier Division, jesus is that the only argument against a 16 team Premier?

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, I'm loving the fact now that Harps are on a good run of form, and we still can't get a big crowd in. Be pretty handy if Shamrock Rovers or Sligo came to town now, while they're pushing for the league.

But sure..not any sort of argument for helping a clubs finances.
You've kind of summed it up there. A 16 team league would be a financial boon to FD clubs but disastrous for PD clubs. It would be like getting relegated for the likes of UCD and Bray and the relative gains would go to clubs like the two Rovers for whom away crowds are a minor portion of the total attendance.

[nigel-harps1954]

We're obviously going to disagree here, so there's no point arguing. But I firmly believe it has to be one division next season. There's no way forward for the First division. It's dead, and to avoid it and keep the clubs there stuck in a league nobody cares about is rubbish. Because one division might slightly hamper the crowds of the top teams in certain games is also a rubbish reason against one division.

Going by your own argument, what is the way forward for a first division? Do we let it stay as it is? Clubs are struggling financially because of lack of sponsorship, lack of crowds, and general lack of interest from the public and the media.
Longford are 2nd in the league, crowds are not even reaching 300 lately.
Limerick are starting to run away with it, average attendance of under 700.

This isn't good enough. The first division has to be scrapped. If Sligo and Shamrock Rovers are getting good crowds on a regular basis, they'll continue to get them, whether they're playing St.Pats or Wexford Youths.

[Charlie Darwin]

I wasn't saying it's a bad idea, just pointing out there will be winners and losers from every arrangement and you can bet the clubs that stand to lose out will try to resist change. On the other hand, clubs like UCD and Bray might prefer the security of top-flight football to the extra gates they get in the Premier. It will take a bit of leadership to see it through if it does come to a one-division league.

[nigel-harps1954]

I couldn't agree more CD, but I just think the positives outweigh the negatives. And currently, it's the best way to rebuild the league.

[A face]

You've kind of summed it up there. A 16 team league would be a financial boon to FD clubs but disastrous for PD clubs. It would be like getting relegated for the likes of UCD and Bray and the relative gains would go to clubs like the two Rovers for whom away crowds are a minor portion of the total attendance.

Well i think he is saying that the home crowd would increase for the home club if one of the two Rovers came to town.

[Charlie Darwin]

I couldn't agree more CD, but I just think the positives outweigh the negatives. And currently, it's the best way to rebuild the league.
Still, needs a strong leader to get everyone on side.


Well i think he is saying that the home crowd would increase for the home club if one of the two Rovers came to town.
That's what I mean. Current FD clubs will benefit from bigger attendances, but current PD teams will lose out because Youths and Harps are never going to bring the same traveling support as the two Rovers. Of those PD clubs, the likes of Bray and UCD will be the worst hit because they rely more on away crowds, and the Rovers will be least affected because they already have large home supports.

Again, it does seem like a fairer system to have a 16-team league, but some clubs will lose out, and some of those clubs are already struggling financially.

[nigel-harps1954]

That's what I mean. Current FD clubs will benefit from bigger attendances, but current PD teams will lose out because Youths and Harps are never going to bring the same traveling support as the two Rovers.

So, you're telling me, the 100 or so that come from Derry/Sligo would well outnumber any home support from Harps? I sincerely disagree. No disrespect to Sligo, I know they brought a good travelling support to Tallaght recently, but don't be telling me that's the usual away support for them.

In the Premier Division, crowd would most definitely rise in a 16/18 team division right across the board due to an increased interest in the league as a whole. The league itself would 100% become much more competitive in my view. The teams at the top would most certainly keep their high attendances due to their league position, as always happens. It can only be a good thing for the league if average attendances for new Premier teams such as Wexford/Harps/Longford/Limerick went much higher, home support would grow, as well as away support. Lets face it, there's never more than 40+ fans at away matches for clubs in the first division, and at times we're lucky to see that. I think it's happened 3 times in Finn Park this season.

Don't try tell me that 18 teams would have a detrimental effect on attendances, because it most certainly would not. No matter where a team is in the league, you are still guaranteed at least 4 or 5 games a season with 1,000+ crowds.

Sorry, but for me, the attendances argument holds no water.

[Charlie Darwin]

So, you're telling me, the 100 or so that come from Derry/Sligo would well outnumber any home support from Harps? I sincerely disagree. No disrespect to Sligo, I know they brought a good travelling support to Tallaght recently, but don't be telling me that's the usual away support for them.
It's not, but they routinely bring a bigger crowd than Bohs, who despite being our fierce local rivals can't seem to overcome the lack of a direct bus route.


In the Premier Division, crowd would most definitely rise in a 16/18 team division right across the board due to an increased interest in the league as a whole. The league itself would 100% become much more competitive in my view. The teams at the top would most certainly keep their high attendances due to their league position, as always happens.
Can't fathom your reasoning here. Rovers' lowest attendances by far this past year so were for matches with Athlone and Limerick. Granted, they were in the Cup, but they were on Fridays. The addition of those sides to a reformed Premier Division will result in a drop in crowds for every club in the current PD. That might be mitigated in the long run by increased interest, but in the short term? No way.


It can only be a good thing for the league if average attendances for new Premier teams such as Wexford/Harps/Longford/Limerick went much higher, home support would grow, as well as away support. Lets face it, there's never more than 40+ fans at away matches for clubs in the first division, and at times we're lucky to see that. I think it's happened 3 times in Finn Park this season.

Don't try tell me that 18 teams would have a detrimental effect on attendances, because it most certainly would not. No matter where a team is in the league, you are still guaranteed at least 4 or 5 games a season with 1,000+ crowds.

Sorry, but for me, the attendances argument holds no water.
You're taking a long-term view, and you might be right. In the short term, everybody but the likes of Harps and other FD teams will experience a drop in attendances for half the season. Just look at the difference in gates for Cork, Shels and Derry since they got promoted. People aren't magically going to get excited about a home fixture with Athlone just because they've been arbitrarily reassigned to the Premier Division.

[nigel-harps1954]

But isn't the problem with the league in the long term structure? The quick fixes of recent years have us where we are at present. The league needs a solid long term structure.

[dong]

It's terrible how teams playing in a lower tier have to put up with lower attendances. If only there was some way the teams playing in the top tier and getting higher attendances could help them out.

[NeverFeltBetter]

For those who disagree with the one league structure - whats your alternative for the First Division? Keep it as it is? Let more clubs in, with all of the financial pitfalls?

Is there even any genuine interest in the application process anymore? Apart from GUST, is anyone lining up a serious bid to join the LOI next year?

[redobit]

Yes, I'm loving the fact now that Harps are on a good run of form, and we still can't get a big crowd in. Be pretty handy if Shamrock Rovers or Sligo came to town now, while they're pushing for the league.

But sure..not any sort of argument for helping a clubs finances.



Without sounding like Im having a go Nigel, but its interesting how you straight away change the attention from the likely gulfs in league table positions that will (definetly imo) occur in a 16 team league to attendances/ club finances. No doubt Harps obsession with the lack of both crowds and cash has somthing to do with that!!!

A 16 or 18 league would do little for the 'lesser' teams in the league imo. Take Harps. Of course they will have a few bigger gates when Rovers, Shams, Derry and maybe Pats come to town. In fairness, so what, it will be a very small percentage of running costs in a season and the rest of the time it will be as you were.

A 16 or 18 team league would have major gaps in it due to quality and could end up just bringing the joke that is the FD into a what would be a multi level Premier division. At the moment every team in the premier has a chance against every other team. That competion value would be watered down with team expansion, somthing that would look pretty sad viewing on a league table with a daft multi level league.

Dont get me wrong Im not saying a 16 league team cant work. LTID made a good argument for one in a thread recently. But without major structural changes from the top down expansion imo would be change for change sake and not a good idea. I genuinely dont like playing 3 teams a season but its the most competiive method of doing it at the moment. Why should the premier teams change to suit FD teams?

It too easy for fans and clubs in the FD to say its crap, cant get out, change it, expand it. Bull. Look where we were 7 years ago, 5th in the FD was a decent season. GEt your house in order, work hard and make resonable expectations season on season and the FD will soon be nothing but a faded memory.

[NeverFeltBetter]

So, keep it as it is? Shall it be 7 if two clubs go up? 6 if Mervue and SD depart in exchange for GUST? Is there a line in the sand?