Limerick Premier Division 2013/14

[Treaty Gooner]

Another good report Alan, I was at the game too and more or less agree. I say more or less because while the report on the 90mins is good, I don't think you know the league very well. There's a lot more to it, no way Fairview are 'fierce rivals' at least not anymore. The game was a total mismatch, Fairview never had a prayer. Any indepth reviewing of the game would register one fact: better players. Maybe that's why some of the members on here say you talk rope. Just my opinion mind, but if you're going to keep doing such technical reports, maybe some colour is needed. e.g. Why did Neville come off? How is Dermot Finnan reacting to such a downturn in fortuntes? Is he being found out? Is Mike Sheils the real deal?

[Second]

Treaty gooner Stevie Wonder could manage pike.. any 11 you pick will win 95% of games..

[AlanOB]

I would argue that the existence of a rivalry between two clubs is never negated by their relative strength. The history between the two clubs will always be there. I wasn't implying that they were in competition for honours this season and I would hope that the fact that View were only engaged in a containment exercise shines through in the report.

As for Shiels, when they play someone with an equivalent squad I'll let you know. At the very least, he's got them playing with far more fluidity and less predictability than his predecessor.

[Treaty Gooner]

My point is there's a lot more to the game than just the 90mins. Injuries, suspensions, u18s making the step up make for a more comprehensive report and I think they'd be better received because of it. To do that though you'd need to talk to the people involved, not just presume to know what they're doing. I mean, did they really use Jason Roche as a holding midfielder or is he just too slow to get around the pitch? Anyone who knows Jason's playing style would know the answer.
I agree with you Second, Pike's squad will win 95% of games regardless of who's picked.

[AlanOB]

Anyone who was watching the game closely would have seen that Jason was fielded between defence and midfield, i.e. behind O'Riordan and Reddan.

You seem to be making two separate points in your two posts - the first post states that I should add more "colour"/opinion. Have you been reading my stuff over the last 2+ years? Most of the controversy that I've generated comes from exactly that - giving my views on managers or players. And it's only one or two, shall we say, sensitive fans that have taken issue.

The second post changes the goalposts and states that I need to give more background detail/context. This is a valid criticism. I'm not a member of any club or a player and therefore don't have access to the information that some are privy to. In addition, I'm just back in the country after a few months away and am somewhat playing catch-up on that front.

I appreciate your input nonetheless.

[Treaty Gooner]

Ah look, I've praised your work in the past and I've agreed with you so far. I think you're only telling half the story and it comes across as condescending. eg. your remark about the perfect hat trick. And yes Jason Roche was in that position but was he suited to it? Did Fairview have better options on the bench? A lot of what you say is presumptuous based on what you see in 90mins, not in the broader context of any game.

[Two Feet Up]

Ah look, I've praised your work in the past and I've agreed with you so far. I think you're only telling half the story and it comes across as condescending. eg. your remark about the perfect hat trick. And yes Jason Roche was in that position but was he suited to it? Did Fairview have better options on the bench? A lot of what you say is presumptuous based on what you see in 90mins, not in the broader context of any game.

i suppose you should only be able to criticize if you were will to put up a report of your own to measure your concept of events.

so you would like him to be more presumptuous outside of the 90 mins on view. I think you are reading the tabloid reports to frequent and expect the same detail in Alans reports :D

[Treaty Gooner]

By that rationale shouldn't he be only allowed to comment on junior soccer if he's a junior soccer player or manager?
Nobody's looking for tabloid style anything, that's what the facebook site is for... I just commented that I don't think the full story comes across in his accounts.

[mrman]

By that rationale shouldn't he be only allowed to comment on junior soccer if he's a junior soccer player or manager?
Nobody's looking for tabloid style anything, that's what the facebook site is for... I just commented that I don't think the full story comes across in his accounts.

isnt he only giving a match report and not a club report, as he said hes not privy to the going on in the clubs playing and can just report on what he see, keep it up Aob, your reports are excellent.

[Treaty Gooner]

Fair enough. After a year or so of these reports-and I enjoy the technical side of them-there's been no development in them, just the same info game after game from someone who I think doesn't know the league. They're good, solid, stand alone accounts but are sounding more and more like someone who reads too much zonalmarking.net and doesn't know enough about local soccer.

[Fairkop]

even professional sports reporters have a certain rhetoric that makes their reports familiar,most of their reports will not include every single aspect from whatever perspective on a game.from a junior soccer angle AOB,s reports are just what they should be informative,opinionated..to suggest he does not know the league or local soccer seems an ambiguous and frivolous comment on his efforts..imo.

[js79]

Ah lads enough with the big fancy words,try to keep it simple please.:-) :-)

[Two Feet Up]

Fair enough. After a year or so of these reports-and I enjoy the technical side of them-there's been no development in them, just the same info game after game from someone who I think doesn't know the league. They're good, solid, stand alone accounts but are sounding more and more like someone who reads too much zonalmarking.net and doesn't know enough about local soccer.

my understanding is that Alan's match reports are for the benefit of those who were not at the game, purely based on the info from the 90 mins of game time. Unless he is trying to get a job with the local paper I think they are fine

I really think that you, Treaty Gunner, should compile a match report on the same game as Alan and see how good it is, considering you are so critical of someone supplying a good view of the match, for free , in their own time.
Maybe you are watching too much of Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville and expect the same review/analysis in this forum :cool:

[Treaty Gooner]

Fairkop - He writes 90% of the time only about matches involving Pike Rovers, he's admitted he wasn't a player, hasn't managed or coached a team and says he has read a lot about football - professional football I would imagine. I think that's grounds enough to say he doesn't know the league.

TFU - Carragher and Neville do the same thing, analysis of 90mins, no?
I've said this before but if he can be critical of footballers/managers without being a footballer/manager himself, is it hypocritical to say that I can't be critical of his reporting without being a reporter myself?

and finally

a) I'm offering an opinion of his writing, same as you - I've praised his reporting in the past, I just see no development in it this season
b) I said it was a 'good report' in my first reply on Sunday night but I don't think it was comprehensive enough because it offers no background, just one man's patchy tactical view of an unbelievably lop sided game. So Pike played 4-2-3-1, there was no mention of the technical ability of the players, the fitness levels, the preparations, the impact of the subs or the 1v1 battles on the pitch (except to say Gallaher didn't give Dunisha a sniff - how many crosses did Dunisha get in?). Now that would be worth reading.

and

c) If he's happy to continue to publish these reports then great, but he should be prepared to be disageed with and so should you and I.

[AlanOB]

Aisling Annacotty 6-0 Granville Rangers

Any expectations of a typically tight relegation six-pointer here were misplaced - Aisling Annacotty completely dominated this game against Granville Rangers and won it at a canter.

The most prominent theme was the numbers game in midfield. Granville came into this vital away game with two centre midfielders and two out-and-out strikers (Brian Butler and Ken O'Donoghue) in a classic 4-4-2. The home side, on the other hand, set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Adam Frahill playing behind striker John Collins. This meant that Aisling were able to dominate possession due to the extra body in the middle. They pressed Granville well, and the away side found it difficult to play through midfield. Their lack of compactness contributed to this (neither of the strikers looked to drop often enough) and Granville were constantly forced to try difficult long passes over the top or into the channels. Contributing to Granville's problems in the middle was the lack of a genuine holder. On more than one occasion both James McGarry and Liam Quinn were guilty of taking up advanced positions at the same time, leaving the aforementioned Frahill in acres of space between the lines.

The first goal, coming after 15 minutes, stemmed from this very issue. Frahill received the ball in behind the Granville midfield on the counter. He had plenty of time to slip a pass to his right to striker John Collins whose powerful strike went in off the far post. The second goal, coming on the stroke of half-time, was very similar - Frahill again receiving the ball in the same area. This time he slipped in substitute Chumkwa Manjor on the left wing. Manjor's cross found that man Collins in the six yard box, who converted his second.

There were some positive signs for Granville in the first half. Granville right midfielder Steve Cahill was getting a lot of change out of AA left back Richard Mullins (who was replaced before half-time, so may have been carrying a knock coming into the game). He put in a lovely cross after 25 minutes, which was headed wide, and won a corner 5 minutes later which should have been converted by O'Donoghue at the far post. Aisling were looking shaky from set pieces, and Granville centre back Greg Barrett should have scored with his head from another corner from the right (delivered by Liam Quinn) 5 minutes from the whistle.

Any hope of a second half fightback from the away side were quickly extinguished, however, in a 15 minute spell after the break. First, on 50 minutes, Aisling centre midfielder Ross McNamara scored his side's third, direct from a free kick. Ross deserved his goal in what was a dominant midfield performance. On the hour mark, a cross-shot from the right from John Collins hit the bar, denying him his hat-trick. Left winger Denis O'Dea was at hand at the far post to convert the rebound to make it 0-4. And five minutes later, O'Dea made it 5, running almost the length of the pitch after a Granville corner, evading at least two challenges along the way before slotting home - an impressive solo effort. From there, the game petered out more or less without incident, with the exception of the 6th goal 7 minutes from time - Aisling again exploited the lack of midfield protection as Shane Hallinan took advantage of the space afforded to him to score from outside the area.

A simply disastrous performance and result for Granville. They could be accused of naivety for coming into a massive away game like this with a basic 4-4-2. They didn't compete from a possession perspective and there were often large gaps between the midfield and the defence and between the midfield and the strikers. Aisling took full advantage of this and will be confident now of securing their Premier League status for another season.

Aisling Annacotty (4-2-3-1): Fitzgerald; Cusack, McDonald, S. O'Dea, Mullins (Manjor); Hallinan, R. McNamara; D. McNamara, Frahill (Park), D. O'Dea; Collins (Murphy)
Granville Rangers (4-4-2): Power; Ryan (T. Doran), N. Doran, Barrett, O'Dwyer; Cahill, McGarry, Quinn, Geary (Malone); O'Donoghue, Butler (Sheehan)

[AlanOB]

Geraldines 7-1 Moyross United (Lawson Cup 2nd Round)

Moyross United were unable to continue their impressive December form against Premier Division opposition on Sunday morning, as they crashed out to Geraldines.

This month has seen the 1A promotion contenders produce giant-worrying performances in the cups – bringing champions Carew Park to extra time in the FAI and enjoying a half-time lead against Janesboro in the Munster Junior. Those anticipating a potential cupset here were not banking on the Dines’ significant strength in depth however. Despite making 5 changes from the team that ejected Summerville Rovers from the FAI last week, they were comfortable throughout this contest.

Geraldines brought in young goalkeeper Stephen Walsh for Keith McCarthy. They made one change to the defence, bringing in Danny O’Neill at left back for Craig Madigan. Derek Daly came in on the right for Eddie Lee, with former Corbally United man Ian O’Donoghue deputizing for the suspended Colin Scanlon on the left. Derek Hannon replaced Pa Moloney in the lone striker berth.

Moyross started the game in a 4-4-1-1 shape with former Ballynanty man Barry Quinn on the left and Ger Cronin playing behind striker Keith Ryan. This may have been an effort to do what other teams have failed to do – match the Dines’ numbers in the middle of the park. Unfortunately for Moyross, positional discipline was lacking, and it wasn’t unusual to see 3 players remain in the attacking third when Geraldines were on the counter.

It was evident from early on that Moyross’ poor defensive transitions would cost them. With ten minutes on the clock, Colin Daly (as he did on numerous occasions last week) found space in behind the opposition midfield on the break. Moyross centre back Mark Geoghegan came out to meet him. Derek Hannon ran into the space that he vacated to receive the pass, but was unable to bring the ball under control.

Five minutes later, first blood was drawn. Derek Daly dribbled with the ball in off the right flank. He produced a marvellous Marseille turn to evade a tackle, before shooting powerfully. Keeper Wayne Mullally spilled it, and brought down the onrushing Colin Daly. Derek Hannon converted the resultant penalty kick.

Twenty minutes gone, and it was 2-0. Moyross were committed throughout the game to playing out from the back. Time and time again, owing to Geraldines pressing, it resulted in possession being lost in dangerous areas. On this occasion, a pass from centre back Pat McCally was delivered straight to Dines midfielder Keith O’Connor. Keith looked to pass it directly into the box, McCally missed his interception, and Hannon collected. His strike was palmed out into the centre of the area by Mullally. O’Connor finished the move that he had started by slotting away the rebound.

Five minutes later, it was three. Danny O’Neill’s left wing cross was held up by Derek Hannon. He laid it off to Colin Daly, who curled it into the net.

Complacency must have set in, however, as Moyross then went on to have a 15 minute spell in the ascendancy before half-time. Keith O’Connor, Geraldines’ deepest-lying midfielder was struggling, both with broken boots(!) and a groin injury. Moyross number 10 Cronin started to find space between the lines. On the half hour mark he received the ball behind O’Connor. He delivered the ball to left winger Barry Quinn, who crossed for striker Keith Ryan. He made no mistake. 3-1.

Two minutes later, the same sequence of events occurred again. This time, however, it was a back post cross from Quinn to midfielder Danny Sheehan. He knocked it down for right winger Eddie O’Neill, who couldn’t keep his strike down.And again, 5 minutes from time, Cronin picked it up in space behind O’Connor. He fed Ryan at the edge of the area, who struck wide.

O’Connor was replaced at half-time – Geraldines, once again demonstrating their strength in depth, by being able to bring on Dean Earls in his place. From there, the game was a procession. Derek Daly struck a delightful left footer from distance after 50 minutes. The impressive Ian O’Donoghue made it 5-1 three minutes later as 4 Moyross players looked on from the opposition half. Two minutes later Derek Hannon made it 6, profiting from another left-wing cross from the impressive Danny O’Neill. O’Donoghue was involved again, ten minutes from time, crossing for Derek Hannon to complete his hat-trick.

A difficult day for Moyross. They could either be admired or accused of naivety for their commitment to playing out from the back against a stronger side. Either way, it did not work. Their initial selection showed an intention to compete with Dines in the middle of the park, but positional indiscipline meant that this was not possible.

Geraldines will be delighted with the magnitude and ease of this win, particularly considering how two of their rivals struggled against this opposition. The seamless fashion in which the 5 replacements were integrated into the side was extremely impressive, with Danny O’Neill, Derek Hannon, Derek Daly and Ian O’Donoghue all giving their managers selection headaches for the future. The draw in this competition has been relatively kind to the Dines, with potential clashes against Pike, Janesboro and Carew not possible until the final. Is this the year that silverware returns to Rathuard?

Geraldines (4-2-3-1): Stephen Walsh; Bobby Tier, Paul Danaher, Ian Storan, Danny O’Neill; Keith O’Connor (Dean Earls), Christy O’Neill (Brian Nash); Derek Daly, Colin Daly (George Daffy), Ian O’Donoghue; Derek Hannon

Moyross United (4-4-1-1): Wayne Mullally; Adrian Mitchell, Pat McCally, Mark Geoghegan, Grant Murphy; Eddie O’Neill, Danny Sheehan (Christy Meehan), Shane O’Connell, Barry Quinn; Ger Cronin; Keith Ryan

[lawman]

cracker of a game in the boro on sunday. any injuries or suspensions?

[Jofspring]

I presume Clarke will be suspended after the straight red in the Lawson against Glenview so that's a big loss for the Boro.

[Second]

I presume Clarke will be suspended after the straight red in the Lawson against Glenview so that's a big loss for the Boro.

And that is why this game is on.

[Fairkop]

And that is why this game is on.

all games off now except FAI matchs.no plaudits to local council on last nights efforts playing a match in jackman park while a legends funneral was on.....rip joe thanks for the memories.

[dutchie]

Pike beat Carew 2-1.

[AlanOB]

Pike Rovers 2-1 Carew Park

Match report here:

http://thejuniorsoccerportal.info/pike-rovers-2-1-carew-park-limerick-premier-league/

[Second]

Any major transfers in premier league

[harpin]

Anyone know the fixtures for next weekend?

[Treaty Gooner]

Been a bit quiet in here lately....would anyone agree that the gap between the top 4 and the rest of the division is massive? None of the bottom clubs seem capable of taking points off the top teams and we're seeing routine thrashings every week - Wembley and Aisling both hammered last week and Corbally already 4-0 down out here in Corbally v Geraldines this morning. Has it ever been as one sided as it is this season?

[Fairkop]

Been a bit quiet in here lately....would anyone agree that the gap between the top 4 and the rest of the division is massive? None of the bottom clubs seem capable of taking points off the top teams and we're seeing routine thrashings every week - Wembley and Aisling both hammered last week and Corbally already 4-0 down out here in Corbally v Geraldines this morning. Has it ever been as one sided as it is this season?have to agree wiyh you,standards have been slipping for years imo,some really poor teams out there and cant see it improving.

[Jofspring]

All the best players are now only at 3 or 4 clubs where as before there was more of a spread around the division. When clubs bring through players now they aren't staying at those clubs but heading off to one of the top teams which is hitting the standard of all the rest. Emigration, GAA and the fact Rugby is becoming a more popular sport to take part in is hitting it too. When it comes to some of the good younger lads playing in the lower divisions (which there is actually plenty) a lot of them are just losing interest in taking it serious due to bad pitches, bad refs, bad weather (months without games as opposed to weeks) etc...

[js79]

All the best players are now only at 3 or 4 clubs where as before there was more of a spread around the division. When clubs bring through players now they aren't staying at those clubs but heading off to one of the top teams which is hitting the standard of all the rest. Emigration, GAA and the fact Rugby is becoming a more popular sport to take part in is hitting it too. When it comes to some of the good younger lads playing in the lower divisions (which there is actually plenty) a lot of them are just losing interest in taking it serious due to bad pitches, bad refs, bad weather (months without games as opposed to weeks) etc...
Plus you have plenty of players willing to sit on the bench and play a couple of mins(if there lucky) and pick up handy medals instead of playing week in week out.

[booster 03]

Plus you have plenty of players willing to sit on the bench and play a couple of mins(if there lucky) and pick up handy medals instead of playing week in week out.

sville have beaten balla geraldines and fairview this season..5th in the league..doing well for a team told they wouldnt get a point at the start of the season

[Treaty Gooner]

They are Booster and it's great to see but I think Summervillle are the exception rather than the rule.

[Hollywood Hogan]

3 limerick teams in last 8 of FAI and ye reckon the standard is getting weaker. And with that the best team in limerick gone. There will probably never be like the great Fairview sides but can't say standard in limerick is weaker than previous seasons

[Treaty Gooner]

Been a bit quiet in here lately....would anyone agree that the gap between the top 4 and the rest of the division is massive? None of the bottom clubs seem capable of taking points off the top teams and we're seeing routine thrashings every week - Wembley and Aisling both hammered last week and Corbally already 4-0 down out here in Corbally v Geraldines this morning. Has it ever been as one sided as it is this season?

Read it again Hogan.

[Hollywood Hogan]

Balla are not in top 4 and are in last 8 of FAI, got beaten in a tuohy final and QF of Munster junior. Fairview are getting stronger aswell. Dines were lucky to get over regional in FAI. Think regional, balla and fairview could beat any of the top 4 on any given day with exception of pike.

[Treaty Gooner]

Granted you said with the exception of Pike but in the LDMC PREMIER DIVISION have any of those teams beaten the top four this season?

I'm just suggesting there's a huge gulf in ability and the table reflects this.

Poster's reasons above seem to agree. With the player merry-go-round that happens most years, is there any sign of this gap being bridged?

[Fairkop]

the football served up this morning by two of the..top clubs...hardly enhances standards,terrible stuff,and while its an important win for janesboro in terms of their league hopes and done with what looked a very understrenght team, pikes display looked toothless at times,big crowd present but poor fair tbf.missed the late sending for pike.

[Hollywood Hogan]

Janesboro have had a couple of important wins the last few weeks while missing Clarke, waters and o'gorman. Think pike have league won and don't see many teams getting points from them. Keep harking on about the standard in limerick slipping on this forum but then dines bring sheriff [best junior side in Ireland] to penos. Carew park were unlucky against michaels and balla are still standing.

[Treaty Gooner]

Come on man, cup football is a different animal altogether. Bar Summerville against Balla, nobody's upset the big boys.

[badker]

Why was there no Limerick players in the Western Regions Cup squad?

[Shuffleruns]

Not good enough :P

[Hollywood Hogan]

Regional have beaten and had a draw with Janesboro this season, those dropped five points look like proving costly

[dutchie]

Balla beat geraldines yesterday,that might wrap it up for Pike.

[dutchie]

1 all between pike and geraldines tonight with pike very lucky to get a point as gary neville in goals stopped a bag of goals,geraldines dominated midfield and played some lovely stuff,Keith Hartnett was a big loss for pike,dines can feel agrieved not to get a penalty when one of there players got booked for diving in the box when everyone else including myself thought it was a certain peno,pike seem to have lady luck on there side this year and should wrap up league in next few weeks.

[pearse4t3]

Is that the league over now?

[Treaty Gooner]

Two wins and a point v Boro for Pike and it is. Tough ask for anyone to overtake them by the looks of things.

[Shuffleruns]

Yeh too far ahead really.. Fair play

[dutchie]

Pike beat corbally 1 nil tonight with cian collins getting the goal,any word of boro v geraldines.

[pearse4t3]

Pike beat corbally 1 nil tonight with cian collins getting the goal,any word of boro v geraldines.
Janesboro won 3-0.

[faceoff]

If pike win 2 of their last 3 they win league I believe.have been away so don't really know what way season went.best of luck to geraldines and ballynanty in their upcoming finals.league still seems to be as strong as ever.

[Hibs7772]

Predictions

Geraldines 3-1 Carew Park
Ballynanty Rvs 2-1 Fairview Rgs
Aisling Annacotty 3-0 Wembley R
Pike Rvs 1-2 Janesboro

[Fairkop]

a bit of a hiding for Boro tonight,not a great game but Boro very poor all through considering what was at stake,