LOI Series 23 & 20

[Charlie Darwin]

Bohs 1-0 up on UCD already through Murphy and Hoban has scored Dundalk's winner against Rovers.

[patrickccfc]

1-1 at dalymount now

[patrickccfc]

UCD turn it around 2-1

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/finn-harps-radio

Live radio coverage of Athlone v Harps.

Match was delayed by 15 minutes because of a road crash.

[Charlie Darwin]

Dundalk 2-1 Shamrock Rovers at half time. Hoban with a second for Dundalk and Sheppard with one back just before half time. Bit disappointed Rovers have used up their monthly goal in a game when they're already 2 down. Dead inefficient.

[Dunny]

3-1 Dundalk, Oriel is rocking!

[Calcio Jack]

3-1 now to Dundalk- The Rovers board sure to feel the heat after this , no doubt they'll blame Croly for their incompetence over this and last season, they should of course sack themselves instead as it is clear they have lost the plot completely and are destroying the club- of course they won't do anything of the , instead they'll continue to ensure they retain their own 'cushy' well paid jobs

[Longfordian]

Wow. Fair play to Kenny he has them really motoring. He's a great manager of the underdog, no offence intended to Dundalk.

[Dunny]

Wow. Fair play to Kenny he has them really motoring. He's a great manager of the underdog, no offence intended to Dundalk.

Biggest underdog after last years shambles, now look at us! King Kenny.

[Jofspring]

Limerick 2-0 Cork

[Charlie Darwin]

3-1 now to Dundalk- The Rovers board sure to feel the heat after this , no doubt they'll blame Croly for their incompetence over this and last season, they should of course sack themselves instead as it is clear they have lost the plot completely and are destroying the club- of course they won't do anything of the , instead they'll continue to ensure they retain their own 'cushy' well paid jobs
Sure how much can it cost to sack another manager? There has been something seriously wrong at the club under both Kenny and Croly, both have presided over complacent and feckless squads.

[Jofspring]

Sure how much can it cost to sack another manager? There has been something seriously wrong at the club under both Kenny and Croly, both have presided over complacent and feckless squads.

Anytime I have seen rovers it hasn't looked like it was for lack of effort just something off. Expecting results to come because of the quality ye have maybe?

[Jofspring]

Daryl Horgan given a red card for a reaction to a tackle.

Cork score though with 3 minutes to go.

2-1

[Charlie Darwin]

Anytime I have seen rovers it hasn't looked like it was for lack of effort just something off. Expecting results to come because of the quality ye have maybe?
Well I'm not in Dundalk but I've been at every home game bar one and you can see the players aren't giving it their all. When they make mistakes, the jog back, etc. The only players who I can honestly say have given everything are the keepers, Foran, Finn, Rice and Ledwith. Everybody else has been hot and cold all season and much of it is just because they're not making their talent count.

edit: and with that Rice has been sent off for kicking someone in frustration

[Sligo Hoops.]

YouTube clip in Ekranas last year of a chorous of "sack Stephen Kenny". There is no place for sentiment in football. Forget about removing Crolly. Time for Jonathan Roche & Co. to do the honourable thing. We have become a laughing stock.

[Calcio Jack]

Well I'm not in Dundalk but I've been at every home game bar one and you can see the players aren't giving it their all. When they make mistakes, the jog back, etc. The only players who I can honestly say have given everything are the keepers, Foran, Finn, Rice and Ledwith. Everybody else has been hot and cold all season and much of it is just because they're not making their talent count.

edit: and with that Rice has been sent off for kicking someone in frustration

Responsibility for this and last seasons debacles sit firmly with the Board - as I've said before they have lost the capacity to run the club ,have a dictaorial attitude to the fanbase and are now in a save their own jobs mode rather than actually doing the right thing by the club - but their days are now numbered as the Members won't continue to fund their antics for much longer - there is a rotten core involved at Board level that must be removed

As an aside it's 'interestin' to see that the SRFC Ultras Forum has been closed just when it's most needed to allow Rovers fans 'discuss' our current plight... wonder who/why it was closed ??

PS...fair play to Kenny and Dundalk tonight... Dundalk are a great club with a strong and proud history, their recent seasons have been tough so nice for them to be experiencing such a terrific season...and as the cliche goes they now momentum so who knows maybe they can now go the whole way.

[nigel-harps1954]

FT in Lissywollen. Athlone 1-0 Harps. Enda curran on his debut with 10 to go. Sickening after Harps supposedly had much of the play in the second half.

[Charlie Darwin]

FT in Lissywollen. Athlone 1-0 Harps. Enda curran on his debut with 10 to go. Sickening after Harps supposedly had much of the play in the second half.
Who?!?

[nigel-harps1954]

Who?!?


That feckin b@llbag that should never have moved.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

That penalty save by Rogers was vital. Big win. Very surprised Pats couldn't beat Drogs at home. Massive game in Tallaght next weekend.

[Charlie Darwin]

That feckin b@llbag that should never have moved.
Did he just sign for them or something?

[MeathDrog]

Great point for the Drogs. We are in a scrap. Maintaining that 4 point gap between 2nd last place will be vital.

[Calcio Jack]

Sure how much can it cost to sack another manager? There has been something seriously wrong at the club under both Kenny and Croly, both have presided over complacent and feckless squads.

The real question is how much will the stupid decision of giving the Rovers job to a rookie manager cost on top of last seasons debacle.... loss of income from missing out on Europe (two seasons in a row) , not winning the title (at least once), slide in ticket sales, cost of removing two managers is approx €650k (I'm close enough to our finances so these are accurate figures) , Rovers even if they sack Croly at end of this season and despite the losses mentione still have a serious amount of cash available to them - but at this point can't see how it would be plauable to allow the current Board to remain in control of it as their credibilty etc.is completely shot.

[White Horse]

Shamrock Rovers had no creativity this evening. 90 minutes of hoofing the ball up the field. I know they were missing Finn, but is this the best Croly can do?

Bray asked a lot more questions of Dundalk last week. Dundalk were very comfortable this evening.

[Dave77]

went up to dalymount coz shels weren't playing, really enjoyable game, UCD full value for the win. bohs certainly tried but looked very average especially the two front players.

i know its said a lot but it's a pity UCD don't have more support because they are a very good side to watch, always play through the midfield and in Walsh & benson have 2 very good players.

[Sligo Hoops.]

Interesting atmosphere in the bar in Oriel after game tonight, I'd say. Kenny to dignified to rub Roche's nose in it.

[Longfordian]

Biggest underdog after last years shambles, now look at us! King Kenny.

He's at his absolute best with a squad that has it all to prove and buys in to what he's telling them. I always liked Kenny from his Longford days all those years ago and with Vinny Perth there too who is an absolute, proper gentleman and a Town legend, I'm delighted to see Dundalk going well.

[dong]

I for one welcome a strong Dundalk team back into the mix.
A great footballing town with a great tradition to be fair. And who could begrudge Kenny after what went on last season. He must have really enjoyed that tonight.

[Ezeikial]

Dundalk were in a different class to Rovers tonight and 3-1 flattered the Hoops.

RTE Sport headline of "Dundalk maintain title challenge" will probably come as a surprise to most sports journalists and certainly to the motley crew of pundits on MNS. Most seem to blissfully unaware that Dundalk have been serious title challengers for some time.

While the early goals were a major setback to Rovers, there was no nothing of consequence from them other then hoofball into the box.

Discipline and sportmanship also appeared lost to the Rovers management and players. Sean O'Connor not returning possession after a Dundalk player put a ball into touch to allow treatment for an injured player, Stephen Rice's petulance kicking out at Chris Shields, Trevor Croly in an post match altercation, Jason McGuinness doing likewise in the centre circle. This group are a laughing stock and must be an embarrassment to Rovers fans.

I don't know what the rest of this season holds for Stephen Kenny and the team he has cobbled together on a shoestring budget. It's been a magically mystery tour so far and this team seems to keep improving - anything is possible, although they will face bigger tests then what was presented tonight

[Longfordian]

I forgot to mention I had a flutter on Dundalk draw no bet so another reason I'm pleased for ye!

[ATFC-1887]

Enda Curran :D :D

[Longfordian]

Yeah fair enough after everything you're justified with that one. Part of me thinks we'll rouse ourselves for El Clasico next Saturday but given our recent form :(

[oriel]

As pat Dolan might say on MNS, about us re tonight, "Dundalk, on their performance.........one word, powerful

Battled hard in midfield all night, took a while but once the superbly complimented Towell and O'Donnell got going there was no going back for us. Brilliant home support from start to finish, really made a difference, what an atmosphere.

Missing two big payers tonight in Massey & Rossiter, & thought we might struggle, but Shields had a great game, and the new central pairing of Gartland & Boyle were really tremendous together.

Surprised not to see more fight in this Rovers side, they had a go with 15 to go, but the endless high balls in were easily dealt with by our two tall centre halfs. Hard to know what direction Rovers going on now, but to be fair that was their first defeat in almost 3 months.

For us, obviously delighted, it's not often the main stand breaks out in song, this is once a decade stuff, so maybe we are on to something big, but still a long way to go. However we surely couldn't be better positioned, 2nd spot, 1 point off top, game more played, but on games to go v top 4, we have sligo & derry both at home and away to pats.

An encouraging factor is the level of performances & fitness. Guys chasing down balls in injury time. Hoban who never played in the PD previously is now up to 10 league goals I think, with his strike partner Kurtis Byrne also scoring we even have a first choice scoring forward line.

Hard to pick out any negatives, just a great nights work.

[Battery Rover]

Yeah fair enough after everything you're justified with that one. Part of me thinks we'll rouse ourselves for El Clasico next Saturday but given our recent form :(

In fairness if your players can't pick themselves up for that game then they don't deserve to wear the shirt. Should be a cracker of a game.

[ATFC-1887]

Yeah fair enough after everything you're justified with that one. Part of me thinks we'll rouse ourselves for El Clasico next Saturday but given our recent form :(


I couldnt wait to get back from the pub just to say that haha ah no its gonna be a quality game next week. We are gonna have a massive crowd over by the sounds of it

[hoops1]

We have been to negative or conservative this year. But tonight we were a bit of a shambles. Robinson is not up to it and chambers last game he was hooked at ht so playing them together in the middle ahead of rice was a disaster waiting to happen. I'm actually not sure What formation we were trying to play. Croly must have been on championship manager all night whatever it was. The defending for dundalks 3 goals was terrible. Even if the first two were punished clinically. O donnell and hoban were oustanding with the two centre halves cherrie and the left winger not far behind. I wouldn't normally defend players who get sent off but not only should rice have started but to be brought on as sub with ten mins left after watching the others way out of their depth all night its easy to see why he was wound up as it was nothing short of an insult

[Longfordian]

In fairness if your players can't pick themselves up for that game then they don't deserve to wear the shirt. Should be a cracker of a game.

I agree but it's worryingly reminiscent of last year. We don't even have the injuries as an excuse this year, Salmo aside. TC doesn't come across as a man that has it all in hand at present. Roddy, whatever his flaws, will not ever suffer from a lack of confidence and he has ye bang at it to be fair.

[Battery Rover]

TC doesn't come across as a man that has it all in hand at present. Roddy, whatever his flaws, will not ever suffer from a lack of confidence and he has ye bang at it to be fair.

Very true and one thing I did notice listening to Cousins on the radio the other week was that he sounded on the verge of breaking down like Roddy has got right inside his head. One thing he needs to do is stop trying to outdo Roddy at the media talk and concentrate on his own game.

[Charlie Darwin]

The real question is how much will the stupid decision of giving the Rovers job to a rookie manager cost on top of last seasons debacle.... loss of income from missing out on Europe (two seasons in a row) , not winning the title (at least once), slide in ticket sales, cost of removing two managers is approx €650k (I'm close enough to our finances so these are accurate figures) , Rovers even if they sack Croly at end of this season and despite the losses mentione still have a serious amount of cash available to them - but at this point can't see how it would be plauable to allow the current Board to remain in control of it as their credibilty etc.is completely shot.
I really don't see how we can sack Croly. He has made some bizarre decisions this year but then again so did Kenny and I think right now he's proving he's a very good coach. For the most part this season Croly has had Rovers playing good football - light years ahead of what Kenny was playing - but they've been missing something. When the pressure games come, he seems to revert to route one football (I understand that's how they played tonight) and I have to wonder if it's Croly's own inexperience or somebody up above telling him to get results by any means. I don't want my club to turn into Chelsea - we've picked Croly and I think we should give him the opportunity of seeing out his contract and see where we are then.

[hoops1]

To put it simply Croly is a manual coach. Very good at organising,knows all the formations puts on good training sessions. Don't ask him to think on his feet. If it can't be planned for before the game he's lost. That's why we have had so many draws. He doesn't know what players are needed or how to change the game in our favour. He can't tell when its the system failing or the players not performing

[dublinred]

Massive massive result for us in Brandywell tonight , lots of players coming back from injury Danny North scoring, with Pats dropping points the way the fixtures pan out we could win next 7 and go head to head against Pats in inchicore for the title.

[roversforever]

Massive massive result for us in Brandywell tonight , lots of players coming back from injury Danny North scoring, with Pats dropping points the way the fixtures pan out we could win next 7 and go head to head against Pats in inchicore for the title.

Thought Gary Rogers and Kieran Djilali were different class.That penalty save could be massive.He also made a few other top class saves.And Djilali was awesome,the lad has a serious amount of ability,now he's showing why he was a regular with Crystal Palace.He could be the key for us in the run in.

[sligoman]

So with Shams now out of the race it looks like it's down to us or Pat's for the title.

[dfx-]

To put it simply Croly is a manual coach. Very good at organising,knows all the formations puts on good training sessions. Don't ask him to think on his feet. If it can't be planned for before the game he's lost. That's why we have had so many draws. He doesn't know what players are needed or how to change the game in our favour. He can't tell when its the system failing or the players not performing

The early goal pretty much finished all the plans and spreadsheets. At least when Robinson plays, the standard 85th minute Robinson for Chambers sub can't happen.

That is what has to change in the last round of fixtures. There's no point in trying to go to away and trying to get another 0-0 like at Richmond/Sligo/Dalymount/Tolka already this season and still finish fifth. He needs to show he can get a side to attack.

[Charlie Darwin]

So with Shams now out of the race it looks like it's down to us or Pat's for the title.
Dundalk backlash commencing in 3...2...1

[Dillonman]

Dundalk backlash commencing in 3...2...1

would rather nobody talk about us...its working so far...anyways this was always a year of stability...anything else is a bonus and theres absolutely no pressure on us or management so long may it last.

[peterc1992]

Big win for Athlone.

We were top of the table at the start of the week. So the fans tried to push for the big attendances by advertising the games a bit more, putting a lot more posters up and it worked.

All we needed was the players to respond as we got a decent crowd 2 games ago and drew 0-0 which resulted in us getting a smaller attendance in the next game.

We were the better team but Finn Harps were hard to break down and we played very predictably. We brought Curran on and Kelly in centre mid. And the goal came from both. Kelly ran at the Harps defence and played a great little pass into Currans feet and he slotted it into the net.

It was important we won there as I can see us improving our attendance again as a 0-0 would have lost a few people from the crowd.

Anyway I think we will run home and win the League from here. We are soo good at the back. Aidan Collins is the best centre back in the first division and Robbie Clarke has been solid anytime I have seen him. Its great now that we have a second or third option going forward in Curran and McCormack as we have no bother controlling games and we look like we arnt going to concede every game but teams park the bus and we get frustrating and lack ideas but Kelly, McCormack and Curran gave us differnt options today and won us the game when Gorman was marked out of it.

[MiniMourinho]

shoestring budget

Dundalk performing way above budget and expectation. But its no shoestring. Not compared to at least 5 other clubs.

[Spudulika]

Dundalk are doing great, especially as this was looking like a hang on in there year, but with a good manager given support from the board and real team spirit, we're moving. Of course it could all go bang, as with anywhere else, however the club is going in the right direction. The budget is good compared to other clubs, but it's still being outperformed.

[mcgonigle]

Dundalk performing way above budget and expectation. But its no shoestring. Not compared to at least 5 other clubs.

More like 4 I'd say. I would imagine we started the season with the 8th biggest budget.