FAI Cup 2014

[Charlie Darwin]

Is it not accepted at this point that Rovers were right to get rid of Kenny?

They have gone from strength to strength, lit up the league with beautiful football, and haven't signed a single duff player since.
Well we've unquestionably gotten better and signed better players. The rest is slow progress.

[Fivesilver]

It is,......... but Its because of Kenny and the hangover from his reign that they have become medixocre and horrible to watch.

Glad my hangovers don't last that long.

[Dodge]

Well we've unquestionably gotten better and signed better players. The rest is slow progress.

Unquestionably?

2012 League 4th, 9 points off the top
2014 League 4th, currently 14 points off the top

Kenny made some awful signings, but so did Croly. Still plenty of dross in that squad

[Charlie Darwin]

Unquestionably?

2012 League 4th, 9 points off the top
2014 League 4th, currently 14 points off the top

Kenny made some awful signings, but so did Croly. Still plenty of dross in that squad
It was a lot worse in 2012. Might have ended up closer to the top, but the team at the top weren't as dominant as the two are this year. The final few weeks of Croly's reign were as bad as I've seen Rovers in a few years, but Kenny only barely got above that level.

[Dalymountrower]

Watch most of both games on tv. I do not remember either keeper in the 2nd game rolling the ball out once, which I suppose is what is expected from a Fenlon managed team. It will be difficult to get fans out to watch such negative stuff, even if the team are winning most of the time, ask Bohs.
Fair play to Liam Buckley for always getting his teams to play with a bit of style and to the Harps fans who supported their team. We need a one division league soon or more damage is done to soccer here. Ref in the second game was good (he usually is) but the one in Inchicore and the famous Connolly as 4th official showed again one the major problems the league faces. Crowds again disappointing, but the weather had a lot to do with this.
Think Shamrock Rovers still will make the final, maybe on penalties. Two day turn-around is unbelievable.

You somehow managed to have a crack at Bohs in your comments on yesterdays semis!!!
.Bohs had averages of 2,366 when we were winning the league under PF.Would have him back in a heartbeat, since you ask.

[Dodge]

It was a lot worse in 2012. Might have ended up closer to the top, but the team at the top weren't as dominant as the two are this year. The final few weeks of Croly's reign were as bad as I've seen Rovers in a few years, but Kenny only barely got above that level.
I'm not suggesting Kenny or Croly weren't poor appointments. I'm arguing you're no better off now.

Nutsy won't keep more than 5/6 of the current squad if he has his way

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm not suggesting Kenny or Croly weren't poor appointments. I'm arguing you're no better off now.

Nutsy won't keep more than 5/6 of the current squad if he has his way
Well next season will be a lot different and the bulk of the squad will probably be asked to move on, but the current squad on their day are capable of getting results the 2012 team just never would have got. Croly even had his moments where the team looked well coached.

[Stuttgart88]

Is the replay on TV?

[Charlie Darwin]

No chance.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Also Kenny had a squad that was well past their sell by date.

You do gotta love Rovers revisionist policy of the 2012 era. No doubt if Kenny had of been given free reign and 100 % backing from the board and rovers fans it would of been a different story.

But one teams loss is another's gain and we got a man who built us a team who over the next two years would be title challengers for the first time in a generation and bring a whole different style of football to Oriel park. I don't want to disrespect the McLaughlin, O'Connor era but I don't think they were as technically better but that's a discussion for another evening.

Hope the man stays here for life because to quote "Wayne's world, we're not worthy"

[wonder88]

I suspect Kenny signed Winn on advice from the same source that recommended Pat Hoban.
Not having a go at Bohs at all, but I would be surprised if most of the fans there do not regret letting PF go to Dundee Utd especially when some compensation was available. Crowd numbers did fall under him at Dalymount and Dundee Utd did end up eventually with Jackie McNamara. Even Kerr mentioned yesterday that there wasn't much building from the back, and for me it was a poor game to watch but for others the result is all that matters.
Is it true that Ronan Finn is going to Pats.

[wonder88]

By the way it was a terrible decision to sack Stephen Kenny. It was my opinion at the time and events since only confirm that. If the B team is abolished at the behest of Fenlon, there will be more question marks about the board at Tallaght.

[Charlie Darwin]

Also Kenny had a squad that was well past their sell by date.

You do gotta love Rovers revisionist policy of the 2012 era. No doubt if Kenny had of been given free reign and 100 % backing from the board and rovers fans it would of been a different story.
I'm sure if he'd taken over a club who'd just barely avoided relegation there would have been a bit less of an expectation on him, but by whatever metric he did a bad job, signed badly, played terrible football with no ambition whatsoever, made baffling selections and never earned the respect of his own players. That doesn't mean he's a bad coach - he's clearly a very good one - but it just didn't work for him, and it wasn't because the club didn't back him enough. They gave him a very generous long-term contract, money to spend on players and the chance of working with the bulk of a double league-winning. He just didn't perform.

[PartySaint]

Is it true that Ronan Finn is going to Pats.

There's a rumour going around that we've offered Finn, McCabe and Kilduff contracts.

Also a rumour going around that Rovers have offered Bermo, Forrester, Fahey and Fagan contracts, so we'll see what happens in the off season.

[Charlie Darwin]

There's a rumour going around that we've offered Finn, McCabe and Kilduff contracts.

Also a rumour going around that Rovers have offered Bermo, Forrester, Fahey and Fagan contracts, so we'll see what happens in the off season.
Finn is going to England for trials as soon as his contract ends. If that doesn't work out, I'm guessing he'll have a look at what's happening here. I'd expect Fagan to do the same. Kilduff has seemingly signed something with Pats, though it might not be final, but either way he won't be offered a new deal in Tallaght. The rumours of Bermo being offered a contract seem like they might be true but I can't see it happening. Forrester hates Rovers, but then again so have plenty of wasters and it didn't stop them signing.

[PartySaint]

Finn is going to England for trials as soon as his contract ends. If that doesn't work out, I'm guessing he'll have a look at what's happening here. I'd expect Fagan to do the same. Kilduff has seemingly signed something with Pats, though it might not be final, but either way he won't be offered a new deal in Tallaght. The rumours of Bermo being offered a contract seem like they might be true but I can't see it happening. Forrester hates Rovers, but then again so have plenty of wasters and it didn't stop them signing.

Forrester would be the one I'd have most doubt about going because as you said he hates Rovers.

Fagan is starting college again over here so is staying in Ireland.

[Charlie Darwin]

Fair play to Fagan if true. From what I heard, there was genuine interest from England and further afield, but if he's made his decision, good luck to him.

[Longfordian]

Woundn't Rovers or anyone else have to pay compensation for Forrester given his age? Could be quite expensive.

[Charlie Darwin]

There'd be a tribunal fee unless the clubs could agree something, but like in the Horgan case this year if you think the player is worth it you'll take a one-off hit.

[Longfordian]

I guess so. If they can afford it then why not? Still seems an unlikely one though.

[White Horse]

...like in the Horgan case this year if you think the player is worth it you'll take a one-off hit.

That wasn't the perceived wisdom before the season started. Paying a fee for Horgan was judged to be lunacy.

More history rewritten.

[Charlie Darwin]

That wasn't the perceived wisdom before the season started. Paying a fee for Horgan was judged to be lunacy.

More history rewritten.
Do you think I keep some sort of League of Ireland annal, tinged by my Shamrock Rovers bias, WH? I have my own opinion on things. I never once said paying for Horgan was a bad deal for Dundalk so I'd thank you to stop including me in your rewritten history meme, which seems to be based on Shamrock Rovers fans on other message boards, considering only about three of us post here.

[White Horse]

Do you think I keep some sort of League of Ireland annal, tinged by my Shamrock Rovers bias, WH? I have my own opinion on things. I never once said paying for Horgan was a bad deal for Dundalk so I'd thank you to stop including me in your rewritten history meme, which seems to be based on Shamrock Rovers fans on other message boards, considering only about three of us post here.

My point was not directed at you or Rovers fans, for that matter.

[Charlie Darwin]

You could have achieved that by not quoting me and referencing a previous instance where you alleged Rovers fans have rewritten history.

[cheifo]

Struck me on Sunday that with a lovely wee ground and with a team that plays very attractive football ST Pats have got what most of us would love. Richmond Park should be sold out these days.

But no...still not enough for the strange Irish public. Whadda you do..

[seand]

Struck me on Sunday that with a lovely wee ground and with a team that plays very attractive football ST Pats have got what most of us would love. Richmond Park should be sold out these days.

But no...still not enough for the strange Irish public. Whadda you do..

Where is this 'lovely wee ground' you speak of? Pray tell!

[cheifo]

Where is this 'lovely wee ground' you speak of? Pray tell!

I like Richmond Park...but then again I was reared in Finn Park.

[nigel-harps1954]

Not much wrong with Richmond really. Harps fans would love a ground like that. It's not in complete disrepair and is relatively well looked after unlike a lot of grounds in the country. The shedside could do with a bit of a facelift, but as far as away areas go, it's most certainly not the worst in the league.

[Charlie Darwin]

The playing surface in Richmond is lovely and stands aren't the worst in the league. They take a lot better care of it than Shels or Bohs do their grounds.

[PartySaint]

The playing surface in Richmond is lovely and stands aren't the worst in the league. They take a lot better care of it than Shels or Bohs do their grounds.

Bucko is mad about keeping the pitch in a good way, the Patrons put money up last year to get one of those big heating systems for the pitch to keep it in good shape after games.

[Hulsey]

Any chance there would be any radio links for the game? I know derry do one for home league games

[White Horse]

Richmond is fine. The playing surface is usually good, though can be a little slippery at times. The stand has a good viewing position. The away shed isn't great but is only used a few times during the year. I would prefer if the pitch wasn't so narrow though.

[Charlie Darwin]

I would prefer if the pitch wasn't so narrow though.
Luckily our main man John Delaney is on the case, working with the various stakeholders.

[DannyInvincible]

Any chance there would be any radio links for the game? I know derry do one for home league games

Drive105 cover the games: http://live.drive105.co.uk/

[Hulsey]

Drive105 cover the games: http://live.drive105.co.uk/
Cheers man, appreciate it

[Charlie Darwin]

They spelled Drivefor25 wrong.

[Charlie Darwin]

McGuiness sent off for Rovers, Barry Murphy saves the resulting penalty from Patterson.

[shep]

Barry Murphy has been in top form in the cup!!! Only for him we would have been out of sight in the replay in oriel

[Charlie Darwin]

Barry Murphy has been in top form in the cup!!! Only for him we would have been out of sight in the replay in oriel
Made a super early save against Longford but for which the game could have been an awful lot different. Also made a couple of top saves in the home game with Dundalk. The guy has been man of the match in half our matches this season, and he should have been given it on Sunday too.

[Charlie Darwin]

Murphy finally beaten, Michael Duffy. Rovers just not good enough.

[Charlie Darwin]

2-0, Patterson. Cheerio, Jason.

[Ezeikial]

Murphy finally beaten, Michael Duffy. Rovers just not good enough.


Well we've unquestionably gotten better and signed better players. The rest is slow progress.

As long as there is improvement and progress, don't worry if it is a tad slow!

[Charlie Darwin]

**** you, I was coming back to quote myself!

[White Horse]

The Brandywell is a tough place to go when you have 11 players. Getting a player sent off, especially a centre half, was always going to cause a problem.

[Charlie Darwin]

To be fair, there's an argument to be made we were playing with 10 players with or without McGuinness.

[PartySaint]

Derry again...

[Sligo Hoops.]

Made a super early save against Longford but for which the game could have been an awful lot different. Also made a couple of top saves in the home game with Dundalk. The guy has been man of the match in half our matches this season, and he should have been given it on Sunday too.
Hope he is not shafted again like he was when Alan Manus arrived. Time for the clear out, Nutsy. Another year without European football awaits.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Come on Derry for the cup. Would love Pats to break their hoodoo but that would put rovers in Europe and for the model club to miss out on Europe for 3 consecutive seasons is hilarious.

Rovers can you feel it slip away lol.

[Charlie Darwin]

Hope he is not shafted again like he was when Alan Manus arrived. Time for the clear out, Nutsy. Another year without European football awaits.
He better not be. While he's obviously not Buffon, if there's one area of the team that doesn't need to be addressed it's goalkeeper, plus he's one of the few real Hoops. The budget needs to be directed towards making the outfield team decent again.

[jinxy lilywhite]

He better not be. While he's obviously not Buffon, if there's one area of the team that doesn't need to be addressed it's goalkeeper, plus he's one of the few real Hoops. The budget needs to be directed towards making the outfield team decent again.

What's a real hoop? Ffs it's not whether they are hoops or not it's whether they are good enough and for the club with one of the biggest budgets in the country your just not good enough.

In all fairness apart from a bad last 10 mins from us in the quarters rovers should of been dead and buried by HT in Oriel park