27th Round LOI September 5th-8th

[Longfordian]

What did happen there exactly?

He took them to court for unpaid wages didn't he? Presume there were two sides to that story as UCD wouldn't really be in financial difficulty but it wasn't an amicable parting of the ways by the looks of things.

[pineapple stu]

He resigned to move on to a different club - all fair enough when he'd been with us eight or nine years. We appointed a new manager. When Russell didn't get a job, he changed his mind about having resigned - but of course couldn't have his old job back. Sued for wrongful dismissal.

So far as I know anyway.

[Charlie Darwin]

FT 2-2 in Longford, a late Gary Shaw header salvaging a point for the (just about) league leaders. Pat Sullivan doing what Pat Sullivan does best and getting sent off at the end.

[Longfordian]

Wasn't at it but apparently the ref screwed us. We don't do pressure very well but it could be a valuable point yet. That was in theory our hardest game of the run in, except perhaps Harps away but that's on the last day so who knows what we'll need from that. Have to hope someone (Galway maybe) can take something off Shels and give us a little room to breathe as it's hard to see us winning our last four.

[The Insider]

Haven't posted on this in ages but after tonight I felt I had to. To say the performance of the ref tonight in CCS was terrible is an understatement. Two penos that weren't penalties and the sending off was hilarious pity it didnt make Town supporters laugh - Furlong jumps all over Sullivan, the two players fall, Sullivan actually gets injured and sent off. Unreal. The quietest of Town supporters went mental tonight and even the Wexford fans were bemused by some of the decisions.

[outspoken]

I still don't understand what pat Sullivan was at though? He had 5 yards on the ball if his legs were going all he had to do was hack it into section O but instead he blocked the forwards path and while it probably wasn't a sending off he was already on a yellow so could have gone for a second yellow anyway. Certaintly didn't help his cause by then booting the ball into the stand and taking an age to get off the pitch. Sullivan has been superb this season and by all accounts is a lovely fella but he seriously needs to stop this Craic of mouthing off at every decision. Stupid cards and suspensions being picked up.

[Terry]

Galway win 3-0 this evening to put a gap of 5 points between ourselves and Wexford plus a very healthy goal difference.

Coming good now in the last round of games with 3 straight wins against Longford, Waterford and rovers b.

[Martinho II]

Galway win 3-0 this evening to put a gap of 5 points between ourselves and Wexford plus a very healthy goal difference.


Coming good now in the last round of games with 3 straight wins against Longford, Waterford and rovers b.


when are ye playing Shels? Can you do us a favour please Terry??

[Terry]

Second last game of the season if I recall correctly.

[SwanVsDalton]

Peter Hutton has made seven changes from the Sligo match. Includes Ciaran Gallagher, Josh Tracey, Nathan Boyle, Ryan Curran and Shay Dunlop, a youth player making his debut.

I presume the thinking is to save ourselves for the cup game. But if Cork City fans are utterly furious, I wouldn't blame them.

[Charlie Darwin]

Jaysus, and people thought Sligo would be the ones dragging out the youth team.

[Candystripe]

Dundalk 1-0 after 20 seconds. Mistake by teenager Dunlop. Meenan the goal scorer.

[Nesta99]

Id be furious too if I were a Cork fan. It is bad form really, is there any rules about putting out weakened sides? Hutton wasnt joking about an experimental side!!


shall take it though:p

[Charlie Darwin]

Id be furious too if I were a Cork fan. It is bad form really, is there any rules about putting out weakened sides? Hutton wasnt joking about an experimental side!!
I hope you didn't miss the goal while you were typing this.

[Nesta99]

Not in the country unfortunately, will be home for the weekend though to check out the new Rovers stand in Oriel, hopefully named after some generous benefactor...

[PartySaint]

Dundalk score after 12 seconds just to put this nonsense talk of a title race breaking out to bed :)

[Charlie Darwin]

Not in the country unfortunately, will be home for the weekend though to check out the new Rovers stand in Oriel, hopefully named after some generous benefactor...
"The Robbie Keane Stand"

[Nesta99]

Nah The Trevor Croly Stand, a total legend and has a few bob these days after some windfall payout

[Charlie Darwin]

He's been getting a windfall payment for two years, the boyo.

[Nesta99]

as an aside 2-0 now Kurtis Byrne

3-0 Massey

[Charlie Darwin]

1-0 Sligo, Cawley

[brendy_éire]

And now 3. Only match I'm missing this year due to being in Tbilisi. I'd be slightly annoyed with the starting line-up, more so with the date of the match itself.
BTW, our record ever defeat was 5-1. Could be broken tonight.

[Nesta99]

There will be some amount of gnashing of teeth in Cork tonight. Id have Pizza turn his phone off to save himself a call from J Cauldfield. 7 changes is a bit much unless there is a genuine injury issue. Cityrebel will have much to say about sporting integrity and conspiracy against the corkies etc etc. 5-1 isnt too bad as a record loss, presume that includes Europe too.

[Aaron]

Why should we worry about Cork, or any other team in the league for that matter? We have a big Cup game on Friday night, which our season more or less relys on. Anyone who thinks we should have put out a strong team and risk losing vital players for Friday night clearly hasn't a clue about football. Simple as this, if Cork were good enough, they wouldn't have to rely on us to do them a favour

[El-Pietro]

True enough Aaron, and the 9 points you gave us this season was a big enough favour as it is.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sure Cork's superior morality will see them through anyway. Still the only team in the league this season not to have committed a single foul.

[Nesta99]

Easy up now! knowing nothing about football is hardly fair comment. There is generally a sportsmanship opinion that teams play a competative team in games that can effect the championship or relegation. Now I understand the reasoning, and indeed Hutton rested 6 players in the last league game prior to the cup so at least there is precedence. It does not take away from the annoyance I know I would feel if this was a game against our closest league rivals. While resting key players is one thing, 7 changes and starting a bunch of youths (4-0 Hoban) could be construed as unfair or even bringing the game in to disrepute ( i vaguely recall fines have been issued in other leagues for such team selection). Remember it could happen to Derry one (5-0) day in the future when Derry may be relying on others to help them to a title or save them from relegation! I would have expected Cork City to contact Derry when it was mentioned that an experimental side would be put out.

[Charlie Darwin]

It would be funny if Derry wound up missing out on Europe on goal difference.

[Nesta99]

Sure Cork's superior morality will see them through anyway. Still the only team in the league this season not to have committed a single foul.

I hear FIFA are to confer a special honour of honourary annual league champions to Cork for fair play and and superior moral substance. Cityrebel is the person nominated to collect the annual award!

[adamd164]

Lads... The season doesn't end tonight!

Good result for dundalk though, yes.

[Aaron]

It would be funny if Derry wound up missing out on Europe on goal difference.

Only way we can get Europe is if we win the Cup

[Charlie Darwin]

Only way we can get Europe is if we win the Cup
True, I had momentarily forgotten Croly was sacked.

[Nesta99]

Lads... The season doesn't end tonight!



Absolutely true, but it is another potential banana skin out of the way if a full side had been played. A lot of inexperience against the league leaders, with young lads whose confidence are getting a bit of a battering too. At least Soccer Republic will hold some additional interest for me tonight.

[Nesta99]

Only way we can get Europe is if we win the Cup

In league of Ireland any league position could land you in Europe, didnt we manage it from 6th!

[White Horse]

Lads... The season doesn't end tonight!

Good result for dundalk though, yes.

It's always important to bounce back after a defeat. It was a stroke of good fortune that the cup matches resulted in Derry fielding an inexperienced side. It's crazy that we don't have a league game for almost three weeks.

[oriel]

In league of Ireland any league position could land you in Europe, didnt we manage it from 6th!

I think we finished 5th from the then 10 PD league in 2009 and took the 3rd spot in Europe as both Derry and Cork who finished higher were both in financial trouble.

Very easy win tonight, could have been 7 or 8, and we totally took foot off the gas for the last 15. Back on track now, Friday forgotten about, this was an excellent response.

[jinxy lilywhite]

Derry were even worse that Roddy's Derry.

Still in all our performance was a joy to behold. 5 different goal scorers.

Nice to get a break now from the league. That was probably out last easy game. Away to UCD, Athlone and Bray with them fighting for their lives. Rovers will always want to give us a game sets up a finale against Cork.

[El-Pietro]

I really do hope it goes to the last game, even if that means we're three points behind with no realistic hope of winning it. It's been a very exciting title challenge and while Dundalk have been by far the better team our lads haven't given up when it looked lost on a number of occasions and I've enjoyed every minute of this season, except maybe that last minute at home to Dundalk a few weeks back.

[Nesta99]

I think we finished 5th from the then 10 PD league in 2009 and took the 3rd spot in Europe as both Derry and Cork who finished higher were both in financial trouble.
.

Ach I was just being a bit flippant regarding the unpredictable nature of LoI - I believe nothing until it is set in stone that there are no judicial reviews, appeals, dvds, points deductions, trawling through player registrations or financial implosions!

Corks durabiity is impressive, a bit like ourselves last season. The way Cork are hot on the heels is not great for the health but is certainly making for an interesting run in. I want to have the league wrapped up but I also kinda would relish a packed Oriel with a good Cork support with something to play for the last day. With the attendences Cork are getting they are bound to strengthen well and regardless of this seasons finish will be one of the favourites next season. Shams under Fenlon, Pats, + any surprises like Derry or Drogs maybe and we will be moving in to a period of competetition that the league hasnt seen in a while where it will be impossible to to make any obvious predictions for the challangers.

Listening to Radio Foyle earllier and Gerry Malone of LMFM was asked about Dundalks wage bill and the comments by Roddy Collins about it being massive. Malone said that he had seen the figures and that weekly wage bill was just under 13k. I dont think GM would say he had seen the figures if he hadnt but it seems a modest figure nonetheless. If it is the case there must be a pretty big difference between the presumed top earners Towell or Horgan and most of the rest of the squad.

[Charlie Darwin]

If it is the case there must be a pretty big difference between the presumed top earners Towell or Horgan and most of the rest of the squad.
I'd say there would be in any case. A lot of the guys in the Dundalk team, guys like Boyle or Massey, wouldn't have been the most sought players in the league but they're looking like world-beaters now. Still, I would stunned if Dundalk's wage bill is that much different from the other clubs around them. You can't build a league-winning team on the cheap.

[Nesta99]

You can't build a league-winning team on the cheap.

John Cauldfield might beg to differ:eek:

[Charlie Darwin]

John Cauldfield might beg to differ:eek:
Well it goes without saying that Cork players would rather die than accept a wage in exchange for serving their moral duty to Mother Cork :)

[gael353]

Last game last season limerick away to derry. Taylor puts out the under 19s and they duely get hammered. 6 0. Ppl will say it was a grubber game but for the 40 or so who travelled twas unacceptable.

[White Horse]

With the attendences Cork are getting they are bound to strengthen well and regardless of this seasons finish will be one of the favourites next season. Shams under Fenlon, Pats, + any surprises like Derry or Drogs maybe and we will be moving in to a period of competetition that the league hasnt seen in a while where it will be impossible to to make any obvious predictions for the challangers.

Listening to Radio Foyle earllier and Gerry Malone of LMFM was asked about Dundalks wage bill and the comments by Roddy Collins about it being massive. Malone said that he had seen the figures and that weekly wage bill was just under 13k. I dont think GM would say he had seen the figures if he hadnt but it seems a modest figure nonetheless. If it is the case there must be a pretty big difference between the presumed top earners Towell or Horgan and most of the rest of the squad.

I'd expect Cork to spend big for next season, and why not, they're packing them in at the Cross. It will be interesting to see what Pats do for next season. Will they be able to sustain the same budget? I'd like them to keep the current team together as they reminded everyone on Friday what a quality outfit they are. Then you have the Fenlon factor at Tallaght. Fenlon likes to spend but Rovers seem committed to investing a lot of money in developmental areas such as the B team. Sligo appear to be on the wane, which is a great pity for the league. I struggle to see the current manager building a successful team.

[El-Pietro]

We'll definitely increase our budget but I don't know how big we'll go. We lost a lot of money in 2013 and had to reduce our budget for this season as a result. Our troubles in 2008 and 2009 are fresh in everyone's mind and the board would not be forgiven for taking too big a gamble. You can't guarantee we will repeat the crowds of this season, if the team isn't playing well Turners Cross will empty pretty quickly.

[Dodge]

I can't be the only person to log in this morning only to be disappointed City Rebel hasn't posted on this yet

[oriel]

I believe only Towell and then Horgan are on big money, the rest are on modest to good wages. Most of the team were not in demand this and last year, so that would be a factor in the overall budget. Most would also be on increased deals from 2013, but remember Hoban came from Mervue, Boyle came from Shels, Massey from Bray, all in 2013 and there was not much if any competition to sign them. This year Gannon came free from Pats, then others like Gartland and Meenan were released by other clubs mid way through last season (Portadown and Pats), others who were kept on from previous season like Cherrie, Shields and Mountney all signed late this season, and some were 'risky' signings in 2013 like Rossiter and O'Donnell both of whom had injury problems previously. O'Donnell was unlucky most of this season, but he was excellent last year.

The pressure will be on next season, as the players will all be looking for better deals, and some may be offered more attractive deals elsewhere (Kenny said 2 were this season but decided to stay). Also we will need to improve if we want to continue to challenge at the top. The figure for the budget definitely went up this year, but I think its still under 15k per week.

As for this season, last night was a step closer to the title, nothing more, still plenty of games left.

[Pablo Escobar]

We'll definitely increase our budget but I don't know how big we'll go. We lost a lot of money in 2013 and had to reduce our budget for this season as a result. Our troubles in 2008 and 2009 are fresh in everyone's mind and the board would not be forgiven for taking too big a gamble. You can't guarantee we will repeat the crowds of this season, if the team isn't playing well Turners Cross will empty pretty quickly.
This is 100% true. We could probably afford to increase the budget now, but what happens of we stop getting results? and let's face it, we're not going to be knocking in last minute winners every week.

[cobhlad]

Cobh Ramblers hosting Cork City in a friendly tomorrow night at St Colman's Park. 7:45 kick-off. €5 entry for adults, kids free

[Charlie Darwin]

We'll definitely increase our budget but I don't know how big we'll go. We lost a lot of money in 2013 and had to reduce our budget for this season as a result. Our troubles in 2008 and 2009 are fresh in everyone's mind and the board would not be forgiven for taking too big a gamble. You can't guarantee we will repeat the crowds of this season, if the team isn't playing well Turners Cross will empty pretty quickly.
The people in charge at Cork would be of a very similar mind to the Shamrock Rovers board. They won't be spending any kind of money if it's unsustainable.