Irish League Season 125

[Mr_Parker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=aeohFHX9SlQ

[OwlsFan]

How are the Reds doing ? Two back to back league titles a few years ago. Heady days. To be repeated ? Can they not get ground sponsorship and change the name of the stadium from the depressing Solitude? My old team, Ards, have dropped out of the league :(

[Martinho II]

How are the Reds doing ? Two back to back league titles a few years ago. Heady days. To be repeated ? Can they not get ground sponsorship and change the name of the stadium from the depressing Solitude? My old team, Ards, have dropped out of the league :(

what happened to Ards Owlsfan and who came in their place?

[OwlsFan]

Ards are like my first love, Shamrock Rovers, who for many years survived without a ground and were kept alive by the passion of a group of their supporters. Obviously, Rovers are a bigger club but Ards should take inspiration from Rovers that where there is a will, there is a way. Their ground was sold off a number of years to pay off creditors but there was supposed to be some left over to finance a new ground but it didn't happen.

Institute replaced Ards in the top tier.

I follow teams in all Ireland/UK leagues and have always done so since a kid. Rovers were down the road from me and I went to all their home games and away games in Dublin and still go to the odd one in Tallaght but my heart remains in Milltown. I also keenly followed on TV Raith Rovers, Ards and Sheffield Wednesday. Makes life interesting from a sporting point of view. The only other club I support is Yorkshire Cricket Club. The rugby (eg Leinster) I never really got in to as there weren't really around when I was a kid, as least not like they are now. GAA I would follow Waterford because my mother was from there but the Dubs don't really mean much to me.

I know you didn't ask any of that but I thought I might explain the Ards connection. I seldom let go of sport I followed as a kid.

[Martinho II]

and what division are Ards in now? are they in the non league?

[OwlsFan]

They're in the Championship with the likes of HW Welders and Donegal Celtic who strangely enough are based in Belfast.

[SeanDMRooney]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=aeohFHX9SlQ

Bizarre video that glosses over a rich part of Irish footballing history in that the league once represented the whole island

[Mr A]

How are the Reds doing ? Two back to back league titles a few years ago. Heady days. To be repeated ? Can they not get ground sponsorship and change the name of the stadium from the depressing Solitude? My old team, Ards, have dropped out of the league :(

I have always thought Solitude was a class name for a ground!

[OwlsFan]

I have always thought Solitude was a class name for a ground!

Does it not conjure up for you one man and his dog in an otherwise empty stadium ?

[Mr A]

No. To me it conjures up an "us against the world, feck everybody else" kind of thought :)

[OwlsFan]

Synonyms Examples Word Origin
noun
1.
the state of being or living alone; seclusion:
to enjoy one's solitude.
2.
remoteness from habitations, as of a place; absence of human activity:
the solitude of the mountains.
3.
a lonely, unfrequented place:
a solitude in the mountains.

[Mr A]

1 covers my interpretation. :)

[Mr_Parker]

Bizarre video that glosses over a rich part of Irish footballing history in that the league once represented the whole island

It wasn't designed as a historical piece, but rather a promotional one for the start of the season.

[Mr_Parker]

How are the Reds doing ? Two back to back league titles a few years ago. Heady days. To be repeated ? Can they not get ground sponsorship and change the name of the stadium from the depressing Solitude? My old team, Ards, have dropped out of the league :(

As an Ards fan, you'd do better to find your own ground before advising others what to call theirs!

[OwlsFan]

Do you like the name? Any idea why it was given that name?

[CraftyToePoke]

I always loved Solitude as a name for a ground, it stands out, evocative.

[OwlsFan]

Why not go the whole hog (whatever that means - hmmm, may be best not think) and call it Desolation ? Surely the antonym TOGETHERNESS is better or is that a bit too touchy feely ? Doesn't appear in this list although Hunky Dorys Park does http://www.goal.com/en/news/2377/top-10/2010/04/11/1873496/top-10-wacky-football-stadium-names

[nr637]

Irish Premiership: Linfield 1-1 Glentoran 10/10/15.What was the attendance at the first Belfast derby this season?

[AnnaghRed]

Irish Premiership: Linfield 1-1 Glentoran 10/10/15.What was the attendance at the first Belfast derby this season?

4057...might have managed 5000+ if Glentoran werent in the doldrums at the minute...

[Mr_Parker]

Do you like the name? Any idea why it was given that name?

The ground was built on a piece of land that was originally outside the town (city) boundaries and was known as Solitude as was the house that also was located their until the mid 1800's.

[OwlsFan]

Just watching the goals on Saturday from the Irish League and on comes Alan Kernaghan for an interview: the manager of Glentoran. Hadn't realised he was managing in the North. Must get some stick there.

[ShelsTim]

They're in the Championship with the likes of HW Welders and Donegal Celtic who strangely enough are based in Belfast.

There's Donegall Sq and Donegall Rd and St in Belfast which you might be aware of, named after the Lords Donegall who I guess owned land around there, the club name is presumably connected with this.

[OwlsFan]

Linfield have taken over from Crusaders at the top. Haven't been able to work out whether the next set of matches is the final one. Linfield away to Cliftonville and Crusaders at home to Glenavon. Assuming a home win there, it will all depend on what happens at Solitude ! And the once strong Portadown relegated.

[Martinho II]

Linfield have taken over from Crusaders at the top. Haven't been able to work out whether the next set of matches is the final one. Linfield away to Cliftonville and Crusaders at home to Glenavon. Assuming a home win there, it will all depend on what happens at Solitude ! And the once strong Portadown relegated.

read before that Portadown were relegated in the early noughties so no surprise there!

[OwlsFan]

So while Crusaders stuffed Glenavon, Linfield came from behind to beat Cliftonville to claim their 52nd league title !! Crusaders stay on 6. Glentoran have 23 titles but none since 2009.

[Gather round]

So while Crusaders stuffed Glenavon, Linfield came from behind to beat Cliftonville to claim their 52nd league title !! Crusaders stay on 6. Glentoran have 23 titles but none since 2009

Aye, there's been effectively a big three in recent years with Glens in the doldrums.

Would be good to see a challenge from the countryside next term.

[OwlsFan]

At least Crusaders crowds have doubled in recent years (08/09 795 to 15/16 1562) and their manager must be destined to move up the food chain:

Ply Won Drw Lst
590 334 102 154

[Steve Bruce]

read before that Portadown were relegated in the early noughties so no surprise there!

This year and the last time they where relegated wasn't down to results on the field, it was down to bad administration at the club.

[Steve Bruce]

At least Crusaders crowds have doubled in recent years (08/09 795 to 15/16 1562) and their manager must be destined to move up the food chain:

Ply Won Drw Lst
590 334 102 154

I honestly don't see Baxter leaving Crusaders to move up the food chain as he has his own sports shop business in Newtownards and would be a hell of a risk for him to go into full-time management across the water.

[BelfastCrusader]

As as I understand it, Baxter is currently the third-longest serving manager in Europe, after Wenger and some Finnish guy,

[OwlsFan]

Recently retired Ronnie McFall had a good stint at Portadown as well (1986–2016)

[BelfastCrusader]

There's Donegall Sq and Donegall Rd and St in Belfast which you might be aware of, named after the Lords Donegall who I guess owned land around there, the club name is presumably connected with this.

Donegal Celtic are so-called because the streets in the district from which they originated were all named after places in County Donegal.

[ArFella]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this but anyway, Linfield and Crusaders are both claiming to have signed Josh Robinson after his release from York City, see below from BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40454783

[OwlsFan]

Not sure if this is the right thread for this but anyway, Linfield and Crusaders are both claiming to have signed Josh Robinson after his release from York City, see below from BBC:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40454783

Well, who got him in the end ?

[ArFella]

Well, who got him in the end ?

Well after about 100 Sunday league team Twitter accounts tweeted out the same joke that they had also signed him, Linfield emerged victorious, although Crusaders are claiming a breach of contract by Robinson and have said they are looking into taking legal steps to resolve the issue, so the saga may not be finished yet.

[Mr_Parker]

Well after about 100 Sunday league team Twitter accounts tweeted out the same joke that they had also signed him, Linfield emerged victorious, although Crusaders are claiming a breach of contract by Robinson and have said they are looking into taking legal steps to resolve the issue, so the saga may not be finished yet.

It's still not.

[OwlsFan]

Nice to see Coleraine leading the way. 40 years or so since they won the league. I have even seen them play back in the late 1960s when they beat the Hoops in the Blaxnit Cup Final. I wonder do Blaxnit still exist. They were a clothing company I believe or did they disappear along with the competition ?

One of my friends got hit by a stone at one of those Blaxnit Trophy games, in Dalymount I think. It caused a riot because blood was gushing all over the place and the Rovers' fans decided to take revenge and the rest is history. The game went on nonetheless and I think Rovers lost.

[Martinho II]

Nice to see Coleraine leading the way. 40 years or so since they won the league. I have even seen them play back in the late 1960s when they beat the Hoops in the Blaxnit Cup Final. I wonder do Blaxnit still exist. They were a clothing company I believe or did they disappear along with the competition ?

One of my friends got hit by a stone at one of those Blaxnit Trophy games, in Dalymount I think. It caused a riot because blood was gushing all over the place and the Rovers' fans decided to take revenge and the rest is history. The game went on nonetheless and I think Rovers lost.

looks like coleraing will win the league by a long mile this season. Remember them winning the Irish FA Cup in 03!

[OwlsFan]

Just looked up the Blaxnit game I was referring to. It was 1968/69. Hoops lost first leg 2-1 and drew second at Dalymount (played there because of the floodlights I think) 2-2. My mate was hit by a slate thrown by a Coleraine fan (we assume). We were all of 14 years of age having made our way over from the leafy suburbs of Sandyford.

[Gather round]

looks like coleraing will win the league by a long mile this season. Remember them winning the Irish FA Cup in 03!

Crusaders can win their game in hand and close to within 3 points.

[OwlsFan]

Better goal difference as well but don't you have to travel to both Coleraine and Linfield and indeed Glenavon?

[Gather round]

Better goal difference as well but don't you have to travel to both Coleraine and Linfield and indeed Glenavon?

Crues win game in hand to take top spot.

[punkrocket]

Great game on Saturday, Crues good on the break to go 2 up by half time but Coleraine showed a bit of bottle in the second half. The soggy pitch made for plenty of hoofball which did the teams a bit of a disservice. Heatley is a right handful, very nippy. When Coleraine got a goal back early in the second and were pressing hard for an equalizer they got sucker punched on the break but again they came back. Coates sending off for a deserved second yellow turned it around as I think Crusaders would have hung on with 11 but thanks to a great goal from McGonigle Coleraine now had their tails up and kept at it til they got the equalizer and were unlucky not to win it at the end.
2 well matched teams who deserve to be battling it out at the top of the league. Coleraine's fortitude and Crusaders organisation and counter attacking ability cancelled each other out and I can see this battle going down to the wire. Coleraine's confidence will be greatly enhanced by this performance and there's still only a point in it.

[Gather round]

Crues have an advantage with all their remaining home games on 4G. If the wet weather continues it could hurt Coleraine.

Probably time for Coatesy to move into coaching...

[punkrocket]

I have to hand it to Crusaders, they seem to be getting stronger as the season progresses. That was some job they did on Glenavon last night.

[OwlsFan]

Amazing that Coleraine have only lost 1 game in 30 and still find themselves 5 points behind Crusaders !

[punkrocket]

I know, too many draws.
Bring back 2 points for a win

[Martinho II]

think Coleraines long wait for a league title win since 1974 will have to wait another year. pity about them!

[punkrocket]

You gotta love local derbies, 2 points in it now with 7 games to go. Best title race for a while.

[punkrocket]

Great game tonight, real old fashioned cup tie. End to end stuff at times but Coleraine were certainly the better team though Glentoran are greatly improved under McFall.
So now 2 Premiership v Championship games. You'd fancy the final to be Cliftonville v Coleraine but Larne are on a great run and coming back from a goal down to beat Ballymena was good going tonight. Coleraine will be desperate for another go in the final after last year's no show against Linfield.