Week 1 Fixtures - 3rd/4th March

[nigel-harps1954]

Friday 3rd March

Premier Division

Cork City v Bohemians - 7:45pm Live on RTÉ Two
St Pat's Ath v Galway United - 7:45pm
Finn Harps v Derry City - 8pm
Wexford Youths v Longford Town - 8pm

First Division

Cabinteely v Athlone Town - 7:45pm
Drogheda United v Waterford United - 7:45pm
Shelbourne v Cobh Ramblers - 7:45pm

Saturday 4th March

Premier Division

Bray Wanderers v Dundalk - 7:30pm
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers - 7:45pm

First Division

Limerick v UCD - 6:30pm

[nigel-harps1954]

Information for Derry fans travelling to Finn Park

http://www.finnharps.com/fhfc/?p=2883

[nigel-harps1954]

Match odds:

http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/ireland/

[oriel]

Usually some decent pull out supplements for the first week, actually it's every week. The Mirror have the best pull out on Fridays and the sun is good ones wendesday. Looking forward to both next week. Oh and the matches !

[seand]

Have to say I thought nigel was being a bit premature when I saw the thread title, til I remembered it is actually starting this week :-) It's been too long.

Harps-Derry and Cork-Bohs should be good games, tricky away games to start for Dundalk and Rovers.

[oriel]

Friday 3rd March

Premier Division

Cork City v Bohemians - 7:45pm Live on RTÉ Two - 4,000
St Pat's Ath v Galway United - 7:45pm - 1,500
Finn Harps v Derry City - 8pm - 4,500 (is this capacity)
Wexford Youths v Longford Town - 8pm - 1,500

First Division

Cabinteely v Athlone Town - 7:45pm
Drogheda United v Waterford United - 7:45pm
Shelbourne v Cobh Ramblers - 7:45pm

Saturday 4th March

Premier Division

Bray Wanderers v Dundalk - 7:30pm - 2,000
Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers - 7:45pm. - 2,500

First Division

Limerick v UCD - 6:30pm

I've entered in my estimations for the PD games, anyone else want to have a go at predicting ?

[nigel-harps1954]

Turners cross - 5,200
Richmond park - 1,750
Finn Park - 4,500 sellout.
Ferrycarraig Park - 2,100
Carlisle Grounds - 2,500
Showgrounds - 3,200

Each of those clubs to see drops of at least 1,000 for their second games.

[Darklordsbane]

not trying to be smart but Friday is the 4th of March and Saturday is the 5th could someone please inform the league officials as they are liable to turn up on Thursday and void the games

[patrickccfc]

Turners cross - 5,200
Richmond park - 1,750
Finn Park - 4,500 sellout.
Ferrycarraig Park - 2,100
Carlisle Grounds - 2,500
Showgrounds - 3,200

Each of those clubs to see drops of at least 1,000 for their second games.

Those would be great figures if they come to pass.. think our attendance might be closer to around 4500 but your prediction would be good to see.

[oriel]

Turners cross - 5,200
Richmond park - 1,750
Finn Park - 4,500 sellout.
Ferrycarraig Park - 2,100
Carlisle Grounds - 2,500
Showgrounds - 3,200

Each of those clubs to see drops of at least 1,000 for their second games.

Given this is your first year back, and taking into account a lot of the bigger clubs will travel up to Donegal in decent numbers*, what are you hoping for Nigel when things settle down, average attendance wise?

You probably also have to factor in it's going to be fairly tough to get results, but hopefully the supporters will stick with the team.

* already loads of Dundalk fans I'm talking to are planning to go the Finn Harps away game in May, especially as its our only visit.

[oriel]

Those would be great figures if they come to pass.. think our attendance might be closer to around 4500 but your prediction would be good to see.

I always think it's better to under estimate, think Cork will definitely get over the 4 mark though, even with the live TV.

[Charlie Darwin]

I've entered in my estimations for the PD games, anyone else want to have a go at predicting ?
Be over 3,000 at the Showgrounds I think. First game of the year - Sligo always have a big crowd, especially with optimism from the new manager and money being spent, and Rovers always send a few hundred for the first away game.

[nigel-harps1954]

Given this is your first year back, and taking into account a lot of the bigger clubs will travel up to Donegal in decent numbers*, what are you hoping for Nigel when things settle down, average attendance wise?

You probably also have to factor in it's going to be fairly tough to get results, but hopefully the supporters will stick with the team.

* already loads of Dundalk fans I'm talking to are planning to go the Finn Harps away game in May, especially as its our only visit.

If Harps can keep an average of about 1,500 for the year that'll be a good year. Considering attendances dwindled altogether the past few years. We can still pull in the bandwagon, but there's no way that'll stay regular.

[brendy_éire]

Away allocation for Harps-Derry sold out, 100 extra being sent up this morning apparently.
How are the Harps tickets going? Must be a fair chance of a sell-out.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Be over 3,000 at the Showgrounds I think. First game of the year - Sligo always have a big crowd, especially with optimism from the new manager and money being spent, and Rovers always send a few hundred for the first away game.

Say what now?

[nigel-harps1954]

Away allocation for Harps-Derry sold out, 100 extra being sent up this morning apparently.
How are the Harps tickets going? Must be a fair chance of a sell-out.

I'd say there's a good chance this will be sold out by tomorrow evening. It's going to be a fun bit of viewing for Derry fans packed into the bottom end of the gantry side.

Tickets selling really fast right through Donegal for the game. Michael Murphy sports shop in Letterkenny sold out of tickets the day they got them and had to get more sent down from Finn Park.

[ForzaHoop]

I bought tickets in Murphy Sports yesterday and they had a new batch which were almost sold out, 1/2 my company are going & most blokes around town are talking about the game, it'll be a huge crowd the size of Limerick game last year, no room in the ground, isn't the ground now 6000 capacity

[nigel-harps1954]

Safe capacity has been set at 4,500. That'll push closer to 5,000 by game time I'd assume.

[ForzaHoop]

Derry have been allocated 800 tickets and they have sold out this morning, Unfortunately work with a few Derry lads and they got last tickets this morning. this is gonna be a complete sell out, can't wait, will get to ground nice and early too
Any Displays planned, flags etc

[PartySaint]

I've entered in my estimations for the PD games, anyone else want to have a go at predicting ?

Higher in Cork 5,000+
Lower at Harps 2,500/3000
Lower in Bray 1500
Higher in Sligo 3,000+
I'd say slightly lower in Wexford, it's their first premier division game but against Longford won't attract much
Pats probably about right

I'd say 700 at Shels and Drogs
500 at cabo

[brendy_éire]

It's going to be a fun bit of viewing for Derry fans packed into the bottom end of the gantry side.

I already accept that there'll be large areas of the pitch that I won't be able to see. A friend is taking his (Scottish) girlfriend to her first LoI game too. It'll be some introduction!

[nigel-harps1954]

Get anywhere close to the wall and you'll have as good a view as anyone. The Town End Terrace is the only part of Finn Park where you can see the whole pitch unobstructed.

[Real ale Madrid]

The fact that Finn Park will be sold out is tremendous news. #UTH!

[joey B]

The fact that Finn Park will be sold out is tremendous news. #UTH!

Donegal people love a bandwagon!!

[nigel-harps1954]

The fact that Finn Park will be sold out is tremendous news. #UTH!

For the second game in a row..

[Charlie Darwin]

Say what now?
All those kids from England aren't moving to a different country for 250 quid a week. And it's a step up from the last couple of years.

[Jofspring]

Would be happy if we can get 1,000 in the gate.

[dublinred]

All those kids from England aren't moving to a different country for 250 quid a week. And it's a step up from the last couple of years. Think dole in England is £57 per week , throw in a few in a few of them on loan and our budget will be lower than last year , we usually do better with Brits than Dubs so should be an interesting season.

[Real ale Madrid]

Anyone know if the Saturday games will be on Trackchamp?

[Charlie Darwin]

Think dole in England is £57 per week , throw in a few in a few of them on loan and our budget will be lower than last year , we usually do better with Brits than Dubs so should be an interesting season.
Haha fair enough, should post a big profit this year so.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps chances of beating Derry hit a bit of a blow this week. Barry Molloy won't be cleared in time to play, Kevin McHugh, Gareth Harkin and Michael Funston all suspended from last season, Josh Mailey injured, Packie Mailey, Damien McNulty and Ciaran Coll all carrying knocks.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

All those kids from England aren't moving to a different country for 250 quid a week. And it's a step up from the last couple of years.

You think we're spending more on wages this year then we did for the last couple of years?

[Charlie Darwin]

You think we're spending more on wages this year then we did for the last couple of years?
I think you're not letting players go mid-season and then signing Zayed on loan, and restricting the wage bill to people who have functioning legs, so you might not be spending more total but there's less of it being wasted on senior players and whatnot.

[bluewhitearmy]

Is the suspension list for week 1 out anywhere?

[Charlie Darwin]

Is the suspension list for week 1 out anywhere?
Of course not, that would be a sensible thing to do.

[Eminence Grise]

A friend is taking his (Scottish) girlfriend to her first LoI game too. It'll be some introduction!

That's for sure! Most arranged marriages usually have the introductory meeting in a more private venue.;)

[littlebray]

Is the suspension list for week 1 out anywhere?

You were only 2 hours early for it ... and note the bit at the bottom:

Automatic Suspension in next SSE Airtricity League match
SHANE DINEEN (ex-Waterford United)
STEPHEN DUNNE (Drogheda United)
SEAN THORNTON (Drogheda United)
WILLIE TYRRELL (ex-Wexford Youths)

First team competitive as and from Monday, February 29
VICTOR EKANEM (Cabinteely) 2 MATCHES 12 Yellow Cards

Please note that following a rule change at the recent FAI EGM, suspensions imposed for the accumulation of five (5) yellow cards and eight (8) yellow cards only do not carry over to the next season.

[nigel-harps1954]

Great news to change that silly rule. Means 3 Harps players are now available for Friday night that were previously supposed to have been suspended.

[outspoken]

Wonder how long the clubs have known? Bit ridiculous If they've only had a few days notice

[nigel-harps1954]

Wonder how long the clubs have known? Bit ridiculous If they've only had a few days notice

Only a few days.

[brendy_éire]

Great news to change that silly rule. Means 3 Harps players are now available for Friday night that were previously supposed to have been suspended.

Ridiculous rule change. Players now free to hack away in the last five games of the season, no consequences.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ridiculous rule change. Players now free to hack away in the last five games of the season, no consequences.
They'll deserve to for their squeaky-clean record in the first 28 games.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ridiculous rule change. Players now free to hack away in the last five games of the season, no consequences.

Red cards still exist in football you know? That's a pretty silly argument brendy.

[El-Pietro]

The next thing to change is the second suspension on 8 Yellows after one on 5. Should be raised to 9 or 10. I'd be happy enough with 9.

[joey B]

Should be around 12/1300 Derry fans in Finn Park tommorow around 300 of them will actually see the game!!

[Jofspring]

Aaron Greene said in his interview the other day he didn't know if he was suspended or not. Was told he was and then later told he wasn't. He was waiting for confirmation back from the FAI. Great to see the rule changed.

[Martinho II]

Should be around 12/1300 Derry fans in Finn Park tommorow around 300 of them will actually see the game!!

wot will the Derry lads do tmw if they cant get in?

[outspoken]

wot will the Derry lads do tmw if they cant get in?

Thinks he means view wise marty. They all have tickets

[nigel-harps1954]

1,150 tickets for Derry fans in the end. There's a small number who have bought tickets for the home end too. I've a sneaky feeling the attendance will end up exceeding the 4,500 safe capacity by a fair bit.

[WoodquayBoy]

Hearing reports of snow in Dublin - any threat to games at Richmond, Tolka and Cabinteely?