League games

[bluewhitearmy]

Someone said recently there probably isn't a need to start a new thread for every game so said I will give this a try and if people want to start single match threads till then fine. 11 wins in a row now in the league and 5 wins off breaking a record set in 1923.

Thought we were slow and a lacking a bit of drive first half too much just playing passes for the sake of passing, missed Duggy. Stepped it up second half a bit and was a routine win really. Love watching John O'Flynn amazed with his work-rate tbh.

[Jofspring]

Ya we missed Duggie awful and also Greene and Coughlan were big misses also.

Athlone set up to frustrate us and did so in the first half. O'flynn though, absolutely deadly up top.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Highlights up already, from camera behind Athlone goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyUuf5RbY50

Even with so many injuries, clear Limerick have way too much for the rest of the First Division.

[bluewhitearmy]

Anyone know whats up with Greene btw?

[osarusan]

O'Flynn is so f**king clinical compared to the way we overplayed so much in the first half.

The chance is there? Bang, take it.

[thomas72]

First half was dire to be fair obviously Martin had a few choice words at half time much improved second half I thought ross Mann was absolutely diabolical for the whole 90mins seems lost when he has the ball at his feet.
O flynn made the difference his movement is exceptional and of coarse his finishing top notch.

As BWA said above does anybody here know the story on greene been out a bit now.

[gael353]

green has a niggly injury hes going for a scan this week. he was signing autographs for the kids after the game. Coughlan is out for several weeks and Sharkey is doing light training. Duggy is a big loss though in midfield

[NeverFeltBetter]

I'd miss Duggan way more than Greene. I suppose the astroturf training must be having an effect?

[bluewhitearmy]

I'd miss Duggan way more than Greene. I suppose the astroturf training must be having an effect?

Wouldn't be sure its the astro tbh who have we out Sharkey, Duggan, Greene and Coughlan?

Sharkey- Out through being knocked out in 2 games and suffering a concussion the second time.

Duggan- Pulled up after taking a shot in Cobh.

Greene- No idea what happened.

Coughlan- Injured due to a heavy tackle in a game.

[bluewhitearmy]

Good to see young Sean McSweeney back on the scene by the way he came into it with high expectations last season then vanished til coming on against Athlone, thought he did well enough too.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Glorious sunshine in Limerick today: will it make for a good crowd, or will everyone be somewhere else enjoying the weather?

[bluewhitearmy]

Somewhere in between I reckon. Was thinking we would get a great crowd being last game before the break but I know of a lot of people now gone off for the long weekend.

[Johnnie C]

I have a ticket I'm looking to sell for Ireland v Italy in Lille on June 22, €145 category 1, face value. PM if interested, I'll be at game this evening.

[LK37oldskool]

Christ on a bike, some of the lads were out on their feet and Russell was sitting on his arse scratching his head. 3 pairs of fresh legs could have made a huge difference. Bloody hell, what's he getting paid for?

[osarusan]

We had no one on the bench really. I even remember thinking, when the subs were called out, that there was nobody who would make a difference.

I know that you can't just magic players to health, but are Duggan and Greene so injured as to be able to go on for 30 minutes? Maybe it's better not to risk them I suppose. I mean, we've lost perfect record, but we'll still canter to the title.

[Lim till i die]

There was nothing on that bench you'd trust to come on and do something.

That's not Russell's fault.

The one change he did make scored the equaliser.

Some really really poor performances today all over the field and if the young lad doesn't throw the ball into his net we win the game.

No worries, the lesson for today was that you're going to need a proper squad in the premier.

[bluewhitearmy]

Ok tbh I was over dramatic but Mann should have been on way earlier you probably couldn't see it LTID but Kenny could barely walk.

[da bishop]

Russell out..........

[gael353]

We are gone too weak in the last 6 weeks. Hall, sharkey, Duggan, greene and coughlan all out. Replaced by Holland, paudie, russell, mulhall and another. If we lose another key player like lee jay (Who is our only player able to to run btw) and we have to use any of that bench, we are no stronger then cabbo. Need players back need to sign some players for the premier with premier quality. Injuries happen i get it but the overall fitness of the team for a so called professional team has to be questioned.

[NeverFeltBetter]

First ten minutes we were doing well, then seemed to fall away a bit, same story in the second before they sort of roared back into after each goal.

Poor Holland really messed it all up. But for that howler I think Limerick might have won it comfortably enough. What happened? Was the sun in his eyes a factor? Whatever it was, it was a real shame since he'd been having a good game up to that point, some great saves in the first half and a steady pair of hands in the second. Hall was on the bench right? I presume he'll be starting again on the 24th.

Williams was iffy in defence, and the back four generally were playing with fire a lot. It's been said over and over again, but a better quality of opposition and Limerick would be getting roasted, as evidenced by the ****-up that led to their second.

We really miss Duggan in the middle, the kind of player who'll receive the ball, drive forward and make the opposition panic. Without him the midfield looks far more pedestrian, with Lynch the stand-out tonight. Thought Russell struggled a lot, and seemed to be limping at times in the second. A lot of poor crosses into the box from wingers, and some ****poor delivery's from corners (notwithstanding we scored from two, but we had a lot of corners).

O'Flynn and Mulhall didn't seem capable of really making a big difference today, Drogs did well with them at the back, and their keeper pulled off some great saves in the second. First goal was all kinds of scrappy, but the second was well taken. Just a shame they couldn't complete the comeback.

I was surprised by the lack of subs too, and the fact that the manager didn't feel it was possible to send fresh legs on, in that heat, is a very strong indictment of the injury crisis and the lack of depth in the squad. The three weeks off couldn't have come at a better time.

I think a lot of people were happy enough with the draw, considering the last ten minutes, but I was raging, Limerick were well capable of putting Drogs away in the second half, but just stuttered after going ahead, and then seemed to lose their composure when they conceded (though I fully admit my mood might have been affected by the seats my father choose in the stand though, surrounded by unaccompanied kids, old timers stinking of drink and some lads who thought nothing of screaming abuse at the slightest provocation, "Family Zone" be damned).

Ref was alright, maybe a bit finicky with some 50-50's. Saw people on FB say there was trouble between stewards and away fans? Thought the crowd was bigger than announced, but that's par for the course with the Market's Field. Oh, and can someone please tell JP on the intercom to tone it down a bit? The guy gets more irritating every game.

In the end, we're still unbeaten and still 14 points clear with nearly half the season played.

[bluewhitearmy]

We really are grumpy aren't we busiest it's been for weeks is to complain about drawing a game that keeps us 14 clear me included like haha

[bluewhitearmy]

Won't be seeing Hall for a while btw he was in no state to come on if anything happened Holland tonight.

[fieldofmarkets]

Shame to lose the 100%. Russell getting shouted at late in the game for not making changes but i would have to agree with many of the posts above that there were not many changes available. Mann was really the only option and i wouldn't have withdrawn Russell or Mullhall for him with 15 or 20 minutes to go. When we did bring him on it was forced due to their goal and we went 3 at the back. Shot ourselves in the foot with the OG and should still have won the game. Full strength after the break hopefully and maybe a good cup run. League is won, Drogheda were solid lastnight but not good enough to overhaul 14 points.

[bluewhitearmy]

Its one thing the lads on the bench not being great its another thing altogether when there are lads out on their feet Stephen Kenny could barely run at one stage he literally could just about get to jogging pace and no-one can tell me Ross Mann wouldn't have been a better option than that for the last 20 than that, he doesn't need to be that good at that stage of the game he just needs to run at em cos he is very quick it won us a penalty in Shels last week. He made the change directly after their goal in the 89th min so why not give the lad a bit more time to do something. I was definitely over dramatic during the game and after it about Russell but I do think we could have pushed to win the game with an earlier change.

Like Paul O Conor said on Twitter though even with yesterdays performance I am a lot happier going into this break than last year. Nothing to complain about at this stage really amazing league campaign so far and still in both cups with the chance of a final if we can win one more game in one of them.

[da bishop]

We are gone too weak in the last 6 weeks. Hall, sharkey, Duggan, greene and coughlan all out. Replaced by Holland, paudie, russell, mulhall and another. If we lose another key player like lee jay (Who is our only player able to to run btw) and we have to use any of that bench, we are no stronger then cabbo. Need players back need to sign some players for the premier with premier quality. Injuries happen i get it but the overall fitness of the team for a so called professional team has to be questioned.about time someone questioned it...same last season.on the game itself an odd hiccup is acceptable ,Drogs well setup and deserved their point.

[osarusan]

Back down to business with an easy win last night. Cabinteely not good enough to take advantage of our sleepwalking for the first 20 minutes and we dominated thereafter.

Bizarre (and boring) last twenty minutes with them offering nothing and us with no effort at all, just passing the ball in triangles. Hopefully no injuries and our better players are ready to o against UCD.

[bluewhitearmy]

A dire game for the most part tbh in a horrible venue to watch a game in with the weather. Brightened up by a beautifully taken goal by Sean McSweeney. Looks to me like we are taking a risk playing Freddy his leg seemed to just buckle at one stage in the first half and they just threw a big brace on it and off he went. We desperately need a few signings in the window to freshen things up and cover injuries we need them to be good quality if we really want to make a go at the cups cos last few weeks we have ended up with teams on the pitch that would be battered by premier opponents.

Another win first week back though and a win next week leaves us at least 17 clear so nothing really to be too concerned about.

[Lims4ever]

We got away with it tonight , the sending off after ht cost them big-time and it was very harsh taught mulhall earned the pen threw himself to the ground , we handled going down to 10 much better than they did , did they not keep Williams training during the break looked very unfit to me stupid red card to get we will miss him , Russell is not a left back got slaughtered especially first half and his crossing was awful , great to have greene back but he looked off the pace which is to be expected , what a worker mulhall is never stops running , standout player Kenny without a doubt superb display drove us on all the time he has some engine and great ability aswell , been impressed with there 9 the few times I've seen him he had another good game , what's the story with o flynn is he in trouble with the knees again ???

[osarusan]

Love the attitudes of Mulhall and Kenny, both worked their socks off all night.

A good few unfit players out there on both sides.

I'd be worried about Freddy - shuffling about the place gingerly and not taking kickouts near the end.

We badly miss Duggan for his balls over the top. So many of them overhit tonight.

But we showed good heart tonight to come back from a difficult situation, made a little easier by a shocking straight red for the Mulhall penalty.

[LK37oldskool]

I think the ref was making up for not giving the blatant penalty in the first half to us with early 2 nd half peno. Clear hand ball by their no.4. Definitely some fitness issues but Kenny, Lee J and mulhall were awesome. I thought Tony whitehead was very good when he came on. Has bulked up well and looks a real centre half. Mulhall's 2 nd was class in such a melee. 17 points ahead puts promotion one step closer. That's all we need to be looking at now.

[gael353]

Our squad is really showing how small it is when we have two clearly injured players starting. All three conceded goals and the sending off were the fault of POC. Hes been at fault for robbie getting sent off twice against ucd this season. Mulhall and kenny were why we won anf lee jays got a great engine....but on 70 mins our team collapsed. The teams lack of fitness is only being spared by the part time and amateur opposition

[bluewhitearmy]

I love Chris Mulhall the man works so hard for the team it really is fantastic to see, when Stephen Kenny is good he is great to watch too he can beat a man inside or out as if they aren't even there and was unplayable at times tonight. Said as soon as Mulhall went down that the ref was gonna even things up it was so obvious but he was really poor, no problem with either of UCD pens though tbf. Looks like Lee J has been trying to take the responsibility to get us going while Duggy is out he is all over the pitch on and off the ball and he uses it so well I can't wait til Duggy is back so Lee J can go back to being the link between middle and attack cos his vision and passing is brilliant.

17 points clear on top is amazing no matter what standard of league it is.

[sadloserkid]

Twas entertaining last night for sure. As casual and all as we were at times I think we deserved the win, even when we were a man down we had plenty of threat. Paudie O'Connor is well overdue for a dropping once Williams serves his suspension too, Whitehead is worth another look at this stage.

[da bishop]

Good game,poor ref,mulhall never stops,o connor will never make a premier centre half,loads of cracks,half the team unfit,league will be over soon,......yawn.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Eight wins needed I believe.

[Jofspring]

Good game,poor ref,mulhall never stops,o connor will never make a premier centre half,loads of cracks,half the team unfit,league will be over soon,......yawn.

O'Connor a bit young to come to that conclusion no? If anything he is playing ahead of his years. Still only 18.

[Market's Field]

Eight wins needed I believe.

Even less if one of those wins is against Drogheda

[da bishop]

O'Connor a bit young to come to that conclusion no? If anything he is playing ahead of his years. Still only 18.

Fair point,however watch his performances more closely in what is ...lets face it a s--te league ..its littered with in tennis talk ..unforced errors.the fact that this league should and is an educating one wont hold much sway against top premier players next season.needs to beef up .cut out errors,lead more from the back etc etc.

[Jofspring]

Ya he is prone to errors alright but hopefully he continues to receive the coaching required to improve his game. He should start filling out when he hits nearer is 20's, he seems to be pretty fearless. His main down side for me is when he comes out with the ball he tends to play long and give it away. That could be down to Russell wanting him to play out from the back and maybe it's not his style or something he just needs to improve on.

It won't take too much to improve Paudie and he seems to have a good attitude. Certainly good enough to make it in he premier here when you see how rubbish some of the defenders are. When under pressure I've seen a lot of the top defenders in Ireland crumble and make silly mistakes.

[osarusan]

His main down side for me is when he comes out with the ball he tends to play long and give it away. That could be down to Russell wanting him to play out from the back and maybe it's not his style or something he just needs to improve on.

I actually don't mind this too much. I think he has a real defender's attitude of 'if we're going to lose possession, lose it at their end of the pitch' and when he can't find a pass, he'll play it long rather than across the back four. That's fine with me. I agree that it's not his style and he's not really comfortable with the passing round the back.

He really needs somebody from midfield to show for a shorter ball. If Duggan was in the team, I think he'd be doing that muchmore than the long balls over the top.

Speaking of long balls over the top, I really hoped O'Flynn would come on, especially with UCD's line pushed up so far. There was lots of space for him to run into, which he does a lot better than Mulhall. I thought the game was set up perfectly for him.

[bluewhitearmy]

hopefully he continues to receive the coaching required to improve his game.

From who though? We have no-one on the coaching staff to coach the defensive side of the game like that if we are waiting for Russell to teach someone how to defend then we are doomed it's not his thing and the other two involved are goalkeeper Eddie Hickey and striker Derek McCarthy.

[Jofspring]

From who though? We have no-one on the coaching staff to coach the defensive side of the game like that if we are waiting for Russell to teach someone how to defend then we are doomed it's not his thing and the other two involved are goalkeeper Eddie Hickey and striker Derek McCarthy.

I reckon they will need Robbie to help him with a lot of the defensive side of things. In saying that Robbie can be a little more attack minded, especially when he was a left back.

[bluewhitearmy]

I reckon they will need Robbie to help him with a lot of the defensive side of things. In saying that Robbie can be a little more attack minded, especially when he was a left back.

Can't properly coach him either while he is taking care of his own playing side.

[sadloserkid]

Obviously coaching should benefit anybody, but 18 or not, if Paudie O'Connor needs to be thought not to play tippy-tappy little nonsense passes in his own area at this stage, with a season and a half of senior ball under his belt, I would worry about his potential going forward. I think being dropped could be just the kick up the hole he needs. Cut out the casual, blase messing about and get back to defending first and foremost.

He's not the first player to come into the team and suddenly get hyped up - Stephen O'Mahony, Stephen McGann, even Jason Hughes when he broke in were all talked about as guys who had the tools to, at the very least, establish themselves as senior LOI pros (if not go even further afield). Of the three only Hughes has had any sort of lasting impact at senior level. Paudie would do well to take note!

[Jofspring]

It seems to be Russell's philosophy to play it out from the back though. It could be a case of if you don't try and play it out then you will be dropped. We've seen it with Folan, Oji, Williams, Kanyuka, Paudie and even look at his UCD teams. They were always prone to mistakes playing it out but most players have since gone on to establish themselves at LOI level.

[sadloserkid]

It seems to be Russell's philosophy to play it out from the back though. It could be a case of if you don't try and play it out then you will be dropped. We've seen it with Folan, Oji, Williams, Kanyuka, Paudie and even look at his UCD teams. They were always prone to mistakes playing it out but most players have since gone on to establish themselves at LOI level.

I agree with you. To a point. I refuse to believe that even Russell encourages the sort of lax, casual, cheap attitude to possession that Paudie has been in danger of making his hallmark at times this season. If he CAN'T play out from the back (not that I'm saying that definitively yet) then he's of no use to Russell anyway. Giving possession away so frequently in your own area is basic stuff, he has plenty of time to learn how to improve his reading, his movement and his technique but he should be old enough already to have grasped that.

[Jofspring]

Is Shane Tracey carrying an injury?

[thomas72]

And we're is our top goalscorer john o flynn and why was he only on the bench v ucd last weekend?

[bluewhitearmy]

First thing that has to be said about Waterford game is that they should be ashamed of themselves with having players out on that pitch I was surprised ref passed it tbh cos to me it looked dangerous to players.The game itself they did well enough against us and had the better of spells but we did what we have done over and over again this season and blew em apart near the end,scored 3 in 5 minutes I think it was. Paudie came back strong from last week and did well and Greene even though he is clearly not back to 100% yet is still miles above this division. Freddy really isn't anywhere near fit either and I think thats what cost us the goal.

19 clear now anyway with level games so not far away from having it officially won.

[thomas72]

Awful accident tonight 2 rows in front of me young lad no more than 6 or 7yrs of age cobh lad with his dad his finger somehow got caught on the seat lost the tip of his finger very upsetting viewing poor lad was in serious distress people trying to find to tip of his finger on the ground to put it in ice.
Hope he is OK with my small one only 4 got very upset aswell.