2017 Pre-season friendlies

[CraftyToePoke]

Look, we'll do well to win any games this year. If we were in the First Division, we'd only have the fourth highest budget. As it stands, we're miles behind everyone else in the Premier. We have to face realities here, we're in an uphill battle from day one. Cork will probably come to Finn Park and beat us, and we'll be looking up right from the word go.

Like I said to you after the play off, enjoy the few moments in the sun because they would be brief. And here we are. :)

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps will be fine this year. I'm going to have to start putting quotes in here from now on.

[joey B]

Christ if any response to Niges post were actually serious you've had a nightmare,tongues firmly in cheek lads!!!

[bluewhitearmy]

I have Harps as just losing out to Drogs for last safe spot tbh unless one of them play well above themselves but if McCourt has any of the old magic left you never know.

[sbgawa]

I think with the exception of Rovers , Dundalk, Cork Derry and Sligo any of the other 7 could go down.
People keep talking Bray up but as good as they were in the second half of last season they were as bad in the first...who will turn up on Friday ?
Equally Harps and Drogs with a run of form could surprise.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I wouldn't be putting us in a list of teams who are safe from relegation

[Sam_Heggy]

With 3 going down, Harps have to be one of the favourites to be in that 3. Finished 3rd from bottom last season and with all due respect, you'd imagine Limerick and Drogheda to be stronger than Wexford and Longford of last season.
Harps have added quality in Morrissey and O'Connor up front along with Cantwell, McAleer and Bonner. Losing Keith Cowan is a huge blow.
If McCourt is fit and is signed then he could be that bit of magic needed but with Ollie's style of play, I'm not sure where he'll fit in.

[D24Saint]

Beat Hearts one nil tonight in a friendly, good performance by us. It was great to have Killer back and Owen Garvan did well also. The new CB Jordi Balk looks the part.

[nr637]

Wednesday 5th July
St. Colmans Park @ 7.30
Cobh Ramblers 0 Norwich City 5
Att. 800

Well organised friendly, sponsored by Cork Red FM!

Cobh were 0-4 down at half time and were totally over run by Norwich, but Wes Hoolahan was the attraction and a great gentleman for all the young fans!

[pineapple stu]

Rovers 0-9 Celtic today in the televised game.

Largely reserves/19s for Rovers apparently.

A PR own goal, or a practical decision ahead of Europe?

[sbgawa]

Decent money for rovers (from what I hear at the club celtic didn't want any of the gate) plus 150 people paying €100 a head in the 1899 suite. Comercial sucess hopefully they do it next season as well . Be nice if timing allowed us play a full team though

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Rovers 0-9 Celtic today in the televised game.

Largely reserves/19s for Rovers apparently.

A PR own goal, or a practical decision ahead of Europe?

Rovers had 2 players over 20 on the pitch through the whole game, mcallister and meenan and they went off at half and around 60.
It was just a chance to make a bit of money and have a look at some younger players. I don't see any harm in it, the young lads won't give a **** about the score cause now they can go to their mates and say they played against celtic and some of them didn't do themselves any harm in getting a look in later in the season.

[sullanefc]

Not sure Celtic would be too happy at not getting a challenge. Doubt they'd be up for that again next year.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm not sure what else they expected scheduling a game two days after their opponents were involved in a Europa League game that had been pencilled in for months.

[sullanefc]

I'm not sure what else they expected scheduling a game two days after their opponents were involved in a Europa League game that had been pencilled in for months.
A team of Celtics lofty status can't be expected to know/care about the goings on of some 2 bit LOI team.

[legendz]

Were Shamrock Rovers season ticketholders at the game? What did they make of it?

Liverpool "supporters" turned up in huge numbers to watch a reserve team playing Shamrock Rovers last year. Clubs field reserve teams for friendlies. Liverpool were always going to field reserves when an international tournament was about to start at the end of a season. Shamrock Rovers were always going to field reserves 2 days after a European tie. Shrewd business for Rovers.

[Charlie Darwin]

A team of Celtics lofty status can't be expected to know/care about the goings on of some 2 bit LOI team.
Good thing they were playing the biggest team in Ireland so. I have it on good authority Stephen held an extended meeting with Brendan where he advised the Celtic boss on how to deal with pressure.

[Charlie Darwin]

Were Shamrock Rovers season ticketholders at the game? What did they make of it?

Liverpool "supporters" turned up in huge numbers to watch a reserve team playing Shamrock Rovers last year. Clubs field reserve teams for friendlies. Liverpool were always going to field reserves when an international tournament was about to start at the end of a season. Shamrock Rovers were always going to field reserves 2 days after a European tie. Shrewd business for Rovers.
Season tickets weren't valid but there were a lot of regulars there. Most saw it for what it was, and some would be closet Celtic fans anyway so enjoyed it anyway.

[thebronze14]

Fair play to Rovers...Take the money and run! Will stand to the youngsters playing against quality opposition and the main players are fresh for the big match this week

[Nesta99]

There is an (amusing) irony that an Irish club has sent out the kids in a friendly against some UK tourist side. Maybe the Celtic fans might see some name crop up from the Rovers youngsters in the future and be thinking 'Yeah I saw him when he was only an apprentice!'.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Were Shamrock Rovers season ticketholders at the game? What did they make of it?

Liverpool "supporters" turned up in huge numbers to watch a reserve team playing Shamrock Rovers last year. Clubs field reserve teams for friendlies. Liverpool were always going to field reserves when an international tournament was about to start at the end of a season. Shamrock Rovers were always going to field reserves 2 days after a European tie. Shrewd business for Rovers.

Yeah I've a season ticket and I was there. I've fairly deep family connections to celtic so was never really going to miss it. Just a chance to go see these big players though I honestly was expecting the first team from Rovers to get at least 30mins but I know why they didn't.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

There is an (amusing) irony that an Irish club has sent out the kids in a friendly against some UK tourist side. Maybe the Celtic fans might see some name crop up from the Rovers youngsters in the future and be thinking 'Yeah I saw him when he was only an apprentice!'.

When you see the likes of bolger, bone and a few others and how well they play its very possible that will happen and maybe when that happens a few of those people will come down to more games

[mcgonigle]

I must be in the minority that think this battering was bad for the leagues image overall. If we're trying to attract new fans, getting battered by an average European team is not going to help imo. Casual fans watching are not going to know that it was only a Rovers reserves team, it'll just be another point to prove their theory that the league is poor.
Anyway hope Rovers made a few quid at least

[samhaydenjr]

I must be in the minority that think this battering was bad for the leagues image overall. If we're trying to attract new fans, getting battered by an average European team is not going to help imo. Casual fans watching are not going to know that it was only a Rovers reserves team, it'll just be another point to prove their theory that the league is poor.
Anyway hope Rovers made a few quid at least

Agreed - that was awful, another example of the LOI trying to make a quick buck in the short-term - they knew since last year that they'd be in the Europa League and still scheduled this game between the first and second rounds - nobody really learned anything from this from a footballing standpoint (not even Celtic who didn't get to test themselves against Linfield-level opposition, which must surely have been part of their aim when they agreed to the fixture) and, as you said, anyone tuning in on TV will think it is a fair reflection of the league (rather than a a reflection of the U19 league). And besides, Cork City are in the same boat in the Europa League, schedule-wise, and still had to field their first team against St. Pat's. (Watch now as Rovers march on against Boleslav while City crash out, just to prove me wrong)

[D24Saint]

Norwich in cobh was a strange one ?

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Agreed - that was awful, another example of the LOI trying to make a quick buck in the short-term - they knew since last year that they'd be in the Europa League and still scheduled this game between the first and second rounds - nobody really learned anything from this from a footballing standpoint (not even Celtic who didn't get to test themselves against Linfield-level opposition, which must surely have been part of their aim when they agreed to the fixture) and, as you said, anyone tuning in on TV will think it is a fair reflection of the league (rather than a a reflection of the U19 league). And besides, Cork City are in the same boat in the Europa League, schedule-wise, and still had to field their first team against St. Pat's. (Watch now as Rovers march on against Boleslav while City crash out, just to prove me wrong)

Some would argue rovers u19's are linfield level opposition :)
I'd say though the scheduling was out of rovers hands, they probably agreed the friendly then we're told to take or leave that date and you can't really turn down that money.
It wasn't a complete waste for celtic either, some players were really blowing at points in the game so at the least they got a good training match out of it, some will say they could have played against their own reserves for that but there's a different mentality from both sides in that that completely changes the game and means you get less out of it if it's your own reserves. And I'd say shirt sales spiked for the build up, tonnes of brand new jerseys about the place, so not a completely wasted exercise for them.
As for the leagues image yeah it's not great for that but all the articles are pointing out it was rovers reserves and even to look at the pictures you can tell it was mostly kids playing so the only people it would really put off are those who look for reasons to put the league down and you'd never convince those anyway.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was Celtic who were looking for a fixture on that date and Rovers said yes. Whatever League of Ireland club they picked, they'd all have been in the same situation with having a game the day before or after, so nobody would be able to field a full-strength side. It was never an opportunity to market the league or whatever because there was no situation we'd have been able to put out a full team.

[legendz]

As for the leagues image yeah it's not great for that but all the articles are pointing out it was rovers reserves and even to look at the pictures you can tell it was mostly kids playing so the only people it would really put off are those who look for reasons to put the league down and you'd never convince those anyway.It was shrewd business. The result is a PR fail. Many will hear the result but not the detail of Rovers fielding a reserve team. Those judging the book by it's cover can't be convinced as you say.

It's a reflection of their poor footballing knowledge anyway if they can't compute Rovers were in European action two nights before the friendly. Rovers were right to not turn down the money just to please those without the capacity to have an awareness of the circumstances surrounding the game.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

It was shrewd business. The result is a PR fail. Many will hear the result but not the detail of Rovers fielding a reserve team. Those judging the book by it's cover can't be convinced as you say.

It's a reflection of their poor footballing knowledge anyway if they can't compute Rovers were in European action two nights before the friendly. Rovers were right to not turn down the money just to please those without the capacity to have an awareness of the circumstances surrounding the game.

Id say had it been Sunday you might have got a rovers first team for the first 45 but obviously with it being decided before the draw and the potential for celtic to be going anywhere for a game on the Tuesday that was never on the cards but because of the whole linfield debacle in hindsight a Sunday game would have suited both fine, if not better for both, but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.
I am curious as to how rovers first team would have done, still would've lost I guess but I think/hope it would have been tight enough

[Dalymountrower]

Rovers had 2 players over 20 on the pitch through the whole game, mcallister and meenan and they went off at half and around 60.
It was just a chance to make a bit of money and have a look at some younger players. I don't see any harm in it,

Child Protection Services in Tusla have been notified

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Child Protection Services in Tusla have been notified
From a fan of any club other than bohs that might have been quite funny

[Dalymountrower]

From a fan of any club other than bohs that might have been quite funny

I doubt it, sorry for dragging the tone down.

[Fester]

Limerick 3 v 2 Charlton Athletic FT

[osarusan]

Limerick 3 v 2 Charlton Athletic FT
Very unlikely comeback from us given the first half.

I can only assume that the platoons of substitutes made by Charlton at stages throughout the second half weakened their side somewhat, while the subs we made made us a lot more dangerous up front.

[LK37oldskool]

Limerick practically changed their whole team during the 2nd half also. I thought Charlton looked physically stronger but I think it was match fitness that swayed the balance in Limerick's favour. Lee jay in midfield was a major factor also.

[DannyInvincible]

It was shrewd business. The result is a PR fail. Many will hear the result but not the detail of Rovers fielding a reserve team. Those judging the book by it's cover can't be convinced as you say.

It's a reflection of their poor footballing knowledge anyway if they can't compute Rovers were in European action two nights before the friendly. Rovers were right to not turn down the money just to please those without the capacity to have an awareness of the circumstances surrounding the game.

There's an article here (http://www.extratime.ie/articles/19353/dave-donnelly-the-financial-benefit-of-summer-friendlies-is-obvious---the-costs-are-more-difficult-to-quantify/) on ExtraTime.ie by Dave Donnelly lamenting the negative optics that games such as these can generate for the league generally, as, even though Rovers will obviously have received an immediate and quantifiable monetary boost, a 9-0 loss looks bad for the league to the casual observer who won't have been aware of Rovers' reserve line-up or the fact they'd played in a competitive Europa League qualifier two days earlier. He suggests that that sort of damage is less quantifiable and has a look at how the game was reported in the Scottish media; most Scottish reporters appeared to have given their readers the impression that Celtic simply steam-rolled the LOI's fourth-best side.

[pineapple stu]

UCD 3-0 Charlton at half time. Makes sense

[RathfarnhamHoop]

UCD 3-0 Charlton at half time. Makes sense

That's a crazy schedule for Charlton. What's that 3 games in 3/4 days, players must be knackered

[pineapple stu]

They've a big squad here in fairness. So yeah, a lot of games, but they're only playing half matches each really.

Has to be a bit of a factor though

4-0 now.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

They've a big squad here in fairness. So yeah, a lot of games, but they're only playing half matches each really.

Has to be a bit of a factor though

4-0 now.

Yeah they only played 45 but the travel and all the problems that come with that especially considering the less than 24 hours recovery time cannot have been good for the players.

[HarpoJoyce]

Full Stream from Charlton Athletic at UCD Bowl. UCD 4:1 Charlton Athletic (co-commentator Jamie Moore, ex-UCD coach, St Pats underage coach)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-iOXjz7xZk

Goals by Ben Hanrahan, Jay McClelland and Rob Manley
https://twitter.com/CAFCofficial/status/885446720665960449

A great game with all sets of Fans enjoying the occasion. A sunny summer's evening and another successful event during The UCD Bowl Summer of Football 2017.

[oldskool]

There's an article here (http://www.extratime.ie/articles/19353/dave-donnelly-the-financial-benefit-of-summer-friendlies-is-obvious---the-costs-are-more-difficult-to-quantify/) on ExtraTime.ie by Dave Donnelly lamenting the negative optics that games such as these can generate for the league generally, as, even though Rovers will obviously have received an immediate and quantifiable monetary boost, a 9-0 loss looks bad for the league to the casual observer who won't have been aware of Rovers' reserve line-up or the fact they'd played in a competitive Europa League qualifier two days earlier. He suggests that that sort of damage is less quantifiable and has a look at how the game was reported in the Scottish media; most Scottish reporters appeared to have given their readers the impression that Celtic simply steam-rolled the LOI's fourth-best side.

In fairness the media generally only focus on negative stories about the LOI, so lots of coverage of Rovers U21 getting bounced 9 nil, but not much about Hearts getting beat by St Pat's or Limerick beating Charlton or UCD beating Charlton 4-1.... thats not a story the barstooling readership of certain sites respond too...

[sbgawa]

5 Irish internationals up in Tallaght tonight and very little buzz about the game, looking forward to seeing John Walters at pitch level.
Hopefully Rovers will play at least a half strength team tonight.
Be nice to see O Connor and Boyd up front with Bolger Doona in midfield and a few senior pros to stiffen it up a bit

[outspoken]

In fairness the media generally only focus on negative stories about the LOI, so lots of coverage of Rovers U21 getting bounced 9 nil, but not much about Hearts getting beat by St Pat's or Limerick beating Charlton or UCD beating Charlton 4-1.... thats not a story the barstooling readership of certain sites respond too...

Had Dave on my podcast last night to talk about that article and we debated the good/bad regarding these friendlies - https://www.mixcloud.com/BetweenTheStripes/between-the-stripes-loi-podcast-episode-6/

[sbgawa]

Decent match in Tallaght. Brady and Walters scored and got a great reception from a decent enough crowd...I'd say 2250 to 2500 . Stephen ward is a big guy up close (father Ted moment maybe) Sam bone was outstanding for rovers. Bolger still amazes me at 17