LOI fixtures Paddy's weekend.

[ToberonaTornado]

Shelbourne v Waterford goals -


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK2ROrOhVlI

[Comic Book Guy]

Cobh 5-1 Athlone 😂

Could have been 7 or 8 to be honest, Athlone looked like a team cobbled together at the last minute.

[AlanOB]

In-depth analysis of the Limerick/Harps game here, for those who fancy a read: http://bit.ly/2mfjkxn

[bluewhitearmy]

In-depth analysis of the Limerick/Harps game here, for those who fancy a read: http://bit.ly/2mfjkxn

Can't see how you reckon a midfield with Duggan in and Hery out is the best option considering Duggans last two performances.

[blueblood]

Can't see how you reckon a midfield with Duggan in and Hery out is the best option considering Duggans last two performances.

And mccourt was terrible.

[AlanOB]

Personally, I can't see how someone could advocate dropping the only natural holding midfielder in a squad, regardless of how poor his form has been over the last week. Given the space Limerick have given up between the lines prior to today, with Duggan forced to plug those gaps alone at times, that would be tantamount to kamikaze football, in my opinion.

But, then, that's football, isn't it -- all about opinions, and Limerick football fans are always capable of offering up some particularly exotic ones. That, above, is just Alan O'Brien's...

[osarusan]

The unique football boots of Ciaran Gallagher.

http://www.impactlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Extreme-Shoelaces-473.jpg

[Longfordian]

Without starting rumours I'm getting more and more concerned about our financial situation. Something's not right and it's being reflected on the field.

[ToberonaTornado]

Absolute walk in the park for Dundalk tonight.McEleney with two belting goals and another motm award.The lad just oozzes quality.Prob the worst Pats side i have ever seen in OP,offered little and created sfa.Bucks skating on thin ice.We could have had had another few goals only for O'Malley(Pats GK)
All set up very nicely now for v Cork next week.

[bluewhitearmy]

Personally, I can't see how someone could advocate dropping the only natural holding midfielder in a squad, regardless of how poor his form has been over the last week. Given the space Limerick have given up between the lines prior to today, with Duggan forced to plug those gaps alone at times, that would be tantamount to kamikaze football, in my opinion.

But, then, that's football, isn't it -- all about opinions, and Limerick football fans are always capable of offering up some particularly exotic ones. That, above, is just Alan O'Brien's...

But he isn't a natural holding midfielder he was never a holding midfielder until Martin Russell put him there we don't actually have a natural holding midfielder it was an area we desperately needed to address this season and haven't.

[patrickccfc]

McEleney quickly becoming the main man for dundalk. Next week should be very interesting indeed.

Things looking extremely bleak at pats

[White Horse]

Things looking extremely bleak at pats

They worked hard in the first half but once they conceded it was a question of how many they would concede.

To give them their credit, they still tried to play football but were second best all over the park.

I was impressed with Michael Barker though, he has the makings of a good player.

[AlanOB]

Just looking at the lineups; I assume Barker was shifted into the holding midfield role today, yeah?

[Ezeikial]

Maguire couldn't get in ahead of McMillan and Kilduff from August onwards in 2015, he was quite rightly frustrated but with Dundalk only playing one up front, was a case of 3 competing for one spot. It probably was a mistake in hindsight not to offer him a contract for 2016 but Kenny will say he won the league that season with what he had up front, and quite comfortably so in the end.


Stephen Kenny offered Maguire a contract for 2016, but the player declined.

By signing for Cork, Maguire got regular football which allowed him to develop confidence and establish himself as an exceptional goalscorer. It has proven to be an enlightened decision and it will prbable lead him back to a decent UK contract next season

[White Horse]

Just looking at the lineups; I assume Barker was shifted into the holding midfield role today, yeah?

He played right back and gave Massey a torrid time.

[AlanOB]

Who was in the middle for Pat's then...please :)

[Ezeikial]

McEleney quickly becoming the main man for dundalk. Next week should be very interesting indeed.



McEleney is sneaky. Mark my words - in the first 2 minutes of he will shin a Cork player on the foot.

[White Horse]

Who was in the middle for Pat's then...please :)

They played Lee Desmond as the sitting midfield with Lunney and O'Hanlon in front of him.

[Ezeikial]

Who was in the middle for Pat's then...please :)

-----------------------------Conor O’Malley-------------------------------------
----------Rory Feely -------Gavin Peers-------- Darren Dennehy-------------
Michael Barker----- Lee Desmond----Jonathan Lunney----Ian Bermingham
----------------------Alex O’Hanlon--------- Josh O’Hanlon-------------------
-----------------------------Christy Fagan-------------------------------------

[L.T.F.C.]

Pathetic from Town.

[kksaints]

-----------------------------Conor O’Malley-------------------------------------
----------Rory Feely -------Gavin Peers-------- Darren Dennehy-------------
Michael Barker----- Lee Desmond----Jonathan Lunney----Ian Bermingham
----------------------Alex O’Hanlon--------- Josh O’Hanlon-------------------
-----------------------------Christy Fagan-------------------------------------

How did the two O'Hanlon's play? Neither has offered much so far. Lunney is talented but will need time. Certainly we are in big trouble.

[oriel]

Two more superb goals tonight from McEleney, hard to pick which was the best, two outstanding efforts, probably the first one, brilliant run, then a deft touch to lift it over the keeper, he is in some form. Overall very happy with the 3-0 win, probably should have been more. Pats at least tried to play a bit, their shape wasn't too bad, some good performances in Barker and Peers & in particular O'Malley, but overall they have nowhere near the quality of players at the minute and things look very bleak for them.

Good to see Shields come on for the last 20 and make an immediate impact, I'd like to think he can come straight into the side to face Cork next week.

[outspoken]

Pathetic from Town.
Pathetic isn't the word.

[Charlie Darwin]

But he isn't a natural holding midfielder he was never a holding midfielder until Martin Russell put him there we don't actually have a natural holding midfielder it was an area we desperately needed to address this season and haven't.
Haven't seen Hery but I'd have said all the others are natural box to box midfielders. You don't necessarily need one though - Dundalk with Towell-Finn-O'Donnell didn't play with one, although Shields was when he played.

[bluewhitearmy]

Haven't seen Hery but I'd have said all the others are natural box to box midfielders. You don't necessarily need one though - Dundalk with Towell-Finn-O'Donnell didn't play with one, although Shields was when he played.

Ya natural box to box is one thing but we have no actual holding mid unfortunately and we aren't good enough to get away with it the way we play.

[sadloserkid]

Ya natural box to box is one thing but we have no actual holding mid unfortunately and we aren't good enough to get away with it the way we play.

I agree with you as it happens re: not having a natural holding midfielder and needing one but we sit so deep in possession at times that it almost seems like the whole midfield are playing in holding roles!

[brendy_éire]

So another win for Derry, though 4-0 makes it look more one-sided than it probably was.
Drogheda had a couple of great chances in the first, more than Derry. A better side would have put them away.
Derry were fairly comfortable in the second, without creating an awful lot. That was until McNamee's hattrick, all in eight minutes. Finished with cracker of a free kick.

I think Drogheda will be ok this season, based on yesterday's performance. They've the makings of a decent enough sqaud, just need to take their chances, and get Gavin Brennan some chill pills. He was a very angry man all day yesterday, yet somehow didn't get booked.

Short turnaround for Tuesday against Limerick now. We looked a bit tired towards the end of yesterday's match. Hopefully the lights stay on this time just.

[desaintsno.12]

How did the two O'Hanlon's play? Neither has offered much so far. Lunney is talented but will need time. Certainly we are in big trouble.

Alex put in a good shift but seems to get frustrated easily IMO. But at times he was very good last night, but against that dundalk team, you get so little time to impose yourself. He seems to be slowly getting more in to it though.

Josh like every game so far, starts well and then starts to fade. He has some nice touches and looks a smart enough footballer, happy enough to have him.It will take a while to get use to the system and given that Bucko is changing things....it may take longer.

They'll both improve as will the the team in general.

Any teams out there in need of a Darren Dennehy type player ??? anyone ???? ideally bohs, galway, harps, limerick, drogheda or sligo ????

[TonyD]

They'll both improve as will the the team in general.


We can only hope. It's looking really bad though. Saddens me how far we've slipped since winning the league, or even our cup winning team. We really need something against Rovers next week.

I wouldn't be calling for Buckos head yet though. His failing is that to play his way you need good players, which we have a shortage of at the minute. I still think he deserves time, and who would we get in anyway ? Don't see any great candidates out there.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps are going to win the league. You heard it here first.

[Dalymountrower]

We can only hope. It's looking really bad though. Saddens me how far we've slipped since winning the league, or even our cup winning team. We really need something against Rovers next week.

I wouldn't be calling for Buckos head yet though. His failing is that to play his way you need good players, which we have a shortage of at the minute. I still think he deserves time, and who would we get in anyway ? Don't see any great candidates out there.
Buckley can be faulted for his decision to use the limited money he had , to pay for a two year contract for Fagan. That will come back to haunt him this season.

[White Horse]

Buckley can be faulted for his decision to use the limited money he had , to pay for a two year contract for Fagan. That will come back to haunt him this season.

If Pats didn't re-sign Fagan, who would they have spent the money on? There is a dearth of quality strikers in the league. Having watched Fagan last night, he is short changing Pats though. A player of his quality should be asking a lot more questions of Gartland and Barrett.

There was much more cohesive look abouts Pats last night, compared to when I saw them last season.

They just struggled with Dundalk's pace and power and couldn't really impose their game on Dundalk.

They do seem to have the usual Pats problem of being poorly conditioned. The fitness coaches at Dundalk think it will take a year to get Jamie McGarth to the stregnth and fitness level that is required at Dundalk.

[El-Pietro]

Stephen Bradley believes Shamrock Rovers battered us on Friday. I think he doesn't understand why they didn't win the game. You can't score goals if you don't have any shots on target. Last week there was discussion on here about the Rovers/Derry game and the lack of chances for Rovers.

In this game Rovers had the following chances. The Penalty. The shot off the crossbar. A tame effort from distance that Nults gathered easily at his feet. Thats two home games in two weeks in which Rovers failed to create quality chances. Something is seriously wrong there.

Sure they had possession in the second half, but possession as an end is useless. It is only useful if you do something with it.
We have our own problems that were highlighted by this game, but when you have Sean Maguire you don't need so many chances!

[Mr A]

Thought Harps were pretty decent yesterday, played some good football. Limerick on the other hand would not let us out for a half time pint and therefore deserve to be relegated, disbanded and everyone involved with the club imprisoned.

[Quayman]

McEleney quickly becoming the main man for dundalk. Next week should be very interesting indeed.

Things looking extremely bleak at pats

Interesting in that cork kick lumps out of whatever form player dundalk have when these games come around.

[White Horse]

Stephen Bradley believes Shamrock Rovers battered us on Friday. I think he doesn't understand why they didn't win the game. You can't score goals if you don't have any shots on target. Last week there was discussion on here about the Rovers/Derry game and the lack of chances for Rovers.

In this game Rovers had the following chances. The Penalty. The shot off the crossbar. A tame effort from distance that Nults gathered easily at his feet. Thats two home games in two weeks in which Rovers failed to create quality chances. Something is seriously wrong there.

Sure they had possession in the second half, but possession as an end is useless. It is only useful if you do something with it.
We have our own problems that were highlighted by this game, but when you have Sean Maguire you don't need so many chances!

Is that the same interview where he called you a "so called top club"?

[wonder88]

I was impressed with the use of a long throw by both Bohemians and Galway the other night at Dalymount. Bohs also have the added benefit of the dead-ball deliveries of Fitzgerald. Always good to see indications of some work done on the training ground in an important area of the game, by two fairly new and progressive managers.

[El-Pietro]

Interesting in that cork kick lumps out of whatever form player dundalk have when these games come around.

Nah, Dundalk players just have a lot of inner ear problems. Poor balance when they come south. No other explanation for it.

[El-Pietro]

Is that the same interview where he called you a "so called top club"?
Indeed. We were awful on the day, particularly in the second half, but with a 6 point window on them going into the game and away from home in windy conditions we were under no obligation to play pretty football. Though we were far too deep late on and it was worrying. But that doesn't change the fact that we have been one of the best teams in the country for several seasons and are still far above them in terms of a title challenge this year.

So perhaps he's delusional, doesn't know anything about football, or is detracting from yet another home loss. I should take my own advice and not pay attention to what managers say.

[White Horse]

So perhaps he's delusional, doesn't know anything about football, or is detracting from yet another home loss. I should take my own advice and not pay attention to what managers say.

Managers usually talk up the opposition. The lad is obviously learning his trade. He's like a L driver at his first roundabout.

[sbgawa]

Managers usually talk up the opposition. The lad is obviously learning his trade. He's like a L driver at his first roundabout.


Have to say I'm enjoying all the slagging we are getting at the minute, it will make success when it comes all the sweeter.
Next weeks match in Cork could go either way based on what I saw of both teams (admittedly only 1 match each) I think Dundalk have the edge.
If Cork lose its same old same old , a win would make a big statement......im actually in Cork on Saturday as I have a kid playing a match down there so will get a ringside seat, won't get back up in time to see us pick up 3 points at Pats.

[oriel]

Interesting point above by El P. Its something I always look at in any match, long periods/ high percentage of pocession is fine, but its shots on target that are the key stat. If your shots on target are limited and you didn't make the keeper work, a manager/fan can have few complaints.

Its a different scenario when both sides are going for it and its end to end stuff, some of those games you can be unlucky to lose. Shots on target is obviously not restricted to other sides, I've seen too many games during the years when we didn't do half enough, didn't make the keeper work and deserved nothing out of the game.

Disappointed v Complaining.

[sbgawa]

Interesting point above by El P. Its something I always look at in any match, long periods/ high percentage of pocession is fine, but its shots on target that are the key stat. If your shots on target are limited and you didn't make the keeper work, a manager/fan can have few complaints.

Fans that don't complain ................does the Vatican City have a team ?

[Dalymountrower]

If Pats didn't re-sign Fagan, who would they have spent the money on? There is a dearth of quality strikers in the league. Having watched Fagan last night, he is short changing Pats though. A player of his quality should be asking a lot more questions of Gartland and Barrett.



The point is that Pats blew their budget on one player and gave him a two year deal.He will be a record goal scorer next season anyway , if he stays with them.

[TonyD]

The point is that Pats blew their budget on one player and gave him a two year deal.He will be a record goal scorer next season anyway , if he stays with them.

I can't agree with that. Every Pats fan was delighted that Fagan re-signed. Even now, I'd rather have him than not. I think he'll come good. Not as if we were going to get 5/6 top players with the money we'd save by letting him go.

[brendy_éire]

Seems somewhat irrelevant at the moment, but the Derry-Limerick match due tomorrow night has been postponed.

[micls]

Very odd comments from Bradley. It was my first time seeing Rovers play in 7 years, I thought they were very poor. We weren't any better, but there was no one battering anyone.

They had a bit of decent passing in the middle of the pitch, but we're completely toothless. No incisive passes forward, no decent crossing, no hint of danger when they attacked. I was far more worried when Sligo got the ball forward last week than anything Rovers offered.

The so called top club comment was just bizarre.

[sbgawa]

Very odd comments from Bradley. It was my first time seeing Rovers play in 7 years, I thought they were very poor. We weren't any better, but there was no one battering anyone.

They had a bit of decent passing in the middle of the pitch, but we're completely toothless. No incisive passes forward, no decent crossing, no hint of danger when they attacked. I was far more worried when Sligo got the ball forward last week than anything Rovers offered.

The so called top club comment was just bizarre.



Our last two home matches against Cork were a 5 nil loss where we were lucky to get nil and last week when we were very unlucky to lose.
We've virtually a new team so I think I can see a light at the end of this tunnel ........(hopefully its not a train).
There is a long way to go in the season, Saturday is a big day for Cork.....opportunity to step up....will they ?? I think Dundalk will win but I'm hoping its Cork to make the league a bit more interesting.

[Pablo Escobar]

Have to say I'm enjoying all the slagging we are getting at the minute, it will make success when it comes all the sweeter.
Next weeks match in Cork could go either way based on what I saw of both teams (admittedly only 1 match each) I think Dundalk have the edge.
If Cork lose its same old same old , a win would make a big statement......im actually in Cork on Saturday as I have a kid playing a match down there so will get a ringside seat, won't get back up in time to see us pick up 3 points at Pats.

Pick up tickets early as this one could sell out.

[Ezeikial]

Our last two home matches against Cork were a 5 nil loss where we were lucky to get nil and last week when we were very unlucky to lose.
We've virtually a new team so I think I can see a light at the end of this tunnel ........(hopefully its not a train).
There is a long way to go in the season, Saturday is a big day for Cork.....opportunity to step up....will they ?? I think Dundalk will win but I'm hoping its Cork to make the league a bit more interesting.

There is no doubt that Rovers have improved over last season but Bradley's delusional comments are good craic. Do you agree with his "we battered Cork" line?