Weekend Games 5th May

[passinginterest]

No thread so guess I'll start it. Good crowd, good atmosphere and a good game in Tallaght. High tempo from Rovers and Dundalk uncharacteristicly sloppy at times. Should be more goals second half and expect a red or two.

[DannyInvincible]

Dan Byrne fouls Ben Doherty just inside the Derry box and Derry are awarded a penalty. Aaron McEneff drills it into the corner of Shane Supple's net and runs away celebrating, but the ref orders a re-take. McEneff puts the second attempt down the middle and scores as Supple dives to his right-hand side.

2-0 to Derry. Derry looking for a first win in eight games and looking good to get it.

[DannyInvincible]

Derry win 2-0 against Bohs at Maginn Park to get things back on track.

[nigel-harps1954]

Poor refereeing cost Harps a win tonight. Harps should really have won that against a terrible Cork team.

Also, I must have missed the part where Barry McNamee signed for Bray.

http://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2553&stc=1

[pineapple stu]

Athlone's keeper not really able to let in any dodgy shots, and they beat the leaders.

Great aul league all the same.

Waterford really flattering to deceive, albeit that they're top.

[El-Pietro]

Ref was poor alright. Should have sent boyle? Number 22 off for a punch. Anyway. Surely that's it now? 14 points clear must be enough?

[SeanDrog]

Competitive game in drogheda - chances missed on both sides so feels like a draw on balance was fair but it does stick in the gut when you score in the dying minutes and then concede straight from the restart ... grrrrr

We did start with a few missing too like Sean Thornton and Killan Brennan didn't make the bench (guess he is still not fully fit).

Galway looked a lot stronger than Sligo (who we played last week). Very tough league this year , no easy games

[DannyInvincible]

Also, I must have missed the part where Barry McNamee signed for Bray.

http://foot.ie/attachment.php?attachmentid=2553&stc=1

LiveScore made another error in the Cork-Harps game and RTÉ happened to copy it straight into their "latest/results" page. I posted it in the 'Errortel Watch' thread:


Sean Maguire put Cork 5-0 up against Finn Harps tonight with an 89th-minute penalty, but LiveScore incorrectly have Ryan Delaney down as the scorer:

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc12/poguemahone85/Capture_zpsck9lq0ch.png

Oddly, RTÉ appear to have copied the error:

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc12/poguemahone85/Capture_zps06fh53ip.png

Don't RTÉ have reporters/contacts in the ground? Do they actually just copy updates from LiveScore?

Embarrassing.

[SkStu]

^ extratime was a shambles tonight for updates.

[redarmyfaction]

RTE has never disguised its contempt for the LOI, Fred Cogley made it a badge of honour .

[Jofspring]

FOtmob also had McNamee booked for Bray. Obviously all copying from the same source.

[Seagull]

FOtmob also had McNamee booked for Bray. Obviously all copying from the same source.

For the record, it was Marks second yellow. Real game of two halves at the Carlisle tonight, Bray with the wind had all the play first half but missed chance after chance, all Pats second half so happy enough with the point as Pats could've won it either.

[wonder88]

Crucial equaliser for Galway tonight means ground is gained on both Harps and Bohs and I suppose keeps Drogheda in striking range. Looking forward to the visit of Derry on Monday now, another draw maybe?
Athlone were always likely to win tonight after all the publicity during the week.

[placid casual]

You.will.never. win.4inarow.

[Dodge]

For the record, it was Marks second yellow. Real game of two halves at the Carlisle tonight, Bray with the wind had all the play first half but missed chance after chance, all Pats second half so happy enough with the point as Pats could've won it either.
Yeah, good game. Pats couldn't get near the ball for first half hour but were terrific in second half. Best spell we've had all season

[oriel]

Ref was poor alright. Should have sent boyle? Number 22 off for a punch. Anyway. Surely that's it now? 14 points clear must be enough?

I think the words 'Devon Loch' springs to mind. Cork will win it by a canter and no mistake.

I didn't go to Tallaght tonight but I heard Dundalk were absolutely dreadful. Can't help thinking a lot of this is self inflicted, just wouldn't spend the money on players.

[sbgawa]

Great to see us get a result that should help with confidence, good value for th e win. Hard to believe we are 20 points behind Cork. This is a mad year.

[Crosshead]

Ref was poor alright. Should have sent boyle? Number 22 off for a punch. Anyway. Surely that's it now? 14 points clear must be enough?

That and disallowing Sheppard's goal for ruling offside when he was on and it was Maguire, who wasn't active, who was off.

[patrickccfc]

This is such a surreal season so far. This winning streak will end, but wouldn't it be nice to beat bohs record.

Maguires penalty
https://twitter.com/corkcityfcnews/status/860593414890545157

Dooley's goal
https://twitter.com/KENNYTCORK/status/860573671458390017

[sulywaterfordfc]

Waterford really flattering to deceive, albeit that they're top.

Waterford are unbeaten in ten league game in fairness. Will agree we're not at the expected level but bare in mind the squad is brand new bar two players so it's going to take time to click. We're also crimpled with injuries. We've four starters before they got injured out for an unknown time, Ian Mcloughlin, Kenny Browne, Sander Puri and Dean O'Halloran. Plus we lost Tom Smith this week as Swindon recalled him. On top of those injuries we'd five others carrying knocks going into tonight's game. Adding to that another starter Patrick McClean went off tonight with an injury and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

We're in a good position with a paper thin squad and we're top. When the window opens and we bring a few in and we get players back from injury I expect us to kick on and pull away from the rest.

Alan Reynolds was back on the line tonight after an issue prevented him from been on the line for several games. Which is a big positive being able to have our manager back in the dugout.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ref was poor alright. Should have sent boyle? Number 22 off for a punch. Anyway. Surely that's it now? 14 points clear must be enough?
I've been saying for about 18 months now that it's Cork's league to lose. Glad people are finally coming around to my way of thinking.

Decent performance from Rovers but what has happened to Dundalk? We've waited 12 games to get a win over them and it also seems like a freebie.

[El-Pietro]

By the way. We matched 2016 First Division Champions Limericks winning start of 12 games tonight. Our goal difference is +28. Better than every team that has a positive goal difference combined. We have double fourth placed Derrys points. Oh and every team is closer to bottom than to us.

This is a dream right?

[Charlie Darwin]

I thought this is what Cork people thought the natural order was?

[El-Pietro]

I thought this is what Cork people thought the natural order was?
So we think we're better than everyone by default. But we have seen Cork City finish second so often that we don't fully understand whats happening. Given that the only times we have won the league have been last day jobs we're wondering if its possible to throw this away somehow. It is very difficult to balance this level of hubris with this level of self doubt.

[sullanefc]

To be 15 pts clear of Dundalk after 12 games is unreal. Our good start compared to Dundalks shakey start has opened a chasm.

If City had made the same start the previous 3 years the number of points ahead we would be is: 5pts (2016), 4pts (2015) 10pts (2014). (I haven't factored games against each other in these crude stats). So even with our great start, we wouldn't have been that far ahead in 2016 or 2015. 2014 Dundalk were slower starters. This shows Dundalks fall off this year. Caulfield knew a good start was vital to stay ahead of 2016/2015 Dundalk. Not in his wildest dreams did he expect to be 15pts clear. It kind of takes the fun out of it. :-). Like Charlie Darwin said, it all feels like a freebie to me.

From Dundalks point of view, if they made this start in the previous 3 years, the points behind City would be: 6pts (2016), 4pts (2015), 3pts (2014). So they wouldn't have been too badly off in previous years.

After 12 games:

2016
Dundalk 31pts
City 27pts

2015
Dundalk 32pts
City 25pts

2014
Dundalk 26pts
City 24pts

[ToberonaTornado]

Everything Dundalk were hitting right last few seasons has gone of late.no free running centre or wing backs helping out up front anymore.its as if border lines have been defined and players can not cross them.if this is a plan I can tell you it's a bad one.dundalk didn't need to be fixed for Europe

[ToberonaTornado]

Injuries are not our problems,not being allowed to play our way is what is stopping us.
LM

[Kingswood Rover]

Well what a difference a week can make, from the 1st minute Rovers were in Dundalks faces, they harried with a tenacity that simply has not been there to date and when they got the ball the passes came easier as team mates actually came looking for the ball and the space to receive it. One game does not make a summer but it does give us hope that we are now on the right track.

[Yossarian]

Decent performance from Rovers but what has happened to Dundalk? We've waited 12 games to get a win over them and it also seems like a freebie.

Rovers were on it from the kick off and pressed us at every point. I don't think Rovers didn't anything brilliantly but we were just atrocious. I lost count of the number of times we kicked the ball straight out or straight to a Rovers player. We looked like 11 lads were just thrown together.
We were never going to maintain our success but the worrying thing is the scale of the drop this season. There's no intensity or urgency to our play. I also think we are carrying a lot of players and some of the signings have been very disappointing. The key for us now is to start playing as a team with some purpose and to make sure we finish in the European spots.

By the way, is there a player in the league more stupid than Darren Meenan?

[wonder88]

Interesting point there about the signing made this year by Dundalk. None really impressed me against Galway(maybe potential in 2 cases), you would hope that a couple at least would fit in straight away. Note this is based on observation during 1 game, so maybe wrong. I still think that Dundalk are a good team and find it hard to take in that Cork are so much better than them. O Donnell is such a key player for them and him missing/not fully fit has got to be a major factor this season.

[AlanOB]

Hopefully a captive audience tonight, for the one remaining Round 12 fixture; Noel O'Connor and I will broadcast live from Sligo Rovers v Limerick FC at www.mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Rovers were on it from the kick off and pressed us at every point. I don't think Rovers didn't anything brilliantly but we were just atrocious. I lost count of the number of times we kicked the ball straight out or straight to a Rovers player. We looked like 11 lads were just thrown together.
We were never going to maintain our success but the worrying thing is the scale of the drop this season. There's no intensity or urgency to our play. I also think we are carrying a lot of players and some of the signings have been very disappointing. The key for us now is to start playing as a team with some purpose and to make sure we finish in the European spots.

By the way, is there a player in the league more stupid than Darren Meenan?

Second yellow was stupid, even if inconsistent by Rodgers to give it, but the first one I'll take all day long, Barrett was stood over an injured finn shouting in his face, I'd be disappointed if the rovers players didn't go sort Barrett out just happened Meenan was the one most aggressive in doing it and got booked for it.

Overall absolutely delighted with last night's game. We had our normal we're winning panic but managed to cut that out earlier than normal which is good. Lads gave 100% and worked for each other. Rob Rodgers didn't have a great game I don't think,and duffer would agree with me judging by how he approached him at half time, but I've come to accept the fact that the refs in this league are p**s poor and we'll just have to accept it for the time being.

[micls]

I'm half convinced some beleaguered city fan sold their soul for this. Whatever about our own ridiculous run, other results continuously going our way. Absolutely surreal.

[thomas72]

By the way. We matched 2016 First Division Champions Limericks winning start of 12 games tonight. Our goal difference is +28. Better than every team that has a positive goal difference combined. We have double fourth placed Derrys points. Oh and every team is closer to bottom than to us.

This is a dream right?

Ye are a good team but a Limerick of last season ye will never be :D

[disgruntled]

Second yellow was stupid, even if inconsistent by Rodgers to give it, but the first one I'll take all day long, Barrett was stood over an injured finn shouting in his face, I'd be disappointed if the rovers players didn't go sort Barrett out just happened Meenan was the one most aggressive in doing it and got booked for it.

Overall absolutely delighted with last night's game. We had our normal we're winning panic but managed to cut that out earlier than normal which is good. Lads gave 100% and worked for each other. Rob Rodgers didn't have a great game I don't think,and duffer would agree with me judging by how he approached him at half time, but I've come to accept the fact that the refs in this league are p**s poor and we'll just have to accept it for the time being.

Its been that way for years so nothing changes.
We had Doyle last night against Harps.
What a clown :rolleyes:

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Its been that way for years so nothing changes.
We had Doyle last night against Harps.
What a clown :rolleyes:

I always feel sorry for whoever gets Doyle or Buttimer and a lesser extent Rodgers for their match, especially if it's on TV.

[oriel]

I've been saying for about 18 months now that it's Cork's league to lose. Glad people are finally coming around to my way of thinking.

Decent performance from Rovers but what has happened to Dundalk? We've waited 12 games to get a win over them and it also seems like a freebie.

Combination of far too many key players leaving and replacements not even close to anywhere near the required standard. The club just wouldn't spend the money on quality players, chance to push on from the last 3 years not taken.

Even looking at the defence last night, only Massey was one of the four almost ever present last season of him, Gannon, Gartland & Boyle.

[SeanDrog]

Sligo 2-0 lims in 20mins!!! Wasn't expecting that

[osarusan]

We were atrocious tonight. All over the place defensively and created nothing. Very easy for Sligo, they didn't even have to work hard for it.

[Charlie Darwin]

Rovers were on it from the kick off and pressed us at every point. I don't think Rovers didn't anything brilliantly but we were just atrocious. I lost count of the number of times we kicked the ball straight out or straight to a Rovers player. We looked like 11 lads were just thrown together.
We were never going to maintain our success but the worrying thing is the scale of the drop this season. There's no intensity or urgency to our play. I also think we are carrying a lot of players and some of the signings have been very disappointing. The key for us now is to start playing as a team with some purpose and to make sure we finish in the European spots.

By the way, is there a player in the league more stupid than Darren Meenan?
Nope. What sort of player gets sent off for diving in injury time in a game that's already won? And it's not like he was running into trouble - there was 20 yards of free space to run into.

Dundalk were poor. We've played better against them, for instance this time last year, and been 2-0 down after 50 minutes. Still, I think Bradley got the tactics right and Dundalk did very little outside their own half. Second best performance this year after Cork.


Combination of far too many key players leaving and replacements not even close to anywhere near the required standard. The club just wouldn't spend the money on quality players, chance to push on from the last 3 years not taken.

Even looking at the defence last night, only Massey was one of the four almost ever present last season of him, Gannon, Gartland & Boyle.
Welcome to Rovers of 2012! I hope what happened to us doesn't happen to you. Not because I want Dundalk to do well, just I want a good league.

[redarmyfaction]

We were atrocious tonight. All over the place defensively and created nothing. Very easy for Sligo, they didn't even have to work hard for it.

Ya, ye were cat, asleep at the back for the goals, nothing to offer going forward, Limerick sang few staves off "going down, going down" in the boozah, pre match, they could be right.

[pineapple stu]

Waterford are unbeaten in ten league game in fairness. Will agree we're not at the expected level but bare in mind the squad is brand new bar two players so it's going to take time to click.
Appreciate ye're top obviously - though I think at this stage, the "squad needs to click" argument is too old.

Ye're certainly the best team I've seen this season - including a re-jigged Dundalk in the League Cup - but I guess the predictions of a Limerick season have fallen quite flat, and ye're only top of a league that nobody wants to take control of (well, that us and Cobh don't want to take control of; everyone else is miles behind)

Ye seem to be dropping back a bit too - draws against Cabo and us, when ye won the first meetings comfortable, and then a narrow win against Shels and Athlone too; Athlone missed a peno too. Two decent players gone back to Swindon early, and both us and Cobh are scoring more than ye (and as that oracle of football, outspoken, notes, even Longford should be racking up 5 and 6-0 wins against crap sides like UCD in the First Division)

Just an observation of course, not a complaint! And there's a long way to go yet.

[brendy_éire]

Delighted to finally keep a clean sheet, and get a win into the bargain.
We were certainly more aggressive than we have been in recent matches. Good going forward, but shakey at the back. Bohs were poor and missed a few chances other teams would have taken.
Massive relief all round after the final whistle, and probably quite emotional for the squad.

Worth noting, McEneff was made to retake the penalty after encroachment​. Haven't saw that in years, but it's a rule I'd like to see enforced more.
As an aside, both managers thought it wasn't a penalty, that the foul was outside the box.

[atfconline]

Worth noting, McEneff was made to retake the penalty after encroachment​. Haven't saw that in years, but it's a rule I'd like to see enforced more.


Happened to us on Friday night as well. Blew before the first penalty was taken for encroachment. Then had the penalty re-taken for encroachment again.

[AlanOB]

Belated analysis of Limerick's heavy loss at Sligo Rovers; newly-rebalanced at the hands of Ger Lyttle: http://bit.ly/2pTQEKo

[wonder88]

Very even game in Deacy Park, Derry had more of the ball and went close a few times. The Galway chances involved good build up play, but Doherty saved well on 3 occasions. Shane Keegan was not happy with the ref at half time, after one of those decisions a bigger club would have got didn't go Galways way. The ref then gave out a good few yellow cards which with a small squad is likely to be costly for Galway later on in the season.

[gufct]

Ref was a disgrace tonight . Ger Doherty deliberately handled the ball about 2 yards outside the box if he didn't podge had an open goal. Great 2nd half where the same lad kept Derry in the game.

Rob Hennessy has been terrible whenever we've had him and tonight was the worst ever.

[wonder88]

There is a video up on twitter of Doherty's save from Cunningham; looks outside the box. Decisions don't seem to be evening out for Galway at all this year. Shows how valid Stephen Kenny's comments were.

[brendy_éire]

Ref was a disgrace tonight . Ger Doherty deliberately handled the ball about 2 yards outside the box if he didn't podge had an open goal. Great 2nd half where the same lad kept Derry in the game.

Rob Hennessy has been terrible whenever we've had him and tonight was the worst ever.

Ah now, I think that's overstating it a bit.

Doherty handled outside the box, but as it was off a cross, a yellow was the correct call. Dunno what Gerard was thinking with that one, awful goalkeeping.
All but one of Galway's yellows were deserved, IMO.

First half, we did our usual thing of dominating possession, without creating anything particularly clear cut.
Second half, Galway came far more into the game, and would have scored but for three great saves from Doherty.

Despite the fact I'd have taken a draw before the match, we left the ground disappointed. Ah well, another clean sheet, so definite improvement.

Would also like to add that it was a nice touch with the programme cover of McBride tonight. Fair play.

[WoodquayBoy]

He denied a clear goal scoring opportunity as Cunningham took a shot and there was no defender back on the line, so for me it was a clear red card. Just a pity that laughable highlights programme didn't bother to show the major talking point from the game.
The bookings we got were deserved, no complaints there; and at one l stage in second half, Stephen Folan slipped and his hand hit the ball. It was obviously accidental but on another day it could have been given against us. Poor first half from us, much better in second half. We might not be winning, but are proving hard to beat, and that run of Cork has to end some time - bring on Friday