LOI fixtures - Friday 22nd Sept to Monday 25th Sept

[ToberonaTornado]

Premier Division:

Friday-

Bohemian FC v Saint Patrick's Ath
Dundalk FC v Drogheda United
Galway United v Sligo Rovers
Limerick FC v Cork City *live on RTE2 TV
Derry City v Bray Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps - 8pm

Monday-

Cork City v Dundalk FC - 7:20pm *live on RTE2 TV
Saint Patrick's Ath. v Shamrock Rovers

First Division:

Friday-

Cabinteeley FC v Athlone Town
UCDAFC v Cobh Ramblers
Waterford FC v Longford Town
Wexford FC v Shelbourne FC

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SUSPENSIONS:
REFS: http://www.extratime.ie/articles/19781/match-officials-appointed---friday-22nd-september-2017/
COUPON:http://www.paddypower.com/football/football-matches/ireland

[AlanOB]

Live audio analysis of Limerick/Cork, featuring Noel O'Connor, also available here: www.mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live (http://www.mixlr.com/limerick-soccer-live)

Weirdly, we had a much larger audience than expected the last time Limerick were televised, so we'll plough on regardless.

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps will hammer Shamrock Rovers and that'll do nicely.

[Ezeikial]

So the lead sports story on most RTE bulletins has been about the possibility of Cork winning the league tonight. A draw at Oriel Park and an away win obviously does the trick.

More likely is that it rolls over to the Monday night clash between Cork and Dundalk.

Cork should be good enough to beat Limerick tonight meaning a draw on Monday night will take them over the line

[Longfordian]

I see a pub in Cork are offering €1000 worth of free drink if Drogs win and Cork win. In the unlikely event that it happens I'm sure a €20 bet on it would cover the whole lot. Sounds a lot more generous than it actually is.

[Nesta99]

Just imagine the unlikely event of Limerick and Dundalk winning and the Dundalk taking 3 points on Monday. Now Cork would knuckle down but it would make for a nervy night next league game! I really am not suggesting it will happen this way but it would be fun!

[patrickccfc]

Just imagine the unlikely event of Limerick and Dundalk winning and the Dundalk taking 3 points on Monday. Now Cork would knuckle down but it would make for a nervy night next league game! I really am not suggesting it will happen this way but it would be fun!

Not so unlikely now, Limerick 1 up

[DannyInvincible]

Lovely chip over McNulty from Tosi to put Limerick 1-0 against Cork followed by a stunning free-kick from Tracy to put them 2-0 ahead. Only nine minutes gone.

[patrickccfc]

Make that 2. We have a title race lads

[DannyInvincible]

Just imagine the unlikely event of Limerick and Dundalk winning and the Dundalk taking 3 points on Monday. Now Cork would knuckle down but it would make for a nervy night next league game! I really am not suggesting it will happen this way but it would be fun!

I'd fancy Dundalk to beat Cork on Monday, but surely, surely Cork can't **** it up and relinquish such a commanding lead at the top of the table. It'd be astonishing. Although if/once the nerves set in, you never know what could happen...

Cork have clawed one back now anyway; header from Sadlier on 14 minutes. 2-1.

[sbgawa]

Ffs cork get it together only 1 4 in a row at the moment but your doing your best

[White Horse]

Make that 2. We have a title race lads

I'm not falling for it. Cork couldn't lose it, no way.

[Nesta99]

I'd fancy Dundalk to beat Cork on Monday, but surely, surely Cork can't **** it up and relinquish such a commanding lead at the top of the table. It'd be astonishing. Although if/once the nerves set in, you never know what could happen...

Cork have clawed one back now anyway; header from Sadlier on 14 minutes. 2-1.

They wont. They will get across the line but as it stands, if the current results stick and win on Monday it will at least cause some nails to be chewed away. I can see Cork digging out a performance of the season on Monday if the lose tonight. They are not as brittle under pressure this season as maybe the last few seasons.

[Nesta99]

Ogbene - sign him up Stephen Kenny!!

[Calcio Jack]

I know the accepted wisdom is that the team that wins the league is regarded as the best team in the league .... seems Cork are intent on disproving that... as for Caulfield his antics on the sideline as ever are comedy gold

[Nesta99]

He is a jack in the box and never is out of the ear of the 4th official. and he doesnt have time for Tony's mid-match interviews, disgraceful!

[placid casual]

What a set of result's.
Rovers win and cork,derry,sligo,pats all lose!!
What a wonder this life is!!
Cork have now officially entered $hit the bed country. Can't see them beating dalk on Monday. Who knows where there next points are coming from.
IF they do fall over the line every single player and staff should chip in and buy Sean Maguire a Rolex or something cos he's win them the league on his own.
Bradley knows his stuff!
Hopefully Harps & Galway can escape the dreaded drop.
Enjoy your weekend folks. I sure as $hit will!!

[sbgawa]

Much as I don't want anyone to do a 4 in a row Caulfield losing from an unloseable position would almost make up for it.......when dundalk win on Monday and rte have to keep following cork around it will be hillarious

[brendy_éire]

As an initial reaction, honestly, in my lifetime as a Derry City fan (I'm 31), I cannot recall as poor a defensive performance as that.

I'm numbed at how bad we were.

[ToberonaTornado]

Roysh Nugent prob having a breakdown atm :D

Dundalk barely out of 2nd gear against Drogs tonight.They threw a few shapes in the 1st half(Drogs) and had a few chances(the over the hill ;) Garts cleared of the line for what looked like a certaiin goal)but Dundalk completely overwhelmed them in the 2nd half and the result was never in doubt after the McMillan goal.

When Cork do win the league the gloss of what they had before the break will be gone.
Cork fans predicting the August title win are very quiet these days.

[White Horse]

Much as I don't want anyone to do a 4 in a row Caulfield losing from an unloseable position would almost make up for it.......when dundalk win on Monday and rte have to keep following cork around it will be hillarious

The Cork lads love being on the telly.

Losing is just a ruse to get RTE to televise every game left in the season.

[nigel-harps1954]

Oh dear. Things aren't looking great.

[TonyD]

We are serious doo doo now. One of these days we'll keep 11 on the pitch and give ourselves a chance. Looked dead and buried at 3-1 down, but then got a goal back and almost an equaliser. Monday is gonna be nerve wracking.

[sbgawa]

A win Monday should be a huge step towards Europe after tonight's results. With the form we are in we should win but we always seem to screw it up against pats

[SandwichBoy]

Cork resorted to being a bunch of hackers when the game didn't go their way. Could have had an equaliser but they were very one dimensional. Work the wings and cross the ball, Maguire really did carry them to this title.

[joey B]

Harps in deep muck, far to easy to score against and by all accounts should have lost by more tonight, Dundalk next who are pretty untouchable at the minute, I'd fear the worst at this stage, thanks again to the FAI for changing the goalposts before the season started.......

[sbgawa]

Your best bet is dundalk lose Monday which I doubt and have nothing to play for against you guys. If they win which I expect them to then I can't see them dropping a point between now and the end of the season....can cork find 5 points ??

[oriel]

Cork could lose 3 of their remaining 5 games and still win it. Dlk can finish on max of 74, they have 70, so 4 more points or a win on Monday does it for them.

But, and here it is, if they lose on Monday will they go into absolute free fall? A draw won't be enough now on Monday for them to win it, but I think they will be into possibly mid October now to win it as I don't see this Dundalk team losing on Monday, I think we might win actually, we only got going tonight when we needed to win it, never out of 3rd gear all night and rested 4 starters for Monday.

Interesting to note the GD is now equal for Cork and Dundalk, both on +45, Dlk with a goal more scored.

[dundalkfc10]

Cork could lose 3 of their remaining 5 games and still win it. Dlk can finish on max of 74, they have 70, so 4 more points or a win on Monday does it for them.

But, and here it is, if they lose on Monday will they go into absolute free fall? A draw won't be enough now on Monday for them to win it, but I think they will be into possibly mid October now to win it as I don't see this Dundalk team losing on Monday, I think we might win actually, we only got going tonight when we needed to win it, never out of 3rd gear all night and rested 4 starters for Monday.

Interesting to note the GD is now equal for Cork and Dundalk, both on +45, Dlk with a goal more scored.

The League has been over this months.

Relax everyone!

I know use like stats and all but even if we win Monday they still have it won

[patrickccfc]

Just off my flight, stunned that we've gone and lost that. We're we that bad? This is getting a bit dodgy lads, on current form, dundalk will wipe the floor with us.

[sbgawa]

The League has been over this months.

Relax everyone!

I know use like stats and all but even if we win Monday they still have it won

Don't agree and I want them to win....they need 5 points on the form they are on that probably means 2 wins from final 4 games after you beat them on Monday.......can easily see them blowing it.

[Dalymountrower]

We are serious doo doo now. One of these days we'll keep 11 on the pitch and give ourselves a chance. Looked dead and buried at 3-1 down, but then got a goal back and almost an equaliser. Monday is gonna be nerve wracking.
Bohs played with 3 forwards the worst left back in history, Dan Byrne at centre mid. I had predicted 4-3, 8-6 would have been a fair reflection.
Mad stuff but entertaining
Pats fans deserve better than Buckley..

[oriel]

I watched back the second half of the Limerick v Cork game, what was very noticeable was the lack of a leader on the pitch for Cork. I know Dunleavy is injured and Bennett was on the bench, but taking Bolger off and giving the captaincy to Robbie Williams who was at fault for the first goal? Madness.

I have no doubts Cork will still win the league, but I still think we'll win on Monday, what a game that is going to be, the inform side in the country under no pressure against a side in just dreadful form.

Still, I'd much prefer to be in Cork's position ofcourse, they have a chance to win it on their own pitch against the current champions, the odds will be interesting for this game. A loss for Cork and its 8 points with Dlk taking over on GD and goals scored, but Cork will then need only 4 points from the last 4.

[White Horse]

Still, I'd much prefer to be in Cork's position ofcourse, they have a chance to win it on their own pitch against the current champions....

Damn right. As delighted as I am that we have rebuilt the side and are looking good for the future, this is still Cork's season.

No better way to win it than dethroning the Champions on Monday. They should relish the opportunity, not be fearful of it.

[TonyD]

Bohs played with 3 forwards the worst left back in history, Dan Byrne at centre mid. I had predicted 4-3, 8-6 would have been a fair reflection.
Mad stuff but entertaining
Pats fans deserve better than Buckley..

Unfair on Bucko. Yeah, we've had a terrible season, but he is the man who brought us four trophies in four years, including the long awaited Cup win. Plus, we've played probably the best football I've seen from a Pats team under him. That gains him a lot of leeway with me. Would be horrible if he enðd up being the first manager to get us relegated. He doesn't deserve that.

On the game last night, yeah it was mad stuff. Akinade did the damage really. We found him very hard to handle. Got the first and then Peers pulled him down for the peno. Easy to say with hindsight, but Peers would have been better letting him go. If he'd scored there was still a lot of the game left, and I'd have fancied us to get something if it stayed 11 v 11.

[AlanOB]

Analysis: McDonald’s man-management vindicated by sweet Munster derby success: http://bit.ly/2hozQFK (https://t.co/K6yRqUqIm4)

[IsMiseSean]

Kevin Devaney's goal last night was something special. We're not gone yet.

Hopefully Shamrock Rovers can do the business Monday night.

[Ezeikial]

A loss for Cork and its 8 points with Dlk taking over on GD and goals scored, but Cork will then need only 4 points from the last 4.

I think in that scenario Cork would need 5 points to be certain because they may not have the edge on goal difference.

The irony of it all is that a draw at home would be an excellent result for Cork, as 2 further points would then get them over the line.

I expect John Caulfield to resort to type and play ultra conservative to try to eek out a draw and to set the scene for the one of the biggest anti-climatic league wins in league history

[placid casual]

The best team wins the league, the rest are just also-rans, including dundalk.
And Rovers, before you say it.

[Ezeikial]

The best team wins the league, the rest are just also-rans, including dundalk.
And Rovers, before you say it.

Over the course of the 33 games Cork will prove to be the best team by winning the league. That is unquestionable as is the assertion that they are certainly not the the best team on current form or results.

Their achievement will be rightfully acknowledged when they eventually stumble across the line, even if it is accompanied by significant concern in Cork about their prospects for next season.

It is amusing that you even mention Rovers in your post

[Ezeikial]

If Dundalk beat Cork next Monday (I don't think it is the certainty that many here think), this other sporting occasion will get a lot of mention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=62fPLtL8h7s

[patrickccfc]

Caulfield doesn't need to give a team talk Monday. The chance to win the league at home in front a packed stadium, against the team that we have been runner up to for the last 3 years, no excuse to put in another poor performance. None of this sitting back crap, we have a league title to win, we need to go at dundalk from the start so I hope caulfield doesn't take the cautious approach.

[DannyInvincible]

A loss for Cork and its 8 points with Dlk taking over on GD and goals scored, but Cork will then need only 4 points from the last 4.

I'm pretty certain that Cork, who are presently on 70 points, need 5 more points to win the league for certain as they're even on goal difference with Dundalk at the minute. Dundalk can finish on a maximum of 74 points if they win all of their remaining fixtures but will enjoy a superior goal difference (the differentiating factor after points) if they (Dundalk) win on Monday night, meaning Dundalk could easily finish ahead of Cork if both teams finish on 74 points.

After Dundalk on Monday, Cork have Derry at home, Bohs away, Pat's away and then Bray at home. Plenty of room to **** it up (i.e. fail to get 5 points) there in light of current stuttering form. After Cork on Monday, Dundalk's run-in is more straightforward and they could well pick up maximum points on current form.

[osarusan]

Agent Williams, mission complete, return to base.

[bluewhitearmy]

Cork fans racially abusing Ogbene for the second game in a row. Other Cork fans looking at the person doing it and doing nothing for the second game in a row. Classy.

[sbgawa]

Caulfield doesn't need to give a team talk Monday. The chance to win the league at home in front a packed stadium, against the team that we have been runner up to for the last 3 years, no excuse to put in another poor performance. None of this sitting back crap, we have a league title to win, we need to go at dundalk from the start so I hope caulfield doesn't take the cautious approach.
Team talk will be irrelevant cork are playing so poorly they haven't a hope on Monday....you need to hope to pick up 5 points in the other 4 games with pressure mounting each game.....i don't blame Caulfield for taking Bolger off at least twice just before he took him off he let a limerick player past him and didn't bother tracking back.....looks like a guy that will be gone next season....

[ger121]

All those teams Cork play are in the hunt for something at the upper end of the table. Will be interesting if they lost thier next two.

[sbgawa]

Could Caulfield be the Irish Ranieri? Except maybe without the title.

[dfx-]

A win Monday should be a huge step towards Europe after tonight's results. With the form we are in we should win but we always seem to screw it up against pats

extra effort from Conan Byrne, Fagan and Brennan etc against Rovers. They've been the best away side in Tallaght. Can see Rovers falling into the same trap again. Thing is, three points might not be enough...

Might suit Cork to be underdogs on Monday, it clearly suits Caulfield better.

[Ezeikial]

extra effort from Conan Byrne, Fagan and Brennan etc against Rovers. They've been the best away side in Tallaght. Can see Rovers falling into the same trap again. Thing is, three points might not be enough...



Probably upping their game to impress - everyone wants to play for Rovers you know

Or maybe it's because it's their cup final?