LOI fixtures - 16th to 19th March 2018

[WoodquayBoy]

I know that he was part of Sean Maguire's league winning set up last season but if cork don't beat Limerick by at least three goals tonight john caulfield should be shot on his return to cork.

Just like ye did to Michael Collins.
Unlike Maguire, Collins was a traitor

[thebronze14]

Quite often in the early days iirc. After the "long whistle" I'll look at it.
Harps lost their first ever game in the League 10-2!

[sullanefc]

Poor City composure and good Limerick pressing on a bobbly pitch lead to a sloppy performance from City where touch and passing were poor.

[sullanefc]

The first team to find a striker wins the league. Go!
Even the "best footballing team in the history of the LOI" are struggling bar one game at home on the plastic pitch against Limerick.

[Ezeikial]

Even the "best footballing team in the history of the LOI" are struggling bar one game at home on the plastic pitch against Limerick.

Relax.
Don't let it get inside your head.
It was only one defeat.
Cork are still top of the table.
Sleep well

[exiled_gufc_fan]

https://youtu.be/b3y8K0bN0_w

Galway United v Cabinteely goals

[sulywaterfordfc]

I’m sure it was tough on Waterford fans to lose it like that. However to be fair that was a decent display they gave up to half time.

In the second half though, apart from one or two counter attacks they were happy to sit and contain Dundalk. I will say one thing though, at least had a go in the first half, and at times they passed it about better than Cork did last Friday.

Pleasing to see Dundalk continue to keep it on the deck and to go wide into the 90th minute and beyond, totally deserved winner in the 93/94 minute.

We were missing five from our starting 11, so I anticipated a defeat. But the longer it went on sensed we’d hold it out. To lose in those circumstances are sickening, especially as it looks like it twas an own goal. Fully fit squad and us at home might be a different story. I thought Dundalk were the best side we faced so far

[Olander]

https://youtu.be/b3y8K0bN0_w

Galway United v Cabinteely goals
What a goal by Conor Barry.

A tremendous piece of skill to make the chance for himself and the execution was top notch.

[micls]

and at times they passed it about better than Cork did last Friday.
.

Wouldn't have been hard! Waterford are a decent side, should be pushing for Europe this year. Ye're defence seems rock solid, very impressive to not concede yet. We could do with a bit of that!

We were shocking last night. Our defence needs serious work, but overall we just didn't really play. Few half chances, but very little. Great result from Limerick and they were excellent in defence. Not sure how that defence conceded 8!

Interesting league ahead. None of the contenders have really clicked yet, we're very inconsistent, dundalk waiting to click up front, Rovers inconsistent too.

[Ezeikial]

We were missing five from our starting 11, so I anticipated a defeat. But the longer it went on sensed we’d hold it out. To lose in those circumstances are sickening, especially as it looks like it twas an own goal. Fully fit squad and us at home might be a different story. I thought Dundalk were the best side we faced so far

Waterford were really well organised and very hard working, but the result was fair. Return fixture could well be a different story, but Warerford are likely to open up a bit more.

[oriel]

Wouldn't have been hard! Waterford are a decent side, should be pushing for Europe this year. Ye're defence seems rock solid, very impressive to not concede yet. We could do with a bit of that!

We were shocking last night. Our defence needs serious work, but overall we just didn't really play. Few half chances, but very little. Great result from Limerick and they were excellent in defence. Not sure how that defence conceded 8!

Interesting league ahead. None of the contenders have really clicked yet, we're very inconsistent, dundalk waiting to click up front, Rovers inconsistent too.

Fair enough assessment there micls, but there is so much football to be played and we are not even out of March yet. I think an interesting match coming up in two weeks should give us all a little more insight into two more teams. Waterford v Rovers, I’m looking forward to seeing how both play in that game.

Then the 4 rounds will kick in, points will taken off loads of teams, definitely an interesting season ahead. Waterford are looking like a solid enough PD side, but will wait until at least end of April to see how they have settled in before making full opinion.

The head to head games between the top 2 will be key as usual but Rovers might put in a better challenge this season, so plenty of tough games ahead for every team.

[da bishop]

Well done Barrett and Co..hard earned but well deserved point.Players worked tirelessly throughout and were certainly helped by a very poor disjointed unimaginative display by Cork.Could prove to be a vital point for us later on in the season.Good numbers up from the rebel county and as usual our own cant make up their minds,that was a poor crowd for such a game.

[White Horse]

We were missing five from our starting 11, so I anticipated a defeat. But the longer it went on sensed we’d hold it out. To lose in those circumstances are sickening, especially as it looks like it twas an own goal. Fully fit squad and us at home might be a different story. I thought Dundalk were the best side we faced so far

Excellent first half from a depleted Waterford side. Waterford looked dangerous on the break as well.

They started to sit back too much in the second half, probably out of tiredness. Browne, in particular, appeared to lack fitness.

Add Hery, Akinade, and Duffus to the team and Waterford will beat a lot of teams.

[MattB11]

Cobh 0-2 Harps

[nigel-harps1954]

Woeful game in Cobh. Truly brutal. Important for Harps to get three points in and a handy clean sheet too.

[SeanDrog]

Woeful game in Cobh. Truly brutal. Important for Harps to get three points in and a handy clean sheet too.

Brutal in what way?

On a side note Cobh should have flicked the lights off for 10secs just to freak the traveling support 😂😂😂

[oriel]

I thought Dundalk were the best side we faced so far

That's why we're (used to be) champions 😂 😂

[nigel-harps1954]

Brutal in what way?

On a side note Cobh should have flicked the lights off for 10secs just to freak the traveling support 

Brutal, as in it was a very poor game of football. Dreadful playing surface.

[SeanDrog]

Brutal, as in it was a very poor game of football. Dreadful playing surface.

Thx , I was wondering if it was the conditions or the play from either or both sides.

[nigel-harps1954]

Thx , I was wondering if it was the conditions or the play from either or both sides.

Conditions played a massive part in it. Harps attackers struggled to get a foot on the ball, for example, John O'Flynn made a cracking run forward at one point with Michael O'Connor running off the back of the defence and O'Flynn couldn't get the ball to settle for him almost the entire width of the pitch to make the pass. He ran around 30 yards with the ball before eventually miskicking it off a bobble. That was a recurring theme for large parts of the night.

[Redzer]

Any updates or best guess on tomorrow's match's?
What's the state of the pitchs after the recent weather?

[sulywaterfordfc]

Add Hery, Akinade, and Duffus to the team and Waterford will beat a lot of teams.

Played without an out and out striker as a result of the absent of the latter two. Add Feely and Keegan to those three also

[sulywaterfordfc]

Any updates or best guess on tomorrow's match's?
What's the state of the pitchs after the recent weather?

Pats and Bray are covered going by pictures on social media. Bray have a pitch inspection in the morning

[Redzer]

Pats and Bray are covered going by pictures on social media. Bray have a pitch inspection in the morning
St. Pats v Sligo Rovers called off, after pitch inspection this morning

[osarusan]

Limerick have a pitch inspection in about 30 minutes, it should go ahead I would say. Pitch will be rubbish though.

[sulywaterfordfc]

St. Pats v Sligo Rovers called off, after pitch inspection this morning

Bray pitch also deemed unplayable. In hindsight it’s probably for our benefit, more recovery and rest time and more time to get players back for Friday. Pity though as there were a big crowd due to travel, which will certainly take a hit if the game is a normal 7.45 on a normal Monday.

[HarpoJoyce]

Wexford FC v UCD AFC OFF after Pitch Inspection.

[littlebray]

Has a team every scored 10 goals in LOI game?

Quite often in the early days iirc. After the "long whistle" I'll look at it.

Not as often as I (mis)remembered!

Most early seasons had a couple of 8-0 or 9-0 matches, but the first team to score double figures was Shamrock Rovers, 10-2 against Pioneers in 1925/26.

Rovers went one better, while also keeping a clean sheet, 11-0 against Bray Unknowns 28 Aug 1928.


Harps lost their first ever game in the League 10-2!

That was Shamrock Rovers again, in Donegal in the Dublin City Cup 17 Aug 1969. Any others?

[atfconline]

Athlone lost 10-1 to Fordsons in the Shield competition in 1928.

[SeanDrog]

Drogs v St Mochta off

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Athlone are playing midfielder Luke Kelly in goal today. Only losing 2-1 just now

[micls]

Finished 3-0 to us at Turners Cross. Strange game, never really got out of 1st gear but didn't have to. Bohs created nothing. 2 goals in a couple of mins in the first half ended the game. Great crowd there.

[Ezeikial]

Finished 3-0 to us at Turners Cross. Strange game, never really got out of 1st gear but didn't have to. Bohs created nothing. 2 goals in a couple of mins in the first half ended the game. Great crowd there.

Good win and the 3 goals help boost Corks goal difference, although not enough to prevent Rovers being top of the table on Friday night with two single goal victories away to Limerick tonight and then Waterford on Friday

[micls]

Absolutely bizapenalty for us today. Cross put it, over the head of our player, Bohs player throws his hand up and handles the ball, despite there being no immediate danger and other Bohs players around.

[sbgawa]

Should be ahead but limerick are defending well. Have wasted a few decent free kicks.

[sbgawa]

Well deserved win but can see lots of teams struggling here. Pitch is not great and also looks very small .

Kavanagh got sent off only downside but six points over the weekend is a great return.
Roll on Friday.

[Jofspring]

Should be ahead but limerick are defending well. Have wasted a few decent free kicks.


Well deserved win but can see lots of teams struggling here. Pitch is not great and also looks very small .

Kavanagh got sent off only downside but six points over the weekend is a great return.
Roll on Friday.

Did Rovers create a single clear cut chance on goal? I actually can’t remember one. Bar the penalty the game looked like it was heading for a 0-0 draw. No creativity whatsoever on the pitch.

Haven’t seen Dundalk yet myself but from what I have seen of Cork and Rovers there is a clear decline in the standard of the league. The loss of some of the top players to England clearly shining through. Probably be a few years before the current crop of youngsters start to shine.

The rest of the league looks fairly awful as well.

We have been the walking wounded the last two games and could have beaten Cork and should have got a draw tonight only for some madness from Kelly.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Did Rovers create a single clear cut chance on goal? I actually can’t remember one. Bar the penalty the game looked like it was heading for a 0-0 draw. No creativity whatsoever on the pitch.

Haven’t seen Dundalk yet myself but from what I have seen of Cork and Rovers there is a clear decline in the standard of the league. The loss of some of the top players to England clearly shining through. Probably be a few years before the current crop of youngsters start to shine.

The rest of the league looks fairly awful as well.

We have been the walking wounded the last two games and could have beaten Cork and should have got a draw tonight only for some madness from Kelly.

Let's be honest, that pitch is a serious leveler, you can't judge the standard of football played in the league based on what's played on that

[Market's Field]

Careful, you'll get all of foot.ie shut down - not just the Limerick forum.

Pitch is about as poor as Graham Kelly's reffing

[Jofspring]

Let's be honest, that pitch is a serious leveler, you can't judge the standard of football played in the league based on what's played on that

Pitch is brutal alright but the better players, the real quality ones have still stood out on it. It’s just a load of the average players have really struggled. It’s showing that there is very few quality players more than anything.

[placid casual]

Good victory for Rovers against a limited side, and on a dog$hit pitch.
on to friday, for what should be a decent game.

[micls]

Pitch is brutal alright but the better players, the real quality ones have still stood out on it. It’s just a load of the average players have really struggled. It’s showing that there is very few quality players more than anything.

Nonsense. Our skilful players couldn't do a bit on ye're pitch. McNamee had the worst game of his life. Sadlier wasn't much better. You can try to claim he's not real quality all you want, but that's pure rubbish. Theyre two of the most talented players in the league. The idea that 'real quality' can play better on it is silly. I'm sure it suits a certain style of player better, but that isn't a question of quality.

[Market's Field]

Good victory for Rovers against a limited side, and on a dog$hit pitch.
on to friday, for what should be a decent game.

Limited by having only half of our starting 11 available and it still needed a penalty to beat us.

[da bishop]

No doubt the pitch a problem however still does,n excuse the lack of chances created ,whatever about a young,inexperienced home team ,Rovers should be producing more.They only got the 3 pts due to rash reckless effort of Kelly who was hooked after it and needs to be benched anyway.TBF the players gave everything tonight and deserved more.Rovers dressingroom will have been buzzing after those 3 pts.

[bluemovie]

I’m sure it was tough on Waterford fans to lose it like that. However to be fair that was a decent display they gave up to half time.

In the second half though, apart from one or two counter attacks they were happy to sit and contain Dundalk. I will say one thing though, at least had a go in the first half, and at times they passed it about better than Cork did last Friday.

Pleasing to see Dundalk continue to keep it on the deck and to go wide into the 90th minute and beyond, totally deserved winner in the 93/94 minute.

I would've felt guilty if we'd managed to get a point! It was Richard Dunne v Russia stuff for a lot of the game. We've already exceeded expectations for our current points tally (I'd have been delighted with 8 so far) so if we'd taken a point there with so many missing, it'd have been taking the mick!

Have to say Dundalk were excellent. Great standard of football even if they weren't at their best. A lot better than Cork were against us and I'd be inclined to give them the nod over Cork just about as title favourites. Duffy was killing Kavanagh down the left and that's where the goal came from (poor Garry Comerford was in bits after conceding it). Rory Feely has been our find of the season at right back but he's going to be out for a few weeks. Vigouroux made a couple of exceptional saves. Browne and Webster were awesome, but we were under the cosh for most the game and not much we could do about it. Credit to Rennie for giving the Dundalk defence something different to think about by bringing on John Martin (a midfielder) up front and he did really well. We had one sub left, but two attackers and two kids left on the bench so we kind of had to sit tight even though Dean O'Halloran was out on his feet (he had moved from lone striker to right wing to help Kavanagh). Kenny Browne had a possible concussion at the end but had to stay on (not something I'm a fan of).

We've won four and lost two, but I don't think either defeat was a setback. Away to Dundalk and Cork, any points we get will be a massive bonus. The defeats would only have been a setback if we lost heavily in either. One dodgy thing is that Courtney Duffus missed the game despite being fit because he supposedly can't play on astro pitches after a hip injury - I'm taking it that it's part of his loan terms from Oldham (ironic for older fans!) so presumably he'll be out for Derry too. Hery and Akinade hadn't recovered from injuries and neither Keegan nor Aborah could do 90 on astro either so we were short-handed. On the plus side, Sander Puri looked back to his best. Apart from Feely, we should be back to full strength for Friday.

[ToberonaTornado]

I seen photos of the Lims pitch blanketed in snow yesterday posted on Twitter.I'm surprised the match went ahead at all today tbh and Shams fans having a go at it now after winning 1-0! :eek::rolleyes:
Whats the problem? :D

[sbgawa]

Limited by having only half of our starting 11 available and it still needed a penalty to beat us.


In fairness , can you argue on the balance of play that the result wasn't correct?

[osarusan]

I seen photos of the Lims pitch blanketed in snow yesterday posted on Twitter.I'm surprised the match went ahead at all today tbh and Shams fans having a go at it now after winning 1-0! :eek::rolleyes:
Whats the problem? :D

The pitch is absolutely awful to be fair. You can see players needing an extra second/extra touch to ensure they have it under control, before they can start to use it. That's going to hinder a team that likes quick passing more than one that doesn't.

Now that schools rugby is over, the weather is (hopefully) warming, and it has a weekend off, it will get the rest and treatment it needs to improve.

[Market's Field]

In fairness , can you argue on the balance of play that the result wasn't correct?

I'm not going to fall into the trap of having an argument with you - I've seen some of the other threads 😉

My point was that we are missing 7 of our most experienced players from an already small squad so it is easy to label us as limited. And ye created almost nothing from open play in the game.

[Treaty Gooner]

Dalymount, Turners Cross and Galway’s pitches that I’ve seen have all been poor this year. Markets Field is absolutely terrible but I don’t think anyone’s surface is top notch considering the winter we’ve had.