Tonights games 1/06/18

[Charlie Darwin]

I think most people in the stadium felt once Hoban scored that the result was only going one way. We really needed to get a second on the board to force Dundalk to open up but we really lacked a cutting edge without Burke or Carr.

Surprised by the banners. We've played far worse than that loads of times and there's been only applause from the stands. Stinks of "we made this banner so we're ****ed if we don't get to use it."

Dundalk are the best team in the league by a decent stretch I think, but we all know that doesn't guarantee anything. I can't imagine they'll have it as easy as they did in that ten-minute spell when they scored three though.

[Nesta99]

I think if people talked about how much they hated us we'd be fine. But we get fobbed off as just another side and that is infuriating!
When we did put together a decent Euro run those *****s from Louth (your lot!) went and over shadowed us ever so slightly!

For what its worth and was said above, Cork have never been fobbed off in Dundalk. There is a respect as much as rivalry even if through gritted teeth. It isnt the media approval that you're looking for but from your closest rival its something. The reason Dundalk are seemingly annointed club in some eyes over Cork does have something to do with playing style. Few would have believed that an Irish club could compete in Europe playing it out from the back on the deck - not even the best Irish international footballers do it. That belief got us to EL groups and favour has snowballed. Even when in London for the game in Turners Cross we went in to a bar in London city centre to watch the game and the TV that the game was on said 'Showing Dundalk'!!

[outspoken]

Galway so poor tonight even with an extra man couldn’t break down battling Longford defense Keegan under pressure now got us relegated last season with a decent squad and with the biggest budget by far this season is failing badly again 😡😡

Don’t want to be rude but Galway have been brutal in the three games I’ve seen them. Tonight was the worst, they were appalling. A back three consisting of a disgracefully overweight Williams and Walsh who couldn’t get a game for a ****e town team last season. None of Galway’s back 3 were comfortable on the ball and invited so much pressure on themselves. Only for the red and a disgraceful set of officials town would’ve won by 4 or 5 tonight. Keegan is in bother

[Charlie Darwin]

The reason Dundalk are seemingly annointed club in some eyes over Cork does have something to do with playing style.
Well I don't really think it's just that. We hammered Cork 3-0 in Tallaght and Dundalk put five past us. Dundalk won 4-1 at the Brandywell and Cork struggled to a 0-0. Dundalk slaughtered Pats and Cork have just edged past them. Waterford beat Dundalk but, guess what, they beat Cork too. Even Limerick have done well in all their games against Cork and Dundalk beat them 8-0. Obviously everyone outside the top two is a level below, but we're all looking at our games and saying Dundalk are clearly the better side. If it wasn't for Cork's clear commitment to never committing fouls, it might be closer, but you have to commend Dundalk on their cynicism.

[micls]

While those are valid points about those games, the game are a bit cherry picked and there's a recency bias there. There's a reason we'll be top of the league if we win Monday with the same games played.

I'd agree dundalk will likely finish with a much higher goal difference, I doubt it will come into play but it could. I also have no issue with people thinking dundalk are the better of the two teams, rovers in particular given the relative performances.

What I think is ridiculous is the claims that Dundalk will win the league by 8-10 points. Come Monday, we could be a point clear with 21 games played. There are only 15 games less. Assuming dundalk keep winning as they have been, it assumes we'll for some reason drop our performances significantly. I don't think that is justified, regardless of how good dundalk are.

We're actually just starting to hit our stride, and performances are improving, rather than the opposite.

Now, who knows what will happen with Europe, and the league games around it. We have a habit of not doing great in those. But I think there's no chance in hell a Caulfield team drops off to the level as to lose 11 extra points relative to Dundalk in 15 games.

On the point of why does it bother us, I don't think there's a team in the lead that wouldn't be annoyed if they were a point of top at this stage and continuosly told they were going to lose the league comfortably, despite a 100% home record!

[pineapple stu]

Good result tonight Drogs 2-0 Cab.

Galway slipping.

Big game for us on Monday away to Shels
And next Friday, away to UCD.

If ye can take 6 points away to first and third in a week, ye'll go 4 points clear and will have to be favourites. A draw against Shels and it's starting to look more and more like a two-horse race for the title with others' lack of consistency an issue really.

[Real ale Madrid]

Dundalk coughed up a lot of chances last night , that would be a concern from thier point of view.

I love it when people write us off. Please keep doing it.

There was a swagger about is for the last 20 mins last night that I haven't seen since the bygone days of Seani Maguire. This could be best title race of the lot.

[gufc2000]

Must have been another cup final. I saw the challenge by Lopes - straight red and the boy is lucky.

I know we've not been consistent at all this season, but Galway are no addition. Their keeper is simply horrific, and I had to laugh at him giving away another indirect free kick after that ****show against Cabinteely.
https://www.facebook.com/ltfc.ie/videos/1717428971681970/
Great ping here to open the scoring tonight from local lad Aodh Dervin. Great little player.
Different keeper. Tadgh Ryan was injured last night.

[Nesta99]

Dundalk coughed up a lot of chances last night , that would be a concern from thier point of view.

I love it when people write us off. Please keep doing it.

There was a swagger about is for the last 20 mins last night that I haven't seen since the bygone days of Seani Maguire. This could be best title race of the lot.

Obviously the head to head games are key and we have been second best mostly to Cork recently. Cork are clear favourites!!

[micls]

Obviously the head to head games are key and we have been second best mostly to Cork recently. Cork are clear favourites!!

Nice try :D

I don't think there's much doubt Dundalk are favourites, and I'd agree that for us winning it this year would be a bigger achievement than last, especially considering we've never retained the league, but you're right, the head to heads will be key. As will the response to games around Europe.

Big first game back after the break in Oriel.

[L.T.F.C.]

Different keeper. Tadgh Ryan was injured last night.
Wow... Back to school for the pair of them!

[Cosmo]

And next Friday, away to UCD.

If ye can take 6 points away to first and third in a week, ye'll go 4 points clear and will have to be favourites. A draw against Shels and it's starting to look more and more like a two-horse race for the title with others' lack of consistency an issue really.

Big few weeks for us. Away to Shels twice, away to UCD, home to harps and Cobh. Will be alot clearer after those matches.

We were rubbish last night. Draw was fair result. But it's a good sign that we were able to grind out the result.

We're a weird team. Away to harps a few weeks ago, first half we looked like a premier division team. Second half looked like ragball rovers. Back to ragball rovers last night!

[Charlie Darwin]

But I think there's no chance in hell a Caulfield team drops off to the level as to lose 11 extra points relative to Dundalk in 15 games.
Like they did last year?

[nigel-harps1954]

A 4-0 win for Harps last night was incredibly generous for Athlone.

Harps weren't overly great, but really should have, without the slightest hint of exaggeration, put ten past the worst team I've ever seen in Finn Park.

John O'Flynn should have had a hat-trick, Michael O'Connor should have had one, Ciaran O'Connor should have had a hat-trick, and Mikey Place could have had a couple more on his home debut. Mark Coyle missed from 6 yards, Tommy McBride missed from the penalty area...could go on all day. A truly brutal Athlone team. More clinical finishing and there could have been a record scoreline.

Will be an altogether different story on Monday evening.

[CorribsideSteve]

Dundalk could have won 8 or 9-2 last night. When they go forward with one touch passing, it's so swift and seamless. There's no other side that can match them for footballing quality. Rover's concession of the 3rd and especially the 4th goals are the stuff of nightmares though.

[CorribsideSteve]

Automatic Promotion dreams seems to be fading away for Galway too, but the introduction of the Playoff systems still gives a chance. I dread the day we have to play Dundalk when they're in beast mode though, if we do somehow manage get promoted.

[micls]

Like they did last year?

Not comparable. The league was over at that point. Caulfield teams are incredibly competitive, right from his first season with us. When it's on the line, they won't fall off like that. Criticise his style of play, but his teams are never not up for it when there's something on the line.

[Charlie Darwin]

OK, but they literally did exactly what you said they'd never do in your post.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, I think Dundalk came close enough to winning the title last year to say that it wasn't "over" when the collapse started

[micls]

OK, but they literally did exactly what you said they'd never do in your post.

Fair point. I should have been clearer.


Yeah, I think Dundalk came close enough to winning the title last year to say that it wasn't "over" when the collapse started

It was though. There was no point last year, even after we started losing games, that anyone thought dundalk would win it. We needed a point from our last 4 games or something to win it. After winning it, we proceeded to drop more points which made it look closer at the end, but it was over. There was never a risk of losing it. Seani made sure of that with the hattrick up in Oriel.

[SeanDrog]

And next Friday, away to UCD.

If ye can take 6 points away to first and third in a week, ye'll go 4 points clear and will have to be favourites. A draw against Shels and it's starting to look more and more like a two-horse race for the title with others' lack of consistency an issue really.

It would be great but they are going to be two extremely hard games. I think we have tightened up at the back which helps but upfront we aren’t as dynamic as we were at the start of the season. On a plus Sean Brennan is really getting into his stride and passing/controlling the ball like a master.

[pineapple stu]

It was though. There was no point last year, even after we started losing games, that anyone thought dundalk would win it. We needed a point from our last 4 games or something to win it.
Meh; can't agree with that. Had Dundalk won in Turners Cross, ye'd have been in full ****ting-it mode and anything could have happened. Ye'd still have been huge favourites, but it wouldn't have been over. That draw was the one which really sealed the title. It certainly wasn't over enough earlier on to dismiss the collapse over the last 15 games or whatever it was.

[Ezeikial]

It seems Dan Cleary feels he has a point to make


Daniel Cleary Continues To Remind Stephen Bradley What He's Missing

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DesGCX5X0AE92s1.jpg

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat (https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/sport/316557/scoring-against-shamrock-rovers-last-night-was-the-best-feeling-dundalk-s-daniel-cleary-has-ever-had.html#.WxJlDmW9VOg.twitter) after last night's 5-2 win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, Dundalk's Daniel Cleary described scoring his goal as "the best feeling I've ever had."
Giving Stephen Kenny's men a 2-1 lead on the night, Cleary's attention was drawn toward the Rovers boss Stephen Bradley, however.
Heading straight toward Bradley, Cleary's cupped his hear, suggesting that the Shamrock Rovers manager missed a trick when he overlooked the former Liverpool man.
Booked for his celebration last night, Cleary added to the furore surrounding his celebration with a Tweet this afternoon.




https://www.balls.ie/football/dundalks-daniel-cleary-390240

[White Horse]

Can I register my thanks and appreciation to Steven Bradley for sending a highly motivated and very good player our way.

[micls]

It's really great to players come to the LOI and talk about how it helps them to fall in love with football again. Whatever about what club they're at, Cleary saying how good it feels, Vigoroux posted how it helped him enjoy football again, Seani and others have said similar. Its a huge benefit for the league, and we should be shouting it from the rooftops.

[Nesta99]

It seems Dan Cleary feels he has a point to make


https://www.balls.ie/football/dundalks-daniel-cleary-390240

So much for Dundalk throwing the kitchen sink Asterix, sounds more like Bradley decided against signing Cleary and he thorougly enjoyed showing the Rovers management what he thought of that. Your various claims more and more sound like a steaming pile of sh!t!

[MattB11]

Bradley done him a favour, he should be thanking him

[Charlie Darwin]

Can I register my thanks and appreciation to Steven Bradley for sending a highly motivated and very good player our way.
And people say Bradley doesn't know how to get the best out of players.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's really great to players come to the LOI and talk about how it helps them to fall in love with football again. Whatever about what club they're at, Cleary saying how good it feels, Vigoroux posted how it helped him enjoy football again, Seani and others have said similar. Its a huge benefit for the league, and we should be shouting it from the rooftops.
The League of Ireland is:

- not bleak

[brendy_éire]

Well, another four goals shipped by the Derry defence today. That's 19 in the last six games. Utterly pathetic stuff.
The transfer window can't come soon enough.

[micls]

Some comical stuff from both defences today. We were cruising until 5 minutes of defensive madness Griffin got himself hauled off as a result.

I knew when Hale celebrated in front of the shed we were sorted though. Every time someone does that, our lads immediately go down the other side and score. Funnily Sadlier did it for Sligo last year, as well as Burke giving us the 'shhh' for Rovers. Immediate goals every time.

[pineapple stu]

Looks like Drogheda have just nabbed a 90th minute equaliser in Tolka - just like we did last month.

Shels will be annoyed with that; a draw for us v Drogheda next week and we're in a great position

[SeanDrog]

Looks like Drogheda have just nabbed a 90th minute equaliser in Tolka - just like we did last month.

Shels will be annoyed with that; a draw for us v Drogheda next week and we're in a great position

Draw away to shels is a good result for us :) tbh I’d also take a draw on Friday if offered now. In series two we have a lot of away games - hold our own in this series and we will be in a good position in series three with majority home games.

[Longfordian]

Looks like Drogheda have just nabbed a 90th minute equaliser in Tolka - just like we did last month.

Shels will be annoyed with that; a draw for us v Drogheda next week and we're in a great position

Ye're favourites for sure but it's such a competitive league this year anything can happen. We're back in the mix again now after two crucial wins. We'll probably drop points to Cabo next though.

[pineapple stu]

Actually, we've a tough end to round 2; Drogheda home, Harps away and Longford home. Maybe a win on Friday will be needed to keep us on top with 9 to go.

Cobh v Galway underway now; a Cobh would be great, but probably unlikely given how poor Cobh have been this season

[Longfordian]

Cobh have picked up a bit lately since Henderson threatened to quit. Wouldn't be surprised if they got something.

[nigel-harps1954]

Another pathetic performance from Harps. Time for change.

[L.T.F.C.]

Great to beat the hachetmen from the hills. Another win against Cabo we'll be motoring.

[total hoofball]

Looks like Drogheda have just nabbed a 90th minute equaliser in Tolka - just like we did last month.

Shels will be annoyed with that; a draw for us v Drogheda next week and we're in a great position
I think the last minute nature of those 4 points dropped papers over that Shels are bang average and uncreative under Heary, only really threatened the goal for the first time when we actually scored and then you have the statue Alan Byrne getting himself sent off for a stupid 2nd yellow 2 minutes later

Shels players were certain Mark Doyle dived for that penalty, hard to tell from my vantage. Poor game, fair result, if UCD don't go off the rails in the final 12 games they'll win the league

[disgruntled]

Actually, we've a tough end to round 2; Drogheda home, Harps away and Longford home. Maybe a win on Friday will be needed to keep us on top with 9 to go.

Cobh v Galway underway now; a Cobh would be great, but probably unlikely given how poor Cobh have been this season

Finished 0-0.
Seems to be between UCD & Drogheda for the title with four other teams in the running for the play off's.
Very exciting 1st div this season.

[El-Pietro]

Cobh 0-0 Galway. There was a real lack of quality in the final third today. Eoin McCormack in particular had a very poor game after finding himself in good positions plenty of times but contriving to make a balls of it each time. Good point for a young Cobh side.

[Nesta99]

Not comparable. The league was over at that point. Caulfield teams are incredibly competitive, right from his first season with us. When it's on the line, they won't fall off like that. Criticise his style of play, but his teams are never not up for it when there's something on the line.

I think it is comparable; There was a whole lot of talk of the league being won by August last year and I'd be pretty sure Caulfield would have wanted to notch up that record especially with the insecurities in Cork of not getting the credit due to them, a vindication of sorts. It was getting nervy and Cork fans were desperate to get it over the line - El Pietro iirc was quite worried prior to the Dundalk game as a Dundalk win and a 20 point gap was down to 7 with 5(?) games to play and Corks form was that of a team where the pressure was getting to them. Dundalk's form wasnt great all season but dropping 5 points to the two Rovers post CL games and prior to the Cork game was really our undoing as much as the slow start especially as Cork were coughing up points. If Cork had been put under serious pressure at that point in July/August it would have gone to the wire as picking up the needed 3 points with draws wouldnt really have done with a 20 point gap down to single figures (Cork with a game in hand) with 4 games to play including Dundalk. It was such an impressive 1st half to the season that when Maguire left and how ropey things got it made Cok look like a one man team and JC would not have liked that observation at all not to have had the team up for it. The draw with Dundalk helped stop the rot as it was much more a when not if after, but even then after the league was won if Dundalk hadnt lost to Bohs the league would have finished with 4 points the gap and that was as much of a story of 2017. I know its if and buts .... but it looks like a spirited fightback from 20 points adrift and that Cork fell over the line and it took the gloss off an incredible season for Cork. There was plenty on the line in August even if it was just an emphasis on how dominant Cork were. All that was missing was a Kevin Keegan like meltdown and Dundalk robbing the title lol. Nobody expected that there would be anything to play for in October but was closer than JC would hav liked i'm sure.

This season 6 or 7 points isnt an unassaible lead with so many head to head games and that teams outside of the top two being able to compete and take points. Being top with with a quarter of the season left means little and it will be a nervy finish to the league. Strength in depth of respective squads during and after European games will have a significant bearing on the final table. I hope Cork have a fine run in Europe (including some long trips to the likes of Kazakhstan and Belarus) but likewise Dundalk could have a few European ties. Dundalk will have a bit more saavy in balancing playing on the two fronts I think. The addition of Waterford to the Munster derbies make things a bit harder for Cork though the sooner the 100% record in Turners Cross goes the better for us all:p Derry have really lost their way since the loss to Dundalk in fortress Brandywell and I wouldnt at all mind the same for Cork City. Lets hope there will be no expunging of results for Bray or Limerick as either would change the landscape in the short term at the top of the table beyond the impact for those 2 clubs and the league as a whole. It isnt particularly fair that Dundalk will have played Bray and now Limerick just after both clubs revealed issues with players not being payed. All in all it is shaping up to be the most exciting finish to a season for the last 5 years even considering the last day 2014..... another cup final showdown for a doulbe to keep this rivalry nice and fresh would be fun too!!

[micls]

I disagree on your assessment of last season, I genuinely think there was no chance of us losing the league after Seani left.

But I agree, being top now means little, although it's nice to be there after a few weeks of listening to people say how it's a one horse race!

Very exciting rest of the season ahead I think, as I said above I can't imagine the drop off that will lead to Dundalk winning by the margin others are mentioning. But I agree that the games around Europe will be key to it, as will the final 2 head to heads.

Also agree on Bray Limerick. Be horrible for it to be decided like that.

[SeanDrog]

Cobh 0-0 Galway. There was a real lack of quality in the final third today. Eoin McCormack in particular had a very poor game after finding himself in good positions plenty of times but contriving to make a balls of it each time. Good point for a young Cobh side.

Are Galway full time or is that 1st div terrace rumours? If full time then the league position is crazy!

[Longfordian]

I don’t think they are. Someone, possibly Stephen McGuinness, said in pre season that they were remaining full time but from what Galway fans have said on here they’re part time. They may still have a bigger budget than the rest of us though.

[Ezeikial]

It isnt particularly fair that Dundalk will have played Bray and now Limerick just after both clubs revealed issues with players not being payed.

I'm not so sure that is correct in relation to Bray. There was a lot of talk about their injury list prior to the last match in Oriel at the end of May that led some to speculate that these were phantom injuries due to not being paid - but as far as I know both the club and players denied that there was any such payment issues at that time.

Limerick shipped an 8-0 defeat on the last visit to Oriel Park - pay or no pay, I don't expect that to be repeated on Friday

[Nesta99]

That's fair observation, It may not have been true as reported at Bray. If there was any problem it cant but have a negative impact on team morale and performance. While Limerick are poor in general but have lifted the odd performance again its the worst sort of preperation for what would be a difficult game for them with great preperation, Dundalk should win anyway and with Limerick players futures in doubt a comprehensive away win should be expected (watch Dundalk huff and puff to a result now that Ive said that lol).

micls, it was a slim chance that Cork wouldnt have won the league but Cork looked like they had really lost their way from August and September and scraped a couple of draws that were on the lucky side eg late equalisers. Dundalk have struggled against Cork in recent seasons as we know and in the 1-1 in Turners Cross we didnt play at all well yet Cork laboured to that draw; If compared to the 3 nil win in Oriel Park in June it reflects the way the season went with Cork's July/August form. It is a bit of a contradiction to say that Caulfield's teams are always motivated and up for it but let 20 odd points slip to 7. JC wouldnt have calculated things so finely to have the foot taken off the gas as if Dundalk had won in Cork and assuming the 'something to play for' angle applies to Dundalk too and hadnt lost to Bohs in the penultimate game then the winning margin is 2 points. Thats far too close for Caulfield not having his team fully motivated during that spell. If the pints needed where in the bag August/September and then every game was lost for the winning margin to be a few points then nothing to play for stuff fits. Its all academic of course and your unwavering confidence is or was laudable. I cant say that if roles were reversed that some slivers doubt wouldnt have crept in. Maybe its ptsd from 8 years in the 1st division lol.

More on topic -'m surprised that Soccer Republic didnt go near anything on the Lopez tackle in the highlights. Ok McGrath luckily wasnt injured and it was key to the final result but surely it was worthy of a mention. The Maguire interview was good and he has come on leaps and bounds in how he interviews. He comes across as a very relaxed and content lad, comfortable with the attention. Hopefully a good preseason for him with PNE and keeps injury free and we will see him have an impact with Ireland as he had with Cork. Its a pity we didnt see more of him at Dundalk but with David McMillan so well established it was always going to be tough breaking in to the team 1st season. Im sure he gained something from his time in Oriel even if it was just strenght and conditioning.

[micls]

Just to clarify, of course JC didn't plan for us to do so poorly or anything. I actually remarked yesterday after we scored after letting Derry back into it, that I dunno what our team would do if they were properly favourites for any competition. It works for them and JC to be underdogs, he plays on that. We definitely struggled with the lead. I guess for me, going into that Dundalk game, I wasn't thinking 'we might only be 7 points up after this', I was thinking 'we can win the league tonight'. Our record against you played a big part in that, I wasnt overly worried about losing.

But yes, while I don't think the situations are too similar, especially on the underdogs vs run away leaders motivation sense. We did technically what I said we wouldn't. I just don't think its the same kind of situation. But we'll see!

[derm]

In a post-match interview, Sheppard revealed that he has had a persistent back injury for a number of weeks. It seems to have cleared up now (hopefully).

[micls]

Shep definitely wasn't himself in some games in the 2nd series. Had a cracking game yesterday. Hopefully he's back to his best.