Premier Review

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 19/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-1 UCD
BRAY WDS. 2-3 SHAMROCK ROVERS
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 LONGFORD TOWN
FINN HARPS 0-3 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-2 CORK CITY
WATERFORD UTD. 1-3 DERRY CITY

Week 19 saw 5 games played on the weekend, with Harps-Shels originally postponed. Some geniuses at 3 of the home teams' games decided to play the games on the Sunday afternoon of a Bank Holiday weekend, perfectly timed to compete against live GAA tv coverage, which in turn affected attendances. :mad: They couldn't play them on the Monday evening, no?? :confused: Bohs against UCD was live on TG4, while there were 15 goals scored. Not a good week for home sides as none of them won. There were 2 draws, and 3 away wins.

The Dublin derby was shown on TG4, where Bohs hosted UCD. Both goals were scored in the first half, as it finished 1-1, as UCD grind out another point, their second against Bohs this season. Both sides consolidate their positions in the table.

Bray's first home league game on Sunday this season was against Rovers. 4 players left Rovers only days before the game, and Bray took advantage when Zayed continued his recent scoring run on 9 minutes. Rovers soon equalised through McDonagh on 17', and took the lead on 31' through O' Connor. Within a minute Bray had equalised through their Romanian, Gheorgescu. The second half was less frenzied, and both sides' defences improved. Rovers took the lead on 67' when Tony Sheridan fired home from the edge of the box. Bray couldn't come back, and Rovers won 3-2, for our first win at Bray in the league since November 1998, and the treble over Bray this season. It moves us off the bottom too, after 10 weeks looking up at everyone else in the table.

Finn Harps took on Shelbourne, in a re-scheduled game in September. At the time, Harps had taken 4 points from 2 games, and it looked a tricky game for the visitors, especially with it being 0-0 at the break. Normal service was resumed when Shels took the lead, and scored two more to coast home 3-0. Finn Harps long battle against the drop continues.

After disgracing the league (again) in Europe in midweek, Longford returned to more mundane matters of league action at Drogheda. With the pressure off, they took the lead, and took special delight at Gartland getting sent off for the home side. They hung on until the 93rd minute, when Drogheda equalised, to make up for losing 2 points in injury time last week. Swings and roundabouts comes to mind.

Cork lost in Europe also during the week, but not by 5, and went through, and Pats packed it in easily against them at Richmond. Fenn put City ahead on 40', and they clinched it with 10 minutes to go. The only fight Pats showed at the game, was when one of their fans attacked a Cork fan in the stand. Their players meanwhile, were saving their own fighting spirit for the West Dublin derby at Rovers next week. :rolleyes:

Derry had to travel to Waterford on the last day of the season for the last 2 seasons. They won 1-0 to stay in the division the first time, but lost 1-0 to an injury time goal last season. Ouch!! However, their fans who made the long journey down there this time were not to be disappointed, as they beat a hapless home side 3-1 to keep the gap at the top at 7 points. Waterford however, are in freefall, and will be lucky to escape without a hammering in the Munster derby at Cork next week.

[pineapple stu]

I suppose now our 1-1 draw in Dalyer will be due to us putting ten men behind the ball, playing hoofball and hanging on for the draw? :rolleyes:

Well, not in those exact words, but...


it finished 1-1, as UCD grind out another point

Well done! :rolleyes:

Going on the fact that you couldn't even name which TV station showed the match, I can only assume you didn't watch it and are, once again, making things up. Ground out a point?! Setanta's commentators were "very impressed" with UCD, pretty much every Bohs fan on their forum has said we deserved to win and comments here have been about an "entertaining game". We created the bulk of the scoring chances, made the most of the running, but give us credit?! No! We "ground" out a point instead! :rolleyes:

[De Town]

Going on the fact that you couldn't even name which TV station showed the match, I can only assume you didn't watch it and are, once again, making things up. Ground out a point?! Setanta's commentators were "very impressed" with UCD, pretty much every Bohs fan on their forum has said we deserved to win and comments here have been about an "entertaining game". We created the bulk of the scoring chances, made the most of the running, but give us credit?! No! We "ground" out a point instead! :rolleyes:
In fairness, UCD deservde to win. After they equalised, they destroyed Bohs until with about 10 minutes to go and then Bohs started to pressure UCD a bit more without really creating a chance. O'Donnel's miss was shocking, as was Hurley's (?) in the first half, he should have at least hit the target. They certainly didn't grind out a result.

[BohDiddley]

Well, not in those exact words, but...



Well done! :rolleyes:

Going on the fact that you couldn't even name which TV station showed the match, I can only assume you didn't watch it and are, once again, making things up. Ground out a point?! Setanta's commentators were "very impressed" with UCD, pretty much every Bohs fan on their forum has said we deserved to win and comments here have been about an "entertaining game". We created the bulk of the scoring chances, made the most of the running, but give us credit?! No! We "ground" out a point instead! :rolleyes:
For the record, Pinapple, I think everyone does agree you were the better team on the day. Passed better, showed more hunger for more of the game, and in general played quality football. All you needed was someone who could finish (you could have come away with three), and the ref made up for that with the most blatant penalty shocker I can remember.
All of that was influenced by Farrelly being taken out in a brutal tackle that bizarrely went unpunished. I think that if Farrelly had stayed on we could have got a grip on the game, and that it also would have been a fabulous display, despite the horrible conditions. We were on top in the last 20, but couldn't make it count. Is that fair? :D

[pineapple stu]

For the record, Pinapple, I think everyone does agree you were the better team on the day.
Yeah, I know - just mypost has really annoyed me previously with some ridiculously stupid anti-UCD comments before (such as the one above), so always like to point out when it's wrong! :)


All you needed was someone who could finish (you could have come away with three)
Definitely. I wonder at times how good we could be if we could take more of our chances, to be honest. That's twice we've outplayed youz, to add to another two points taken off Shels (lead in both games but didn't kill the game off), while against lower teams, we struggle for some reason. If we could score more and kill off teams better, we'd be challenging for Europe with this squad.


All of that was influenced by Farrelly being taken out in a brutal tackle that bizarrely went unpunished.
Yeah, that was a turning point alright. My take (see the match report in the UCD section as well) is that Tony Mac isn't a dirty player at all, and that the ref must have allowed for the slippery surface having an effect on his tackle. Even then, I think it was definitely a yellow.

[mypost]

Going on the fact that you couldn't even name which TV station showed the match,

I'll give pedantic stu that one. I could name the channel, but I got it mixed up with the channel showing the live game next week. ;) Shows that only one station should have the rights to games. Multi-channel tv rights only confuse everyone. Typical FAI. :rolleyes: Error corrected.


I can only assume you didn't watch it and are, once again, making things up.

And as it was a derby, why weren't you there instead of watching it on the box instead? Oh sorry, I forgot that a calculator isn't required to count UCD's support at their away games, is it? :D

[pineapple stu]

Multi-channel tv rights only confuse everyone.
Only confused you, by all accounts.


And as it was a derby, why weren't you there instead of watching it on the box instead?
I was on holidays. Is that acceptable to you?


Oh sorry, I forgot that a calculator isn't required to count UCD's support at their away games, is it? :D
Do you often sit at games adding up the crowd on your calculator? Would explain how you have so little to contribute on them, I suppose. In any case, what's your point?

Actually - don't answer that. Tell me what your point about UCD's low crowds has to do with our performance? Which you still haven't in the slightest acknowledged.

A review is all well and good, but if you're going to let it be coloured with your own personal opinions and likes/dislikes, then it's about as useful as a Paul Doolin/Roddy Collins management team.

[joeraki]

I Hate this thread, its stupid :mad: :rolleyes:

[Poor Student]

I Hate this thread, its stupid :mad: :rolleyes:

mypost defiantly goes on working on it despite no praise and only detractors!

[De Town]

I Hate this thread, its stupid :mad: :rolleyes:
I think its funny :D mypost insists on typing out the results for us every week, although we know them already :D Keep up the good work mypost ;)

[Poor Student]

I think its funny :D mypost insists on typing out the results for us every week, although we know them already :D Keep up the good work mypost ;)

De Town have you ever recovered from the emotional torment of Longford being left out for a week? Did you notice how fast Longford reversed their decision once he did this? :D

[De Town]

De Town have you ever recovered from the emotional torment of Longford being left out for a week? Did you notice how fast Longford reversed their decision once he did this? :D
Ah it killed me, it really did, I didn't know what to think, I had forgot the result from the previous weekend and was relying heavily on mypost but he just didn't deliver :( To this day, I still can't remember that result :(

[Poor Student]

Ah it killed me, it really did, I didn't know what to think, I had forgot the result from the previous weekend and was relying heavily on mypost but he just didn't deliver :( To this day, I still can't remember that result :(

Hahaha :D

[joeraki]

I think its funny :D mypost insists on typing out the results for us every week, although we know them already :D Keep up the good work mypost ;)

Is he Aertel :confused:

[mypost]

I was on holidays. Is that acceptable to you?

He can't see the irony, can he? :rolleyes: No, I didn't see the game, but as you didn't either, it hardly gives you the right to have a go at me over it.

So what if you played well to get your point at Bohs? You'd have to play well, to get a result there.

[Poor Student]

He can't see the irony, can he? :rolleyes: No, I didn't see the game, but as you didn't either, it hardly gives you the right to have a go at me over it.

So what if you played well to get your point at Bohs? You'd have to play well, to get a result there.

Actually he has watched it on video, so he has seen it. If you checked our forum you'd see he wrote a match report for it. His point is we didn't grind out a draw. Grinding out a result insinuates you were somewhat poorer than usual and clung on for a point playing badly. We played well and deserved no less than a draw if not a win. You saw UCD got a draw at Dalymount against in form Bohs and put two and two together due to your usual anti-UCD bias.

[pineapple stu]

Actually he has watched it on video, so he has seen it.
Thank you. Not to mention Setanta have repeated the game endlessly as they do all of their games. Just saved old Mr Rolly-eyes another trip. No...wait... :rolleyes:

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 20/33:
CORK CITY 1-1 WATERFORD UTD.
DERRY CITY 2-2 BRAY WDS.
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 BOHEMIANS
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SHELBOURNE 3-3 DROGHEDA UTD.
UCD 1-1 FINN HARPS

Week 20 was draw week, with no less than 5 draws from the week's fixtures. Only one goal prevented a complete draw weekend. The West Dublin derby was live on TG4, and Ollie Byrne hit (excuse the pun:D ) the headlines once again. 15 goals were scored this week.

The Munster derby was at Turners Cross, and it looked like a home banker. Waterford can't buy a point, but Cork were lethargic with one eye on Europe. Despite that, they predictably went in front, just past the half-hour, only to let it slip on half time. A battling Waterford held on for the point, as Cork celebrate their trashing of Rovers, by winning just one of their next 4 matches.

With Cork slipping up, a home game to Bray was an ideal chance for Derry to catch up. While, it looked a home banker before the game, Bray battled well, and took the lead twice. But equalizing goals in injury time of each half, saw Derry escape with a 2-2 draw. Clive Delaney's equalizer in injury time, keeps the gap at the top to 4 points, but this was very much an opportunity lost for Derry to close the gap to Cork.

Longford played Bohs at Flancare, and it was the only game that didn't finish in a draw, as Paul Keegan's winner against his old club 20 minutes from time, settled this mid-table battle.

TG4 showed a live league game, and like when they showed Pats in Week 2, it finished in a no-score bore. Many Rovers-Pats games are not easy on the eye, and this one wasn't either. A truly shocking game finished 0-0, and doesn't do much to ease either club's fears of being stuck in the drop zone at the end of the season. The clubs meet again in Week 31, and it could well be crucial for both sides.

Shelbourne returned from defeat in Romania, to play Drogheda at home, and unlike in Romania, started well, taking the lead after 2 minutes. Drogheda equalised 5 minutes later. Shels retook the lead on the half hour, and Drogheda responded again before half time. The second half produced less action, until the 87th minute, when the referee overturned his linesman's offside decision which allowed Drogheda to take the lead. Uproar followed. Pat Fenlon and Eamonn Collins protested wildly, for which Fenlon was sent off. Jason Byrne did manage to equalize for Shels in injury time. Ollie Byrne allegedly threw a punch at a photographer after the game, to add to his pushing the match officials at the corresponding fixture last season. Unlike then, Shels didn't lose, but as they are now an incredible 15 points behind Cork, their season is already over.

Finn Harps made another long trip to the Belfield complex to take on UCD, which offered them a chance to do the double over the Students. It looked as though they would, when Steve Capper put them ahead early in the second half, but Robbie Martin equalized 10 minutes later for the home side, and Finn Harps remain bottom.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 21/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-0 BRAY WDS.
CORK CITY 1-0 SHELBOURNE
FINN HARPS 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-1 DERRY CITY
UCD 0-0 LONGFORD TOWN
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS

Week 20 saw Cork take another march towards the championship, by extending their lead live on tv, Bohs play against Bray on Thursday, Rovers move away from the drop zone with the only away win of the week, after 2 home wins, and 3 draws, leading to just 5 goals scored. :eek:

Bohs brought their game against Bray forward to Thursday, and while there have being goals flying in in Bray's games recently, they dried up here. Tony Grant scored the winner from the spot just after the half-hour, and despite both sides being reduced to 10 men near the end, Bohs won to creep up nearer Shels who they meet next week. Bray meanwhile, have 4 of the next 5 at home.

Regarding Shelbourne; when you're 14 points behind the leaders, and should be doing better, a trip to Cork is not the ideal fixture to begin catching up. Instead the gap betwen the two got wider, as Cork completed the treble over their championship rivals this season. Neil Horgan's goal midway through the first half won it, and Shels can only look on in envy as a determined Cork side add another scalp to the Cross' hitlist. Only defeat in Derry and/or a European hangover look like stopping Cork from winning the title now.

If they played Rovers every week, they would probably survive, but as they have played 7 league games since their win at Dalymount in June, haven't won in that time, and sacked their manager, Finn Harps are still struggling. A point in Ballybofey in a 0-0 draw against inconsistent Drogheda, isn't much help either. Drogheda meanwhile, are going nowhere fast.

Derry made their latest trip to Dublin knowing that after last week's missed opportunity at home to Bray, they really needed to come away with full points. Instead Chris Armstrong gave Pats the lead, to lead 1-0 at the break, and despite Derry equalizing in the second period through a late own goal, a point here was not enough either for the visitors. After 2 points from 6 against sides in the bottom half of the table, they simply have to beat Cork on home turf next week to keep their title chase going.

UCD against Longford. You know the score, 0-0. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

A rather more important game was the relegation six-pointer at the RSC where Waterford hosted Rovers. Waterford, bouyed by their point at Cork last week, started well. However Rovers nicked it, with Ciaran Foley scoring the winner in the 66th minute. A first league win for Rovers at the RSC leaves Waterford languishing in where I predicted them to finish in the league -11th, while Rovers turn an 8-point gap to Waterford after Week 10, to being ahead of them on goal difference. :) Next target - Bray Wanderers.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 22/33:
BRAY WDS. 2-1 FINN HARPS
DERRY CITY 3-1 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-0 WATERFORD UTD.
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-0 UCD
SHELBOURNE 2-1 BOHEMIANS

Week 22 was the end of the second round of games. Despite clubs games being postponed because of European commitments, all bar 4 clubs had completed their programme to date. Derry-Cork was live on RTE. The week saw another first this season, with 6 home wins from 6 games, with 13 goals going in this week.

We start off in Bray where the home side looked to complete the double over the table-proppers Finn Harps, which they did with a 2-1 victory. Harps haven't won anywhere since playing guess who...Rovers!! :rolleyes:

RTE showed their first game live from the Brandywell for 8 years, but Cork had an even longer journey to the venue following them. Derry-Cork is perhaps the only fixture in the NL, when the visitors fly to the opponents ground. Cork won the last fixture at the North Pole, but conceded early to the home side after 5 minutes. 1-0 at the break became 1-1 after an hour, when O'Callaghan equalised from the spot. However, 2 goals in 3 minutes from Derry claimed the three points, to clinch a vital 3-1 win, ensure a long journey home for the visitors, and keep open the possibility of a winner-takes-all clash for the title on 16th November. Cork remain in front by 3 points for now.

Drogheda played freefall Waterford at United Park, a game which they won 3-0 in May. A first-half goal from O'Brien settled it for Drogheda, as Waterford, top after Week 2, find themselves 11th, 20 weeks later.

The last game of the second series saw Longford face Pats, and the return of the 8ft-high fence behind the goal. The boggers made it 2 straight wins at home, and a double over Pats this season, as Barry Ferguson's penalty in the second half clinched it. Pats are only 2 points clear of 10th. Their season has been a disaster.

Returning Eastbound, to two Dublin derbies, with the first one at Dalymount Park, and the only game of the week to not have cameras at it. Good job for UCD that they weren't there, as Jason McGuinness' header on 48' gave Rovers a first win against the Students this season, who go away from Dalymount with extra homework to do, before their trip to face the cup holders next, and Shels after it.

One of the glamour games of recent seasons reduced to a battle for third, saw Shels take on Bohs. Bohs got in on the act early, by having Dessie Byrne sent off on 16' for a career-threatening foul. Shels took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Byrne. Bohs equalised on 53' through Tony Grant, but wouldn't you know it, Glen Crowe popped up to score Shels' winner with 20 minutes to go, and the gap between third and fourth increases before the break for cup weekend.

[mypost]

PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS:

WEEK 23/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-3 SHAMROCK ROVERS
BRAY WDS. 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 DERRY CITY
FINN HARPS - CORK CITY
LONGFORD TOWN 3-0 WATERFORD UTD.
SHELBOURNE 4-2 UCD

Week 23 saw the first week of the third series, and despite Bohs against Rovers being the game of the weekend, TG4 thought otherwise, and showed the Longford - Waterford game live on tv. :( There were 5 games played as scheduled, which led to 3 home wins, 1 draw, and 1 away win, with 16 goals scored.

Most fans were queueing outside the stadium when the Bohs-Rovers match started, which is another reason why kick-offs should be put back. Bohs refused to delay the kick off, so many fans missed the first 15 minutes at least, which of course is a great way of attracting neutrals to games. :rolleyes: By that time, Tony Grant had lobbed Bohs ahead. There were still people waiting to get in by the time Tony Sheridan equalised midway through the first half. 2 goals had been scored, and 1/3rd of the fans at the game had missed them. It remained 1-1 at half time. Doyle was sent off for Rovers on 55', for a challenge so wild, that even the Rovers fans didn't protest against the decision. Trevor Molloy put the visitors in front on 71', from an acute angle, aided by a goalkeeper suffering from a case of the butterfingers. Lee Roche ran for 40 yards to score the clincher for Rovers on 86', and notch up a rare win for us against Bohs, and bragging rights for the next 6 months. :)

Week 1 saw Bray beat Pats, and they repeated the trick again, after both sides were reduced to 10 men. Kieran O'Brien nicked it for Bray with 5 minutes to go, which sees Pats slip alarmingly, to 10th.

Derry went to Drogheda looking to do the treble over their opponents this season. However, Drogheda dominated and went in front with a brilliant goal from Gavin Whelan on 13 minutes. They looked like holding on to the lead, when Kevin Deery's shot equalised for the title chasers on 80' with the help of a deflection. Derry will view the result as two more dropped points, and have won just 1 of their last 4 games.

The "big" :rolleyes: tv game, saw Longford host Waterford, with the home side looking for revenge for losing their opening game of the season. That 8ft high fence is still at Flancare Park. In the end, Longford coasted home winning 3-0, aided by 2 goals in 2 minutes in the second half, and it's their biggest win at home this season, while Waterford face their crunch relegation six-pointer at home to Finn Harps next week, where the losers can effectively wave goodbye to their Premier Division status.

The last game of the weekend saw Shels play UCD, and Jason Byrne at last found some form, scoring a hat trick, even though UCD equalised twice in the process. Owen Heary clinched it for Shels with 10 minutes to go, but the result was academic for both sides.

A rare look at the Discovering Ireland Division, sees Sligo as clear leaders, while Home Farm are only just in front of Cobh, after Cobh's win there at the weekend. Limerick slipped to a 4-0 trashing at Dundalk's "pitch", a surface that should be ruled illegal, and was until recently. However, there are 5 or 6 clubs chasing a play-off place to join the elite bunch next season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 24/33:
CORK CITY 3-0 BRAY WDS.
DERRY CITY 3-1 LONGFORD TOWN
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-2 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 BOHEMIANS
UCD 2-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
WATERFORD UTD. 2-2 FINN HARPS

With 10 games to go, every point which was vital beforehand, becomes crucial now, and as teams chase precious points, more gaps appear in defence, which might explain why there were 18 goals scored this week.

Cork went into their game with Bray, minus their boss. Rico, was taken to hospital suffering from chest pains hours before the game. However, up against a Bray side, it was a walkover for the league leaders. 2 up at the break, and adding a third after the break, saw Cork claim their revenge over the visitors for nicking a point at Turners Cross on Week 2, and win 3-0.

With Cork winning, Derry had to do likewise at the other end of the country. They took an early lead on 15 minutes through McCourt, added another goal before the break, and yet another one after it, before Longford got a consolation late on. Trips to the Brandywell haven't been a happy hunting ground for Longford this season. Their record reads: Pld 3, L 3.

After winning at Bohs last week, there was no easing off for Rovers at home to Shels. Pat Fenlon was the sole person standing in the rain in the Connaught St. Stand, as he was serving a touchline ban. The game turned on two first-half incidents. Quigley missed a glorious chance for Rovers on 37', when he raced through on goal, only to fire wide. The miss was punished on 45', when sub Ndo waltzed his way through the Rovers defence to fire home. The game ended as a contest, when McDonagh had a rush of blood to the head, and pulled down Jason Byrne in the box, after clearing the ball away. :confused: Byrne scored the penalty, the thrid this season between these two, and Shels coasted to the line. But wins for Shels now, are merely hollow ones.

Bohs travelled to Pats again, before the reverse fixture had taken place :eek: Pats dominated, but lost 1-0 to a last minute Bohs winner. Pats are getting sucked in towards the drop zone.

Drama at Belfield, saw 3 goals in the first half between UCD, and Drogheda. The visitors equalised late on, but both sides won't be happy or disappointed with a point each.

Waterford took on Finn Harps, with both sides knowing they couldn't afford to lose. Waterford went top, after beating Harps in Week 2, but have lost the plot since. They haven't won since April, and Finn Harps have only won 3 points on the long road so far. they got a fourth, with a late equaliser at the RSC. The point makes the relgation battle no clearer, but Finn Harps play their favourite opposition next week, Rovers. :rolleyes: Watch the result with interest, Suir boys.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 25/33:
BOHEMIANS 2-3 DERRY CITY
BRAY WDS. 0-1 UCD
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
FINN HARPS 3-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE 5-0 WATERFORD UTD.

Week 25 saw another live tv game from Dublin, Waterford collapse, Rovers implode, Shels close the gap, 2 home/away wins, and 2 draws, with 16 goals scored.

Bohs against Derry was live on TG4 at Dalyer, and unlike most live tv games this season, we saw a fair amount of goals. Farren put Derry ahead on 25' with a deflected low shot from outside the box, followed by a Bohs equaliser from Ward 15 minutes later, accepting the rebound from Grant's shot that hit the crossbar. Ward put Bohs in front on 61', following a goalline scramble, but Derry equalised after a well-worked move soon afterwards. The visitors stole it on 83', when Farren nodded the ball home, unmarked from 6 yards. Derry complete the grand slam over Bohs this season, as Kenny rubs the Bohs' board noses in it. Derry went on to progress in the FAI Cup QF, and win the League Cup afterwards.

The "Dort Derby", wasn't a classic in April, when Bray beat their neighbours, but was in June, when UCD re-took the bragging rights. They did so again here, to win 1-0, but it was merely a dress rehearsal for their cup tie a week later, when Bray levelled the series for this season, winning 3-2. UCD also lost the League Cup to Derry, so they were brought crashing back down to the College again in no time.

Drogheda against Pats finished 1-1 in April, but with Pats unable to buy a win at the moment, the home side looked favourites to win this one. Didn't quite turn out that way though, as Robbie Doyle snatched an away goal for the visitors on 76'. However, Pats didn't learn their lesson from last week, and gifted Drogheda an equaliser in injury time again, with Shane Robinson firing home. Pats move into 9th on goal difference, but still have work to do to beat the drop.

And if they have work to do, Finn Harps have a trojan amount of it. With no wins from 11 league games, they better start doing it. Then all of a sudden Rovers surfaced in Donegal, and it brings out the best from Ballybofey. McHugh put Harps ahead with a penalty on 37', and with the rovers defence in a charitable mood, Harps knocked in two more in the second half through Bradley. That wasn't bad enough for us however, as O'Connor took out his frustration by getting sent off too. One thing we aren't short of this season, is collecting red cards. Finn Harps take 7 points off Rovers this season, but their honeymoon lasted a week, as normal service resumed, when Shels went up there, to reverse the scoreline. Harps have done enough though, to haul themselves off the bottom again.

Earlier in the season, Longford played Cork at the FlanSiro in the first game of the weekend. With Cork playing in Europe on Thursdays, this game became the last of this weekend, and saw Rico return to the game following his illness. It was a gentle return too, as Longford reverted to type. It finished 0-0 for the second time this season, which moves Cork back to the top, with a game in hand.

...And now to desperate, disasterous Waterford, who facing a resurgent Shels, went up to their game in Tolka on a wing and a prayer. The prayer lasted until the 15th minute when former player Gary O'Neill fired home. It would have been interesting to see what former boss Alan Reynolds made of their decision to throw in the towel, from there on in. Shels added 3 more before the interval through Jason Byrne, and one wonders how you motivate a side who are 4-0 down at the break at the champions, having not won for 5 months. :confused: Shels went easy on them after the break, after O'Neill pocketed another goal on 48'. It finished 5-0, as Waterford proceeded to win the red card contest only. Waterford were top of the table before their last trip to Tolka, but they have drifted all the way down to the bottom now. Pat Dolan has being added to the Waterford coaching set-up, in one last throw of the dice, but if that fails, the only local derby for their fans to look forward next season, won't be against Cork, but will be the one against Kilkenny City.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 26/33:
BRAY WDS. 0-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 UCD
DERRY CITY 2-1 SHELBOURNE
SH. ROVERS 4-2 LONGFORD TOWN
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 FINN HARPS
WATERFORD UTD. 2-0 BOHEMIANS

Week 26 saw no live tv games, a touchline ban broken, Pat Dolan back on the scene, Waterford wake up, together with 4 home wins, 1 away win, 1 draw, and 14 goals scored.

Bray were drawn to play Drogheda in the FAI Cup semi-final, and this league game was the dress rehearsal. Drogheda took all 3 points with a 2-0 away win, the only one of the weekend, through Webb on 5 minutes, and an own goal midway through the second half. Drogheda complete the double over Bray this season, while the Seagulls concentrate on the cup tie.

Cork finally went out of Europe to Slavia Prague, and their game with UCD was their last to be rescheduled due to European commitments. Cork ran riot at Belfield in July, and were in the mood to knock in some more after O'Flynn's tap-in on 10 minutes. Cork dominated the game but couldn't breach the UCD rearguard again, and the visitors came close on 2 occasions near the end to snatching another point at the South Pole. It wasn't to be however, as Cork edged home, to remain top.

Which meant that Derry had to keep up, by doing likewise against Shels. They started well, scoring after 2 minutes, with Farren firing home. Shels may have had nothing to play for, but they made a game of it, and equalised after 56 minutes through Crowe's header. Together with Cork, Derry is the worst place to try to hang on for a point, and the visitors failed to do it, as Derry struck in injury time once again. O'Flynn scored after 91' to win it for Derry. Fenlon, still serving his touchline ban, broke it, and faces further punishment from the beaks in Merrion Square.

Heading down the 4-hour journey to Dublin next, to Dalymount, with Rovers looking to avoid a treble defeat to Longford. Dave Mooney returned to Dalymount, received a "reception" from the Rovers fans, and repaid it by scoring twice for the visitors. Having done that, and with the Longford fans still stuck in silent mode, the atmosphere was poor. Molloy put Rovers ahead on 24', which lasted all of 3 minutes until Mooney's equaliser into the empty Schoolboy End. 3 minutes into the second half, he slotted another loose ball under Murphy. Rovers responded by equalising through McDonagh on 71', and going ahead through Roche 3 minutes later. For once, going for goal in injury time instead of the corner flag, was rewarded, when Quigley rolled the ball into a vacant visitors net in injury time, to secure the points for Rovers. There were 11 goals in the Rovers-Longford games this season, TV3 didn't think the rest of the country should see them, as they had no cameras at any of the 3 games. :(

They did decide to send a camera to Inchicore to cover Pats-Finn Harps though. There wasn't much to film though, as it finished 0-0. Harps claim their 5th away point of the season, and their 5th from their last 4 games. Despite that, they're back at the bottom.

...Following Waterford's win at home to Bohs. Sullivan's goal on 34' will be one of the most talked about of the season, even more so, when TV3 failed to show what happened. Sullivan scored, as Bohs protested against it, claiming offside, and Gary Howlett was sent off for his protests. Crowley added a second in first-half injury time, and Bohs threw in the towel. Dolan's first match of the season, sees Waterford's first win for 6 months, them off the bottom, and Dolan finds himself involved in a relegation-scrap with, of all teams, Pats!! :eek: Now, that would be interesting.

Following recent format changes to the website, we cannot edit our posts after 1 day. So, the backmatch result has to go here instead:

WEEK 13/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.

The game finished in a result that does neither side any favours. A tale of 2 penalties after the break, saw Pats score through Foley on 51', with the Bohs equaliser coming through Grant's penalty 15 minutes later, after O'Connor was sent off for the visitors. Pats' next away game is at Waterford, while Bohs don't have to break a leg for the rest of the season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 27/33:
BOHEMIANS - CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
FINN HARPS 0-1 DERRY CITY
LONGFORD TOWN 1-1 BRAY WDS.
SHELBOURNE 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
UCD - WATERFORD UTD.

Week 27 saw fans desert the league in droves to support the national side in Cyprus, two games postponed for international call ups, with initially just 4 goals scored, from 2 draws, with 1 home, and 1 away win.

Drogheda played Rovers with the visitors scrapping for more points to avoid the drop. It was no classic, as the home side dominated, with Rovers content to defend for a point. Near the end, two Trevor Molloy free-kicks within shooting range, were tapped straight into the defensive wall, showing the extent of Rovers ambition. :( It finished 0-0 as Drogheda fail to beat us at home for the first time in 2 years. :)

The Northern Derby was played on it's original date, and fireworks flew on and off the pitch. Hutton missed 2 early penalties for the visitors, and had Molloy sent off in the first half too. A tight, tense second period was decided by another late winner from Derry with Cillian Brennan running through to slot the ball home after 87', to send their fans wild. Harps endure another post-Rovers defeat, and stay bottom.

Ireland played in Cyprus at the weekend, so Longford and Bray decided to put back their game to the Sunday instead. it finished 1-1 with both goals scored in the first half. A Dave Mooney goal from the spot in first-half injury time cancelling out a goal from Tarzan O' Brien after 8'.

Shelbourne played Pats at Tolka, a tie that was full of needle 4 years ago, following the Pats registration row in the background. Pats have troubles of a different kind now however, and a Gary O' Neill winner with 15' to go, does them no favours, as they slip to 10th, after their 4th defeat in 4 games to Shels this season. Shels can play without pressure for the rest of the season, while Pats could easily end up relegated, with the sides below them both having games in hand to play. A biting cold wind blows over Richmond these days.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 28/33:
BOHEMIANS 3-1 FINN HARPS
BRAY WDS. 1-0 WATERFORD UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
DERRY CITY 2-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
LONGFORD TOWN 0-2 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 UCD

Week 28 saw a full set of games, and all the NL's Cypriot legion back at home. The matches at the Poles saw home wins, with 2 others too, 1 away win, and 1 draw completed the list. 6 of this week's 10 goals came in the second half.

2 of the other ones came at Dalymount, as Bohs strolled to a facile win over Finn Harps. 2 goals in 2 minutes halfway through the half from Farrelly, and O' Keeffe, put Bohs in command, and even though McHugh got one back for the visitors on 66', Ward wrapped up the home win on 75'. O' Brien, on as a late sub, got two yellows soon afterwards, and was dismissed. It finished 3-1, as both sides consolidate their positions.

Fresh from their novelty win against Bohs, Waterford visited Bray. In April, the game was delayed as the lights failed, but the only thing Waterford failed to do this time, was take their chances. They were punished on 70', when Fox fired home to win it for Bray.

Down to Cork next, as the home side looked for payback on the only side to defeat them at home this season, Drogheda, in the rain. Cork dominated as usual, but weren't really going anywhere until 70', when Connor's clearance was charged down by O'Flynn, and the ball rolled into the empty net, the kind of luck that championship contenders tend to get from out of nowhere. Gartland was sent off again for the visitors for 2 bookables in injury time, but Cork continue doing what they need to do to win the title.

At the other extreme of the country, Derry took on Rovers at home for the third time this season, and didn't take too long to run rings round the visitors. Our efforts to give Cork a hand lasted onto the 50th minute, when Shelley turned the ball into his own net from the onrushing McGlynn, cue silence in Cork. The home side added a second on 77', following a push in the box. Doyle walked when the referee didn't like his protests, as Farren slotted home the penalty. Derry keep up the chase, but Cork still hold the advantage at the top. It was the last day out of Dublin for Rovers this season, having collected 8 points on our travels, albeit with 3 deducted. However, it's still an improvement on the 2 points collected from the trips away from Dublin last season.

Two of the Setanta Cup representatives met at Flancare, as Longford hosted Shels again, but with the 33-game fixture list this season, meaning that Longford's run-in is not so overcrowded this year, their players must be preparing for their holidays early. Shels won easily 2-0, with 2 first half goals from Byrne on 6', and wrapped it up with O'Neill's clincher after 24'.

Nervy Pats hosted listless UCD, another side just playing out the season, with nothing to play for. With away trips to Cork, Waterford, and Derry still to come, Pats needed to get 3 points here, but good goalkeeping, and poor finishing, cost them 2 of the 3 they needed as it finished 0-0. Toal has already left Pats, and it looks like McDonnell will follow him out the door at Christmas, regardless of whether they sink or swim.

WEEK 27/33:
UCD 2-3 WATERFORD UTD.

This game will always be remembered for another juvenile FAI administrative blunder, as the referees were not appointed for this re-arranged game, until the game was due to kick off!! :eek: You would be forgiven for thinking that UCD hadn't turned up also, as they allowed the visitors a 2 goal start from Heffernan, and Waters in the first 15 minutes. Instead of pushing on from there, Waterford retreated in the second half, and UCD hit them twice halfway through the second period when McWalter scored again, assisted by Murphy to equalise. Waterford woke up, and needing the 3 points, pushed for the winner. It came in injury time when Purcell rose to head home a corner after 92 minutes, to give Waterford a second win from 3 games under Dolan's stewardship.

WEEK 23/33:
FINN HARPS 1-2 CORK CITY

Level with Derry at the top of the league, and with effectively 3 games in hand on their title rivals, Cork can virtually wrap up the league if they win all 3matches. For the third time this season, they headed to Donegal Airport and from there, on to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps in their first game. Bennett put them ahead after a minute. Cork couldn't press home their superiority however, and Harps equalised early in the second half through that man McHugh again, before Cork stole it through Murray on 67'. It puts them back on top level with Derry, before their back-to-back trips to Dalymount to face Bohs, and Rovers. Win them, and the league's practically theirs.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 29/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. - BOHEMIANS
FINN HARPS 5-0 LONGFORD TOWN
SHAMROCK ROVERS - CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE - BRAY WANDERERS
UCD - DERRY CITY
WATERFORD UTD. 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.

Just when everyone was falling in line with each other in the table, Cup semi-final weekend interfered, which wiped out most of Week 29's scheduled fixtures. :( With all the top clubs' games affected, there was only movement at the bottom end of the table this week, at either end of the country. For what it's worth, there was a home win, and a draw from the games that were played on time, leading to 7 goals scored.

Officially, 8 clubs had no league game this weekend, but there was a 9th too, as Longford went AWOL at Ballybofey. You normally don't associate the words, Finn Harps and Ran Riot, in the same sentence, but that's what happened in the first half here. Kevin McHugh bagged two before the break, aided by one each from Conor Gethins and Chris Breen, as generous defending saw Harps find the net 4 times in 20 minutes. With the game gone, Longford tightened up at the back in the second period, only conceding one more to Breen with 10 minutes remaining. Harps claim 4 points from the "Saturday" derby games this season, and move past the 20-point barrier with 4 games to go. But you have to ask, did this game really finish 0-0 in April?? :confused:

The other game was down in the South-East as Waterford met Pats in yet another relegation six-pointer. With both sides needing to avoid defeat, both of them slugged it out. Waterford looked set to repeat their last win for 5 months in April, when Vinny Sullivan lashed the home side ahead following a corner after 18 minutes. With Pats staring at the play-off door, they found an equaliser with 6 minutes left, an identical finish from Robbie Doyle. Pats will be happy to take the point, whilst recognising that the clubs directly below them have games in hand. Although it should never have happened at all, as the whole league programme should have been postponed, like on previous cup weekends. It's absolutely daft, that clubs have games in hand over others at this stage of the season. The only solution?? Play cup games in midweek, and save league games for the weekend, like in most countries. :rolleyes:

Dipping into the Discovering Ireland division, sees Sligo, and Cobh battle it out for promotion, and the play-off spot. Both sides can fight it out amongst themselves, after Home Farm were knocked out of the promotion race after losing at Galway. Thank Christ that they won't be able to pollute the top division again next year. :) Sligo and Cobh meet next week in Sligo, which is a must-win game for the visitors, but there will be at least one new trip for Derry, Bohs, and Shels, and the rest who survive the drop upstairs, next season. :)

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 30/33:
CORK CITY 0-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
DERRY CITY 0-1 WATERFORD UTD.
LONGFORD TOWN 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
SHAMROCK ROVS. 0-1 BRAY WDS.
SHELBOURNE 1-0 FINN HARPS
UCD 1-3 BOHEMIANS

TV3 used the opportunity of Champions League football, after a Bank Holiday weekend to make sure that NL fans had to wait an extra 2 days to see the weekend's games. Meanwhile, if you were away on a long trip on Week 30, chances are your side won, with 5 away wins from the weekend, with Finn Harps being the odd ones out. Only 9 goals were scored during the weekend. Cork and Derry did their best to throw the league away this week, but neither side could take advantage of the other's misfortune.

A new beach has been found in Cork, at Turner's Cross. It's a bog in more ways than one. Pats were expected to be lambs to the slaughter, but having lost 2 players to red cards, came up with the goods with a Maguire header unmarked at the near post, just past the hour. The goal was celebrated up north...

...Where Derry were expected to take advantage of Cork's slip-up by disposing of Waterford's brave resistance. And brave it was indeed. All the visitors needed was one shot on goal to win, through Sullivan after 15 minutes. Either side of that, it was a game played in the Waterford half. But Derry suffered another strain of the "beat Rovers" virus, by losing their second straight game since. Waterford thought they were taking a giant leap out of the drop zone, by winning, but Pats' result down South would have sobered them up soon afterwards.

The mid-table clash of Longford and Drogheda didn't promise too much, with both clubs' season over. Drogheda won through Barry Ferguson's own goal on the half hour, continuing Longford's run of defeats.

And back to Dublin for the rest of the week's games. Starting at Dalyer where Roddy Collins served his latest touchline ban for Rovers against Bray. An ugly game was won by a scrappy goal from Caffrey after 50'. Rovers huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the Bray house down, are in a rut of 4 points from 6 games, and are well and truly back in the drop zone now, making next week's West Dublin derby at Richmond a relegation nail-biter.

Shels broke the mould at the weekend, winning 1-0 at home to Finn Harps with a goal from Jason Byrne after 3 minutes. Finn Harps are 5 points from a play-off, but have 3 relatively handy games left to beat the drop, 2 of them at home.

The first of them against UCD, who seem to think the season's already finished. They meekly surrendered once again this time to Bohs, with the visitors running out facile 3-1 winners.

WEEK 27/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-2 CORK CITY

On October Bank Holiday Monday, Cork played one of their games in hand, by making the trip to Dalymount. An early ko allowed a big travelling support. Ward silenced them early on, by putting Bohs in front after 3'. Cork equalised on the half hour, after an inaccurate back pass from Oman found the net off the post. It looked as though it would finish in a draw, before Cork got their latest late winner, as Murray poked the ball over the line following a corner with 5 minutes to go. Cork take advantage of their game in hand over Derry.

WEEK 29/33:
SHELBOURNE 5-0 BRAY WDS.
UCD 0-2 DERRY CITY

The LOI version of Bird Flu, is "Rovers Flu". This virulent virus strikes to (many) sides who then embark on a losing streak after beating Rovers. The latest side to suffer the strains were Bray, who fell apart at Tolka. Shels knocked in 5, with Jason Byrne claiming a hat-trick, helped by Rogers, and later still by Crowe. Despite the result, both team's season's are over.

Derry went on their latest trip to Dublin to UCD, aware of Cork's result earlier that afternoon, and couldn't slip-up. They didn't, as goals from O' Flynn on 13', and Molloy in second half injury time kept up the pressure on Cork. Meanwhile, the queue to stumble over the relegation line at the bottom, is joined by UCD and Rovers, neither of whom can buy a win at the minute. One of the 5 will go down, one other may survive, but slip-ups now from any of the sides involved, could well prove disasterous. Who will win, who will lose, will be found in the Premier Review.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 31/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-0 LONGFORD TOWN
BRAY WDS. 0-3 DERRY CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-2 SHELBOURNE
FINN HARPS 1-2 UCD
ST. PATS. ATH. 3-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS
WATERFORD UTD. 2-2 CORK CITY

After Week 31, Derry went to the top, as Cork slipped up, Pats, and UCD secured their premier status, Longford continued their preparations for their long-awaited holidays by losing yet again, and Shels were mathematically eliminated from the title race. However, there were no signs of tension in the various battles around the country, as 17 goals were scored, including 4 at the Munster derby in the only draw of the weekend, which also featured 2 home wins, and 3 away wins.

At Dalymount, Bohs were still chasing 4th against a Longford side, who turn up physically, if not mentally these days. Bohs won 1-0, and stay 5th. Longford stay 6th.

Bray began their latest sequence of home games against Derry, and hoped to repeat their draw at the greyhound track in August, at least. Derry answered in the way title contenders do, by sauntering home 3-0, to complete their second win at the seaside this season. After beating Rovers, Bray's record reads, Pld 2, W0, L2, F0, A8, Pts0. Must have 0 to play for!

Drogheda hosted Shels, in the 3rd/4th place play-off. Shels scored early and late to win 2-0, and claim the only win between the sides this season. However, despite their recent run of good form, other results this week, officially ended their interest in the championship this year.

The first back-to-back relegation six-pointers took place at Ballybofey, where a home win over Jekyll & Hyde, would throw the automatic relegation spot wide open. McHugh put Harps in front after 2 minutes. UCD equalised on 10', when O'Donnell headed home. The game went into a lull after that, but UCD won it near the end, when Martin's winner from the spot, practically condemned Harps to relegation. Having won just 3 times since beating UCD in May, it's not a surprise. UCD beat the drop this season.

The other relegation six-pointer was the West Dublin derby at Richmond, where Pats and Rovers slugged it out. These games are rarely classics, and with the sides drawing twice between each other already this season, this one hardly promised to be any different. Rovers dominated the first half, but Pats went in front in first half injury time from a free-kick. Then the turning point. On the hour, O'Connor ran at the Pats defence, only for Maguire to deliberately handle the ball outside the box. Kenny of Rovers was booked for dissent, after ref. Kelly broke his own rules, by not sending Maguire off for the offence. :mad: Instead of being down to 10, Pats went on to double their lead soon afterwards. The ball was then camped in the Rovers half for the next 20 minutes, until Rutherford scored Rovers first goal since September with 2 minutes left. 2 minutes later, McDonnell shoved his opponent in the box off the ball, and Pats got their penalty to make it 3-1, as McDonnell walked. If we thought the ref. was bad, he wasn't a patch on the next egotist, of which more anon. Like UCD, Pats beat the drop too.

The Munster derby, saw a full house between Waterford and Cork at the running track. Cork did some running too, chasing the ref. inside a minute, following a very harsh penalty award for Waterford, which was duly converted. Cork equalised early in the second half, only to fall behind again. They did equalise again later on, but against 10 men, when Waterford had a player sent off, Cork will have been looking for more than another draw against their neighbours. Waterford are the only side to be unbeaten against Cork this year, but they still have plenty of work to do, to ensure another local derby against their rivals next season. All that meant Derry went to the top of the table.

WEEK 29/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. 3-2 BOHEMIANS
SH.ROVERS 0-2 CORK CITY

Bohs travelled up to Drogheda with both sides still chasing 4th spot. Drogheda took the lead through Lynch after 40' with a penalty. Bohs threw the kitchen sink at the home side at the beginning of the second half, equalising through Kelly on 54', and going ahead 2 minutes later when O'Keeffe scored. Drogheda replied 4 minutes later, from Whelan. Bohs won 3-2 against Drogheda in injury time at Dalyer in July, but this time the roles were reversed, when Whelan scored the winner for Drogheda in injury time, to claim their second win over Bohs this season. Drogheda head for 4th, while Bohs head for a cold winter.

"Summer football" in November can only mean wind and rain, and that was what we got at Dalymount where Rovers met Cork. With the 70kph winds, the ref's red card must have been threatening to blow out of his back pocket, as he loved fiddling with it so much! As for the game, it was a contest, until O'Donovan stole a yard on the Rovers defence to poke home after 40', a game which Rovers had completely dominated until that point. Junior football defending from Foley, who headed the ball straight to the opposition, enabled Gamble to score against us again this season on 53'. The game later descended into farce, after two Rovers players were dismissed for non-bookable offences. Cork win 2-0, and regain top spot, while Rovers head for Friday's game against Waterford. The consequences of defeat don't bear thinking about.

[bigmac]

Kenny of Rovers was booked for dissent, after ref. Kelly broke his own rules, by not sending Maguire off for the offence. Instead of being down to 10, Pats went on to double their lead soon afterwards. The ball was then camped in the Rovers half for the next 20 minutes, until Rutherford scored Rovers first goal since September with 2 minutes left. 2 minutes later, McDonnell shoved his opponent in the box off the ball, and Pats got their penalty to make it 3-1, as McDonnell walked. If we thought the ref. was bad, he wasn't a patch on the next egotist, of which more anon.

love these balanced and neutral weekly reviews!
:D

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 32/33:
BRAY WDS. 3-1 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY 2-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. 2-0 FINN HARPS
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 UCD
SH. ROVERS 1-2 WATERFORD UTD.
SHELBOURNE 0-0 CORK CITY

With all outstanding games played with 2 weeks to go, the last 12 games of the 2005 season will provide ecstacy for some, and despair for others. Week 32 saw the title race take another twist, and the relegation issues settled. There was the unprecedented scenario of 2 live league games on tv. Derry and Pats was shown on the state broadcaster, meanwhile on satellite, Shels and Cork played out the only draw of the weekend. There were 4 home wins, with Waterford the only side to take home 3 points from their away fixture at Ragball Rovers. 12 goals were scored.

Bohs lost in Drogheda earlier in the week, and collapsed at Bray. Bray went 2 up inside 20 minutes. Despite Bohs pulling one back at the start of the second half, Bray sealed the 3-1 win late on. The defeat brings Bohs' season to a competitive end, their fans will be disappointed, but couldn't realistically expect more from a club deep in debt, who let many players leave last winter, without adequately replacing them. Bray's "Rovers flu" bug has cleared up. Beating Bohs in the process, is always a good cure. :)

TV demands moved the Derry-Pats game to a Saturday evening. Regardless of when the game would be played, Derry would be certain winners. 2 goals in the first 35 minutes allowed the home side to stroll past disinterested Pats 2-0. Pats' unbeaten run comes to an end, while Derry head off down to Cork next week to scrap for the title, with the advantage of knowing a draw will do.

And next to Chapter 32 of Finn Harps' woes. Their last trip this season was to Drogheda, knowing anything bar a win would send them down. Cup finalists Drogheda gave their home fans a good send-off, with goals in each half to run out comfortable 2-0 winners. Finn Harps go down to the Discovering Ireland division, on the back of 1 away win, and 5 away points this year, clearly not enough to stay up. Their final game next week with Bray is now a wake.

The last game of the weekend saw the meaningless match at Longford between 2 of the leagues worst-performing sides lately, Longford, and UCD. It didn't promise to be a classic, and the match lived up to it's billing. For the record, Longford won 1-0, but in the grand scheme of things, it barely matters.

Which is not what could be said for the week's remaining games. At Dalymount, Rovers hosted Waterford. Neither side could afford to lose, especially Rovers, and armed with that knowledge, the home side tore into the visitors early on. The pressure was rewarded after 15 minutes following a corner. Then amnesia set-in, and having made Waterford look like a Munster Senior League side in the opening exchanges, Rovers allowed the visitors back into the game, which led to the inevitable equaliser on the hour, following shocking home defending, and Waterford's players deliberately handling the ball twice during the move. :eek: Waterford players deliberately handled the ball no less than 8 times during the game, but they must have had special licence to do so, as their actions were not punished once, not even by a free-kick. By now, Rovers had completely lost the plot, and 5 minutes after the equaliser, the visitors took the lead following an own goal. Finally, Rovers came back into it, but despite having the ball for half an hour, couldn't create a chance, never mind a goal. The final whistle went, and Waterford, a side who hadn't won for 5 months earlier this season, and who looked beyond all hope following their 5-0 drubbing by Shels a few weeks ago, secured their Premier Division status for next year. In so doing, they condemned Rovers to the relegation/promotion play-off, and amidst acrimony, and civil war between players, board, coaching staff, and fans, the Rovers season continues.

Shels hosted Cork on tv, in a snoozefest. There were precious few opportunities during the 90 minutes, the best falling to Cork with 10 minutes to go. The point for Cork from a 0-0 draw, knocks them off the top of the league, and hands Derry the advantage, as they return to Cork next week, to play the Championship cup final. Not since Cork v Dundalk in April 1991, has the title been decided this way. The classic case of
winner-takes-all.

[NY Hoop]

love these balanced and neutral weekly reviews!
:D

Dont see the point of it tbh. BTW the Rovers Pats game is the "West Dublin" derby:D

KOH

[mypost]

BTW the Rovers Pats game is the "West Dublin" derby

Well, as Pats are based in Inchicore, and we are/will be (primarily) based in Tallaght, it is the West Dublin derby, as the majority of both clubs' support come from, in and around the two suburbs. Indeed, it was often the case in the past, when we didn't share a ground with another club, that the fixture list would be designed to ensure that Rovers and Pats couldn't both play at home/away on the same weekend during the season.


Dont see the point of it tbh.
The point is to keep a concise record and analysis of each game played in the league in 2005. That should be common knowledge by now. :rolleyes:

[NY Hoop]

Well, as Pats are based in Inchicore, and we are/will be (primarily) based in Tallaght, it is the West Dublin derby, as the majority of both clubs' support come from, in and around the two suburbs. Indeed, it was often the case in the past, when we didn't share a ground with another club, that the fixture list would be designed to ensure that Rovers and Pats couldn't both play at home/away on the same weekend during the season.

Rovers is and always be a southside club. Hopefully next season we'll be back on the southside.

The point is to keep a concise record and analysis of each game played in the league in 2005. That should be common knowledge by now. :rolleyes:

Common knowledge?:D


KOH

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 33/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-3 SHELBOURNE
CORK CITY 2-0 DERRY CITY
FINN HARPS 2-4 BRAY WDS.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-3 LONGFORD TOWN
UCD 2-2 SHAMROCK ROVERS
WATERFORD UTD. 1-0 DROGHEDA UTD.

And after 8 months, we finally reach Week 33 of the Premier Division 2005, the final day of the championship. With all outstanding issues below them resolved, Cork and Derry took top billing of the weekend to settle the title, in front of RTE. Away from all of that, there were other games played too, with 20 goals entertaining the masses up and down the country as all games kicked off simultaneously. There were 2 home wins, 1 draw, and 3 away wins, which would have been 4, only for a late equaliser at UCD.

When you mention championship clinching crunches, Bohs-Shels games normally roll off the tongue. Not this year, as both sides have underperformed, and allowed their rivals to catch up, and overtake them. Bohs may have been toothless on the field, but their fans made up for their lack of bite off it. Shels won 3-0 with goals from Jason Byrne and Crowe, amidst a hail of missiles fired from the Jodi Stand. Shels finish the season strongly, but their miserable run through early summer, means that they must settle for a UEFA Cup spot next season, a failure in their eyes.

Cork and Derry hosted their Championship shoot-out at Turners Cross, in front of that rarity in Irish club football, a sell-out crowd!! :) Derry only required a draw to win the league for the first time since 1997. However Cork began the game in 5th gear, opening the scoring inside 20 minutes from O' Flynn. The emphasis changed, and the questions were now been asked by Derry. It remained 1-0, at the break, and the next goal would prove decisive. Cork got it on the hour, Kearney finishing off a well-worked move. Needing to score twice to win the title, Derry took control, and had chances to pull it back, but couldn't take them. Derry's third defeat from 3 visits to the South Pole this season, allows Cork to claim their second championship with a 2-0 win. For Cork, the title equates to a €100,000 payday, a chance to win the double at the FAI Cup final, and a Champions League spot next July. Meanwhile, apart from a UEFA Cup spot, all Derry and their fans had to look forward to, was the long bus/plane journey home.

As they approached Derry, they could wave their neighbours Finn Harps goodbye to the First Division. It was a noisy wake at Ballybofey, but the song remained the same. Harps lost again, as Bray rounded off their season with a 4-2 win, and will be pleased to finish 7th. Finn Harps go down once again. As one of those sides who are always there or thereabouts in the lower league, no doubt they'll be back up with the big boys soon enough.

2 strugglers this season met at Richmond, where Pats played Longford. Having secured their Premier Division status against you-know-who, they packed it in early. Longford did likewise, only about 6 weeks beforehand. Longford took the lead on the stroke of half time, and waltzed into a 3-goal lead, before Pats woke up, and grabbed a consolation. Longford's players, and officials can now have their long-awaited siesta, while Pats slip from 8th last year, to 10th by default this season. In their wisdom, the Pats board rewarded John Mc Donnell with a new contract, so already it looks like they will be fighting against the drop again next season.

In contrast to the wall of atmosphere in Cork, the atmosphere at the Belfield fridge was mind-numbing instead. With nothing at stake and Rovers' boss found in Cork of all places :eek: , 700 fans showed up, and saw Rovers go ahead through O'Connor on 13', followed by another from O'Connor on 22'. Just as we were feasting on the rare luxury of a 2 goal lead, normal service resumed, when Rovers' 'keeper Murphy fell over attempting to catch a cross, as McWalter scored from the resulting looping header. After that, UCD dominated, and after wethering the College storm in the second half, out of nothing Finn went through to equalise for the Students with 5 minutes remaining. It was another lead thrown in the bin by Rovers, but the 2-2 result, stopped the rot of 5 straight defeats. While UCD complete the campaign in 9th, Rovers finish the regular season in the dreaded 11th spot, and go into the play-off by default, with Home Farm over two legs. It can only get better from here, can't it???

Last season, Waterford played at home to Drogheda in Week 1. This year, Drogheda were the last team to visit the RSC running track. Waterford already completed the Great Escape last week, and the game was a predictably drab affair. Despite missing a first-half penalty, Waterford won it late on. They finish 8th in the end, Drogheda finish 4th, but still remain an enigma.

Downstairs, Sligo Rovers won the First Division title, Home Farm won the right to face Rovers in the play-offs, Athlone finished bottom.

:ball: After 198 league games in the 2005 Premier Division over 33 weeks, and 8 months, the final league table looks like this:

/ / / / / / / /P W D L Pts

Cork 33 22 8 3 74 C
Derry 33 22 6 5 72
Shels 33 20 7 6 67
Drogs33 12 12 9 48 UEFA/SETANTA
LTwn33 12 9 12 45
Bohs 33 13 6 14 45
Bray 33 11 6 16 39
Wford33 9 7 17 34
UCD 33 7 12 14 33
Pats 33 7 11 15 32
Us / / 33 9 8 16 27 P.O
Harps33 5 6 22 21 R


While the regular season has been completed, we're still not finished, as there remains the relegation/promotion play-off to be decided.
Shamrock Rovers and Home Farm hug the limelight, and the spotlight next week, in the mother and father of all nail-biters.

[mypost]

League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Play-Off 2005:

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-2 HOME FARM
HOME FARM 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS

(Rovers lose 2-3 on aggregate) :(

There was a Dublin Derby for the last 2 games of the 2005 league season, as the teams who finished in the bottom 2 positions in 2004, contested this year's relegation/promotion play-off.

The first game was our last home game in Dalymount Park, whatever the result. Much of the first half was scrappy, and evenly-matched. Home Farm took the lead in the last minute of the first half when Heffernan blasted home from 25 yards. Rovers woke up in the second half, and peppered the visitors goal, with one effort hitting the bar from an acute angle. During this period, Rovers keeper, Ryan, unable to take goal kicks all evening was carried off with an ankle injury. It was to prove a critical moment in the tie. Before that however, Molloy was tripped in the box on the hour, resulting in a penalty, from which Molloy sent the keeper the wrong way to equalise. The game then went from end-to-end, with Home Farm dictating the play, and Rovers relying on counter-attacks. The game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw, when McGill, picked the ball up and ran at the sleepy Rovers midfield. His weak shot was neither cleared, nor saved, and it trickled into the bottom left corner, to hand Home Farm the advantage, which they held until the end of the game to take a 2-1 lead going into the return game at Tolka Park 3 nights later. We say goodbye to Dalymount Park, on the back of 3 wins, and 12 home defeats.

The actual support of Home Farm at Tolka for the second leg, was crammed into the right-hand corner of the main shed, while all the Dublin neutrals outnumbered them on the other side of the shed, 3:1. The second leg was live on satellite tv, but a game with a minimal risk of crowd trouble, still saw all fans searched at the gates. :confused: Buoyed up by a win bonus on offer and a fanatical away support, Rovers tore into Home Farm from the off. Chance after chance went begging for the visitors, and the home side were happy to go in level at half time. The status quo continued at the start of the second half, when wouldn't you know it, Home Farm scored from their very first shot of the game. Poor defending, saw the ball eventually fall to Collins, to fire home unmarked from 10 yards on 57'. Rovers, staring relegation in the face, had to score 2 now. Within 2 minutes, Rutherford crossed, Sheridan missed his kick completely, but luckily, Treacy poked the loose ball over the line, in off the post. Game on! Rovers still needed just one more goal to, temporarily at least, stay in the league.

The minutes ticked by. The nails were bitten, the chances were harder to come by, as Home Farm retreated to a 10-0-0 formation. The green wave was merely crashing against the blue wall. The players tired. 12 Premier Division chairmen bit their nails, praying for another Rovers goal, and later a Rovers win, to stave off the financial loss that a home game or two against Home Farm would mean next season. Rovers are by now not picking the lock anymore, but trying to boot the Home Farm door off it's hinges, with Hail Mary's being sent in the general direction of the Home Farm box, without much success, it must be said.

The game progressed to minute 89'. There must be one more chance to stay up. Finally it arrives, Derek Treacy, in his 16th season at Rovers, is free 12 yards out. His header looks like it's on it's way to the bottom corner, but somehow, it goes the other side of the post. The away fans contiue to sing, 4 minutes of time are added on. It's now or never.

It's never. Such was the amount of home support, that the final whistle is blown in near-silence. The 1-1 scoreline, means that Home Farm go up, while Rovers are relegated in a play-off, on a points deduction. Our fight for survival this season has failed. :( The league will be poorer for our abscence next season, as a league without Shamrock Rovers competing in it, is a league without credibility.

Later on, Drogheda won the Cup, beating Cork 2-0 in the final. But, it's time to fast-forward to March 10th 2006, when the new season begins.

[sfc red]

What a very, very biased report. Another Rovers fan trying to steal DCFC's thunder

[mypost]

2006 Premier Division Results:

WEEK 1/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
BRAY WDS. 2-2 SHELBOURNE
CORK CITY 1-0 HOME FARM
DERRY CITY 2-0 UCD
LONGFORD TOWN - SLIGO ROVERS
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 WATERFORD UTD.

After a break of 15 weeks since the last domestic league match was played, March 10th arrived to mark the beginning of a tainted 2006 league season. As last year, the 3-round match format remains unchanged, and many of last season's fixtures were simply reversed by the FAI. The most obvious example been that of the final 4 fixtures of each round, i.e. the exact opposite of the corresponding matches from last year. :( FAI-logic!!

Week 1 had the usual NL thrills and spills, i.e. a waterlogged pitch in summer football :confused:, a 0-0 bore draw, and the utterly predictable home wins for Cork and Derry. Even more predictably, theirs were the only home wins of the weekend, with 2 draws, and a single away win completing the sequence of 5 games played on time.

There was a big club playing in Dalymount this weekend, fresh from last season's cup success, and who are title pretenders. The other club of course were Bohs, where mediocrity appears to be the current watch word in Phisborough. Even more so after Paul Keegan's winner early in the second half for Drogheda, leaving Bohs to face 3 away games in the next 4, two of which are at visitor-friendly Cork and Derry, the other one being a cosy trip to fired-up Sligo. Still, they'll clock up the miles anyway.

Shels headed for the seaside knowing that the best way to challenge Cork and Derry was to hit the ground running from the off. Falling behind early on in the first match wasn't part of the plan, Eamonn Zayed netting on 12'. Despite replying 7 minutes later through Jason Byrne, Bray were back in front before the break, through the first own goal of the new season from Shels' keeper Delaney in injury time. Ref McKeown was in no mood for first-night charity, awarding the first red card of the year to Wes Charles, and allowing Byrne to equalise from the spot, and earn Shels a point as it finished 2-2. So just as last year, Shels claim 1 point from the first match of the season. Will they finish third again?

Home Farm stole Rovers place in this year's league, and to rub it in, they took our fixture list for this season too. Instead of a big crowd at the Cross turning up to the first glamour match of the season, Home Farm attracted less than 4k punters to the South Pole, where they also began their previous season in the Premier Division 2 years ago. Then as now, Cork won, and won early, O' Callaghan's penalty after 3 minutes being the first goal of the season. Cork begin their quest to retain the title, while Home Farm start out on the long road to certain relegation. It's just
37 weeks away.

Derry had an equally attractive home game against the hordes of UCD drums, and drowned them out with 2 goals either side of the break, in the first half from Ciarán Martyn to haunt UCD again, followed by the second from Stephen O'Flynn with 15 minutes to go. The routine home win for Derry puts them top of the league, where they can claim another three points at Home Farm next week. UCD are for now of course, bottom.

After so long, the Shed at Inchicore is coming tumbling down. The other goal and terraces at Richmond are also fenced off, so only the main stand is now open. That's ok for the visit of Waterford, but may be more of a problem against the bigger clubs. Pats, set for another season of struggle, couldn't beat Waterford, Trevor Molloy missing the night's third penalty being one of the few highlights. Both sides can count themselves lucky that Home Farm will keep 12th spot warm for them this season, they would be in danger of the drop otherwise.

[sfc red]

If you're gonna try report objectively, then how about calling the teams by their proper names?

[pól-dcfc]

Didn't know John O'Flynn had signed for Derry...

[mypost]

Didn't know John O'Flynn had signed for Derry...


...followed by the second from Stephen O'Flynn with 15 minutes to go...

That's because he didn't :rolleyes:

[De Town]

That's because he didn't :rolleyes:
Yes and no one noticed you edited 2 minutes after pól posted:rolleyes:

[pineapple stu]

Is this drivel back?! Good God, objective reporting, how are you?:rolleyes:

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 2/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-0 CORK CITY
HOME FARM 1-0 DERRY CITY
SHELBOURNE 0-0 LONGFORD TOWN
SLIGO ROVERS 1-0 BOHEMIANS
UCD 0-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
WATERFORD UTD. 1-1 BRAY WDS.

Week 2 of the league was another low scoring event, only 5 goals went in, with 2 home wins, 3 draws, 1 away win, and the season's first goal in second half stoppage time this week.

Drogheda v Cork is not a fixture known for a sackload of goals, there were just 4 in the league meetings last season. 4 others have gone in since then, 2 each for both sides in the FAI, and Setanta Cups. And these guys probably know each other too well by now, so there was always likely to be a goalless draw between them coming up. And so it happened on this occasion. Both sides move onto 4 points, neither will be too disappointed with the outcome.

Home Farm have moved into Dalymount this season, and entertained Derry this week. As away bankers go, this was a cert beforehand. However, every once in a while, the franchise club come up with a flukey 1-0 win, when the clearly superior opposition have an off night. The shock of the season so far came about, when Higgins sliced a defensive clearance past Forde for the own goal winner on 65'. Derry lose top spot, but Home Farm's flash-in-the-pan win probably won't alter where they end up at the end of the season.

Shels faced Longford, and many would have been expecting the ritual Shels home win, against the mediocre midlanders. Shels created most of the opportunities but Crowe and Byrne couldn't break the visitors down, and had to settle for a point, a moral victory for Longford in their first game of the season.

And now back to Bohs woes. A tricky away trip to Sligo is not an appetising prospect, especially at the start of the season, for a side in transition. Sligo duly came up with the goods in front of their first home Premier Division game since 1999, Aussie Adam Hughes scoring the winner in first half stoppage time to claim the points, leaving Bohs looking down on UCD in second-last place in the table. With trips to Cork and Derry on the way, they may well be staying down there for a while.

Freezing, blowy Belfield saw the Saints take on the students in the week's Dublin derby. UCD continue the form they ended off with last season, as Pats took the points through O'Connor's strike after 61'. UCD remain bottom.

Bray travelled down to the South-East to face Waterford, and as both sides don't give much away, the game was always going to be a tight affair. Bray took the lead through that man Zayed again from the spot on the hour, and held it to injury time. Then, as you do, Bray's players decided to see out the clock at the corner flag, rather than seal their win. :rolleyes: The next thing they saw was Waterford's punishment, :), Kavanagh scoring their equaliser 3 minutes into injury time from 25 yards. Bray suffer from Corner-itis, and promptly throw 2 points into the Georges Channel, while Waterford stay in touch with the sides in mid-table.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 3/33:
BRAY WDS. - LONGFORD TOWN
CORK CITY 1-0 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY 3-1 SLIGO ROVERS
HOME FARM 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST.PATS. ATH. 2-2 SHELBOURNE
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 UCD

Week 3 of the league saw Bohs on tv, Drogheda back to Dalymount again, a North-West derby, and also Longford needing to book an extra trip to the Wicklow Riviera, after making probably the shortest trip to the seaside all season. 5 games were played, 2 home teams won, 2 away sides winning, and Alan Kelly at Richmond Park, guaranteeing plenty to talk about in an Inchicore draw. 11 goals went in during the weekend.

At the South Pole, Cork faced Bohs on RTE. The Shed End, for so long an integral part of Turners Cross, is now the end that Cork choose to play in the first half of home games. The ongoing renovations have also meant the away fans have now got shifted to within spitting distance of bricks and mortar. Bohs bossed most of the game, but despite creating the better chances, Cork scored on the counter-attack through John O'Flynn midway through the second half, therefore putting Cork top, and Bohs bottom. :)

Heading far away to Derry to find out how Sligo would cope with their first trip back in the big time, in the North-West derby, and indeed they did well enough to hold out to 0-0 after half time. They then forgot how to defend as Derry promptly moved up the gears, to blitz Sligo with 2 early second half goals, from Beckett and a Burns og. Derry made it 3-0 on 68' from a penalty scored by Mark Farren. Sligo pulled one back from McNamara soon afterwards, but Derry win their 4th successive North-West derby convincingly.

There can't be many home games for Drogheda at Dalymount Park, but while it may not technically have been, a large following from Boyneside decamped to Dublin 7, to give the trip the feeling of a home game at least. No houdini acts from Franchise FC this week, as Glenn Fitzpatrick scored with 15 minutes to go, sending the bulk of the crowd wild, and seal victory once again for Drogheda at Dalymount, something they are getting used to lately.

There was another derby too this week, as Pats faced Shels in Richmond. The Rovers old guard of Rutherford and Molloy put Pats 2 in front by the 20 minute mark. It stayed that way till half time, and 12 minutes after that, when goal machine Jason Byrne scored again for Shels. Cue
A. Kelly's intervention. Never one to brandish a yellow card when a red will do, he then sent off a player from both sides a minute later, Heary and Keegan falling foul of Kelly's notorious officiating. Colin Hawkins pulled a point back for Shels with 7 minutes remaining, but after 3 draws from 3 games, it's Shels' title rivals who are busy pulling away from them. They lie 4 points off Cork at the moment.

Waterford were at home again this week, and just like at Cork and Pats, the RSC is undergoing a change of scenery. Everywhere bar the main stand is now effectively sealed off. As for the game, Waterford suffered their first defeat of the new year, thanks to Brian Shortall's winner in first half stopage time, and went a man down after 85', Deans heading for an early bath. UCD could however enjoy a different kind of bath, to celebrate their first win in Waterford for 5 years.

WEEK 1/33:
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 SLIGO ROVERS

1500 hardy souls turned up to see the final team to play at home this season, Longford face Sligo, in Sligo's shortest trip this season. There was rain, wind, a red card for Sligo's Turner, and not much else. Longford are not making much headway so far, but everybody is ahead of Bohs. :D

[sfc red]

Can someone put this rubbish in Rovers' section. Seriously it is muck. EVERYTHING is related to Rovers or slagging Bohs. Its pathetic

[desaintsno.12]

agree with sfc

[NY Hoop]

Mypost what is the point of this anyway? Set up a blog or something will ya? We fcuking know the results!

KOH

[Rory H]

in fairness though


WEEK 1/33:
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 SLIGO ROVERS

1500 hardy souls turned up to see the final team to play at home this season, Longford face Sligo, in Sligo's shortest trip this season. There was rain, wind, a red card for Sligo's Turner, and not much else. Longford are not making much headway so far, but everybody is ahead of Bohs.


it was great to have it confirmed it was raining last night:rolleyes:

[dfx-]

I didn't know it was raining in Longford last night.....not that I care, but I didn't know that...:D