Premier Review

[mypost]

:ball: Pre-final rounds:

Albania - All Midweek
Andorra - All Midweek
Azerbaijan - All Midweek
Belarus - All Midweek
Belgium - All Midweek
Bulgaria - All Midweek
Cyprus - All Midweek
Estonia - All Midweek
Finland - All Midweek
France - All Midweek
Germany - All Midweek
Greece - All Midweek
Iceland - All Midweek
Italy - All Midweek
Latvia - All Midweek
Lithuania - All Midweek
Luxembourg - All Midweek
Moldova - All Midweek
Netherlands - All Midweek
Norway - All Midweek
Poland - All Midweek
Portugal - All Midweek
Romania - All Midweek
Russia - All Midweek
Slovakia - All Midweek
Spain - All Midweek
Sweden - All Midweek
Ukraine - All Midweek

:cool:



2005 Cup Final Days:
Albania - Sunday
Andorra - (both Finals) - Sunday
Azerbaijan - Saturday
Belarus - Sunday
Belgium - Saturday
Bulgaria - Sunday
Cyprus - Sunday
England - All FA Finals played on a Saturday
Estonia - Sunday
Finland - Saturday
France - Saturday
Germany - Saturday
Greece - Saturday
Iceland - Saturday
Ireland - Sunday
Italy - First Leg played on a Sunday
Latvia - Sunday
Lithuania - Saturday
Luxembourg - Saturday
Moldova - Saturday
Netherlands - Sunday
Northern Ireland - Saturday
Norway - Sunday
Orkney Islands - Saturday
Poland - First Leg played on a Saturday
Portugal - Sunday
Romania - Super Cup played on a Sunday
Russia - Sunday
Scotland - Saturday
Slovakia - Sunday
Spain - FA Cup: Saturday, Super Cup - Both Legs on a Saturday
Sweden - Saturday
Ukraine - Sunday
Wales - Sunday

I see that not very many of them are played on the 7th weekend of the domestic league.

[John83]

Correct me if i'm wrong but the majority of FA and SFA Cup games are played on weekends (with the exception of replays) as these are the only two domestic foreign cup competitions I'm familiar with, that means out of the two i'm aware of two take place at weekends through out the season.

Whats the problem

:ball: Pre-final rounds:
Scotland - All Midweek

:cool: I visited the websites of three Scottish clubs to check who was talking ****e.

Celtic
Sun 08/01/2006 Scottish Cup Clyde 13:00 a 1 - 2

Rangers:
Sat 7 Jan 15:00 H Peterhead SFCP 3 W 5-0 39,870
Sat 4 Feb 12:15 H Hibernian SFCP 4 L 0-3 40,722

Hibs:
Sat 7 Jan Arbroath
Sat 4 Feb Rangers
Sat 25 Feb Falkirk
Sun 2 Apr Heart of Midlothian

Shockingly, it's mypost. Anyone care to estimate how many other countries on that list of his were added without actually checking to see if they actually play midweek? I'm far too lazy to check, and I can't read Latvian.

[Réiteoir]

:ball: Pre-final rounds:

Norway - All Midweek.

Hmmm - must have imagined being stood in the Ulleval in Oslo on a Saturday afternoon watching this one then

Quaterfinals
[Aug 20]
Vålerenga 2-1 Brann
[Bernt Nikolai Hulsker 15, 24; Charlie Miller 61]

Plus the earlier rounds of the Norwegian Cup are played on the same day / weekend as several other League games

Strange that

[Poor Student]

I see that not very many of them are played on the 7th weekend of the domestic league.

Are we talking about the Setanta Cup? As in that cross border competition that spans two leagues with two different schedules? Could you manage to select a date that's in season for both and not near the start of a season?:confused:

[Réiteoir]

Are we talking about the Setanta Cup? As in that cross border competition that spans two leagues with two different schedules? Could you manage to select a date that's in season for both and not near the start of a season?:confused:

Christmas Day?

[Poor Student]

Christmas Day?

Mypost likes his Turkey roast on an Xmas day, could you not pick something more convenient to suit his schedule?;)

[mypost]

Are we talking about the Setanta Cup? Could you manage to select a date that's in season for both and not near the start of a season?:confused:

:o Easter Monday. :rolleyes:

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 8/33:
BOHEMIANS 2-1 UCD
BRAY WDS. 0-2 HOME FARM
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-0 LONGFORD TOWN
SLIGO ROVERS 1-1 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 2-0 CORK CITY
WATERFORD UTD. 1-2 DERRY CITY

Week 8 saw the fixtures reversed from Week 8 last season, showing how much thought goes into them when they're been drawn up. :rolleyes: Sligo Rovers and Home Farm took the reverse of Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers games last year respectively. After all the cagey, sterile football of the opening weeks, we actually had some goals to report this week. One was enough for Drogheda as usual, but there were no goalless draws this week, so things improved. Cork lost their first game of the season live on tv, Bohs clocked up another win, while Derry made the long, and successful trip to Waterford. Only 1 draw this week, with 2 away wins, and 3 home wins providing 13 goals this time.

The good thing about been the away side in a derby, is that it (usually) means that you play 3 games in a row in the same city. As they were officially away from home last week, Bohs' game with UCD was their third straight game at Dalymount. UCD headed for Dalymount with the intention of building on their point in the fixture last season. They took the lead through Alan Cawley on 7 minutes, and indeed looked to build on it, except this being UCD, it didn't happen. Bohs rescued it with 13 minutes to go through Vinny Arkins:eek: , and won it two minutes later, as Barry Ferguson headed home his boss's corner. 3 wins in 5 for Bohs, mean 3 defeats in a row for UCD.

Bray faced Home Farm at the Carlisle Grounds, and you have to wonder what's happened to the Seaside club this season?? They can claim draws with Cork and Shels, yet lose easier games like this. The visitors collected their second win this season through Robbie Collins' 2 second half goals. Bray stay stuck to the bottom.

Drogheda took on Longford, where the hosts were looking to stretch their lead at the top, by breaking Longford's packed defence down. When they do this season, one goal tends to be enough. Declan O'Brien scored the winner 10 minutes from half time, and Drogheda consolidate their lead at the top. Perhaps more interestingly, their fine young player, Stephen Bradley was called into the international U-21 squad during the week, and we know what this means by now, don't we?? The prospect of MORE games postponed!! :mad: Now, we have a case of one player that decides when games are played, and we haven't even got to the European games in the summer yet. The fixture situation gets more and more daft by the week.

On Saturday night, Shels looked to build on their recent good form, by attempting to come away from the Sligo fortress with another win. They flew out of the traps early. Gary O'Neill put them in front after 6 minutes, which was held for 9 minutes until Conor O'Grady headed in Kudozovic's corner. Shels gradually took over after that, but the score remained the same until the end, frustrating Shels, and preserving Sligo's unbeaten run at home.

Mypost was busy browsing the press on Friday evening, and came across an article from Corkies complaining. Not that unusual in itself maybe, but perhaps a bit rich to find Cork's boss and one of his players demanding other teams to be more offensive against them. This coming from champions who haven't exactly been setting the league alight so far, and, like many before them, are finding out how hard it is to retain the league. Their opponents this week, Pats, listened to their demands and obliged, and the visitors were made to eat their words in the live game on satellite tv. Dan Murray gave them a helping head by scoring past his own goalkeeper on 34 minutes, while Trevor Molloy notched a second goal with 5 minutes of the second half gone. Cork got the challenge they wanted, and ended up slipping into mid-table as a result of this defeat.

The oddities of this year's fixture list meant that Waterford completed the unprecedented feat of having 2 sets of home games in a series, without a set of aways to compensate, against Derry. Derry have a mixed record at the sunny South-East venue, but it has improved lately, as Waterford continue to stutter and stumble around at the bottom. The visitors received a scare when Kenny Browne tapped home on the rebound on 36'. Waterford took control, and something special was required from the visitors. Kevin Deery duly provided it with a 30-yard thunderbolt on 57' to equalise, and normal service was resumed. Derry wasted no time in winning the match after that, Cillian Brennan fired home the winner 3 minutes later, pushing Derry into second, while leaving Waterford second from bottom, and a long summer ahead.

WEEK 7/33:
CORK CITY 2-0 SLIGO ROVERS

Courtesy of this back match, Sligo finally got their chance to travel to Cork, while Cork began a sequence of 3 straight games with home comforts. They ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, through first-half goals from Dan Murray, who found the right goal this time after 6 minutes, while Neale Fenn scored the second on 40'. Sligo begin their sequence of Premier division defeats at Turners Cross, while Cork prepare for another Munster Derby next weekend. Home banker, anyone?

[Réiteoir]

Week 8 saw the fixtures reversed from Week 8 last season, showing how much thought goes into them when they're been drawn up. :rolleyes:

If they have a system that works why change it? :rolleyes:

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 9/33:
CORK CITY 2-0 WATERFORD UTD.
DERRY CITY 3-0 BRAY WDS.
HOME FARM 0-2 ST. PATS. ATH.
LONGFORD TOWN 3-1 BOHEMIANS
SHELBOURNE 2-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
UCD 3-0 SLIGO ROVERS

Week 9 saw Drogheda's pursuers gain ground, Sligo lose it, UCD recovering, and a Munster derby, bringing Cork's first win in the fixture for quite some time. Very much a home team weekend, as 5 of them won their games. Home Farm prevented a clean sweep, following their latest defeat to Pats. The goal rate has increased again, with 17 scored this weekend.

Despite Waterford's troubles last season, they managed to get 3 draws against their neighbours. The first episode of the Munster trilogy this year was in Cork, where noone has got anything from yet. Waterford fell behind after just 7 minutes through John O' Flynn, while Dennis Behan wrapped up another win for the home side after the break. Cork move into third place, 1 point behind Drogheda, with a game more played. They've let in as many goals so far, as Waterford have points, i.e. 3, who lie winless in 6 months, second from bottom.

Following Pat Devlin's departure from Bray, Eddie Gormley took over his job, and sent his struggling side up to Derry hoping that they could catch the home side out, like on their last visit to the North Pole. This time however, Derry were up for it, and eventually Ciaran Martyn put them in front on 36'. After the break, they bagged two more from Stephen O'Flynn, and Peter Hutton, sending Derry second, ahead of Cork on goal difference, leaving the visitors with a 16 goals conceded already, and rooted to the foot of the table.

Pats lost to Rovers in midweek in the League Cup, but found the task of disposing our replacements this year, much easier to deal with. Home Farm had a nap for the first half hour, and allowed Pats to score twice during it, to seal a facile win through Paul Keegan, and Trevor Molloy. Pats lie fourth, while Home Farm lie fourth too...from the bottom.

Bohs, bouyed up by the proposed development of a new ground, headed up to Longford to attempt to build on their recent good run. They duly took an early lead through their boss Farrelly, after 5 minutes. Then things turned on their head for the Gypsies, as Longford first equalised from Alan Kirby on the half hour, and went in front after the break from Dessie Baker. Soon afterwards, Davy Byrne secured the home win for Longford when he made it 3-1. Bohs may have won their next match, a League Cup success in Monaghan, but 3 wins from 4 isn't enough to prevent their fans from demanding that their boss get the boot out the door.

Shels played Drogheda at Tolka on Thursday night's satellite tv game. Those expecting the routine 1-0 win for the visitors were in for a shock, as it was Shels this time who went 1 up early on from Stuart Byrne. It stayed that way until the 71st minute, when Gary O'Neill flicked home a header from Liam Kearney's inviting cross. Drogheda, for the first time this season, had to chase a game, but despite Declan O'Brien firing home a late consolation, Shels inflicted Drogheda's first defeat of the season, but their unbeaten record this season, will face another test at fortress Cork next week.

Sligo have had a reasonable start to the season, and going down to UCD, they were expected to build on it against a side who haven't won for 4 weeks. UCD however, flew out of the traps, as Alan McNally put them in front on 3 minutes. Pat McWalter put on his scoring boots too after the break adding two more goals to round off a solid win for the Students, while Neil Doyle rounded off a bad week for Sligo by getting himself sent off. Sligo end the week, with 2 long trips, no points, no goals scored, and 5 conceded. UCD move up to sixth.


The first series of scheduled games were completed at the weekend downstairs, with Limerick reclaiming top spot from Shamrock Rovers in the table. Limerick lead with 18 points from Rovers' 16. Rovers and Drogheda have conceded the least goals in the country this season, (2 each), while Rovers and Shels are the only sides to remain unbeaten so far this season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 10/33:
BOHEMIANS 3-0 BRAY WDS.
CORK CITY 2-1 SHELBOURNE
SLIGO ROVERS 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-1 DERRY CITY
UCD - LONGFORD TOWN
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 HOME FARM

Week 10 saw the last unbeaten record in the division go west, Drogheda stumble again, and Waterford staring further into the abyss. 9 goals were scored from 5 games played, resulting in 2 home and away wins, with 1 draw.

Bohs faced Bray at Dalymount. Vinny Arkins opened the scoring for the home side on the half-hour. In the second half, Bray caved in to 2 more goals in 6 minutes from Aidan O'Keeffe, allowing Bohs to head into their game next week at Shels on the back of 4 wins out of 5.

Cork played Shels not on the scheduled date, but the following Monday, just in time to coincide with a train strike, and lessen the numbers of away fans travelling, just for tv!! :rolleyes: Shels were determined to make up for their last three losses at Cork, and preserve their unbeaten record. It looked good for them as Jason Byrne scored from the spot on 40'. Not the wisest move however, as Cork replied with a double blow either side of half time, from George O' Callaghan's free-kick before, and Neale Fenn after. Shels finally lose this season, while Cork take the maximum 9 points from 3 straight home games, go top of the table, and now head up to Derry.

Drogheda headed up to Sligo, and after losing their 100% record last week, the visitors faced a tricky trip to a side who are unbeaten at home. It stayed that way, as the game finished 0-0, and Drogheda lose top spot. They can regain it next week however, when Waterford visit
Co. Louth, if the Derry-Cork result goes their way.

Pats played Derry at Richmond, and the game was set up for the visitors to claim 3 points when Barry Molloy fired home a long-range piledriver after 5 minutes. Pats got back into it with an equaliser from Paul Keegan on the hour, after a case of the butterfingers struck Forde in the Derry goal. Both sides take a point, but while Pats hover around the top, there is little sign that they will chase the top 3 in the longer term.

Not many visitors at the RSC this week, Home Farm being hardly a draw for a club not known for having big crowds themselves. In near silence, the visitors nicked a winner when Dave Freeman was sent clear after 49 minutes to hand Waterford another defeat. Rooted to the bottom, it's a case of damage limitation for them next week too, as they make their first journey to Drogheda this season.

WEEK 3/33:
BRAY WDS 1-0 LONGFORD TOWN

Eventually this bottom of the table struggle could go ahead, and indeed it was a struggle until Wesley Charles scored the winner with 10 minutes left. Bray's first win this season, lifts them away from Waterford, and leaves Longford staring anxiously at the bottom two.

[DmanDmythDledge]

What do you use to compile your reports? EL weekly?

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 11/33:
BRAY WDS. - SLIGO ROVERS
DERRY CITY 2-0 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 4-0 WATERFORD UTD.
HOME FARM 2-1 UCD
LONGFORD TOWN - ST. PATS. ATH.
SHELBOURNE 2-0 BOHEMIANS

4 games were played on week 11, two games were re-scheduled, another one was on tv. 4 home wins resulted, as 9 goals were scored.

The top of the table clash at the greyhound track saw Derry look to gain some revenge on Cork for their last meeting. Cork haven't pulled up many trees so far this season away from the Cross, and suffered their latest bout of travel sickness here. Danny Murphy scored for Derry before half time, while Ciaran Martyn wrapped up a comfy win for the home side after 54'. Cork were dumped to third spot, and later went out of the Cup, by losing at Longford.

Waterford, travelled up to Drogheda more in hope than expectation, that Drogheda would keep it tight, and settle for just a narrow 1-0 win, like last season. Drogheda, coming off the back of 1 point from 2 away trips, were in no mood to be charitable however, and found some scoring practice, mainly through Declan O'Brien who hit a hat-trick on 15, 30, and 75 minutes. He then took a rest, but Waterford's defence couldn't. The 4th goal came from O' Brien's replacement, Glen Fitzpatrick. Drogheda go top again, Waterford stay bottom. Football's oddities decreed that Waterford would finally win a game, going on a cup rout in the Munster derby against Douglas Hall, while Drogheda retreated back to score-shy mode afterwards. They went out of the Cup, as over two games, Limerick scored once, and they didn't.

There are many people involved in the LOI who constantly strive for progress, many people around the country who put often tireless energy trying to improve the domestic game. And then you find situations like when Home Farm and UCD clash. The word "clash" is a bit inappropriate with these two, as barely anyone turns up to watch them, and certainly not when they play each other. The last game of the series, was played on Monday evening. In previous years, this game has competed with bogball, boghockey, and Sky Sports tv games for counter-attractions. None of this applied on a fine Monday evening for playing/attending football. Despite it, the grand total of 83 people showed up to Deserted Dalymount for this fixture, a sight which shows the ugly face of Premier Division football. :( In the game, UCD took the lead after 3 minutes from Paul Byrne. But just as on their last away trip on the No. 10 Belfield-Dalymount bus a few weeks ago, UCD lost their lead and the game in the second half again. Mark Rooney notched the equaliser on the hour mark, while Robbie Heffernan headed home the winner with ten minutes remaining. If Home Farm can take 12 points from upcoming games with Cork, Derry, Drogheda, and a visit to Sligo, then they'll stay up. (on the pitch at least).

Obviously there was a bigger crowd at the other Dublin derby, where Shels faced Bohs. Shels hit Bohs with a goal in each half, to ensure a facile win, and pile more pressure on Gareth Farrelly.

On the completion of the first round of fixtures, Drogheda Utd lead the table with 23 points, followed closely by Derry and Cork, in turn 1 point behind. Bray occupy the provisional play-off spot, having won 6 points so far, while winless Waterford stare up at everyone else, and wonder if they can make any improvement.

[Dazzy]

Danny Murphy scored for derry:rolleyes:

[Student Mullet]

In previous years, this game has competed with bogball, boghockey, and Sky Sports tv games for counter-attractions.There were no previous years. That was the first time this fixture has been played.

[pól-dcfc]

I love mypost's weekly inane ramblings. His lack of accuracy is hillarious.

You should try and get on the ELW panel...

[mypost]

There were no previous years. That was the first time this fixture has been played.

The teams played in the Cup last year at Belfield, and have been playing against each other in both divisions for decades.


I love mypost's...lack of accuracy
:confused: :confused: :confused:

[DmanDmythDledge]

The teams played in the Cup last year at Belfield
Exactly, it wasn't in Dalymount and it wasn't in the league.

[John83]

The teams ...have been playing against each other in both divisions for decades.
Unless you're counting Home Farm, no, UCD and DC have never been in the same league before.

[pineapple stu]

I think he is. mypost has a curious habit of mixing his own imagination with reality.

In any case, UCD have only been playing Home Farm since 1979 - hardly "decades" in the conventional use of the word.

[mypost]

it wasn't in Dalymount and it wasn't in the league.

It doesn't matter where or what competition the game was, it was played. There have been many more games played between the sides over the past 27 years too.

[pól-dcfc]

"This fixture" would indicate that it was in the same competition and in the same place.

[mypost]

"This fixture" would indicate that it was in the same competition and in the same place.

Not imo. A fixture, is where two teams play each other, regardless of the comp, or venue. It could be a game in the LOI or the LSL, and in Belfield or Balbriggan, but the fact is that they have played each other before, and that's it.

[Student Mullet]

Not imo. A fixture, is where two teams play each other, regardless of the comp, or venue. It could be a game in the LOI or the LSL, and in Belfield or BalbrigganIf that's the case, how can a fixture be reversed?


Week 8 saw the fixtures reversed from Week 8 last season, showing how much thought goes into them when they're been drawn up.

[pól-dcfc]

And this weeks Ron Atkinson Spotters Badge goes to *drumroll* Student Mullet!

Mypost, your posts are really entertaining, but do at least try and get your facts right, rather than just lifting them from ELW.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 12/33:
DROGHEDA UTD 1-0 BOHEMIANS
HOME FARM 0-4 CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE 4-1 BRAY WDS.
SLIGO ROVERS 3-1 LONGFORD TOWN
UCD 0-0 DERRY CITY
WATERFORD UTD. 1-3 ST. PATS. ATH.

Week 12 saw Cork and Drogheda recover from their cup blips, Longford, Bray, and Waterford suffer a cup hangover, Setanta showing UCD-Derry Part II, which by LOI logic, would naturally be the only game of the weekend to end 0-0. 18 goals were scored elsewhere, from 2 away wins, and 3 home victories.

The "Farrelly Out" army made their way up the coast, to see if Bohs could break out of lethargy mode at Drogheda. Not quite, as Declan O'Brien scored the only goal against a disinterested outfit, whose sole threat came from their support who ran amok, stealing the lid of Drogheda's Setanta Cup trophy in the process, the only bit of silverware they'll lift this season! Drogheda stay top, while Bohs stay in first gear.

After finally getting past Mighty Monaghan in the cup, Co-cky Keely declared his Home Farm side to be "comfortable" in the league, but sixth spot might feel like being top of the table after playing their next few games. First up, a date with Cork, at the Dalyer Desert. Cork may not have won away from home yet, but a trip to Home Farm is the ideal way to cure travel sickness, and they showed why when going 2 goals up in 13 minutes from John O' Flynn and Neale Fenn. One half, and 2 home players less later, comfy Cork doubled their advantage from George O'Callaghan's peno, and Ray Lally late on. Keely, and Home Farm crashback down to reality with a thud, head off to Derry and Drogheda next, and start the long road back down to the drop zone.

Shels took on struggling Bray at Tolka. Gary O'Neill put the home side in front after 15', and after the break Bray's ex, Jason Byrne doubled their lead on 62'. Brian McGovern pulled one back for the visitors, but O'Neill scored his second and Shels' third on 76', while Ollie Cahill completed the scoring late on. Bray need a break badly.

Fresh from beating Cork opponents in the cup, Sligo and Longford met in the Saturday night derby at The Showgrounds. Predictably, Longford suffered the hangover, as Darren Mansaram scored early in both halves. Keith Foy added the insurance goal from the spot, despite Dave Mooney replying for Longford. Unlike Home Farm, Sligo sit comfortably in mid-table, as expected.

Setanta Sports may have revolutionised the broadcasting of live domestic football, but all the marketing brains in the country, would still find a UCD-Derry game a hard sell. However, the game did stand out, as a no score bore. The less said about this game, the better.

The sunny South-East lived up to it's name on Friday, when Pats travelled to Waterford. In the league however, the sun shines out of Waterfords backs. In particular for Chris Deans, whose night out was marked by an own goal after 15 minutes, and a second yellow card later on. By that stage, Pats were out of sight, as they scored the rest of the game's goals, going 3-0 up through Paul Keegan, and Michael Foley after the break. Darragh Maguire took pity on the home side by scoring an own goal himself afterwards for winless Waterford, who are going nowhere fast.

WEEK 4/33:
SHELBOURNE 1-0 DERRY CITY

Derry's coach driver, is working overtime these days, and was busy getting out the AA road map again, sending the club on their third long-haul journey in 10 days, this time to face Shels. When Derry scored a late equaliser on their last visit in the Setanta Cup, it ultimately turned out to be meaningless. However, when Jason Byrne scored the winner for Shels here in the 88th minute, it was far from meaningless. Shels beat Derry for the first time in 27 months, and go into the break one point behind Drogheda, while Derry have the chance to gain revenge on their rivals in the return in 5 weeks time.

Despite Ireland not playing in the World Cup in Germany, there is now a pause in domestic football proceedings, as those of us who go to games week in, week out, are not trusted by the FAI to prioritise the needs of the domestic game, against the competition with the likes of Togo-South Korea, and Tunisia-Saudi Arabia on the telly. :rolleyes: Normal service is resumed in 2 weeks.

[passerrby]

adult education classes you cant beat them (Im assuming your an adult)

[Réiteoir]

Despite Ireland not playing in the World Cup in Germany, there is now a pause in domestic football proceedings, as those of us who go to games week in, week out, are not trusted by the FAI to prioritise the needs of the domestic game, against the competition with the likes of Togo-South Korea, and Tunisia-Saudi Arabia on the telly. :rolleyes: Normal service is resumed in 2 weeks.

er - FIFA Regulations state that all domestic football be suspended for a period of some kind during the staging of a World Cup Finals tournament - nothing to do with the FAI at all.

Plus the dates for the break were decided and passed by the League BEFORE the World Cup Finals draw was made - so they wouldn't know what games would be on during that period.

But then - when have facts got in the way of anything you write? :rolleyes:

[DmanDmythDledge]

er - FIFA Regulations state that all football be suspended for a period during the staging of a World Cup Finals tournament - nothing to do with the FAI at all.
I thought Shels were starting their Inter-Toto campaign during the WC?

[Réiteoir]

Yes - but the IC isn't a domestic League competition - which must take such a break for the WC.

[NY Hoop]

Yes - but the IC isn't a domestic League competition - which must take such a break for the WC.

Wrong there are NO FIFA regulations like that. The league in the States is playing right through the WC despite their national team being in the WC. www.mlsnet.com

While I dont agree with that decision there is no excuse for taking a break when your own national side is not competing.

KOH

[mypost]

there is no excuse for taking a break when your own national side is not competing.

As the Yanks are doing, there is no need to have a break in our game during major tournaments, Ireland taking part or not. Ireland would only play for a few days during it anyway, and as our league games are played on 4 weekend days, I'm sure league games can be accommodated around the Irish schedule, if necessary. This is summer football, and clubs lose out on revenue, and European fitness, because watching games on tv featuring Togo-South Korea, Trinidad-Paraguay, and Ecuador-Costa Rica are perceived to be more important here, than attending our own league games. :rolleyes: It's a scandal that shouldn't be allowed to happen.

[NY Hoop]

No chance. If Ireland were in this WC the league should take a break. To suggest otherwise is moronic.


KOH

[manic da hoop]

While I dont agree with that decision there is no excuse for taking a break when your own national side is not competing.

What's truely bizarre about this whole summer break is that the World Cup will only be beginning to get going when our season resumes - some of our matches will clash with the more high-profile knock-out games! I'm actually missing a Rovers match because I'll be in Germany so it's not like the break is doing me and alot of other regulars any convenience.

[mypost]

some of our matches will clash with the more high-profile knock-out games! I'm actually missing a Rovers match because I'll be in Germany so it's not like the break is doing me and alot of other regulars any convenience.

Well, it's already less than a week to go before our "derby" against Kildare. It might actually clash with Argentina-Holland on the box, but they'll both be already through to the next round by then, so our game is clearly more important. :)

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 13/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-2 SLIGO ROVERS
BRAY WDS. 3-1 WATERFORD UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
DERRY CITY 3-0 HOME FARM
LONGFORD TOWN - SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 UCD

They're back! The league returned from it's summer siesta when 10 goals went in from 10 teams this weekend, resulting in 3 home wins, 1 away victory, and a draw. The other game was postponed for Shels' benefit. The game should have been played in midweek of course, but despite the FAI's best efforts, Alan Matthews' side couldn't be persuaded to get off their deck chairs, and cut short their beloved break by a couple of days. :rolleyes: He'd prefer to have a fixture pile-up later this season instead. :o

The "Farrelly Out" army set off to preach at Dalymount this week, where Sligo showed up for the second time this season. Paul McTiernan took advantage of Bohs' charity with a goal in each half on 10' and 67 minutes. Bohs' threat meanwhile, came once again not from their team, but from their disgruntled fans. Well, if you've won the league in the recent past, then suddenly find yourselves behind Home Farm in the table, it does tend to cause unrest. Cork are next up in Dublin 7, where the home fans will no doubt have more to whinge about.

BlueMovie is one of my contenders for fan of the season, as he has witnessed each Waterford disaster this year, and there have been many. 0 wins from 12 games, meant their trip to Bray couldn't really be dressed up, as some tried to, as a relegation "six pointer", but rather as a "home banker". And sure enough their hosts scored all the goals here, although the first one came rather unexpectedly from a Wesley Charles og after 62'. The shocked visitors' honeymoon lead, hit a snag 3 minutes later, when Gavin Doyle was sent-off. The next punishment for them came from Stephen Gifford's equalizer 2 minutes later. Inevitably, the visitors couldn't hold on to their point, as Paul Caffrey and Eamon Zayed went on to seal the win for Bray with 2 goals in the last 20 minutes. Waterford played like the Irish rugby team do this week; i.e. play well for an hour, then collapse for the rest of the game! The win promotes Bray up to 10th, leapfrogging over lazy Longford.

June saw the 5th meeting of Cork and Drogheda already this season. The last time they played at the South Pole, a Cork referee ensured a home win, by sending 2 Drogheda players off. Rico didn't moan that night. The game may have been a top of the table clash, but the wider LOI public couldn't see it, as we had to put up with watching Togo play on the box instead. :rolleyes: John O' Flynn scored the winner on the half-hour for Cork, which meant that the champions moved above Drogheda to the top of the league. Rico meanwhile, left his nemesis Ian Stokes alone this time.

Dermot "we're comfortable in the league" Keely, led his bunch of journeymen up to the North Pole to face Derry. Derry were supposed to win the last fixture between the clubs there in October 2004, and were indeed 2-0 up until half time. As title contenders, they were definitely supposed to win the most recent fixture in March, but went home with nothing again. Time for Take 3: They were aided this time by very generous visitors. First, Paul Shiels was sent off for them after 38 minutes. The home side finally broke through on 52' when Conroy's butterfingers, gifted Mark Farren the opener. Mark Rooney was next up at the charity party, putting the ball in the net, i.e. his own, soon afterwards to make it 2-0, and the third present came from Paul Crowley who deflected Gary Beckett's lob into his own net too. Keely's return to the Brandywell ends in a 3-0 walloping, but other results keep them in 7th place, which also explains, why they've played more games than UCD, Longford, and Bray below them.

Pats and UCD came to Dalymount for the derby at Richmond. Both sides were still in summer break mode, as it turned out to be an action replay of the last encounter at Richmond, and finished 0-0. Yes indeed, it would have been better for everyone there if they had settled down for the night to watch Togo on tv!!

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 14/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-0 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 2-2 HOME FARM
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 BRAY WDS.
SHELBOURNE 3-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SLIGO ROVERS 3-1 DERRY CITY
UCD 2-1 WATERFORD UTD.

Week 14 saw the first scheduled midweek programme played in the other division since the 2004 season. Away teams suffered travel sickness this week, as none of them won. 2 of them managed to grab a point, but the other 4 home sides all won, while the league's strikers dusted down their boots to score 15 goals this week.

With Bohs stuck in mediocrity, and Cork only gaining one victory so far this season, you wouldn't have got odds on their game at Dalymount being a thrill-a-minute affair. Their cause wasn't helped when O' Callaghan walked after half an hour. To be fair, Bohs did put the ball in the net for the first time in ages, but as the goal was ruled out for offside, they may as well have hit the corner flag instead! The 0-0 draw at Dalymount sees Cork knocked off the top of the table, and Bohs do stem the tide, but only to creep up on Home Farm's coat-tails. How the mighty have fallen.

As for Drogheda, they had their chance to re-take the lead at the top of the league, with a handy game against Home Farm. Their cause looked straight-forward, once their goal machine, Declan O' Brien put them in front after an hour. However, Damien Brennan equalised, and when Mark Rooney found the right net this week in injury time for the visitors, Drogheda faced disgrace. They pulled back an equaliser from O' Brien again in the last minute, but with Cork and Derry dropping points on their travels, this result was 2 points dropped for Drogheda.

Longford having played less games than everyone else so far, finally climbed off the sun lounger, and re-started their season at home to Bray. Dave Mooney settled this six-pointer, with 4 minutes to go, a win that sees normal service resumed for the Seagulls, and back to second bottom.

Fresh from Intertoto success, Shels also re-started their league campaign in the Dublin derby at home to Pats, where Jason Byrne continued his scoring spree, by sealing this game before the break with goals on 30 and 45 minutes. Glenn Crowe added the coup de grace from Ollie Cahill's cross with a quarter of an hour to go. Pats meanwhile, are still sleeping off the effects of their win at Waterford, as they have shipped 5 points from 6, in 4 nights.

Sligo-Derry is not a Premier Division fixture that we've seen in the North-West in a while, and the home side flew out of the traps early, scoring through Paul McTiernan after 6 minutes. Derry lost their discipline soon afterwards, when Mc Glynn was sent for a shower on 25'. But, as usual with 10 men, their team score the next goal, as Cillian Brennan fired home the equaliser in first half injury time. But 2 goals in 8 second-half minutes sealed the win for Sligo, from Keith Foy's free-kick, and McTiernan's second of the evening. In this year's North-West Derby series, Sligo claim revenge for their defeat in April, and the score stands at 1 win all, with 1 to play.

Waterford headed back to Dort country to face UCD, and looked for a repeat of their win there in November. With wins in zero supply for them this season, and their last point having come in April, it doesn't seem to matter whether they score first or not, the song at the end of the match remains the same. Unlike last time, the ref ignored the Switzerland-Ukraine WC counter-attraction, and showed up on time, but like last time, Waterford scored first from Paul McCarthy after 8 minutes. However, it's impossible for them to hold on for 90 of them, and sure enough, the defence cracked on 73' when Pat Kavanagh finally equalised. The boat sank completely 5 minutes later, when Brian Shortall headed the winner for the home side. Waterford face Bohs next, although it's hard to call which team are favourites for that one.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 15/33:
BRAY WDS. 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 UCD
DERRY CITY - SHELBOURNE
HOME FARM 0-2 LONGFORD TOWN
ST. PATS. ATH. 3-1 SLIGO ROVERS
WATERFORD UTD. 1-3 BOHEMIANS

This week saw 5 games played with Shels excused again, in order to lose heavily in Europe, which meant that Derry lost ground on the leaders, from Cork and Drogheda's wins. 12 goals went in, with 2 home wins, and 3 away ones.

Bray re-arranged their game in order not to clash with the World Cup quarter-finals, where Drogheda were trying to recover some ground after a poor result in their last game. The first half was notable for Declan O'Brien been replaced after suffering a facial injury, which will keep him out for a good while. It didn't affect Drogheda too much this week, as Paul Keegan scored a late winner for them, capitalising from Tresson's awful defensive mistake. Drogheda move to second in the table, while Bray lose late on for the second time in a week.

Cork faced UCD, and the students' Jekyll & Hyde nature, meant that they usually pose problems for Cork, their 5-1 defeat at Belfield twelve months ago being the exception of course. Both sides slugged it out, and Cork had to scrap for the win in the latest tussle, as Dennis Behan bundled the ball home on the hour. It puts them top of the league once again.

With up to 3 games in hand on those above them, Longford have the opportunity to climb into a respectable position in the table, and leave Home Farm behind. They helped their cause when Dave Mooney scored the opener against them after 17'. Steven Paisley sealed the win on 68', to make it 6 points from 6 after their extended summer break. Home Farm meanwhile, are back in their box, in 9th spot, with Longford ganging up on them.

Pats faced Sligo at Richmond and Trevor Molloy struck first for the home side after 18', while Sligo replied through Darren Mansaram, a goal that had Barry Ryan staring at it in a trance. They may have drawn 1-1 in April, but Pats pushed on after the break, as Molloy hit a 20-yard curler into the top corner. Paul Keegan wrapped up the home win on 75', finishing well after a good move. Sligo fans were not many in number, and the club had to cancel a minibus trip to the Friday night game. Their club have decided to begin an experiment with Friday night games next week. Who are they playing? Shels, Cork, Derry? Er no, Home Farm are first up in the experiment to increase the attendance. Where the logic comes from, I don't know. :confused:

The poor form clubs met at the Athletic track in Waterford, with Bohs, looking for any sort of result. Well, this week, they came to the right place. First rule of defending a corner is to defend both posts. Second rule is don't allow opponents unchallenged free headers in your own box. Waterford followed neither rule, and Jason Mc Guinness took advantage of both of them to put the visitors 1 up after 10 minutes. But all of a sudden, the home fans had a crumb to cheer when a great free kick from Kristian Lamberski found it's way to the net on the half hour. Bohs then moved into second gear, and took the lead again from Tony Grant tapping home a rebound past a demoralised and disinterested home defence. John Paul Kelly's free kick ensured the win for Bohs, and 4 points from 6 to pacify the "Farrelly Out" crowd for a while.

WEEK 10/33:
UCD 2-2 LONGFORD TOWN

The early kick-off time of this re-arranged fixture, caught Longford on the hop evidently, as 2 goals inside the first 20 minutes put UCD firmly in the driving seat, via Pat McWalter. Dean Fitzgerald gave Longford their alarm call, after half an hour, while UCD were caught out after the break when attack-minded defender Steven Paisley equalised a minute into the second half. The match was brought forward to avoid a clash with World Cup action. If they played it at the usual time, would it have made any difference? :confused:

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 16/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-2 DERRY CITY
BRAY WDS. 1-1 UCD
DROGHEDA 2-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
LONGFORD TOWN 0-2 CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE - WATERFORD UTD.
SLIGO ROVERS 2-0 HOME FARM

Cork, Derry, and Drogheda left Shels with a fair bit of work to do after Week 16, as the 3 teams all won their games. Shels, finished their European adventure this week, and now prepare to focus solely on their domestic campaign for the rest of the season. 12 goals went in from 5 games, resulting in 3 happy trips, a Dort Derby Draw, with Pats the sole victims of travel sickness.

Alan Kelly was busy up to his old tricks once again, baffling players, and fans alike at Dalymount, at Bohs-Derry. Beforehand though, Barry Molloy put Derry in front at Bohs in the 21st minute. Vinny Arkins then equalised for Bohs from Farrelly's free-kick just before the break. Obviously not happy with his anonymity, Kelly saw some foul by a Bohs defender in the box, and awarded a penalty to the visitors, which Mark Farren converted on 53'. Kelly then got his favourite card out of his back pocket once again, to send Bohs' Heary for a shower, and ensure an away win. It's Derry's first win in Dublin this season, and their third in a row at Bohs.

At the Dort Derby Part II, Bray went looking for revenge for their earlier defeat to their nearby rivals. The match was re-arranged and put on Sunday, and it turned out to be as exciting as the World Cup final later in the evening. :) After 60 minutes of scoreless play, Conor Sammon put the visitors in front squeezing a shot past the home 'keeper. By the 90' mark, UCD were busy keeping possession at the corner flag, and were then punished for it, when Bray went down the other end to equalise from Robbie Doyle's free-kick, which UCD 'keeper Quigley fumbled over the line. In Week 2, Bray themselves conceded an equaliser in injury time at Waterford, this week they profited from UCD's bout of corner-itis, as their luck finally evened itself out to take home another point in their pursuit of Home Farm and Longford.

After their 1-0 win results sequence in the early part of the season, there have been some goals to report in recent Drogheda matches. 4 went in at their last home match, and 2 more went in in the first quarter-hour against a hot-and-cold Pats side. Jason Gavin delivered the first blow after 2 minutes heading in from Robinson's corner. New signing Eamonn Zayed is Drogheda's new weapon upfront, and he duly put them 2 up after 13 minutes. Pats limited the damage to 2 at the break, and replied themselves 10 minutes after it from Alan Reilly's penalty. It wasn't enough though to prevent another home victory, and keep Drogheda in touch with the leaders.

After their last visit, Rico was never going to treat a pre-Euro trip to Longford lightly. His Cork side flew out of the blocks, as Dennis Behan scored twice in the first 15 minutes to hand out justice Rico-style, on Longford. They held out comfortably for the rest of the game to prepare ideally for their European campaign.

The Rovers derby should have taken place this weekend in Sligo, but with Home Farm visiting there on a Friday night instead, not surprisingly resulted in a depressed attendance who had to stomach a boring game for their efforts. Sligo won it of course, scoring first half goals from Fahrudin Kudozovic, and Darren Manzaram. Home Farm meanwhile, celebrated the dizzy heights of seventh place at the end of the first series, by taking the grand total of a single point from their next 5 games. But they have some consolation, as their next 3 games are all at Dalymount, however, with two of them against Bohs and Shels, expect their plummet to continue.

[mypost]

Premier Division results:

WEEK 17/33:
CORK CITY - BRAY WDS.
DERRY CITY 1-0 LONGFORD TOWN
HOME FARM 1-2 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 BOHEMIANS
UCD 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
WATERFORD UTD. 1-2 SLIGO ROVERS

Week 17 saw the halfway mark reached in the Premier Division. The by now, weekly ritual of a postponed match in the league saw the axe fall on Cork v Bray this week. With Cork heading for Cyprus, Derry took advantage with the only home win in the last match of the weekend against Longford. Home Farm and Waterford fell to their weekly defeats, and 3 visitors took home full points. With the other game finishing 0-0, 8 goals went in around the country this week.

Fresh from winning in Europe, Derry took on Longford the following Sunday evening. The home fans didn't have long to acclaim more success. Steven Paisley scored once again on his travels for Longford, but unlike on his last two visits, this time it was into his own net from Hargan's cross after 13 minutes. Derry dominated until Stephen O' Flynn got himself sent off, for an off-the ball incident, and Longford pressed on for the equaliser. It wasn't enough however, as their miserable run at the Brandywell continues.

Home Farm took on Shelbourne at Dalyer, introducing new signing Lee Roche. Shels meanwhile took advantage of the home side's low confidence, by scoring twice in the opening half, as Bobby Ryan scored from 20 yards after 14'. Half an hour later, it was two, when Joseph Ndo tapped home the rebound from Byrne's free-kick. The floodgates didn't swing open after the break, but Shels claimed the points, despite conceding a goal to the home side's David Freeman midway through the half. It would turn out to be Home Farm's last goal in senior football, as more serious trouble was brewing for the amateurs, of which more anon.

The other derby between Pats and Bohs was a vital one for both sides. Games between these two are frequently tight, low-scoring affairs. Bohs won the last game at Richmond last September, with a goal in the last minute of injury time. This time, they won it in the last minute of the first half, after Gareth Farrelly fired home a free kick just outside the box, into the top corner. That's the way it would stay to the end, after Quigley's second-half penalty for Pats was saved by O'Brien. Bohs' players can head off for a siesta next week.

After the elation of getting an away draw in Helsinki, coming back to Belfield to play UCD must have been a bit of a comedown for Drogheda's players and fans, at the other Sunday fixture. The home side defended better than the Finnish side, and kept Drogheda out for the 90 minutes. They will be happy with their point, while Drogheda have a 11-day break before they travel to Dalymount for the "home" duel with HJK. We'll find out soon enough, whether the extended break does them any good.

Sligo made the long trip South to face Waterford, and expected to claim a facile 3 points. But Waterford's new look side set out to make an impression, and got off to the perfect start when Kenny Browne put them in front from Young's corner after 10'. Trouble with Waterford is though, you have to play well for more than 10 minutes in a football match. The inevitable equaliser came from Adam Hughes on 67'. Nevertheless, Waterford once again threatened to nick a point until Darren Mansaram headed the winner for the visitors with 2 minutes to go. Sligo continue their climb up the league, while Waterford face a trip to Shels next. :eek: Oh dear!

WEEK 11/33:
BRAY WDS. 1-2 SLIGO ROVERS
LONGFORD TOWN 2-0 ST. PATS. ATH.

The re-arranged matches from Week 11, saw Bray face Sligo first. Sligo enjoyed their trip to the seaside, dominating the game to open the scoring from Adam Hughes on 58'. Bray looked to Romania for inspiration, and Andrei Georgescu answered his club's call with 9 minuites left to equalise. But Darren Mansaram is Sligo's find of the season, and struck for his side yet again with 4 minutes remaining to eek out another away win for Sligo, and stall Bray's progress for another week.

Pats dominated their re-arranged trip to Longford early on, testing out Longford's low morale from 2 straight defeats. Unlike then however, Longford woke up and took the lead, when Alan Kirby scored from Martin's through ball just after the half hour. Robbie Martin secured the points for the home side midway through the second half, with a diving header from his brother John's, cross. For what it's worth, Longford finally climbed above Home Farm with this victory, while Pats, the odd victory apart, appear to have thrown in the towel in the league already.

WEEK 16/33:
SHELBOURNE 5-1 WATERFORD UTD.

With memories of their horror show, on their last visit to Tolka in September, Waterford had every right to dread this encounter with high-flying Shelbourne. The advice from Manager, Mike Kerley to his boys beforehand, must have been "Whatever you do, don't lose by five tonight lads". It certainly was "Don't be four down by half time again" anyway. Well, initially, his players followed his advice, by only shipping one in by the break, from Bobby Ryan on the stroke of half-time. Shels moved down the gears in the second half last time, however they stepped it up this time, and showed what they're capable of, as Glenn Crowe with 2, Colin Hawkins, and Jason Byrne chipped in during the rout. Michael Casey pulled one back for poor Waterford, as they had let five goals in at Shels again. Shels were made to look good here, encouraging certain pundits in the media to declare them league champions elect later. :confused: They temporarily moved top of the league following this win, but still have to play Cork, Derry, and Drogheda twice more this season, and have a lot of work still to do, before they can re-claim the title. Much sterner tests than this lie in wait for Ollie's outfit.


The hafway mark was also reached in the First Division this week, and following Limerick's latest bout of "Rovers Flu" against Athlone, Shamrock Rovers return to the top of the league on goal difference, following a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Cobh. Our game was a 3rd v 2nd top of the table encounter, but TV3's piecemeal NL coverage, meant they couldn't be trusted to send a camera from Ballymount to Cobh to cover it. Sums up their treatment of the domestic league in a nutshell. :rolleyes:

[mypost]

Most NL clubs have reached the halfway point of the season, but for one club it is already over. Home Farm's sudden withdrawal from League of Ireland football, leaves a gaping hole in the fixture list, and re-arranges the league table. There now remains an 11-team Premier Division. Following the decision by the authorities to exclude Home Farm's results this season, Drogheda now lead the table with 30 points, one point clear of Derry on 29. Shels and Cork are now third and fourth, 1 point further back. The bottom of the table is unchanged, with Waterford still occupying 11th place with 3 points. As another consequence of this development, UCD will finish their season one week early, becoming the first NL club since Waterford United in 2002 to do so. Home Farm's originally scheduled games for the remainder of the season, shall be declared as Void, on the Premier Review.

[pineapple stu]

mypost if anything approaching reasoned fair, comment is beyond, you would you at least, learn how to use a comma, properly!!! It'd make such, a, difference, on the rare occasions, I read, your, posts.

[mypost]

mypost if anything approaching reasoned fair, comment is beyond, you would you at least, learn how to use a comma, properly!

:rolleyes:

[sligoman]

The Rovers derby should have taken place this weekend in Sligo, but with Home Farm visiting there on a Friday night insteadThat's just sad! Dublin City beat you fair and square, get over it!:rolleyes:

[mypost]

That's just sad! Dublin City beat you fair and square, get over it!:rolleyes:

Yes it is sad, even more so in the light of recent events.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 18/33:
BOHEMIANS V-V HOME FARM
BRAY WDS. 1-2 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. - DERRY CITY
LONGFORD TOWN 3-0 WATERFORD UTD.
SHELBOURNE 6-0 UCD
SLIGO ROVERS - CORK CITY

After 51 weeks of the Premier Review, we come to the lowest amount of games played on a single weekend in the division. Despite that, 12 goals were scored in the remaining matches, resulting in 3 definitive results, 2 in favour of home teams, and 1 away.

It's the away win where we start, where Bray faced Pats in the last match of the weekend, in contrast to their last meeting, which was the first. Bray's struggles continued when Mark Quigley opened the scoring for Pats after 19 minutes. After the break, Pats went 2-0 up, after their new signing Keith Fahey scored on the hour. Bray did get one back from Andrei Gheorgescu, but it wasn't enough to prevent Pats from claiming the three points. They now have a three-week holiday before they head up to Derry next.

If you're going to pick a side to play for a boost in morale, there's none better than Waterford. The listless bottom of the table outfit, without a win all season, headed up to Longford, who came into this game as the last team to fail to beat them. Would lightning strike twice? Not at all!! Eventually Longford broke through on 35', through Alan Kirby. The crowd then dozed off for a while, until Davy Byrne curled a free-kick in for the home side with 5 minutes to go. Longford sealed their revenge over Waterford by adding the third in injury time when Byrne scored once again from the spot. Longford win their easiest game of the season, while Waterford make the long trip home, wondering what's the point? Even more so when Mike Kerley later resigned, leaving the team coachless to boot.

Ollie & co felt wronged earlier in the week, as Home Farm's demise, meant that his side were dumped off the top of the league, because they had beaten them twice. Someone was going to feel the backlash. Enter UCD to Fortress Tolka. The home rout began on 11 minutes when Glen Crowe put them in front from Ryan's cross. As the score stayed 1-0 until the break, UCD must have felt that they, like Waterford before them, had weathered the Shels storm. Wrong again! Jason Byrne made it 2-0 direct from the re-start, while Joseph Ndo made a mockery of the visitors defence to make it 3-0 soon afterwards. That defence fell to pieces completely in the last 20 minutes, as Byrne, Crowe, and Ollie Cahill helped themselves to another few. Shels win 6-0, and with their rivals busy with their European engagements, head back to the top of the table. Why didn't they play like this against Odense?

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 19/33:
CORK CITY - ST. PATS. ATH.
DERRY CITY 4-0 WATERFORD UTD.
HOME FARM V-V BRAY WDS.
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
SHELBOURNE 3-0 SLIGO ROVERS
UCD 0-1 BOHEMIANS

Slightly more games were played in the league this week, as of the European representatives, only Cork were given the weekend off. Derry and Shels romped home, while a last-minute penalty gave Bohs the only away goal, and win of the week. 4 matches brought 8 goals this week.

Waterford were not expected to interfere with either their own or Derry's immaculate home record so far this season, but if they did manage to nick a victory, someone would have got lucky, as the visitors were quoted as 16/1 with the bookies to win this one beforehand. :) But there weren't too many takers, as shown why when the game was in the bag for Derry well before half time. After 18 minutes, Gary Beckett opened the scoring, firing past the sleepy away defence. Then Waterford's 'keeper Spicer fumbled a free kick, which allowed Darren Kelly in for the home side's second soon afterwards. In the second half, Kevin Mc Hugh and Ciaran Martyn completed the rout after the break, as Derry make it 10 home wins from 10, and are second in the table.

Derry and Drogheda both won in Europe in midweek, and while Derry couldn't have picked an easier post-European league game to play, Drogheda had to face Longford. Despite scoring 5 in their last two games, Longford put up the shutters, and goal-shy Drogheda couldn't break them down. Despite having most of the play and chances, Drogheda had to settle for a disappointing draw, which shows that Longford's defence is much harder to break down than HJK Helsinki's!! :eek: :D

Sligo's trip to Tolka Park this week, was their first since their cup replay win at Shels a couple of years ago. Unlike then however, Shels were in the mood to face them this time. Another demolition job by the home side began after 6 minutes when Ollie Cahill opened the scoring. Sligo kept it to 1, until Liam Burns was dismissed for kicking Jason Byrne outside the box 5 minutes after the break. Byrne picked himself up, dusted himself down, and fired home the resultant free-kick. Not content enough with that, he scored again 5 minutes later from close range. Shels stay top of the league after scoring 14 goals in 3 successive home games.

After a brief break, UCD were back playing at home on Saturdays, for their Dublin derby with Bohs. Bohs, fresh from their free week last week, dominated early on, but the game looked destined to finish 0-0 until the visitors were given a harsh penalty when the ball appeared to accidentally strike Tony McDonnell's hand in the box. Dessie Byrne despatched the penalty home to give Bohs the win, and a double over UCD this season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

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

Week 20 saw almost a clean sweep for the away sides as 4 out of the 5 of them won their games. Theory suggested that Cork would complete the sequence, but they were playing a Munster Derby. Pre-Europe, Derry and Drogheda played this week, with contrasting results. 11 goals were scored.

Both Bohs and Longford are on a good run lately, as Bohs won their last two games, while Longford had won 2 of their last 3. An Alan Kirby goal settled this game at Dalymount after 36 minutes, to claim their second win there this season, and extend their run. The Bohs fans, growing restless for another chance to get at Farrelly, booed their team off the pitch as soon as the final whistle blew.

Derry warmed up for Europe, or rather Scotland in midweek, by catching a Bray side still snoozing on their summer siesta from last week. When they woke up after half-time, they found themselves 3-0 down to two goals from Kevin McHugh by the 25-minute mark, and another added by Ciaran Martyn in injury time. A refreshed Bray side began to play after the break, as 2 minutes in, Andrei Georgescu pulled one back, and Colm James pulled another one back with 9 minutes left. But they left themselves with too much work to do to rescue a point. Derry win again, and are second to Shels with a game in hand.

Shels themselves travelled up the coast to Drogheda, where early on Drogheda dominated. Following a Shels corner on 33', ref Alan Kelly missed a handball from Drogheda's Webb in the box, but fortunately for Kelly, his linesman saw it, and flagged for a penalty to be given, which Stuart Byrne duly converted to give the visitors the lead. Once again Shels led 1-0 at half time, and once again, they extended their lead in the second half first through Ollie Cahill on 55', following charitable defending by Gavin, and then a third after 75' from Owen Heary's 30-yard rocket, one of the goals of the season. Stephen Bradley pulled back a consolation for Drogheda near the end, but Shels become the first team to do the double over Drogheda this season, and stay top.

At the Showgrounds, UCD made their first trip to Sligo since 2004, and completed their double over Sligo this season through Conor Sammon's header 5 minutes before the break. Sligo missed a penalty in the second half, when Keith Foy's spot-kick was saved by UCD 'keeper Quigley, and their unbeaten run at home this season ended, but both teams sit comfortably in mid-table.

Cork's exit from Europe in midweek in Belgrade, left them to re-focus their attention on retaining their league title. No better pick-me-up then than a visit to Waterford, only this is the Munster derby, and no matter how bad things have been there in the last 2 seasons, Waterford are Cork's nemesis. The game finished 0-0, as Waterford claim a 4th draw with Cork in their last 5 meetings, and their first point in 13 matches. With 2 important league points dropped, Cork suffer a heavy post-European hangover, while Waterford must wonder, why they can't play Cork every week. ;)

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 21/33:
BRAY WDS. 0-3 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY 3-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. 2-2 SLIGO ROVERS
HOME FARM V-V WATERFORD UTD.
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 UCD
SHELBOURNE 2-2 CORK CITY

Week 21 saw some excitement this week with an average of 3 goals per game :eek: , and an outbreak of corner-itis this time at Drogheda. Derry had no post-European hangover this week, while Alan Kelly made the headlines for the wrong reasons at Bray, so nothing new there...

...where Bohs went to the seaside and were in front early on through Stephen Ward. He was the best player in the first half, as he also hit the woodwork before the break. After half-time, he set up Mark Lynch to score his first goal for Bohs. The third goal came from another Bohs new boy, Paul Devlin scoring from the spot, after Chris Deans collected his second red card this season by handling the ball inside the area. Bohs did score a legitimate fourth goal late on, but Alan Kelly and his linesmen, declared a ball that hit a stantion behind the net, to have gone out of play. :confused: Bohs boss Farrelly was sent off again for his subsequent protests. Not content with having dismissed enough people, Kelly handed out another red card to Philip Keogh, to ensure the home side finished with 9 men. Bohs may have won the bottom of the table battle, but a game with Kelly in charge descended into farce once again.

Derry returned from having hammered Scottish minnows Gretna in Europe, to face a Pats team playing their first game for 3 weeks. They may as well have waited another week, as Fortress Brandywell witnessed another facile win. Ken Oman had put Derry 2 up before the break, on 22, and 33 minutes. Despite defender Colm Foley pulling one back for the visitors from Quigley's cross, Derry upped the ante in the second half, and Mark Farren added the third to put Derry top of the table behind Shels on goal difference, with their 11th win from 11 home games.

Unlike Derry, Drogheda returned from Europe on the back of a defeat, and the first half of their game with Sligo was poor. Things eventually picked up in the second half, when Shane Barrett gave the home side an early lead. However Adam Hughes watched Owen Heary's thunderbolt at the same ground the week before, and delivered his own version with another rocket outside the box 15 minutes later to equalise. It would only be level for 3 more minutes though, as Graham Gartland headed home Robinson's free-kick. Winning the game, it was time to go down to the corner flag, as Drogheda tried to play out time, and the punishment came in the 93rd minute when Sligo equalised again as Keith Foy lashed the ball home from 25-yards :) . 8 goals in two weeks at Drogheda has brought only one point for the title contenders, who slip 6 points behind the leaders after their back-to-back home games.

Longford took on UCD, and even with the best marketing brains in the country, this fixture is always going to be a hard-sell. And the job isn't going to get any easier, following this latest draw between the two. At least the last game between the two had goals!

Meanwhile at the business end of the table, high-flying Shels met struggling Cork, who were determined to make up for last week's disaster at Waterford. They duly took the lead when Dennis Behan scored after 20 minutes. The lead lasted until half time when Jason Byrne's deflected free-kick found it's way past Devine. Unlike previous weeks, Shels struggled to put away the opposition this week, and went behind again when Heary handled the ball in his box following a corner, and Ray O'Donovan converted the spot kick just past the hour. A fine move brought Shels the equaliser on 78', when Cahill set up Glenn Crowe to slide home from close range to make it 2-2. Joe Gambled on a late tackle, and lost out when he was dismissed for a second bookable offence, by another Dublin referee Damien Hancock. What Rico made of the dismissal was, fortunately for his own sake, not reported.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

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

Week 22 saw the end of the second round of matches, and new leaders after the results. 12 goals were scored in the 5 matches, from 2 home wins and 2 draws, and 1 away win at the usual place.

Shels made the 2 mile journey to face Bohs, and needed to claim 3 points to keep them clear of Derry. They looked on course when Glen Crowe gave them the lead on 57', only for Bohs to equalise 5 minutes later as Fergal Harkin fired the ball home, after his own corner wasn't properly cleared. Bohs would go on to win it, when Stephen Caffrey headed home from McGuinness' cross with 15 minutes to go. Bohs' win was clouded over Jason McGuinness' eligibility, and the threat of a replay from Ollie Byrne, so their rare win over Shels, remains subject to whatever action the FAI take on the matter in due course. As of now, Shels lose top spot, and both clubs would later go out of the FAI Cup the following week; Shels to Derry, and Bohs to Rovers. :) :)

Derry made the long way down to Cork for the only time this season, and Cork badly needed to take 3 points off their title rivals. Ray O' Donovan gave them the lead after an hour, after a goalmouth scramble following Murphy's free-kick. With Derry facing another defeat at the South Pole, salvation arrived with 15 minutes left when Dan Murray put the ball in his own net from Sean Hargan's cross. Derry move to the top of the tree, while Cork's latest post-European points dropped, coupled with no game next week, may well mean their season is now as good as over.

2 early goals would lead to another home win for Sligo over a bereft Bray side at the Showgrounds. Darren Mansaram and Harpal Singh scored in the first half-hour to wrap up the home win, do the double over Bray and hand them their 5th defeat in a row.

At Richmond, Longford visited to pack their defence again. It led to their third goalless draw in 6 unbeaten games, and while Pats league season is mundane, both sides later progressed through the next round of the cup, even if Longford needed 2 games to dispose of Waterford.

Drogheda's patchy form looked set to recover a bit, when they made their annual trek to Waterford. Shane Barrett, and Declan O'Brien helped themselves to a goal each for the visitors before half time, but despite a red card for Waterford's Chambers after 55 minutes, the home side rallied after the break to pull it back to 2-2 following a James Keddy o.g., and a Kenny Browne equaliser from Cawley's corner. However, following Shane Robinson's pass, Keddy redeemed himself by scoring the winner with 3 minutes to go. Drogheda scored a late goal the next week, to win in Europe, only to draw level on aggregate, and then lose on penalties. But they had an eventful week anyway.