Fixtures 26-29 April

[sbgawa]

Genuinely think Harry Kenny is getting a hard time from pats supporters, over a third of the season gone and they are 3 points off Europe (probably) and only 6 off dundalk.

[desaintsno.12]

Genuinely think Harry Kenny is getting a hard time from pats supporters, over a third of the season gone and they are 3 points off Europe (probably) and only 6 off dundalk.

If you had to watch us this year, you wouldnt be saying that.

[Ezeikial]

Genuinely think Harry Kenny is getting a hard time from pats supporters, over a third of the season gone and they are 3 points off Europe (probably) and only 6 off dundalk.

A win tonight would also leave them only 7 behind the champions-elect with a game in hand

[sbgawa]

A win tonight would also leave them only 7 behind the champions-elect with a game in hand

Yawn as usual....trolling early today, you truly never do get bored with yourself..

[sbgawa]

If you had to watch us this year, you wouldn't be saying that.

Thats fair enough and I've only seen Pats once (against Rovers) but you've a huge amount of new players is it not reasonable to expect it to take time to build up patterns of play and consistency.
If you can stay within a couple of wins of a European place you'd have to expect the team to improve as the season go's on.
Harry hasn't become a bad manager overnight and the players haven't either.
Saying that i'll be hoping you start to improve after tonight :)

[PartySaint]

Thats fair enough and I've only seen Pats once (against Rovers) but you've a huge amount of new players is it not reasonable to expect it to take time to build up patterns of play and consistency.
If you can stay within a couple of wins of a European place you'd have to expect the team to improve as the season go's on.
Harry hasn't become a bad manager overnight and the players haven't either.
Saying that i'll be hoping you start to improve after tonight :)

Our next 3 games are Rovers (A), Waterford (H) and Derry (A), we'll know after them if we have improved or not.

We're missing Toner and Clifford tonight, Toner not a major loss as Webster will come in, some will argue he should start ahead of him anyway but Clifford will be a big loss, gives us a lot of energy in the middle.

[Ezeikial]

Yawn as usual....trolling early today, you truly never do get bored with yourself..

Whatever about you choosing to be irritated about the 'champions-elect' phrase, the post actually supported what you said that St Pats are not too far way from the business end of the table.

The reality is that a win tonight (unlikely as it may be) would give St Pats an enormous psychological boost and would put the current table toppers within reach.

[desaintsno.12]

Thats fair enough and I've only seen Pats once (against Rovers) but you've a huge amount of new players is it not reasonable to expect it to take time to build up patterns of play and consistency.
If you can stay within a couple of wins of a European place you'd have to expect the team to improve as the season go's on.
Harry hasn't become a bad manager overnight and the players haven't either.
Saying that i'll be hoping you start to improve after tonight :)

There is this myth floating around that Kenny is a great manager. It's nonsense. I am not saying he won't/can't be, but he has some how built this image of being a successful manager, and it has little or no substance . The Bray example was only a few months and a bit of an anomaly.

[sbgawa]

Our next 3 games are Rovers (A), Waterford (H) and Derry (A), we'll know after them if we have improved or not.

We're missing Toner and Clifford tonight, Toner not a major loss as Webster will come in, some will argue he should start ahead of him anyway but Clifford will be a big loss, gives us a lot of energy in the middle.
I'm assuming Clark and Grace are available and uninjured, Kavanagh is out apparently mentioned in team news , no word on Bolger and Boyle , don't know whether that is because no change i.e they are still out or because they might be back and thus aren't mentioned with Kavanagh.
I've always thought Toner was an excellent player , i would have him over Webster every day , has to be a form/confidence thing.

[Asterix]

I'm assuming Clark and Grace are available and uninjured, Kavanagh is out apparently mentioned in team news , no word on Bolger and Boyle , don't know whether that is because no change i.e they are still out or because they might be back and thus aren't mentioned with Kavanagh.
I've always thought Toner was an excellent player , i would have him over Webster every day , has to be a form/confidence thing.

Yeah, Grace and Clarke can both play tonight, apparently Kavanagh is out for 6 weeks.

[sbgawa]

Yeah, Grace and Clarke can both play tonight, apparently Kavanagh is out for 6 weeks.
Any word on Boyle or Bolger?

[joey B]

If anyone wants a laugh have a look at Limericks red card against Longford,refs are getting worse!

[Jack B]

Would normally agree with the sentiments of the non-Pats fans above, but in this case the worry really is just how bad we've looked this season.

Our place in the league isn't something many people would have been too disappointed with at this stage of the season, and most people even expected a slow start, but the main issue is that we've not looked like a team that has a particular style of play in mind at all, and for all Harry's talk of wanting to play similarly nice football to what we did under Bucko...he doesn't really appear to know how to do it and our results have mostly reflected that as we've grinded out results via hard work rather than with any kind of class. All this despite our personnel.

The last few weeks have earned him a bit more favour but I'm honestly still not confident at all that he'll prove to be a success. Would love to be proved wrong of course.

[Dalymountrower]

Would normally agree with the sentiments of the non-Pats fans above, but in this case the worry really is just how bad we've looked this season.

Our place in the league isn't something many people would have been too disappointed with at this stage of the season, and most people even expected a slow start, but the main issue is that we've not looked like a team that has a particular style of play in mind at all, and for all Harry's talk of wanting to play similarly nice football to what we did under Bucko...he doesn't really appear to know how to do it and our results have mostly reflected that as we've grinded out results via hard work rather than with any kind of class. All this despite our personnel.

The last few weeks have earned him a bit more favour but I'm honestly still not confident at all that he'll prove to be a success. Would love to be proved wrong of course.

Given that Pats fans were predicting a league win pre -season , how would you measure poor Harry`s success? You`ve already qualified for Europe under his management, not bad going!

[Jack B]

Given that Pats fans were predicting a league win pre -season , how would you measure poor Harry`s success? You`ve already qualified for Europe under his management, not bad going!

I don't think that was the case for most tbf, and anyone that predicted that was only blinded by Forrester and McCabe being announced on the same day anyway.

I think most would be happy with European qualification anyway. We're in a situation where Dundalk and Rovers have more balanced and settled squads, so outdoing them was always going to be some effort, but because of the effort made in pre-season anything less than 4th would be an absolute bust.

[Dalymountrower]

3rd/4th is absolutely achievable. Between Derry, Pats, Bohs and Waterford, in no particular order

[marinobohs]

I don't think that was the case for most tbf, and anyone that predicted that was only blinded by Forrester and McCabe being announced on the same day anyway.

I think most would be happy with European qualification anyway. We're in a situation where Dundalk and Rovers have more balanced and settled squads, so outdoing them was always going to be some effort, but because of the effort made in pre-season anything less than 4th would be an absolute bust.

Would have felt that preseason and still think it an achievable target. Pats have impressed in bursts (first 20 mins at Dalymount they were exceptional). Consistency was always going to take time and I suspect they will improve as the season goes on and players gel. Agree anything below 4th worth be a very poor return for some heavy investment

[Nesta99]

I dont get why Pat's fans are so anxy so early. It takes more than a preseason and the first round of games for a manager to find their feet and impose their ways with a team. Plenty of signings to integrate. Doesnt matter the quality of the players, it takes more time than Kenny has had yet. Early season optimism was a tad high but yet are well improved already on the last couple of years with points on the board. Placid wont be happy with criticism of Harry as he had him annointed as Rovers saviour from Bradley? Just as I type Pats go behind to Rovers and Dundalk score also. Any word on the relegation 6 pointer in Cork?

[White Horse]

Flores with a screamer to put Dundalk 2-0 up against Waterford.

Hery off, the dirty bastid.

[Ezeikial]

Hery off, the dirty bastid.

We'll forgive him his sins, if he signs up with us for next season

[Nesta99]

We'll forgive him his sins, if he signs up with us for next season

He wont be able to scare Caulfield in to falling on his ass next season they way things are going in Turners Cross regardless of where he is at ;P

[redarmyfaction]

Where have all the Corkies gone?, Is the power and internet back on after the storm?

[White Horse]

Where have all the Corkies gone?

Gone back to the hurling.

[joey B]

Big point for us,a chink of light......

[marinobohs]

FT Derry City 0 Bohemian FC 2. Must be nearly safe

[nigel-harps1954]

Friday night against UCD becomes a massive game for us if we're to have any hope of staying up. Big point on the road. Slice of luck that we really needed. Take every point we can get.

[SkStu]

FT Derry City 0 Bohemian FC 2. Must be nearly safe

Should be leaving Derry soon alright.

[patrickccfc]

Sweet suffering christ, we are abysmal.

[sbgawa]

Sweet suffering christ, we are abysmal.

How on earth are cork playing so poorly?

Still the core of a good team,

[White Horse]

How on earth are cork playing so poorly?

Still the core of a good team,

Must be confidence. They have an experienced manager and a decent squad of players.

No way should they be where they are.

[patrickccfc]

How on earth are cork playing so poorly?

Still the core of a good team,

Pass it across the back, hoof it up the wing, lose possession. Repeat.

[pineapple stu]

Worrying to be losing so handily to such a bad Sligo team.

Hard to believe we played them off the park earlier in the season.

Can't even laugh at Cork really cos that point just gives Harps encouragement ahead of Friday...

[Dalymountrower]

Bohs 17 points ahead of Cork, mad stuff.
Listened to the excellent coverage on Radio Foyle.Bohs sounded like they went up a gear second half, hit the post twice too.Amazing win.

[lofty9]

Bohs 17 points ahead of Cork, mad stuff.
Listened to the excellent coverage on Radio Foyle.Bohs sounded like they went up a gear second half, hit the post twice too.Amazing win.


Bohs are the real deal. Continued from when I last saw them in the cup match last year. Any team that tries to play out from the back against them will do at their peril. Enjoy it, the front 6 do the work that the back 4 don't have to do.

Thought we were fine in first half, but Devine switched McNamee and Harkin about with the former playing in front of defence for start of second half. Coincided with Bohs running riot.

[placid casual]

Tired enough performance from Rovers albeit against a pats team with too many players just collecting a wage( a number of them ex-Rovers!)
The only lovely passing move of the night , and we walked through pats defence to score. Hopefully the xtra days rest before playing sligo will help.

I wont hear a word said against Harry Kenny btw!

Cork are 3rd from bottom. That is just.... embarrassing.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Worrying to be losing so handily to such a bad Sligo team.

Hard to believe we played them off the park earlier in the season.

Can't even laugh at Cork really cos that point just gives Harps encouragement ahead of Friday...

Very surprised how bad ye were especially after the game earlier on in the season.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, don't know what's happened lately. Pitch is still poor, and I imagine playing twice a week doesn't help a young part-time team cos I presume it means we're only training once a week, which really isn't enough to help the guys improve. But our first touch was really poor, and we can't defend corners at all; must be at least six goals from corners this season.

Was the second one scored by the corner taker actually?

[TonyD]

FT Derry City 0 Bohemian FC 2. Must be nearly safe

That is a fantastic result from Bohs. What a season they're having. Keith Long doing a fantastic job. Puts our efforts to shame considering the disparity in the respective budgets. The same Derry team absolutely murdered us a couple of weeks ago.

[D24Saint]

Thought we held our own for the majority of the game albeit without creating many clear cut chances. I’m not sure about our formation as imo it asks a lot from Bermo and Madden to get up the wing and then back into position. I was impressed with new stand in Tallaght stadium.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Yeah, don't know what's happened lately. Pitch is still poor, and I imagine playing twice a week doesn't help a young part-time team cos I presume it means we're only training once a week, which really isn't enough to help the guys improve. But our first touch was really poor, and we can't defend corners at all; must be at least six goals from corners this season.

Was the second one scored by the corner taker actually?

Corner went straight in alright. Think Ndo did the same there a few years ago if memory serves me right.

Yeah I know yeve obviously a young team but ye looked very weak there tonight and easily knocked off the ball and definitely the ludicrous fixture scheduling isn’t helping. Begins to settle down a bit now at least.

[Kingswood Rover]

Happy with that result some good play in patches, Ship now steadied Bolger ran the show man of the match. Decent crowd from Pats must of been 600 or so

[Nesta99]

Tired enough performance from Rovers albeit against a pats team with too many players just collecting a wage( a number of them ex-Rovers!)
The only lovely passing move of the night , and we walked through pats defence to score. Hopefully the xtra days rest before playing sligo will help.

I wont hear a word said against Harry Kenny btw!

Cork are 3rd from bottom. That is just.... embarrassing.

In fine fettle tonight PC! Whats your take on HK fine tuning Pats?

[Real ale Madrid]

Bad start, a poor run of form etc has turned into a catastrophic crisis at the football club. We've gone from perennial challengers to a rabble with no discernible pace, quality or confidence. Football really is a funny old game.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

This whole set of fixtures has just felt like everyone involved is a bit fatigued, players and fans alike. Obviously I only saw the Rovers game but both teams looked tired from the start and there was almost no build up to the game, really pleasantly surprised there was nearly 4k at the Rovers game today because these midweek games are normally a attendance killer, makes you wonder how many we could have had if it was on a Friday though.

[sbgawa]

Next season starts on 1st Feb and finishes on 14th November.
Euro qualifiers start fai cup in last 16.
No midseason break.
You know it makes sense

[Jack B]

Decent game in Tallaght I thought, even if it was lacking many clear cut chances (which sums up our season so far really). Thought Forrester was excellent once he came on but for all his consistency down the years this is the worst I've ever seen Bermo, which really doesn't help considering we're now playing a formation that makes us very reliant on our full backs.

Obviously I've not seen as much of Ronan Finn as others due to him never having played for Pats, but I always get the impression that he must be such a frustrating player. Any time he's involved in the game he looks excellent, but for a midfielder it can pass him by for 20-25 minutes at a time which isn't ideal. Popped up when Rovers needed tonight mind.

[sbgawa]

Finn imo has been our player of the season so far. Not as spectacular as Byrne but unbelievably important to us. Phenomenal athlete.

[ToberonaTornado]

Fairly easy win for Dundalk against Waterford last night.Waterford played ok in patches but could never put a prolonged period of decent play together and never really troubled the Dundalk goal.Hery got frustrated,lashed out a few times and his sending off was right.
Flores scored a thunder mudder(here -https://twitter.com/DundalkFC/status/1122992782816235526 ) and Duffy was the usual Duffy that all @ Dundalk have come to appreciate.
Connor((Waterford GK) kept the score down but we pished home without having to hit top gear.

[Cathalsmart]

So question for Cork’s board is should we fire Caufield now? Or should we wait to lose another few games and plunge deeper into a relegation battle or should we wait til we are relegated?

[pineapple stu]

We've to play ye twice in May for some reason. Could ye hold on till after that?