Fixtures 28th/29th/1st

[joey B]

Premier Division
Friday 28th:
Cork v Derry
Harps v Sligo
Rovers v Dundalk
Waterford v Bohs
UCD v Pats

First Division

Cabo v Wexford
Drogheda v Bray
Galway v Athlone
Limerick v Shels

Saturday 29th:
Longford v Cobh

Premier Division
Monday 1st:

Dundalk v Waterford
Pats v Rovers
Sligo v UCD
Bohs v Derry
Harps v Cork

[sbgawa]

huge game tonight,
Win and the league is there to be played for , draw and its semi interesting but classic case of its the hope that kills you , lose and its done and dusted.
FAI cup and a Europe run to keep us going.

I fancy Harps to get something tonight against Sligo
Will cummins play fro Cork tonight given it is apparently a "done deal" he is coming to Rovers?

[Ezeikial]

huge game tonight,
Win and the league is there to be played for , draw and its semi interesting but classic case of its the hope that kills you , lose and its done and dusted.
FAI cup and a Europe run to keep us going.


There's over 40 points to play for after tonight. The match at Tallaght is huge, but the league won't be won or lost tonight.

Rovers will certainly need to change their tactics from the first match if they have any designs on 3 points. A more open approach is likely to expose defensive weaknesses. Presumably at least one of Lopes or Boyle will play?

[sbgawa]

The first division is interesting every week , these days.
Limerick v Shels
Drogs v Bray all in the promotion / playoff spots
Chance for Cabo to make up a bit of ground...
Long time since the graveyard was so alive

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps -2 tonight is 18/1.

[marinobohs]

Finn Harps -2 tonight is 18/1.
Worth a punt. I could see goals in the game, but at both ends

[Ezeikial]

Rovers appear to be acting the maggot again. No away tickets available for sale at the ground or online, forcing Dundalk fans into the home sections. I really can't understand this unless the full away section is sold out.

[Asterix]

Rovers appear to be acting the maggot again. No away tickets available for sale at the ground or online, forcing Dundalk fans into the home sections. I really can't understand this unless the full away section is sold out.

Or maybe the main and South stand are close to selling out and the club are keeping the east stand free in case its need. Just a possibility.

[Ezeikial]

Or maybe the main and South stand are close to selling out and the club are keeping the east stand free in case its need. Just a possibility.

That is a possibility, even if an unlikely one.

Having away fans in the home sections doesn't seem like a clever move. Rovers have form here, having previously shown a scant regard for crowd safety issues for the last league meeting in Tallaght.

[CorribsideSteve]

Is the Rovers Dundalk game live on any channel?

[TonyD]

Is the Rovers Dundalk game live on any channel?

Watching it now on Eir sport 1. Impressive crowd.

[refjohn]

Derry 3 up in Cork after 30

[Nesta99]

We are seriously hanging on at the moment. We look a bit leggy and lethargic. If we can weather this storm and get in at half time level!

[pineapple stu]

****ing corners...

[Ezeikial]

Rovers certainly dominated the first half. Changes needed in central midfield

[CorribsideSteve]

Cheers. For the first 30 mins or so on Mobdro, they were showing Argentina Venezuela on both channels. Sorted now though. Rogers lucky to stay on there?

[DFCForever]

Seán gannon you sexy man!

[White Horse]

Plucky performance from Rovers but they lack the quality to translate possession into goals.

Dundalk very poor on the night but still had the quality to dig out the three points.

[Nesta99]

We were just taking it handy tonight for the benefit of the Riga scouts....

[CorribsideSteve]

Rovers lose another big game. Just a lack of quality. Dundalk can win games playing second best at this stage which is a Champion trait. Lovely cheeky goal from Gannon.

[D24Saint]

Pedestrian stuff in the bowl. We tried to play a bit more football than normal. I’m glad to get the win and move on in life.

[sbgawa]

Best team on the night lost but that's the way it go's. Credit to dundalk champions again.
Fai cup and Europe still to play for and find a hat stand for next season.

[wexfordned]

Only saw 2nd half of Shamrock v Dundalk but I thought Dundalk were comfortably the better team. Shamrock's best chance when Rodgers fouled their player came from Dundalk losimg concentration knocking the ball around on half way.

For a title chasing side to be relying on Aaron Greene is embarassing. They had nothing up front and loads of midfielders, yet the 2 signings they made are 2 more midfielders from UCD. Agent Bradley keep up the good work.

[geysir]

I didn't think Dundalk were comfortably the better team, the excellently taken goal tipped the scales favourably. SR are a better team than last season. One of the tv pundits claimed Dundalk were 'rootless'.

[White Horse]

Best team on the night ...

No doubt about it. Excellent performance by Rovers.

Just need that striker.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Rovers appear to be acting the maggot again. No away tickets available for sale at the ground or online, forcing Dundalk fans into the home sections. I really can't understand this unless the full away section is sold out.


That is a possibility, even if an unlikely one.

Having away fans in the home sections doesn't seem like a clever move. Rovers have form here, having previously shown a scant regard for crowd safety issues for the last league meeting in Tallaght.


Would you ever shut the **** up about the ****ing "overcrowding". The away end was sold out, it was on Rovers twitter that there'd be no tickets, surprised you missed it, you must have missed that notification coming through. The away end was sold out but there were empty seats, why? Because your own fans decided to overcrowd one section so shut the **** up.

[sbgawa]

The next couple of seasons these matches are going to become bigger and bigger

[sbgawa]

Would you ever shut the **** up about the ****ing "overcrowding". The away end was sold out, it was on Rovers twitter that there'd be no tickets, surprised you missed it, you must have missed that notification coming through. The away end was sold out but there were empty seats, why? Because your own fans decided to overcrowd one section so shut the **** up.

Don't feed the troll

[ArFella]

Would you ever shut the **** up about the ****ing "overcrowding". The away end was sold out, it was on Rovers twitter that there'd be no tickets, surprised you missed it, you must have missed that notification coming through. The away end was sold out but there were empty seats, why? Because your own fans decided to overcrowd one section so shut the **** up.

Take the night off hun x

[sbgawa]

Jack Byrne is some striker of a ball.

I wonder will he be here at the end of July?
Rumour is he is on the way.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

How Rob Harvey is going to justify not giving a red card to the referee board I have absolutely no idea, absolutely stone wall red card. Other highlights of his include allowing Shields to sprint (he was actually out of breath after doing it for context) 30 yards to tell him to give a card and allowing whoban and Kelly away with murder up front.

[sbgawa]

Harvey is Harvey it's a lottery every time.
We need to get those Latvian refs back.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Harvey is Harvey it's a lottery every time.
We need to get those Latvian refs back.

Not a lottery for Rovers, its heads he wins tails we lose with him.

[White Horse]

How Rob Harvey is going to justify not giving a red card to the referee board I have absolutely no idea, absolutely stone wall red card. Other highlights of his include allowing Shields to sprint (he was actually out of breath after doing it for context) 30 yards to tell him to give a card and allowing whoban and Kelly away with murder up front.

I thought that was one of his better decisions. Clarke showed his inexperience by making a heavy touch that meant it was no longer a goal scoring opportunity. Had Finn or Bryne been in that position, they would have kept the ball close to their feet and would have gained their side a one man advantage. These are the little mistakes that kill Rovers.

Dundalk were unlucky not to have at least one penalty; Massey early on was a possible call, but Gannon's cross towards the end of the first half was a stonewall penalty.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

I thought that was one of his better decisions. Clarke showed his inexperience by making a heavy touch that meant it was no longer a goal scoring opportunity. Has Finn or Bryne been in that position, they would have kept the ball close to their feet and would have gained their side a one man advantage. These are the little mistakes that kill Rovers.

Dundalk were unlucky not to have at least one penalty; Massey early on was a possible call, but Gannon's cross towards the end of the first half was a stonewall penalty.

This is Trevor Clarke, he's 100% getting to that ball after that touch and he has to take the heavier touch because Rodgers has absolutely no intention of playing that ball, he of the mind that if he gets it great but all he's thinking is stop Clarke. Even Supple was struggling for reasons to justify the decision and a Rovers player nearly has to be shot for him to think its a red.

There was no Massey earlier on incident, unless you're talking about when he fouled Pico. Gannons cross was from about a yard away and Kavanaghs arms weren't out, they're being given by VAR but they're not penalties those.

[sbgawa]

Great win for harps, looking bad for ucd now

[joey B]

Great performance tonight, Sligo were truly awful but we made them pay, Cretaro head and shoulders above everyone on the pitch,we also had a goal not given that looked over the line,had one of the bar and one disallowed for offside so Sligo were lucky they didn't take a tanking!

[sbgawa]

Finn harps versus Cabo in the promotion play off. I'll have to go into a dark room and come out when it's over

[sbgawa]

Cork?

[patrickccfc]

Cork?

No comment

[pineapple stu]

Great win for harps, looking bad for ucd now
We had 4 subs tonight. The outfield players had 3 minutes' experience between them. We had another starter making his debut. Harps winning doesn't affect us at this stage.

You'd imagine the First Division side will be favourites for the play-off this season.

[Nesta99]

This is Trevor Clarke, he's 100% getting to that ball after that touch and he has to take the heavier touch because Rodgers has absolutely no intention of playing that ball, he of the mind that if he gets it great but all he's thinking is stop Clarke. Even Supple was struggling for reasons to justify the decision and a Rovers player nearly has to be shot for him to think its a red.

There was no Massey earlier on incident, unless you're talking about when he fouled Pico. Gannons cross was from about a yard away and Kavanaghs arms weren't out, they're being given by VAR but they're not penalties those.

It turned out to be a frustrating night for Rovers and I understand your irritation! The discussion on whether a red was shown to Rogers or not was always going to be the big discussion point. It's all going to be clichéd comment - seen them given etc. But imo Harvey went with the letter of the law and Clarke was heading away from goal. If a red card had been shown I think Dundalk fans would have accepted it but with some grumbles on the player losing control of the ball, was heading away from goal and that defenders may have gotten etc back so not a 'stonewall' decision.
The peno shout I also felt that the arm/hand was away from the body and there didnt seem to be an effort to not block the cross it. If VAR was available it would have likely have been given. So logically if they are given by VAR they are penalties even if daft (similar to keepers keeping a foot on the line), the rule probably needs to change especially if there was VAR scrutiny but currently if VAR would give it then it should have been a penalty. Again seen them given but wasnt hopping mad 'cause it wasnt. Its likely that Dundalk's penalty count and maybe even Bradleys comments during the week worked against us and the ref wasnt going to give a penalty that wasnt 'stonewall'....was it at the box or in the box though, thats the big talking point...;)

By the time of the Rogers incident Rovers should have been out of sight and it should not be seen as the game defining moment that many Rovers fans will feel it was. There were a number of clear cut chances to win the game for Rovers both halves. Dundalk should have done better with the couple of breaks that had both Duffy and Hoban a good pass from putting either through on goal also.

Bradly was very magnaninous in defeat in his post match interview and rightly focused on how well Rovers played rather than questioning refs decisions. A quality striker and Rovers are a complete side. In saying that Hoban did very little really tonight though i think that he'd have finished one of the chances Greene had.

The league is far from done and if Rovers play like that for the remainder of the season they wont be far off in the league and should be hopefull of a good cup run. Europe will impact on teams' season so while 8 points is a nice lead to have its not game over. If the situation arises where games in hand happen there will be a lot of pressure to make them count so anything can happen yet.

Were Derry very good or Cork very poor tonight. O'Connor being suspended now wont help things but for as poor as Cork have been this season they are above Waterford!!

[mcgonigle]

How Rob Harvey is going to justify not giving a red card to the referee board I have absolutely no idea, absolutely stone wall red card. Other highlights of his include allowing Shields to sprint (he was actually out of breath after doing it for context) 30 yards to tell him to give a card and allowing whoban and Kelly away with murder up front.

Yellow the correct decision, Clarke never going to get to the ball after heavy touch. Any opinion on the second stonewall peno Dundalk haven't got at Tallaght this season or are the rose tinted glasses glued on tonight?

The fact you have the cheek to talk about Shields when you've Bolger in your team is laughable. You'll feel better in the morning, log off for the night.

[D24Saint]

Cork?

that would be an ecumenical matter

[RathfarnhamHoop]

But imo Harvey went with the letter of the law and Clarke was heading away from goal. If a red card had been shown I think Dundalk fans would have accepted it but with some grumbles on the player losing control of the ball, was heading away from goal and that defenders may have gotten etc back so not a 'stonewall' decision.

The laws don't talk about away from goal though, the talk about clear goal scoring opportunities and Trevor Clarke at full tilt is getting that ball at the latest at the corner of the box with nobody anywhere near him or the goal, that's about as clear a goalscoring opportunity as you can get.

Kicking the ball ahead also isn't the same as losing control of it, like Bales famous goal vs Barcelona it's just using your pace to your advantage, keeping the ball on your toe isn't always the best option, especially when you're by fra the fastest player on the pitch.


Yellow the correct decision, Clarke never going to get to the ball after heavy touch. Any opinion on the second stonewall peno Dundalk haven't got at Tallaght this season or are the rose tinted glasses glued on tonight?

The fact you have the cheek to talk about Shields when you've Bolger in your team is laughable. You'll feel better in the morning, log off for the night.

Have you ever seen Clarke run? You must have been smoking some of that funny stuff the lads in the shed have if you don't think he's getting that ball.

You seriously trying to suggest Shields doesn't ref the game? Even the most one eyed of Dundalk fan will admit he does.

[Kingswood Rover]

Yellow the correct decision, Clarke never going to get to the ball after heavy touch. Any opinion on the second stonewall peno Dundalk haven't got at Tallaght this season or are the rose tinted glasses glued on tonight?

The fact you have the cheek to talk about Shields when you've Bolger in your team is laughable. You'll feel better in the morning, log off for the night.

ah lads it was a red card all day long, some shocking decisions against us this season but ultimately its our inability to convert. Our starting striker checking his run to see if he was offside from a dundalk back pass to the keeper thats what the striker we are playing week in week out. Great game a very good advertisement for the League finishing within 10 points and 2nd still on. A proven goalscorer that clicks and i recekon we will be ready to challenge, everything else is in place

[mcgonigle]

The laws don't talk about away from goal though, the talk about clear goal scoring opportunities and Trevor Clarke at full tilt is getting that ball at the latest at the corner of the box with nobody anywhere near him or the goal, that's about as clear a goalscoring opportunity as you can get.

Kicking the ball ahead also isn't the same as losing control of it, like Bales famous goal vs Barcelona it's just using your pace to your advantage, keeping the ball on your toe isn't always the best option, especially when you're by fra the fastest player on the pitch.



Have you ever seen Clarke run? You must have been smoking some of that funny stuff the lads in the shed have if you don't think he's getting that ball.

You seriously trying to suggest Shields doesn't ref the game? Even the most one eyed of Dundalk fan will admit he does.

I've seen the replay, he's not getting to it and even if he did he's at the sideline with cover already across.

You have Bolger in your team stop embarrassing yourself

[patrickccfc]

Were Derry very good or Cork very poor tonight. O'Connor being suspended now wont help things but for as poor as Cork have been this season they are above Waterford!!

That was the worst home performance in recent memory from us. Absolutely clueless. Fans let the players know how they felt at full time. I just walked out, I normally stay until they go down the tunnel. In truth, I should've left after 30 minutes. Yeah we are above Waterford but they have 3 games in hand.

[marinobohs]

To be fair most in here including shams questioned the lack of a striker before the season started. Bad recruitment for a club with a big (by LOI standards) budget and it has stymied any real title challenge.

Meanwhile Long/Crolly over achieve with another win tonight in Waterford, sets up a cracker V Derry in Monday night. Loving this season

[Jack B]

Genuinely don't like being a misery merchant but this is right up there with the least I've ever enjoyed a season despite us having many where we've been a worse side than this year. Our squad is too good for it to be as...meh as it has been so far.