Friendlies 2020

[nigel-harps1954]

Clubs can't play friendlies before 3pm on Sunday.

Harps were supposed to play UCD tonight but it's been changed to 3pm on Sunday, presumably just to p!ss off the referees, who only informed clubs of this seminar inside the past few days.

[Nesta99]

Dundalk v CSKA Moscow streamed here https://pfc-cska.com/media/live/

[2 Year Contract]

Dundalk v CSKA Moscow streamed here https://pfc-cska.com/media/live/

Saw the first 25 mins of this. CSKA on another level as you’d expect with the likes of Russia's golden boy from the World Cup Alan Dzagoev on the pitch. They carved Dundalk apart for the two goals but Dundalk had one great attack where they got in behind and Duffy got on the end of a cross but didn’t get a good enough connection to keep it on target

[Ezeikial]

Saw the first 25 mins of this. CSKA on another level as you’d expect with the likes of Russia's golden boy from the World Cup Alan Dzagoev on the pitch. They carved Dundalk apart for the two goals but Dundalk had one great attack where they got in behind and Duffy got on the end of a cross but didn’t get a good enough connection to keep it on target


You tuned out too early as Dundalk got to grips with the opposition from about then onwards. Vinny Perth in a post match interview (2:14 mins video interview in the link below)


"In the last 70 minutes, we were outstanding. It was an amazing workout. We've played two teams of the highest level and we've competed with them. I'm really happy."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m0MhcK3xX8

Dundalk have been very impressive over the two friendlies in Spain against Cluj and CSKA

[total hoofball]

All this weekend's games have been called off due to a refereeing seminar.

All LoI referees are attending and for a LoI team to play a pre-season friendly it has to be a LoI referee in charge.
It really is the Greatest League in the World isn't it

[2 Year Contract]

You tuned out too early as Dundalk got to grips with the opposition from about then onwards.

i heard that alright, here’s the passage of play I mentioned above, great move. https://twitter.com/ui_maine/status/1221181654896644096?s=21

[D24Saint]

0-0 V Wexford in IT Blanchardstown today.

[MattB11]

UCD 2-3 Harps

[BonnieShels]

i heard that alright, here’s the passage of play I mentioned above, great move. https://twitter.com/ui_maine/status/1221181654896644096?s=21

That was a lovely passage of play.

[outspoken]

Shels 1-0 LTFC: Kilduff with a tap in from a poorly defended corner. Longford dominated the ball in the first half, faded a little in the second but much improved showing from last week against Bohs. Draw would have been far. Shels very unimpressive.

[2 Year Contract]

Athlone 1-6 Pats tonight with McClelland, Forrester, Rennie, Hale X2 and walker scoring and a trialist getting Athlone's goal. To be honest it could’ve been double that if pats weren’t as sloppy in front of goal. Athlone look miles of the level Cobh and Wexford were at in the last couple of weeks. It was only their second friendly of the year though and they’ll definitely improve

[Longfordian]

Longford crush the Ballybofey Galacticos 2-1. Bring on Dundalk on Tuesday, they have no idea of the lesson they're about to get.

[sbgawa]

Rovers beat Cabo 3 nil at 11 a.m in Tallaght and then Galway 1 nil in Galway at 6pm.
Two mixed teams def stronger one played Galway.

[Ezeikial]

Rovers beat Cabo 3 nil at 11 a.m in Tallaght and then Galway 1 nil in Galway at 6pm.
Two mixed teams def stronger one played Galway.

Will Longbottom trialling as a potential hat stand today.

[sbgawa]

Did well. Mobile , good touch, needs a coat of varnish and a couple of extra hangers but has potential

[sbgawa]

If he signs his nickname is shortarse

[Martinho II]

Longford crush the Ballybofey Galacticos 2-1. Bring on Dundalk on Tuesday, they have no idea of the lesson they're about to get.

judging by his goal Aaron McNally is a hell of a player. Harps got their act together in 2nd half after a Ollie Horgan rollicking that could be heard in the jacks!

[2 Year Contract]

Galway 1-2 Pats
Dundalk 0-1 Longford

[nigel-harps1954]

Dundalk to get relegated. Longford to win the league, champions league, world cup and superbowl.

[Longfordian]

Galway 1-2 Pats
Dundalk 0-1 Longford

Lineal champions.

[outspoken]

Absolutely phenomenal performance from Longford really good on and off the ball, missed several good chances. Don't think anyone would argue the best team didn't win, that's what any Dundalk fan I spoke to afterwards said anyway.

Really impressed with us in the last few weeks, really confident for the new season.

Dundalk always look tired after their Spanish camp it was the same last year. Vinny said after the game he's trained them really hard in recent days too.

In saying that I'd fancy rovers chances on Sunday Dundalk have looked off the boil last 2 or 3 games.

[Nesta99]

It was pretty much a first good runout for what most would consider first choice together. Did look leggy but thats the whole point of preseason, get the hards yards in for when ye need to dig deep in the closing moments of a game. Longford were good, well organised and had a creative spark about them. It could be a good season for them - will they be waving at Mr Fenn on the way past come next November!?

Its good to get that first bit of silverware under the belts but as is the norm the season curtain raiser will be of little significance to either team. Is it 7 years now that the top two in the league were also cup winners/runners up and in for the Presidents Trophy? Remarkable really. If Dundalk win hopefully it will get in under the Rovers players' skin - there has to be one bogey team now that the Dublin Derby is not the king maker is has been ;p

[dundalkfc10]

Absolutely phenomenal performance from Longford really good on and off the ball, missed several good chances. Don't think anyone would argue the best team didn't win, that's what any Dundalk fan I spoke to afterwards said anyway.

Really impressed with us in the last few weeks, really confident for the new season.

Dundalk always look tired after their Spanish camp it was the same last year. Vinny said after the game he's trained them really hard in recent days too.

In saying that I'd fancy rovers chances on Sunday Dundalk have looked off the boil last 2 or 3 games.

It was 2 games ago, people were saying how good we looked v CSKA and Cruj

Its pre season friendlies, with half a team. Another friendly this Sunday.

Nothing matters until Next Fri night (Sat for Bohs and Rovers)

[outspoken]

It was 2 games ago, people were saying how good we looked v CSKA and Cruj

Its pre season friendlies, with half a team. Another friendly this Sunday.

Nothing matters until Next Fri night (Sat for Bohs and Rovers)

Played Drogs, Crusaders & Longford. As you point out half teams but compare the performances in those 3 games to the one against UCD they have as suggested by another dundalk fan above looked leggy. Hopefully the hard yards pay off and they can get off to a flyer on Sunday as much as people like to say it means nothing it's always nice to get one over rovers.

[The Donie Forde]

Just a heads up for any Longford fans who might be making the trip to Cork on Saturday, the game has been switched from Turner's Cross to Bishopstown.
KO is still 3.00pm.

[Mr A]

I hope that's true Donie Forde.

Otherwise it would be a low lie to change the field to Bishopstown.

[Nesta99]

Played Drogs, Crusaders & Longford. As you point out half teams but compare the performances in those 3 games to the one against UCD they have as suggested by another dundalk fan above looked leggy. Hopefully the hard yards pay off and they can get off to a flyer on Sunday as much as people like to say it means nothing it's always nice to get one over rovers.

I'd say this week has been winding down the focus on S+C and doing more tactical stuff, a bit of a rest from the intesnity. It's a fine balance between getting sharp and fatiguing players to the extent of picking up nagging injuries or having a slow start to the league. It will be too close this season not to be kicking off with reasonable form as any gap that opens will be tougher to close I feel. In many ways a top class S+C person at a club is more important than managers as their work can set the tone significantly in the 1st round.

[Real ale Madrid]

I hope that's true Donie Forde.

Otherwise it would be a low lie to change the field to Bishopstown.

Spectacular.

[Mr A]

Spectacular.

Pretty damn niche in fairness!

[D24Saint]

Saints 1-0 Drogs. A very competitive friendly with some nice passages of play. The goal was a lovely move with a decent finish. I was impressed with Rennie up front in the second half, good work rate.

[Jack B]

Pats-Drogs was a decent enough game. First half was competitive, second half less so as we came out for it and dominated possession from the off while they struggled to string more than a couple of passes together to hit on the break as they had done dangerously a few times in the first 45. A large part of that was down to Robbie Benson, despite not exactly doing anything too spectacular he just looked a cut above for me and even just in terms of ball retention did a lot for us having a smooth enough ride in the second half.

[Yossarian]

A large part of that was down to Robbie Benson, despite not exactly doing anything too spectacular he just looked a cut above for me and even just in terms of ball retention did a lot for us having a smooth enough ride in the second half.

That’s exactly what Benson does. I can recall so many times people would say he wasn’t in a game but then when he was injured it was clear what he did and what was missing.

[outspoken]

Cork 2-0 LTFC: awful day for a game and pitch was brutal so hard to learn much but basically town started well for 10 Minutes or so but gifted Cork the first 2 goals through defensive mistakes.

Cork grew in confidence then and started moving it quicker and you can definitely see the work Fenn has been doing with them in that regard.

In saying that you'd definitely be worried about them defensively and against sides who will have more of the ball. Certain players didn't look like they wanted to know about off the ball work so this could be a big success or a major disaster.

Wasn't impressed with Shels in pre season so opening game should tell us a lot about what direction both teams might head this season. Can't wait for the real stuff to start now

[sbgawa]

Presidents cup postponed

[White Horse]

Lovely day here in Louth. It must be really bad in Dublin, making travel difficult. Fair enough to postpone in those circumstances.

[disgruntled]

Cork 2-0 LTFC: awful day for a game and pitch was brutal so hard to learn much but basically town started well for 10 Minutes or so but gifted Cork the first 2 goals through defensive mistakes.

Cork grew in confidence then and started moving it quicker and you can definitely see the work Fenn has been doing with them in that regard.

In saying that you'd definitely be worried about them defensively and against sides who will have more of the ball. Certain players didn't look like they wanted to know about off the ball work so this could be a big success or a major disaster.

Wasn't impressed with Shels in pre season so opening game should tell us a lot about what direction both teams might head this season. Can't wait for the real stuff to start now

Agree the weather conditions weren't great for a game with a gale blowing straight down the pitch. I didn't think the pitch was bad at all considering the conditions. Bishopstown is wide open when the weather is bad.
I expected more from Longford which could be due to the players they had on duty ?
In fairness they tried to play football but had little up front to trouble the City defence apart from a couple of free kicks.
The two goals were well taken. The first came when O' Connor won the ball on the right followed by a low cross which Dillon stepped over which left Coleman free coming in behind to stroke the ball home.
The second came when O'Connor scored with a low shot. Longford defence should probably have done better on both occasions.
City are still experimenting with players in various positions so next week vs Shels should give us a better idea.
Overall a very useful exercise for both clubs.

[pineapple stu]

Lovely day here in Louth. It must be really bad in Dublin, making travel difficult. Fair enough to postpone in those circumstances.
Seems a strange decision alright. I know there's an orange weather warning in place, but that's only until midday. It's sunny, showery and blustery in Wicklow - not the best weather for a match, but calling it off seems a bit extreme.

Always better to be safe than sorry when there's weather warnings in place of course.

[Longfordian]

Lovely day here in Louth. It must be really bad in Dublin, making travel difficult. Fair enough to postpone in those circumstances.

I'm In Dublin and it's fine. Bit windy but nothing major.

[Yossarian]

Seems odd alright. I drove from Dundalk to Dublin this morning and it was grand, if a bit windy. Can’t see it being replayed as there’s no place to fit it in.

[Nesta99]

FA Charity Sheild they share it if it isnt played. How about awarding along with 3 points to the winner of the next fixture between the club. Otherwise I cant see people being too fussed on getting it played as a refixture.

[sbgawa]

That's a good idea. Next league match wins it as well as the 3 points. If it's a draw have a penalty shoot out for the cup. Good craic

[EatYerGreens]

That's a good idea. Next league match wins it as well as the 3 points. If it's a draw have a penalty shoot out for the cup. Good craic

Good idea - but do it without the 3 points. Sure a trophy is always better anyway.

[DCSIL]

Dundalk - Derry on Friday and Dundalk - Bohs on Tuesday at Oriel.
Paris SG - Shamrock Rovers on the 17th in the Parc Des Princes

[D24Saint]

Dundalk - Derry on Friday and Dundalk - Bohs on Tuesday at Oriel.
Paris SG - Shamrock Rovers on the 17th in the Parc Des Princes

Is the Paris V Rovers game confirmed, great fixture to get.

[DCSIL]

Only on French media - live on BEIn sports so probably able to be picked up

[The Lilywhites]

Do Rovers have to quarantine for 14 days after coming back? Like with the Irish contingent that went to UK/France at the weekend for racing.

[Martinho II]

Do Rovers have to quarantine for 14 days after coming back? Like with the Irish contingent that went to UK/France at the weekend for racing.

Yep they would. Mind you didnt stop Billy Kellegher that MEP from Cork who didnt go into quarantine to attend the new Taoiseachs inauguration even though he took a temperature test in Brussels.

[nigel-harps1954]

Presumably if they all quarantine together, they can still train together...

[Nesta99]

Dundalk - Derry on Friday and Dundalk - Bohs on Tuesday at Oriel.
Paris SG - Shamrock Rovers on the 17th in the Parc Des Princes

Great friendly to get under the belt. Rovers playing PSG isnt bad either!!

[total hoofball]

Do Rovers have to quarantine for 14 days after coming back? Like with the Irish contingent that went to UK/France at the weekend for racing.
Yes, so I expect this friendly will be cancelled