W/End games Friday 11th Sept 1st div

[SeanDrog]

Exciting run in for the title

Cabo vs Athlone
Galway vs Rovers II
Wexford v Bray
Cobh v UCD
Longford v Drogs

Will Cabbo bounce back from a recent poor run of results or can Athlone grab that “win”. Galway I am convinced are the king makers and their result vs UCD gives credence to this, will they continue this with Rovers ? Wexford are falling off a cliff but results are harsh as they are a decent side - will they stop Brays title run? Cobh are having a great run recently beating Longford and Drogs but UCD need to bounce back after their Galway kicking. Drogs haven’t taken a single point off Longford last or this season! Can we finally break this “bogey team”, the winner will be in a great position for the title. Longford have been under power this year, can they settle down for a strong run in.

LOI first division - fantastic unpredictability this season.

[wonder88]

Looks like it could be a very exciting run in. Hope Galway can continue the good form shown since John Cauldfield has taken over.

[Martinho II]

I think all the momentum is with Drogheda now look at their GD for starters. I really fear for us. If we get a draw I would be delighted tbh.

[SeanDrog]

Jeez Athlone just can’t catch a break and poor Wexford could taste victory only to get a late triple kick in the teeth.

Cabo 1-1 Athlone
Galway2-1 Rovers
Wexford 1-3 Bray

Tonight Cobh v UCD (both on similar points, who can push the other down)

Longford v Drogs ( (top of table clash)

[SeanDrog]

So final games in

Cobh 0-6 UCD - Cobh went down to 10 37minute. UCD making a very clear statement of intent. They lost heavily to Drogs (their next game) early in the season and will be looking to continue their current scoring form while hoping to get revenge.

Longford 1-1 Drogs I found this a very exciting game - esp. the second half - imo a draw was a fair result for two teams that gave it a real go. Plus we finally took a point off Longford !

So table is still very tight, bray sit clear on two points but the pack are right on their shoulder.

Note: I found the streaming by Longford very good - I wonder if teams will keep this up post Covid as a revenue source - 5e/game is great value esp. for away supporters who can’t travel.

[Nesta99]

So final games in

Note: I found the streaming by Longford very good - I wonder if teams will keep this up post Covid as a revenue source - 5e/game is great value esp. for away supporters who can’t travel.

1st Div clubs would make a nice sum on home games v Cork hence!

[Martinho II]

So final games in

Cobh 0-6 UCD - Cobh went down to 10 37minute. UCD making a very clear statement of intent. They lost heavily to Drogs (their next game) early in the season and will be looking to continue their current scoring form while hoping to get revenge.

Longford 1-1 Drogs I found this a very exciting game - esp. the second half - imo a draw was a fair result for two teams that gave it a real go. Plus we finally took a point off Longford !

So table is still very tight, bray sit clear on two points but the pack are right on their shoulder.

Note: I found the streaming by Longford very good - I wonder if teams will keep this up post Covid as a revenue source - 5e/game is great value esp. for away supporters who can’t travel.

Yeah one of the contributors here Outspoken commentates on it along with his between the stripes podcast too! Hes a fierce busy man these days! My younger brother also helps out behind the scenes too with live streaming.. The lads are doing a fantastic job altogether.

[joey B]

https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/wexford-fc-found-in-breach-of-fielding-an-ineligible-player/id-3534

Wexford played an ineligible player for FOUR games!

Biggest consequence is Cabinteely turn a 5-1 defeat into a 3-0 win!

Farcical stuff with implications for play off spots....

[pineapple stu]

Wexford did this before didn't they?

That's ridiculous. Also ridiculous that this wasn't spotted for four games. How hard can it be for the FAI to check the players from each match?

[ForzaForth]

Details of the case have already been reported in the Irish Mirror - see below. The case concerns Ola Adeyemo who was signed just before the end of the lockdown. Wexford were told that his registration was held by Hayes FC in the UK and they got an international transfer certificate on that basis. After he played four matches, the word came back from the UK that there was a problem with the certificate that had been issued and that Ola's registration was in fact held by a club in Sweden. Unbeknownst to Wexford, Ola had signed with a Swedish club, probably through an agent, during the lockdown. Was the player aware that his registration was held in Sweden? That I don't know but you'd think it would be as easy to get a transfer from Sweden as from the UK. Wexford didn't play Ola as soon as they heard about the issue.

The word about Ferrycarrig is that the FAI have recognised that Wexford acted correctly on this occasion and to the best of their ability. Hopefully, that'll be taken into account in the application of any fine.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/fai-investigating-potential-player-ineligibility-22616977

[joey B]

Wexford did this before didn't they?

That's ridiculous. Also ridiculous that this wasn't spotted for four games. How hard can it be for the FAI to check the players from each match?

Don't think it's the first time, if I was UCD, Galway and especially Cobh I'd be raging over it......

[sidewayspasser]

Given that Cobh won their match against Wexford 4-0, does this scoreline remain or do Cobh actually lose a goal if the match is awarded 3-0 to Cobh?

[pineapple stu]

No, it stays 4-0

[sbgawa]

With UCD playing Galway in the last match one or both drop points.
If Cabo can pick up 3 points away to UCD or home to Drogs they make the play offs courtesy of Wexford ....GLITW

Galways last 3 are UCD , Drogs and Bray...tough

[Yossarian]

Looks like Wexford are going to appeal this so, as it may have a bearing on the playoff places, it could run and perhaps have an impact on the fixture schedule for the playoffs?

[Mr A]

This was an appeal- can they take it further? Seems like a really crappy thing to have affect the season and Wexford seem to have been genuinely caught by something outside their control.

[Yossarian]

I didn’t realise it was an appeal. I presume it was an FAI appeal system? I suppose they could go down the CAS route but that’s probably costly and any potential success isn’t going to really affect their season.

[sbgawa]

No hope of this being overturned on appeal, it's a technicality but it is a rule breach and u can be sure Cabo won't be happy to see the rules ignored

[ForzaForth]

Local Wexford newspapers have confirmed this week that the FAI has suspended the fine imposed on Wexford in relation to the Ola Adeyemo case for a year. If Wexford can keep out of trouble during that period, the fine will be cancelled.

[SeanDrog]

Super Saturday for the 1st division

Kick off 3pm both free online

Bray v Galway - both need a win. Bray to stop Drogs over taking them if Drogs win their match. Galway need to win to get a play off spot. Also if Drogs lose/draw and bray win that’s that it’s Bray title. Cracking fixture with lots on the line for both clubs.

Drogs v Wexford - Drogs need win to keep hopes of title alive and will be hoping bray drop points to Galway allowing Drogs go top going into last game on Tuesday. But Drogs struggle all season against teams in the bottom half of the table ! So no guarantee of a Drogs win.

Nice odds on PP for a Galway win - Galway are far better than their league table position and will be hurting from their Drogs defeat during the week.

[Scrufil]

Smash n grab by Galway. 7 teams could still get promoted. Crazy stuff.

[pineapple stu]

Well that makes it interesting - wins for Galway and Drogheda mean Drogs go top by a point, and Galway join Cobh in being two points off Cabo in the play-offs.

So for the final week on Tuesday it's -

Athlone v Bray - you'd have to imagine Bray will win here
Cabo v Drogheda - probably a Drogheda win based on recent form, which would mean the title for Drogs. Cabo's goal difference means they really need to win to be comfortable of a play-off spot, having started the season with seven straight wins.
Cobh v Shamrock Rovers II - again, Cobh favourites for this one
Galway v UCD - we've by and large ****ed on the weak teams and struggled against the more grown-up teams. Our goal difference means we should be guaranteed a play-off spot even if Galway and Cobh match our points tally, but we lost timidly enough in the Bowl and I wouldn't be hopeful here
Wexford v Longford - no reason to doubt a Longford win here.

So based on that, I reckon it's Drogheda as champions, and then Bray v Galway and Longford v UCD in the play-offs for the ultimate right to get kicked about the place by Harps :p

[SeanDrog]

Nervy Drogs win but great result at the same time. Unbelievable to see the late Galway winner. Thank you Galway for brining cheer to Drogland and also paying for my takeaway tonight with my PP winnings.

Nervous Tuesday here we come.

[SeanDrog]

Just realised - I don’t think Cabbo stream ! Ah man if I’m right then I hope they let the Drogs crew stream the match as UCD did earlier in the season.

[pineapple stu]

Cabo streamed their game against us anyway. Was excellent too.

[SeanDrog]

Cabo streamed their game against us anyway. Was excellent too.

Ah great to hear 👍 my misunderstanding

[Poor Student]

The short seasons have given me an appreciation for the Apertura and Clausura. The combination of the playoff structure and the 18 game season has made for a ridiculously competitive and interesting league where everyone bar the bottom three have been jostling and competing for something all season. Maybe it should be added to the list of options when the inevitable 2-3 year discussions take place to find the one format to rule them all this time.

[joey B]

Wexford have won their appeal apparently, Cabo drop out of the play off, Galway away to Bray instead and the #Greatestleagueintheworld delivers again!

[Martinho II]

Wexford have won their appeal apparently, Cabo drop out of the play off, Galway away to Bray instead and the #Greatestleagueintheworld delivers again!

Yeah Wexford were always confident of winning the appeal. Delighted for Galway. Think that all the momentum is with them I really fancy them to win the playoffs altogether. They are in serious form.