Games 28th Oct to 4th November

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Wednesday 28th
Shamrock Rovers v Derry 18:00 ??
Finn Harps v St Pats 19:45

Sunday 1st
St Pats v Dundalk 19:45
Finn Harps v Shamrock Rovers 19:45

Wednesday 4th

Shamrock Rovers v St Pats 19:45

First Division (All 19:45 today 27th October)

Wexford v Longford
Galway v UCD
Cabo v Drogheda
Athlone v Bray
Cobh v Shamrock Rovers ii

[sbgawa]

I was going to have a bash at the FAI for not having rules in place on Covid postponements before we came back at all hence Waterfod, Galway , Pats , Rovers postponements but maybe that is to easy and just my usual default response.
Not having a rule left them flexibility when they still had some but now they have none hence the no postponements rule comes in last week.
If Derry forfeit the result and probably also the Cork match which is their final match we are lucky that the results are meaningless as Rovers have already won the leage and Cork are relegated already. Harps dodged a bullet winning in Dalymount at the weekend (as did the the league in general) , a Cork walkover against Derry would have been some way for Harps to get relegated if they did'nt pick up anymore points.......

Looking at the league table if the FAI put it up to Derry they will have to send some team down to play the match with Rovers , they would be tossing away their last slim shot at Europe. When i saw the stuff on-line last night from Derry saying the match was postponed it did strike me as a two fingers to the FAI from Derry given they only just announced the rule change....will be interesting to see how it plays out

[sbgawa]

If Pats win against Harps it sets up a huge match with Dundalk on Sunday where PAts could go ahead of Dundalk into 3rd place.

The first division has been great this year in a drama sense rather than quality.
If UCD are smart they will kill themselves to get a result in Galway as they will possibly have to play them in the play offs if they dont get a result in Galway tonight. Free hit for them tonight to knock out a team showing form at the right time.

Cant see Cabo getting anything off Drogs so Bray will have to go through the play off route.
Cobh could sneak into the playoffs assuming UCD get a point in Galway and Drogs wion in Cabo...provided of course they beat SRFC ii who have been playing well of late.......interesting night....pity there is'nt a sky sports type last day presentation somewhere

[sidewayspasser]

If Derry forfeit both matches, there is still an outside chance that they end up in the playoff spot. Would they risk that and just hope that either Shels or Harps stay behind them?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I was going to have a bash at the FAI for not having rules in place on Covid postponements before we came back at all hence Waterfod, Galway , Pats , Rovers postponements but maybe that is to easy and just my usual default response.
Not having a rule left them flexibility when they still had some but now they have none hence the no postponements rule comes in last week.
If Derry forfeit the result and probably also the Cork match which is their final match we are lucky that the results are meaningless as Rovers have already won the leage and Cork are relegated already. Harps dodged a bullet winning in Dalymount at the weekend (as did the the league in general) , a Cork walkover against Derry would have been some way for Harps to get relegated if they did'nt pick up anymore points.......

Looking at the league table if the FAI put it up to Derry they will have to send some team down to play the match with Rovers , they would be tossing away their last slim shot at Europe. When i saw the stuff on-line last night from Derry saying the match was postponed it did strike me as a two fingers to the FAI from Derry given they only just announced the rule change....will be interesting to see how it plays out

There should definitely have been rules about what happens here set in stone before the resumption rather then changing it towards the end and a team or teams who get hit a couple of weeks before season ends may have to forfeit game while others could postpone in the same season.

[Calcio Jack]

There should definitely have been rules about what happens here set in stone before the resumption rather then changing it towards the end and a team or teams who get hit a couple of weeks before season ends may have to forfeit game while others could postpone in the same season.

Interesting that Derry put out a statement declaring match postponed without informing the FAI - either they ‘forgot’ they'd been informed that no more postponements allowed or they are trying to call the FAI’s bluff - if that’s the case then this will get interesting

[pineapple stu]

If UCD are smart they will kill themselves to get a result in Galway as they will possibly have to play them in the play offs if they dont get a result in Galway tonight.
I don't think we can face Galway in the play-offs? 2v5 and 3v4, and we can't both finish 3rd/4th. I think it'll be Bray v Galway and Longford v us. Not too worried about subsequent rounds as to be honest we concede too many to win a three round play-off

[sbgawa]

I was giving you more credit Stu.....playoff final

[pineapple stu]

Well, play-off semi. There's still Harps to come after that.

This evening's just a game tbh. But a look at our form v various clubs shows a huge divide being the adult and the kid teams; in fact, if Cabo miss the play-offs, it means we'll end up with just two points dropped against the bottom half and one point gained against the top half.


Team P W D L F A GD Pts
Drogs 2 0 0 2 2 8 -6 0
Bray 2 0 0 2 1 5 -4 0
Longf 2 0 1 1 1 3 -2 1
Cabo 2 2 0 0 8 1 7 6
Galway 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0
Cobh 2 2 0 0 7 0 7 6
Athlone 2 2 0 0 6 3 3 6
ShamsII 2 2 0 0 8 3 5 6
Wexford 2 1 1 0 9 1 8 4

[sbgawa]

That's amazing, i would never have thought your record was so one sided.

[placid casual]

Bit of a tricky situation for Rovers to be in, in regards the Derry postponement request. Hopefully Rovers just stay schtum, and let the FAI make a judgement on whether the game goes ahead or not.

[redobit]

Interesting that Derry put out a statement declaring match postponed without informing the FAI - either they ‘forgot’ they'd been informed that no more postponements allowed or they are trying to call the FAI’s bluff - if that’s the case then this will get interesting

If they are postponing the Shamrock game then you'd think they would have to postpone the cup quarter final in The Showgrounds four days later. Postponing games at this stage is not good, its not like there is much time to fit them in later. I cant see Fai making teams forfeit games but will be interesting to see how they play this with season practically over.

[sbgawa]

Would seriously doubt Rovers could give a monkeys tbh, although i guess they would probably prefer to play to get back into it
Hard to see how it can be refixed as Rovers are already playing this Sunday and Wednesday before the final weekend
Strange if they give a walkover as the result matters to them as a slim chance of qualifying for Europe or indeed dropping into the playoffs

I can see the FAI making teams forfeit , with covid on the rise and a positive test meaning players out for two weeks we will never get the season done
Dundalk were in Derry last week, they could have a case next or indeed if the match gos ahead tommorow and a Derry player who wasnt classified as a close contact but di dhave it passes it on it could be Rovers again

[pineapple stu]

The Cup game is trickier than the league one I'd have thought as it'd feed into the schedule for all clubs.

Notts County had covid cases last week ahead of their FA Cup tie with Kings Lynn and scratched as a result; Kings Lynn got a bye into the next round

[DCSIL]

FA Cup has a rule that the game has to be played before the draw or the team involved with postponement gets kicked out...

See the conspiracy theories are floating round, one being Derry want to rest ahead of the FAI Cup tie.

[nigel-harps1954]

FAI have no real choice here, if Derry can't play, it'll go down as a 3-0 to Rovers. They set out their stall with their release last week stating games would have to go ahead or risk forfeit.

Surely Derry have enough players though to fill 13 places?

[sbgawa]

FA Cup has a rule that the game has to be played before the draw or the team involved with postponement gets kicked out...

See the conspiracy theories are floating round, one being Derry want to rest ahead of the FAI Cup tie.


That has to be BS (obviously i appreciate you know that)
Positive tests are out for 10 days and close contacts for so any players in those buckets won't be available for the cup tie anyway
If they only have 1 player out and no close contacts there is no way the FAI will let them postpone

[Yossarian]

It’s seems the blame for all this mess lies with the FAI for not having a rule in place when the season restarted. It’s not a good look now to punish teams when other teams had there games postponed in this exact situation.
Tomorrow’s game being postponed or given as a walkover won’t have any impact on the league but if it affects the cup game at the weekend then it’ll get messy.

[lofty9]

That has to be BS (obviously i appreciate you know that)
Positive tests are out for 10 days and close contacts for so any players in those buckets won't be available for the cup tie anyway
If they only have 1 player out and no close contacts there is no way the FAI will let them postpone


Let’s see how many +ve cases come back today from everyone at the club tested yesterday.
Derry have just done what Rovers did last week and cancelled the game. Definitely looks like a two fingers job.

[sbgawa]

Rovers did'nt announce the game as cancelled they went to the FAI same as every club affected up to then and asked for postponement during the affected period and were granted it again the same as every club was up to that point.
The rules have changed and Derry may be the first victim, unlikely to be the last.
Rovers game doesnt (or is very unlikely to matter) but they will be very unfortunate to have to play the cup with a load missing.

[DCSIL]

That has to be BS (obviously i appreciate you know that)

Social Media, so going to be.

As Lofty says, wait and see if we have any positive results in the panel.

Local Media reporting cases in Derry and Strabane down, which is a plus no doubt helped with the Travel restrictions in force over the border.

[sbgawa]

Kinda bizarre there is still no word on the game as regards if it is going ahead or not.
I suppose its not like they have to let fans know so they don't travel down :)

[joey B]

https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/derry-city-confirm-they-are-unable-to-fulfil-shamrock-rovers-fixture/id-3548

Derrys next 2 games are off, tomorrows game with the FAI’s Disciplinary Committee to decide what happens with it.....

[D24Saint]

https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/derry-city-confirm-they-are-unable-to-fulfil-shamrock-rovers-fixture/id-3548

Derrys next 2 games are off, tomorrows game with the FAI’s Disciplinary Committee to decide what happens with it.....

The wording is very interesting I suspect a walkover could be awarded to Rovers.

[nigel-harps1954]

Enjoying flicking between a few of the streams tonight. Some good quality stuff out there.

Bit laggy at times but the Galway stream is very well done. Some audio issues there, but main thing is the stream is good.

Have an eye on the Athlone v Bray game and Cabo v Drogheda too and both are very good productions. Great credit to all First Division sides for producing this content.

Currently Bray have the upper hand and Galway sneak into a playoff position but couple of big performances ahead in each respective 45.

[pineapple stu]

Galway commentator was driving me mad towards the end with his sniffle! :p

But the result makes up for it. And a home play-off is an unexpected bonus. What are Longford losing to Wexford for?

[SeanDrog]

Yyyeeessssssssssssssz 3 long years behind us ... sweet

[2 Year Contract]

Heartbreaking stuff for Galway, 2 screamers in injury time. Fair play to Drogheda, they had their own few years of heartbreak in the playoffs over the last few years so and it’s a well deserved title. Galway's day will come

[pineapple stu]

Weir's free-kick was spectacular alright (though it was with 3/4 minutes to go, not injury time). Fully 35 yards out. Can't remember the last time we scored a goal like it. Worth watching on the YouTube link.

[hollocaine]

Galway commentator was driving me mad towards the end with his sniffle! :p

But the result makes up for it. And a home play-off is an unexpected bonus. What are Longford losing to Wexford for?


Cos we're brutal

[joey B]

Fair play to Drogheda and they'll be happy not having to meet Shels in the play-offs after last year!!

[Mr A]

Cos we're brutal

Succinctly put.

[De Town]

Cos we're brutal

You're being far too kind.

Waste of time even taking part in the playoffs to be honest. The agony has just been needlessly extended by another 4 days. End the season now please.

[placid casual]

Congratulations to Drogheda. Its a real dogfight to escape that division!

Always enjoyed the spin up to Utd park, a quick livener in the Windmill and into the away end. Assuming the covid pox doesn't kill us all in our beds I look forward to going up there next season.

[MKMK]

Longford in a semi final now. Need a bit of luck. All teams can beat each other on a given day.

[Longfordian]

We're capable theoretically of somehow getting through to play Harps (presumably) but they'd beat us easily.

[Mr A]

With the likes of some Longford player, some other Longford and some other third Longford player, Longford are a serious side and we will have to be at our absolute best and hope they have an off night to give ourselves a chance.

[DCSIL]

Harps Euro push on.

[Finlay Harp]

2-1 Harps h/t

[sbgawa]

Harps go ahead of shels on sunday ;)

[D24Saint]

Decent goal by Kelly , he needed one badly.

[Jack B]

Swear to god Waterford sent Feely back to us as a sleeper agent.

[sbgawa]

Harps full value here. If inwas a pats fan id be dissapointed with the lack of urgency

[sbgawa]

Brendan clarke is a super keeper. If i had to pick a keeper to replace alan manus (god forbid) he would be it

[Finlay Harp]

3-2 Harps. Two more wins........

[ger121]

Does anyone want 3rd place? The Harps great escape is well and truly on!

[sbgawa]

Great win for harps.
some effort by them last couple of weeks

[joey B]

Great win and should have won by more if we had of taken our chances,penalty was generous but we'll take it,first penalty we've had all season!

[D24Saint]

Out first game for a month and I need another months break after that. I thought we did well in patches and absolutely rubbish in others parts of the game. I take my hat off to Harps they have dug out some great results recently.

[2 Year Contract]

Heartbreaking stuff for Galway, 2 screamers in injury time. Fair play to Drogheda, they had their own few years of heartbreak in the playoffs over the last few years so and it’s a well deserved title. Galway's day will come

As I was saying....