Games 4th November to 8th of November (The final fence)

[redobit]

Yup, 222 was the important page. Phonecall home on Thursday night if playing in Oriel and the routine was to have P222 on and read the results over the phone to me as I cursed waiting for pages to cycle through as I was getting through all my 10p pieces waiting (or curse my family for not being ready with Aertel when I rang home as per routine lol). I kept my own league table and checked in The Guardian as some weekends they the published LoI tables in microscopic font. Then Orielweb among others came online along with Aertel. Pals would laugh at the efforts to get results and tables so always got a slagging about this mickey mouse club and league but I think I mentioned recently that those same people are now watching Dundalk FC on BT Sports playing the likes of Arsenal ha!

Ah aertel, a life saver. Going even further back I have heard stories that Sligo Rovers fans would wait at the Showgrounds for the team to travel back from away games, so they could be told the score.

[nigel-harps1954]

The idea of bringing Derry boys back from IL clubs is tried, tested, failed. They generally move to Coleraine, Glenavon, Cliftonville or Glentoran for a reason (and it’s usually footballing, Conor McDermott a notable exception). It’s a no from me that policy.

We will probably retain no more than 6-8 players from the current squad and it’s a start from scratch game for yet another year.

Can’t see any real improvement unless Phil digs into his very deep pockets.

Can Phil dig any deeper than he already is though? Derry reported to have increased the budget by 30% this year.



Derry was always a hotbed of talented footballers but did end up in that cycle of being a selling club, though there was some decent transfer fees paid. I'm going back a bit and possibly was when there was some mismanagement of finances going on.

I still find it strange the McNamee is at Harps rather than Derry - I know it was said that pt football suited him, but if being bankrolled heads can be turned for a year or 2. It's also odd that Junior found himself at Sligo. Missed by Derry so how is it that he didnt return to Derry - the club making it happen as Derry would surely have been a front runner rather than Sligo initially. Yeah there has been a lot of upheavel DCSIL and with some fruits at the helm, Sheils and Collins, and arguably Fenlon. Shiels signing players and then buying out theor contracts to cut them loose isnt ancient history so Devine is possibly dealing with some legacy issues. Derry has an awful lot to offer both as a club and city (unless you are Niclas Vemellund) so I think should be well capable of getting away from flirting with playoff positions. Devine being sacked seemed harsh last time so there might be a reluctance to pull the trigger this time, but you'd have to see things kicking on next season from this.

There's a reason Barry McNamee left Derry and it's not just to play PT football.

[redarmyfaction]

It is. I can access it on my TV. Page 220 is still football

Amazed its still there, might be a few people in mountain valleys forgotten by mobile phone operators and too attenuated for dial up still reliant on it, don't think they would be many LOI people involved there, though there could be a few in the Ox or Dartry. The people who operate it must jobs for life, good to know that peoples TV licence money is been put to good use.

[redarmyfaction]

Ah aertel, a life saver. Going even further back I have heard stories that Sligo Rovers fans would wait at the Showgrounds for the team to travel back from away games, so they could be told the score.

Not true, they used to gather outside the Post Office I think the score used to come in morse code or something. Gerry Mitchells brother told me that story, he worked for the P&T back in the day.

[pineapple stu]

Amazed its still there, might be a few people in mountain valleys forgotten by mobile phone operators and too attenuated for dial up still reliant on it, don't think they would be many LOI people involved there, though there could be a few in the Ox or Dartry. The people who operate it must jobs for life, good to know that peoples TV licence money is been put to good use.
Yeah, I've no idea what it's still there for. Even if it's a copy and paste from the RTÉ website (which I don't think it is), then there must be someone whose job it is to look after it.

I see actually that, as you said, they have taken the web version down and they now link in to the RTÉ website. So it is a year or so since I checked Aertel and maybe it's been taken down as well in that time. But at worst, it was still up fairly recently.

[DCWA]

Can Phil dig any deeper than he already is though? Derry reported to have increased the budget by 30% this year.
.

Peanuts.

[littlebray]

AERTEL is actually still going for some reason. In this day and age it’s a complete waste of money which RTE claim to be short of.

Very little money, it's almost all automated from material on the website, and has been for more than ten years. Still, a waste of time given the state of play technologically, and probably costs more in running repairs than it's worth. There are a few useful little pages of information that is hard to find elsewhere.

[redobit]

Not true, they used to gather outside the Post Office I think the score used to come in morse code or something. Gerry Mitchells brother told me that story, he worked for the P&T back in the day.

Or maybe there is more than one story.

[sbgawa]

I heard micheal o muirahiertigh (surprisingly spell check doesnt wirk for that one) give a brilient after dinner speech where he started off talking about how crowds used to wait atbrailway stations to ger scores and how pigions would be released from grounds with uodates re team line ups etc, then moved on to telegraph, then radio, then tv and finely he was on a plane watching a match while flying over the atlantic.....naturly spread over 20 minutes with fantastic detail and with the cupla focail thrown in.

[thebronze14]

Thebronze whats that bout fetish for towels? JM a superb broadcaster as I used to listen to his podcasts a lot before he moved to pastures new!
He has a bit of a laugh every time a Harps player drys the ball with a towel for one of our long throw ins

[nigel-harps1954]

I heard micheal o muirahiertigh (surprisingly spell check doesnt wirk for that one) give a brilient after dinner speech where he started off talking about how crowds used to wait atbrailway stations to ger scores and how pigions would be released from grounds with uodates re team line ups etc, then moved on to telegraph, then radio, then tv and finely he was on a plane watching a match while flying over the atlantic.....naturly spread over 20 minutes with fantastic detail and with the cupla focail thrown in.

Yes..

[pineapple stu]

The first twist of the evening - Sligo take the lead in Dundalk. If Waterford were to beat Harps, then they would get Europe and Dundalk would be relying on the cup

[CorribsideSteve]

Just really poor as a keeper to be outdone by such a harmless looking cross. Did the floodlights get in his eyes or something? Also, no sound on the Dundalk match on watchloi

[ger121]

Dundalk’s defence is like a Soap Opera. Drama every week.

[pineapple stu]

Rovers lead in Tolka, so a win now vital for both sides in the Harps v Waterford match. And Rovers close to an unbeaten league season - when was that last done?

[pineapple stu]

And Harps do take the lead.

Relief for Dundalk; Shels in the play-off now

[wexfordned]

Bohs have a goal disallowed for handball even though Evan Ferguson clearly scored with his foot. Ref didn't even consult with his linesman despite Bohs players protests. Even the commentator said he clearly kicked it in.

Another farcical referring decision in the LOI

[ger121]

Like the Stone Age in the League when it comes to referring

[dong]

Just really poor as a keeper to be outdone by such a harmless looking cross. Did the floodlights get in his eyes or something? Also, no sound on the Dundalk match on watchloi

Very poor goalkeeping. He's not doing himself any favours these days.

[pineapple stu]

Derry losing as well now - though Shels have just gone 2-0 down, so it looks like it's between Shels and Harps for the play-off

[wexfordned]

Bohs now lead 2-1. Andre Wright penalty. The slow bicycle race for 3rd and 4th takes another turn

[pineapple stu]

https://media.giphy.com/media/AI5jStuaoROhIs2WMH/giphy.gif
Sligo's goal

Missed that it means they're now in the European spots if one of the top 3 wins the cup. An equaliser for Waterford will change that

[DCSIL]

1-1 at moment in Cork, pathetic they can’t get themselves up for this

[Jack B]

I'm both somehow stunned and unsurprised that we've managed to not score a second here. It's so ridiculous it's almost impressive.

[wexfordned]

That was like a defender on the goal line who can't get high enough to head it out. Does he train outfield and he forgot he could use his hands?

[ger121]

https://media.giphy.com/media/AI5jStuaoROhIs2WMH/giphy.gif
Sligo's goal

Missed that it means they're now in the European spots if one of the top 3 wins the cup. An equaliser for Waterford will change that

I only twigged that myself when looking at the table. Be an excellent return for Bucko considering where they were at the start of the season.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah - weren't they behind Cork at the resumption?

Mad season all told

[Jack B]

Delighted for Bucko to get into Europe (or potentially anyway) rather than Waterford and for Shels to possibly go down rather than Harps.

Even more delighted out season is over and I can get back to the best time to follow us: pre-season when I convince myself things will be better.

[Candystripe]

Shels depending on Waterford with a few minutes left.

[Candystripe]

Shels in playoff v Longford confirmed.

[Calcio Jack]

Rovers for the third time in their history are
The Invincibles; only the third time in the history of the league this has happened ( only achieved by Rovers )

Each time this momentous feat occurred it was during an 18 match season (17 seasons) .

Our conceding of only 7 goals is also a new record

Ps well done Harps and Sligo

[CorribsideSteve]

Pathetic from Dundalk, but fair play, Sligo. Always liked the cut of Coughlan. There's a good player there that was way underused at Cork.

[Yossarian]

Pathetic from Dundalk, but fair play, Sligo. Always liked the cut of Coughlan. There's a good player there that was way underused at Cork.

Pathetic is being generous. We have players who don’t seem interested and a manager who has no discernible game plan and is very naive in team selection and substitutions. I am dreading next season if the Italian duo remain in charge.

[Longfordian]

I assume Deegan's red card means he's suspended for Sunday now?

[ger121]

Unless Derry win against Sligo in the cup I really think 4th will get Europe.

[Straightstory]

Despite the win, Ollie will be playing this down. Will caution that there might be a chance Harps will be in the play-off.

[Finlay Harp]

Ollie Horgan you’re a beautiful human being.

[CorribsideSteve]

Pathetic is being generous. We have players who don’t seem interested and a manager who has no discernible game plan and is very naive in team selection and substitutions. I am dreading next season if the Italian duo remain in charge.
There was just a feeling of "Oh well" about the team performance. Oduwa has promise, but in fleeting moments. Lots of undercooked performances. The biggest problem I could see is that they kept absolutely rifling passes to each others feet, which invetiably bounced off, or were lost. They lacked composure to make simpler passes and everything was forced. McGinty did make a brilliant save from Gartland, but nonetheless, there was a feeling that they'd rather be anywhere else tonight.

[pineapple stu]

Pathetic is being generous. We have players who don’t seem interested and a manager who has no discernible game plan and is very naive in team selection and substitutions. I am dreading next season if the Italian duo remain in charge.
Is Filippo doing the Pro Licence? Am I right in thinking if he's not on it by the start of the season, he can't stay on as manager as the 90 days will be up? Or would Dundalk just appoint Keegan like how they appointed Gill?

[thebronze14]

Oh my days...Unbelieveable stuff...Great for 94 minutes and we nearly threw it away. If Webster got a touch on that at the end he deserves the freedom of Donegal

[placid casual]

Job Done by The Invincible Rovers.
Not so much Men Vs Boys as Men Vs Geriatrics. I'm sure half the shels team played in that rugged island team in that father ted football episode
shels look in a bit of a mess .Morris is only starting in management but doesn't seem to know whats needed yet, only outdone in the ineptitude stakes by that harvey fu**wit in black. another officiating travesty from that individual

Delighted that Harps stayed up- hopefully as fans we can get to go on the bus trip that never ends to ballybofey next season , covid permitting.

Rovers finishing 22 points ahead of dundalk is ever so satisfying to see. congrats to boez and sligo on euro qualification - two good side with decent managers who appear to know what they're doing.

Rovers Vs Boez cup final in an empty tallaght beckons, inshallah.

[CorribsideSteve]

Oh my days...Unbelieveable stuff...Great for 94 minutes and we nearly threw it away. If Webster got a touch on that at the end he deserves the freedom of Donegal
Ollie Horgan reminds me of some sort of Allardyce/Pulis/Neil Warnock mash-up; always set up their teams dourly, resolutely and hard to beat, and always managing by hook or by crook to avoid relegation! But congrats to them, fighting away on limited resources, and securing another year at the top table. As a Galway fan I've experienced that last day reprieve feeling, so enjoy.

[onlooker]

In the play offs?
How?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

No idea we’ve ended up in 4th. Played well for the first 5 or 6 games after the break but that’s it really. Obviously cause no one else wanted it I suppose.

Tonight’s game was horrific. Just hate that pitch. Great goal by Coughlan and a couple of great saves by McGinty.

Great to see Harps staying up.

[2 Year Contract]

Congrats to Harps on an incredible escape, serious achievement that not many would’ve seen possible as they trailed 1–0 at home to cork not so long ago.

Fair play to Sligo also on (more than likely) getting Europe which would’ve seemed a million miles away when football returned in August, delighted for Bucko. Wonder what Lee Power's next move with Waterford will be now

[joey B]

That game put about 10 years on me,we could have scored 3 or 4 and almost threw it away right at the end,no idea how the Waterford player missed.

The play off is a coin flip as far as I'm concerned ,Shelbourne seemed to lose the head a bit tonight from the bits I watched and it'll be a job to pick them up for the play off now.

Well done to Sligo for getting Europe aswell,probably just about deserved it in the end but Waterford will be kicking themselves they haven't managed it.

[pineapple stu]

Waterford are cursed with regards Europe lately.

Banned (rightly) last year. Messed up on the final day (although had they equalised, Sligo's 90th-minute second goal would have kept them in fourth place), and the Youth League has been postponed open-endedly, with Waterford still needing either Portugal or Austria to declare as their entrants the sides in the CL proper

[redarmyfaction]

Just really poor as a keeper to be outdone by such a harmless looking cross. Did the floodlights get in his eyes or something? Also, no sound on the Dundalk match on watchloi

Players have been done for match fixing for far less than that.

[sbgawa]

Deegan is some muppet getting himself sent off and missing the playoff, 2 nill down game over and he gets an obvious yellow when the rovers player was going nowhere.
He was at it all night, had to laugh at Jack B pointing at him when he scored the opener.

Great to see Harps staying up and hopefully Longford can apply the coup de grace to Shels and send them back down.
Getting out of the first division next yeer will be tough, a resurgent Galway and Cork......3 cheers for Olllie.

great to finish unbeaten as well, for all the talk of schedules and resting players from FG Rovers played 4 games in 8 days and won 3 drew 1.
A good barometer of whether Dundalk can come back next season will be if they resign Oduwa, guys like him are death to a team that have aspirations.

[mcgonigle]

Rovers finishing 22 points ahead of dundalk is ever so satisfying to see.
.

Very embarrassing for us. You wouldn't see a Bradley side finish 20+ points behind the eventual league winners....