Weekend games 19th , 20th March

[Kiki Balboa]

Pats looked like a very good team, apart from having no striker. Coughlan is dire to watch. It feels like his single aim is to hit the ground. Rovers roughly same as last week, fantastic header from Green.

Good win for Drogheda, although Waterford were better than expected.

Four teams today, 3 goals after 85mins (2 of them O.Gs). All teams looked a bit blunt going forward.

[wonder88]

Great to have the league of Ireland back. The Pats keeper looks like a great addition to the league, and should be a huge asset to the Saints this year. Bit more like it from Forester. Fitness levels played a big part in the equaliser. With their big squad Shamrock Rovers will still be favourite and it will be interesting to see how they manage a full season. Bradley seemed happy enough in his after match interview, so the weakness that appeared to be in defence and central midfield(2nd half), may be due to lack of match practice.
Drogheda will be happy to get a win straight away on their return to the premier division.

[Longfordian]

I assume Gaffney is on a decent wedge having come back from Salford who pay well? Hasn't done anything the few times I've seen him lately*

Fantastic header from Greene.


*He may well score a shedload against us now in due course but that won't prove anything

[Charlie Darwin]

I expect Watts , Kavanagh, Gary O Neill and Greene in as a minimum change from the presidents cup match.
Close!

[Charlie Darwin]

I enjoyed that - dunno how it was for the neutral but as a fan it was good to see proper football back. Think Rovers were marginally the better side based on chances but a draw is a fair result as Bradser said. Super header from Greener and good to see Pico get off the mark too.

[Charlie Darwin]

I was about to say that Rovers still seemed to miss that clinical striker and Greene pops up with a great header not long after coming on.
To be fair, apart from maybe Burke's shot in the first half we didn't create any chances that a clinical striker would be expected to take. Pats did a very good job of ensuring we couldn't find space around the box.

[Charlie Darwin]

I assume Gaffney is on a decent wedge having come back from Salford who pay well? Hasn't done anything the few times I've seen him lately*

Fantastic header from Greene.


*He may well score a shedload against us now in due course but that won't prove anything
Gaffney looked OK but I Greene was an improvement when he came on. Gaffney is definitely better with his feet than Greener but seems to always be everywhere except near the goal.

[2 Year Contract]

I agree that Gaffney didn’t have any chances that a striker would be expected to take but he runs as if he’s got lead in his boots at times. I was surprised to see him start ahead of Greene last week and even more so this week. Strange that rovers are investing in 4 year contracts for players in areas that are better covered than up front. You’d think they’d have tried to bring in someone from abroad (I always have a feeling either Padraig Amond or Eoin Doyle will end up back there one of these years)

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah Gaffney hasn't really had a chance to get going for Rovers and it's still the first game of the season. He will get better and Bradley likes him. I'd still take Greene every day but Gaffney has a different dimension too.

edit: much as I like Amond and Doyle, I doubt they'd come back for the money we're able to pay when they can get more in L2 plus have FA Cup glamour games.

[Dalymountrower]

Think the last comment is harsh. Pressed them hard all game despite their quality, and on the first game of the season at that. Would be doing well for that to not have been the case, especially bearing in mind the likes of Barrett coming into pre season semi late.
Step forward Barrett Mountney, Coughlin and not forgetting Bones disastrous debut.

Lee Desmond was excellent as usual, and I agree that the rest of the Pat's team gave it their all.

[ger121]

It’s great to be back! If not quite in person. Would love nothing better than to be in Ballybofey tonight but being able to watch the game online for me will still be a nice Saturday night.

[sbgawa]

Close!

Lol , watts kav and greene were excelent when they came on, i will be right next match

[Kiki Balboa]

Why did Watts and Kavanagh not start? Was it lack of fitness, or bad pre-season? Along with Lopes and Mannus, would have thought they would have been first names on the teamsheet.

[placid casual]

It feels like there is about 5 or 6 things on at the same time today at about 6pm so there'll have to be a lot of flicking around.
Think there's a lot of hype/chat around sligo so we'll see how that pans out.
Harps are most Rovers fans 2nd team in the league so they better repay our faith!!

Ireland will get hammered in the egg ball, and man city will stroll past everton.

[sbgawa]

Why did Watts and Kavanagh not start? Was it lack of fitness, or bad pre-season? Along with Lopes and Mannus, would have thought they would have been first names on the teamsheet.
Kavanagh was coming back from injury but obviously not quite fit to start.
Watts must have been a tight call.

[sbgawa]

Greener gets his second of the weekend, scoring agaisnt ucd in the bowl this a.m.
And watts , kavanagh and o neill sll start as predicted earlier ;)

[Nesta99]

Annoying that games are on the same time, but as with teams and fans starting last night, its feels like its taking an age to KO now.

[2 Year Contract]

1-0 Dundalk at the Showgrounds after a shocking piece of decision making by McGinty playing it out short to Bolger who was being pressed very well by Dundalk which caused him to lose possession

[2 Year Contract]

1-1 Brilliant header by Romeo for Sligo from a deep free kick

[sbgawa]

Harps currently top of the league and 1 up on Bohs

[pineapple stu]

Longford, Harps and Drogs the only three wins over the weekend as it stands.

Can't imagine the scores in the Predictions League will be high this week.

[Longfordian]

Town could easily be 4 up here. Great performances all over the pitch.

[sbgawa]

That point against Pats is looking better now.
I felt bith Harps and Sligo would have improved , not surprised by either result.
Sligo probably should have won it.
The league looks very open

[Longfordian]

LTFC top of the Premier Division for the first time ever.

[Martinho II]

LTFC top of the Premier Division for the first time ever.

Not true Longfordian on first day of 02/03 season we beat Derry City 3-2 in the Brandywell and were top of the premier division that day too but mind you think that game was on a thursday! Its our third treble over Derry on opening day of the season as in 00/01 season we won 1-0 with a Keith OConnor goal in the Brandywell also

[Martinho II]

Third win over Derry city in top flight on opening day of season!

[Longfordian]

Not true Longfordian on first day of 02/03 season we beat Derry City 3-2 in the Brandywell and were top of the premier division that day too but mind you think that game was on a thursday! Its our third treble over Derry on opening day of the season as in 00/01 season we won 1-0 with a Keith OConnor goal in the Brandywell also

You can't count that if nobody else had played any games! Counting after 1 round of games is flimsy enough as it is.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Great game in the Showgrounds. Gibson, Bolger and Kenny really good additions to our squad. No way that goal at the end should have been disallowed.

[CorribsideSteve]

Great game in the Showgrounds. Gibson, Bolger and Kenny really good additions to our squad. No way that goal at the end should have been disallowed.
The overwhelming consensus is that it was a terrible call, though the pics of the incident on soc.media are inconclusive. Hopefully get a better look at it shortly.

[D24Saint]

Great game in the Showgrounds. Gibson, Bolger and Kenny really good additions to our squad. No way that goal at the end should have been disallowed.

I thought it was an entertaining game. I couldn't tell if the goal should have been allowed or not. Its safe to assume in tight calls the linos in the LOI will always play it safe and rule out the goal. I think Sligo deserved to win the game.

[oriel]

Possibly Sligo shaded the game, but Hoban missed two huge chances in each half, skimmed and hit the post. In saying that, Sligo should have gone 2-1 up before HT.

Decent game, happy with the point, lots of work to do, learn and move on.

[redarmyfaction]

The overwhelming consensus is that it was a terrible call, though the pics of the incident on soc.media are inconclusive. Hopefully get a better look at it shortly.

Absolutely no suspicion it was offside, an awful sin to take a good goal from the kid.

[joey B]

Great start for us,, from what I saw we looked solid and carried a threat when we had the chance, we've added well to the squad and look to have a bit of depth , interesting season ahead....

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I thought it was an entertaining game. I couldn't tell if the goal should have been allowed or not. Its safe to assume in tight calls the linos in the LOI will always play it safe and rule out the goal. I think Sligo deserved to win the game.

Why didn’t Pats hold onto Gibson?

[D24Saint]

Why didn’t Pats hold onto Gibson?

I was surprised to see him leave. It’s only a guess but perhaps he was in limbo with us for a contract and Bucko was able to nab him. He certainly looked a player worth keeping.

[Jack B]

Up the Harps.

Bohs carrying too many passengers :)

[nigel-harps1954]

Bohs came up to Finn Park expecting Harps to play a different game, expected a bog of a pitch, and Long and Crolly got their entire game plan completely wrong.

Harps marshalled the game well, and while it wasn't the most spectacular game of football, Ollie got it spot on once again.

Heard Stephen Alkin suggesting the pitch was a 'different kind of bobbly, a good kind of bobbly'..which made absolutely no sense.

Adam Foley wasn't even expected to start, so I'm delighted he's picked up where he left off last season. Few lads not up to full fitness for Harps and may struggle to get into the side once they're ready to play.

[2 Year Contract]

Bohs carrying too many passengers :)

Agree with this, they all looked knackered in the last 5 mins

[redobit]

Plenty of interesting talking points in the Sligo Rovers v Dundalk game. But one that stands out for me is the number of academy players on Rovers team. 6 Showground Academy players finished the game, all 21 or under and two are teenagers. Played with no fear and ran a very good Dundalk team ragged at times.

[ToberonaTornado]

Plenty of interesting talking points in the Sligo Rovers v Dundalk game. But one that stands out for me is the number of academy players on Rovers team. 6 Showground Academy players finished the game, all 21 or under and two are teenagers. Played with no fear and ran a very good Dundalk team ragged at times.

Dundalk kicked off the game with a plan believe it or not.All was going well until Sligo started getting good.We held out for the main part but too many of our starting players went on the missing list.
Sligo celebrating like it's 2012 after a 1-1 draw against the 3rd club from last year:eek: funny as fcuk!! #Scences
I'll be back with this routine and naming your team in a score-draw against Dundalk soon so stay tuned:rolleyes:;)

[Dalymountrower]

Up the Harps.

Bohs carrying too many passengers :)

Touhe Jack. A Double decker bus full.!

Cant see where goals are going to come from.
Finn Park not the ideal testing site for playing the four smallest players in the country in midfield

[Neish]

Very happy with round 1, Harps were very composed & contained Bohs well. Foley snatched onto a mistake and was cool,calm and collected in the finish, which is what you want from a forward. Big game next friday again with a trip to Dundalk

[redobit]

Dundalk kicked off the game with a plan believe it or not.All was going well until Sligo started getting good.We held out for the main part but too many of our starting players went on the missing list.
Sligo celebrating like it's 2012 after a 1-1 draw against the 3rd club from last year:eek: funny as fcuk!! #Scences
I'll be back with this routine and naming your team in a score-draw against Dundalk soon so stay tuned:rolleyes:;)

Only thing Im celebrating from last night is having 6 of our academy players playing in our team. 5 of which started the game. Really pleasing to see the academy producing and the young players getting their chance and performing against a very talented Dundalk side.

It shows we are doing something right. Be interested to see stats on academy players in teams for 1st round of games.

[CorribsideSteve]

Only thing Im celebrating from last night is having 6 of our academy players playing in our team. 5 of which started the game. Really pleasing to see the academy producing and the young players getting their chance and performing against a very talented Dundalk side.

It shows we are doing something right. Be interested to see stats on academy players in teams for 1st round of games.

'Deserved' is more often than not, a term that's contrary to reality in football, and results in general, but with all the work Sligo have done in the past 10-15 years, on a consistent basis, it's hard to see who deserves a League more. Might it be this year? Additionally, having looked at more pictures of the late disallowed goal for offside, the LOI deserves better refereeing also.

[Longfordian]

As a result of this decision several people on the LOI Facebook group seem to think the FAI "should bring in VAR here". I don't even know where to start with that but maybe they're just kids who don't know any better.

[D24Saint]

As a result of this decision several people on the LOI Facebook group seem to think the FAI "should bring in VAR here". I don't even know where to start with that but maybe they're just kids who don't know any better.

Not surprising in a country where the most pertinent question for an expert of the current health crisis was the FA cup final.

https://youtu.be/A8AeNGl9CUA

[Nesta99]

1st game of the season and Ollie is talking about relegation, He is brilliant!

[sbgawa]

i did smile at that " these 3 points wont keep us up, we will need many times that" having just deservedly beaten the team who finished second last year.
Its not really a surprise though as apparently Bohs climate protection officer made them all cycle up and its a long old cycle and then have to play a match.
Must have been a pretty depressing cycle home but at least it was mostly downhill on the way back.

[DCWA]

Derry are in serious trouble

[Longfordian]

Derry are in serious trouble

They were awful last night. We should have scored a couple more. But I wouldn't get too carried away one way or another just yet.