Weekend games Friday 16th to Tuesday 20th

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Friday 16th
Waterford v Bohemians 17:45
Derry v Drogheda 19:45

Saturday 17th (all 6pm)
Sligo v Finn Harps
Shamrock Rovers v Longford
Dundalk v St Pats

Tuesday 20th (all 19:45)

Longford v Finn Harps
Drogheda v Shamrock Rovers
Derry v Dundalk
St Pats v Waterford
Bohemians v Sligo

First Division
Friday 16th

Bray v Athlone 19:30
Wexford v Cobh 19:45
UCD v Cabo 19:45
Cork v Shelbourne 19:45
Galway v Treaty 19:45

[sbgawa]

Derry v Drogheda looks like a very big match , if Drogheda win Devine must be in big trouble with Drogheda 10 points clear of them and Finn Harps flying relegation will be a real worry. It is early for crunch time but signs are poor.
Dundalk Pats , Same issues lot of pressure on Fillipo lose and DFC are 12 points behind Pats and potentially 10 behind Rovers if Rovers beat Longford.

Longford Harps Tuesday is a big match for both , people would have seen Longford , Drogs , Harps as relegation candidates chance for Harps to go well clear of Longford and potentially Derry.

I assume UCD Cabo is off as if Cabo had a team of close contacts last week they are all still out ??
First divison is very unpredictable but chance for Athlone to show if they are genuine promotion chalengers and an early big match for John Caulfield, Galway would have expected a good start.

First time all teams have to cope with mid week matches.
Will Longford be tempted to rest players against Rovers in Tallaght with Harps at home on Tuesday?
There will have to be a bit of mix and matching in all matches you would imagine ,,or is it still so early they can all just go for it.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd be quite happy with four points from the games against Sligo and Longford for Harps.

[Dalymountrower]

That Dundalk v Pats game is probably the most important game in the league so far. If Pats don`t lose they will have matched or seen off Rovers Bohs and Dundalk, some achievement after 5 games, and would make them genuine title contenders.
If Dundalk don`t win and don`t replace their management team in full, I can see them imploding.
Derry looked really crap last night but unthinkable that they would lose 5 in a row?
Drogs v Rovers will be interesting, tight pitch up there and Drogs have quite a good record against Rovers at home. Hopefully Dinny puts them to the sword.

Waterford V Bohs? If the team that turned up v Dundalk play at that level again, an away win, if the team that turned up v Pats or fell apart v Longford, will struggle to get a draw.

Can see Rovers giving Longford an absolute tanking

[Kiki Balboa]

Dundalk is in a relegation battle. No doubt.

[pineapple stu]

I assume UCD Cabo is off as if Cabo had a team of close contacts last week they are all still out ??
Interesting point. You'd assume something would have been announced by now if it was though?

[sbgawa]

Dundalk is in a relegation battle. No doubt.


32 matches to go, i think a few of the DFC boys need to come down off the ledge.

[placid casual]

The best team in the league at present is Harps. They appear to have great belief and the game against near neighbours sligo should be a belter.
Derry are genuine relegation candidates, but with the eye watering amount of money spent on the dundalk clown car experiment you'd have to assume they will escape the trapdoor- I think I'd die laughing if it happened tho.
If Boez get a win down in Waterford you'd say their season has really started and fancy them to certainly occupy the top 3 by seasons end.
Rovers should have too much for Longford at home on Saturday but I expect a tricky game in Drogheda on Tuesday.

[Longfordian]

I'm fearful enough of what Rovers might do to us without thinking about what they may do if we rest players.

[thebronze14]

I'd be quite happy with four points from the games against Sligo and Longford for Harps.


Bite your hand off for it now. Be unreal to remain unbeaten. 3 points wouldn't be the worst tbh

[Charlie Darwin]

Bite your hand off for it now. Be unreal to remain unbeaten. 3 points wouldn't be the worst tbh
Don't let Ollie hear you express such optimism.

[Trainee]

I assume UCD Cabo is off as if Cabo had a team of close contacts last week they are all still out ??
.


Cabo have to feild a team otherwise UCD will be awarded 3 nil win. I assume they will call up U19s if players are still out

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/galway-united-handed-3-0-walkover-after-cancelled-fixture-at-cabinteely-40314670.html

[Nesta99]

3 points wouldn't be the worst tbh

Wont save you from relegation....

[PartySaint]

A win would be huge for us, it would put 12 points between ourselves and Dundalk a decent gap before the sack their managerial team and get in someone decent.

I fear after last week though their players will be up for it and they have to win a game eventually right?

[Nesta99]

32 matches to go, i think a few of the DFC boys need to come down off the ledge.

Does that mean that 2020 being shortened helped the team top of the league after 4 games? Typical Rovers bias...

[sbgawa]

Does that mean that 2020 being shortened helped the team top of the league after 4 games? Typical Rovers bias...

Maybe your right JUMP :)

[Nesta99]

Lol, think I shall stick with what Im good at like wallowing in football misery!

[D24Saint]

The Derry v Drogs match tonight is of particular interest. Is Devine’s arse on bacon slicer or will he be given time ? As for the Bohs v Waterford match it should be a decent game and I wonder will Bohs put their early season woes to bed with another win.

[PartySaint]

Did Waterford play the second half with 10 men?

[D24Saint]

Waterford have been awful in this one. The game hasn’t been up to much unfortunately.

[Sonny]

That was a fairly dismal watch. Waterford look in major trouble.

[joey B]

Enjoyed the Derry/Drogheda game,Derry better side in the first half faded in the second and didnt really trouble Drogs keeper,Drogs had the 2 best chances in the second half and will be dissapointed they didnt take 1,they look a solid outfit though and should be well clear of trouble .......

[CraftyToePoke]

Late thievery in Terryland, so close. What Galway do is basic but they kept on doing it till it worked.

[trevy]

Waterford ended the game with 10 men as had used all their subs and a player got injured. I didn't see the game as was working but by social media comments we didn't threaten much. A lot of rumours of a training ground row in the camp with Brian Murphy and Oscar Brennan both left out of the squad and Kevin Sheedy refusing to answer questions about it after the game.

[Dalymountrower]

Replacement keeper did fine, apart from the goal.
Wford have some decent midfielders and Cam Ferguson looked good.
But if Bohs took their chances would have had game over early in 2nd halting needs to find a goalscorer.
Adam o Reilly taken off before he was sent off.
Dont know what happened to BM but shoddy way to end his time with them.

Classic commentary from Ger Malaprop Canning as usual.
Daryl Murphy injured and limping to dressing room as Canning announces that he is going to play on!

[mcgonigle]

Late thievery in Terryland, so close. What Galway do is basic but they kept on doing it till it worked.

Would you say it's agricultural?

[mcgonigle]

Thought my prayers had been answered when I put the Derry/Drogs game on WatchLOI and saw a replay. Then realised it was because it was the RTE feed 😫

[Jack B]

We're nailed on to lose this. It's just how the world works.

[sbgawa]

We're nailed on to lose this. It's just how the world works.


Are you a Harps fan in disguise :)

[D24Saint]

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/drama-continues-at-dundalk-as-shane-keegan-signals-intent-to-quit-managerial-post-40323194.html

[Nesta99]

Are coaches on the bench precluded from well coaching from the sidelines? We've seen Stephen Kenny sitting back and Perth prowling the technical area issuing instructions without a Pro license. So what would be the difference if Keegan sat back and let others do the roaring. Is there a minimum requirement for others sitting on the bench. Yup we know its a mess at Dundalk and ticking boxes but say Trevor Croly had an A license, would he have to stay shtum as a result?

Its not necessarily a bad thing that something is coming to a head. I dont think Keegan would walk away from a job he never expected to have, is he a fall guy, or just cant take interference from Florida and has reached his limit. FG is not the quiet type but his silence speaks volumes!

[sulywaterfordfc]

Ourselves (Waterford) and Dundalk at current sums up league. I do have serious concern for the club under the direction of Martin Dunphy/LeePower. Over the years we’ve often been the leagues laughing stock but we’re taking it to a new level since Dunphy got involved.

[Nesta99]

Lee Power just lost his financial clout really but with Dunphy ends should be met. Was Dunphy involved when the dummy was spat over the EL place?

[sulywaterfordfc]

Dunphy has been a key decision maker at board level the past couple years. Since the general manager left his position last summer. Dunphy has had full control of running the club on day basis. Things have increasingly gone down hill the more power he gained. He essentially is the man in charge now. The club has no hope until Dunphys out

[Martinho II]

Thought my prayers had been answered when I put the Derry/Drogs game on WatchLOI and saw a replay. Then realised it was because it was the RTE feed ��

I was caught out by game on RTE as I dont think game was advertised. It wasnt on Sky planner either.Wonder wot happened?

[placid casual]

Oh christ, Siobhán Madigan.

[Nesta99]

Pats show any sort of pressure on Dundalk we will fold! Rubbish stuff

[D24Saint]

Oh christ, Siobhán Madigan.

Id do fear looking forward to a game and then hear her voice.

[Longfordian]

She is really terrible.

[D24Saint]

She is really terrible.

We had her for the Drogheda match two weeks back. I had to mute the telly.

[D24Saint]

Drab first half of football in Oriel.

[Jack B]

This pitch is absolutely horrific.

[redarmyfaction]

Longford all over Shams, according to their Twitter

[MattB11]

Shocker from McGinley for Sligo goal

[redarmyfaction]

Shocker from McGinley for Sligo goal

He got a little mugging, but we deserved to win, very good Finn Harps performance I thought, but a few limitations exposed, too reliant on set pieces, no final ball and no obvious striker.

[Dalymountrower]

Enjoyable second half in Oriel.Pats should have been 2-0 up and Dundalk should have scored three in the last 10 mins.

[Jack B]

That went from Dundalk getting a draw being a robbery to us getting one being a robbery somehow. We were comfortably enough the better team until around the time of the equaliser and then it was suddenly desperation mode for us. Content enough with the point on balance.

[Longfordian]

Sickener to lose it that way in Tallaght but a good reaction to the Drogheda game in terms of performance.

[RiffRaff]

Great effort by Longford undone by dodgy referring decisions. Still according to the commentator on LOI watch, the teams are playing each other again in a televised match on FRiday, so a good chance for revenge. Waterford and Dundalk were also playing at various stages of todays match

[sbgawa]

I thought that was going to be one of those matches were u end up scratching your head wondering how the feck did u not win. Gannon was very good all game deserved the winner. On to tuesday