Games Weekend 21st to 24th May

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Friday 21st May
Waterford v Derry City 17:45
St PAts v Bohemians 17:45
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers 19:45
Finn Harps v Drogheda 19:45
Sligo v Longford 19:45

Monday 24th
Derry City v St Pats 17:45
Bohemians v Dundalk 17:45
Shamrock Rovers v Sligo 19:45
Drogheda v Longford 19:45
Waterford v Finn Harps 19:45


First Division
Friday 24th (All 19:45)
Cork v Galway
Athlone v Cobh
Wexford v Bray
Cabinteely v Treaty
Shels v UCD

[sbgawa]

Two wins for Rovers combined with a couple of difficult games for Pats and we could see a decent gap emerge but Rovers seem to have a big injury problem heading into a double match weekend. Only Gannon on the bench as a senior Pro plus a bunch of Kids against Derry.
With Watts out with a Hamstring (looked like anyway) and Hoare now suspended the team against Dundalk might be thin enough.

Harps v Drogs stands out as a chance for one of them to push right into the top 3 party especially with both of them having winnable games on the monday against Longford and Waterford.
Bohs Dundalk is a tasty one on Monday with both needing points.
Clash of the top two Shels v UCD in the first division gives Shels a chance to stamp their authority on division and UCD a chance to show they have title ambitions.

[Calcio Jack]

Watts,O’Brien,Kavanagh,Greene,McCann, Farrugia all currently injured and Hoare suspended - very difficult to see anything but a Dundalk win

[mcgonigle]

Cleary, Dummigan, Gartland, Kelly, McMillan, Hoban all injured and playing like relegation candidates - very difficult to see anything but a Rovers win

[pineapple stu]

Ooh, a game of injury crisis!

Healy, Kerrigan, Keaney, Osam, McEvoy, Gallagher - 5 of our opening day line-up all missed the Cork game (plus Osam, who's a right chip off the old block unfortunately)

Very difficult to see see yadda yadda Shels

[sbgawa]

Cleary, Dummigan, Gartland, Kelly, McMillan, Hoban all injured and playing like relegation candidates - very difficult to see anything but a Rovers win

would the FAI consider allowing us to do a 7 a side maybe?

[Calcio Jack]

Cleary, Dummigan, Gartland, Kelly, McMillan, Hoban all injured and playing like relegation candidates - very difficult to see anything but a Rovers win

No offence but the overall loss to us is way worse - you’d been playing poorly with and without the above so injuries haven’t made any noticeable difference to the standard of your performances - we were struggling big time on Sat once we lost Watts - anyway we’ll see come Friday

Or we could bring Bradley, McPhail in - I’d fancy they’d still do a decent job in midfield

[mcgonigle]

No offence but the overall loss to us is way worse - you’d been playing poorly with and without the above so injuries haven’t made any noticeable difference to the standard of your performances - we were struggling big time on Sat once we lost Watts - anyway we’ll see come Friday

Non taken but you obviously only see it from a Rovers perspective. Gartland would make a huge difference to us as he is a leader, Hoban was scoring before he got injured as was McMillan. Kelly is missed big time as we have no right winger.

Also the fact that Rovers could be worried about Dundalk given how we are playing is pretty laughable. Rovers fans have been at pains to point out how bad Dundalk have been (and rightly so) but now that we are playing each other we're a good team again? I think Rovers could be missing a few more and still be heavy favourites

[placid casual]

I think it's the management of the players at dundalk, rather than their ability that is the problem in oriel pk. If they decide to turn up (for the 1st time this season) then it could be a difficult game for Rovers, considering the injuries they are carrying this week.
A boring nil all draw will do me.

[Calcio Jack]

Non taken but you obviously only see it from a Rovers perspective. Gartland would make a huge difference to us as he is a leader, Hoban was scoring before he got injured as was McMillan. Kelly is missed big time as we have no right winger.

Also the fact that Rovers could be worried about Dundalk given how we are playing is pretty laughable. Rovers fans have been at pains to point out how bad Dundalk have been (and rightly so) but now that we are playing each other we're a good team again? I think Rovers could be missing a few more and still be heavy favourites

Over 50 years following Rovers and I’m always convinced we’ll lose and the longer the unbeaten run continues the more convinced I get ( guess I’m like a stopped clock and will be right eventually ) plus last team to beat us was yourselves and we all know that in the irrational world of superstitious you’re a dead cert to win....

[sbgawa]

I think Dundalk v Rovers is one that the players on both sides will be up for at any time, your best performance this season was against us IMO.
Its as close to a Derby as you can get without it being one if you know what i mean.
Rovers have won matches this season late often because we are bringing on first string subs late in the game and overpowering teams with fresh quality in the last 20 minutes, that wont be the case for the next few weeks.
Part of me is glad to see some of the younger ones get a chance, it looks like at least 1 or 2 will start and then 3 or 4 more come on at some point.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ooh, a game of injury crisis!

Healy, Kerrigan, Keaney, Osam, McEvoy, Gallagher - 5 of our opening day line-up all missed the Cork game (plus Osam, who's a right chip off the old block unfortunately)

Very difficult to see see yadda yadda Shels

Connolly, Sadiki, Folan, Boyd injured, Dunleavy, McEleney, Barry, Timlin and Foley playing through injury because of a lack of players...something something Drogheda..

[mcgonigle]

All a bit have your cake and eat it. Rovers win as expected and you're all back on having a chuckle at the Dundalk circus. Lose and the excuse is oven ready. Lets hope you have to use it. A soft free kick taken from the wrong place, finished from a clearly offside position would do nicely.

[Nesta99]

I think it's the management of the players at dundalk, rather than their ability that is the problem in oriel pk. If they decide to turn up (for the 1st time this season) then it could be a difficult game for Rovers, considering the injuries they are carrying this week.
A boring nil all draw will do me.

Thats sinking like a concrete block! Not a hope of this Dundalk team and 'management' turning over Rovers realistically, i'd not back us against Waterford U19s tbh. Maybe its a turn the corner type game, even with injuries it would lift confidence but would be a shock.

[placid casual]

Is it true that shields was dropped from the last game, or was he injured?
If he was dropped then maybe outright mutiny by the players is not far away- he'd, presumably, be the loudest voice in that dressing room, I would have thought.

[sbgawa]

All a bit have your cake and eat it. Rovers win as expected and you're all back on having a chuckle at the Dundalk circus. Lose and the excuse is oven ready. Lets hope you have to use it. A soft free kick taken from the wrong place, finished from a clearly offside position would do nicely.
I'll nail my colours to the mast, both teams have plenty of injuries but Rovers are down to what looks like 9 senior pros + academy kids, no point whinging about it but right now id take a draw away to Dundalk. If we line out with 1 or 2 senior pros on the bench id move that up to expecting a win.

Regardless of how unhappy DFC players are they will turn up and play.
I don't buy the unhappy dressing room stuff that's always thrown around when teams are losing.
When Vinny was winning things he was grand a few bad results and he had "lost" the dressing room.
Most pros just get on with it and play as well as they can when they go on the pitch

[Asterix]

Is it true that shields was dropped from the last game, or was he injured?
If he was dropped then maybe outright mutiny by the players is not far away- he'd, presumably, be the loudest voice in that dressing room, I would have thought.

He is one yellow away from suspension, they probably want him for the rovers match so didn't risk it.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Is it true that shields was dropped from the last game, or was he injured?
If he was dropped then maybe outright mutiny by the players is not far away- he'd, presumably, be the loudest voice in that dressing room, I would have thought.

He went off injured against us the game before

[nigel-harps1954]

He is one yellow away from suspension, they probably want him for the rovers match so didn't risk it.

Stand to be corrected, but if he got booked against Harps, he'd have probably missed the Bohs game and not Rovers.

[Nesta99]

He is one yellow away from suspension, they probably want him for the rovers match so didn't risk it.

I dont know why you think we'd target the Rovers game and hold players back. Its 3 points for a win no matter who you are playing and we need to be taking wins from wherever we can get them. Tbh if he wasnt injured and he was being saved for an important game it would against teams below us!

[sbgawa]

ive never agreed with holding players back for a game.
I can understand on a weekend where there are two games a bit of rotation but keeping Shields out of the 90 mins in Ballybofey (where he might have made a difference of plus 2 points) a week ahead of the Rovers match is daft, he could get injured in training any day during the week and then youve missed him for both matches.
When Dundalk were getting outplayed in the first half last week i was thinking that Shields would have made a difference.
(even if it was just his usual pulling dragging and falling over) :eek:

[Nesta99]

Game management!!

[ToberonaTornado]

Cleary, Dummigan, Gartland, Kelly, McMillan, Hoban all injured and playing like relegation candidates - very difficult to see anything but a Rovers win

And playing above in Derry we have Will Patching who has been their best player so far this season! :eek:
It's a shanda!
Dundalk need to recall him from his loan next Month.

[ToberonaTornado]

Curtis Fleming joins my continuing tale of rumours for next Dundalk manager.
I have loads of respect for Curtis but i just don't want him managing my team.

[Martinho II]

Curtis Fleming joins my continuing tale of rumours for next Dundalk manager.
I have loads of respect for Curtis but i just don't want him managing my team.

Whats Curtis Fleming at now isnt he asst at one of the lower league clubs in UK cant think of club though?

[Charlie Darwin]

Whats Curtis Fleming at now isnt he asst at one of the lower league clubs in UK cant think of club though?
He was in India for a while but decided to come back home recently.

As for playing away in Dundalk, I'd never be confident. It's been the toughest venue to play in for the guts of a decade (bar the end of last season when they decided to play the reserves) so three points would be a great and one far from a bad one.

[dundalkfc10]

With the protests planned and considering the meeting went between supporters and Magilton went terrible with the fans more angry leaving than going in.

Id hope our scumbags dont do anything when your bus arrives.

Club have erected obstacles to stop anyone even getting a view of the pitch

[Dalymountrower]

With the protests planned and considering the meeting went between supporters and Magilton went terrible with the fans more angry leaving than going in.

Id hope our scumbags dont do anything when your bus arrives.

Club have erected obstacles to stop anyone even getting a view of the pitch

Hopefully the Gardai arrest anyone threatening disorder. Pretty despicable to be even considering the targeting of an opposition team bus.

[joey B]

Jim McGuinness is the next man Gerry Malone has 'appointed' as Dundalks new manager, he had David Healy appointed a couple of weeks ago, worse than any tabloid he is!!!!!

[dundalkfc10]

Worried some of the Scumbags of the town will be out in force for this, that is all

[ontheotherhand]

Worried some of the Scumbags of the town will be out in force for this, that is all

Nice to see things returning to normal up there. ;)

Worried about tomorrow as a Rovers supporter. We haven't been great so far outside of 45 minutes here and there. Waterford being the one exception where we never looked in trouble.

Still keep hearing how we will run away with the league (on podcats etc) but I just don't see it. Almost every team we've played so far could have beaten us and we are missing some almost critical players while others continue to underperform. Europe may take its toll as well. Can see us going on a bad run just as easily as I can see other teams going on a winning streak.

On our day I still think we are the best team in the league but it's closer than last year and Dundalk will be out to show that tomorrow.

[dundalkfc10]

With the reaction from the Jim McGuinness story among support, the crowd will be double what was expected at this protest

[DCWA]

McGuinness was also mentioned plenty in connection with Derry job, can we assume he is actively trying to get himself involved in LOI management.

[Mr A]

Excellent piece on the Harps Academy on TG4 this evening.. starts at 20:46.

https://www.tg4.ie/en/player/categories/news-stories/play/?pid=6255259381001&title=Nuacht%20TG4&series=Nuacht%20TG4&genre=Cursai%20Reatha&pcode=617247

Jim McGuinness even makes an appearance!

[Martinho II]

Somehow with Jim Magilton I am not one bit surprised that he has fallen with the Dundalk players again!I dont think he wants to be manager of Dundalk. One name Im surprised that isnt linked with that job wots Jim Gannon at now considering his pedigree in the past?

[pineapple stu]

Gannon left Stockport (again) in January.

[Nesta99]

He'd have more to work with this time but was a fail before so nope!

[sulywaterfordfc]

With Dundalk protesting against the chairman this evening. Do the fans want someone new to go in there like Treacy or are they looking for P6 to sell up?

[Nesta99]

With Dundalk protesting against the chairman this evening. Do the fans want someone new to go in there like Treacy or are they looking for P6 to sell up?

To whom - the protesters today should be careful what they wish for. Well the new person to run the club is Magilton already there, he hasn had much chance to do anything but firefighting which will settle hopefully when a manager is appointed!?!

[sbgawa]

If Dundalk had a decent keeper and were on 20 points instead of 11 would the protest be happening?? I doubt it, the narrative would all be about beat Rovers tonight and the league is wide open.
Football is a results business, Dundalk were probably not much better (but with a decent keeper) from reopening last year but got an incredibly fortunate run to the EL group stages and one a one off cup game against Rovers...no protest in the offing because results are everything.

I would be worried about violence tonight , there are a lot of sensible people in Dundalk but you only need a few gob****es to kick things off and mob mentality takes over

[Nesta99]

I may be too cynical but if there hadnt been some pretty 'vocal' protests recently over a European Super League, I'd also wonder whether this would be in plans tonight. Monkey see and all that. There are times when fans do need to eyeball a club's admin, but I'm not sure about this at all. Wishful thinking maybe that a permanent manager in situ will improve things in general at the club...from the current low base. Pushing buttons will = P6 spitting the dummy and walking or digging in of heels, neither good. I wonder wonder what was said and what 'demands' were made to JM when meeting some Shed reps during the week for them to be so angered after. Reasoning wouldnt be a strong point

[Jack B]

A Siobhan Madigan special on comms for Pats-Bohs so far. Been more entertaining than the game.

[D24Saint]

A Siobhan Madigan special on comms for Pats-Bohs so far. Been more entertaining than the game.

Quote of the day by Siobhan Madigan “Georgie Kelly has been faultless today”. He missed a peno after eight minutes.

[sbgawa]

Rovers entire bench is SRFC II from last season ��. Who says SRFC ll won't play this year.

[ToberonaTornado]

Dundalk fans protest passed off peacefully(a few flares lit)
About 120 - 150 were present.

[placid casual]

Rovers certainly not set up to dig out a draw. Very attacking line up for Rovers with only 1 holding midfielder. Hope that doesn't backfire.
How are pats in front against boez..? From the bits I've seen so far, boez look far the better team. Benson is a quality player for sure.

[mcgonigle]

Rovers entire bench is SRFC II from last season ��. Who says SRFC ll won't play this year.

Still a very strong starting 11 with O'brien and Green back. Shields at centre half for us as Sonni injured. Might end up as a 5 a side by the end.

[Calcio Jack]

Still a very strong starting 11 with O'brien and Green back. Shields at centre half for us as Sonni injured. Might end up as a 5 a side by the end.

Missing ,Finn,McCann,Watts , Kavanagh , Hoare and Farrugia .... so we’re hugely weakened and only ‘kids’ on the bench - can’t see us getting more than at best a draw

[D24Saint]

Referee having an absolute mare here.

[placid casual]

He's having an Absolute mare.. 🤭🤭🤭🤭