Games Weekend 28th/29th May

[sbgawa]

Premier Division
Friday 28th

Finn Harps v Sligo 17:45
St Pats v Dundalk 19:45
Drogheda v Derry 19:45

Saturday 29th
Longford v Shamrock Rovers 16:00
Bohemians v Waterford 16:00

First Division
Friday 28th (all 19:45)

Athlone v UCD
Cabo v Wexford
Shelbourne v Galway
Cobh v Cork
Treaty Utd v Bray

[sbgawa]

Rovers badly need the break to try and get a few bodies back but can have no excuses for not going to Longford and looking for 3 points.
Pats v Dundalk depends on which Dundalk turns up. Another win for Bohs and they will be starting to dream again.

First divison has a few interesting matches with 3 points separating 2nd to 7th.
UCD could do with a win to keep pushing Shels and Galway need to start getting results that their full time status deserve.
Treaty V Bray will be a good match, Bray another club who would have been expecting to challenge for the title

[Nesta99]

Rovers badly need the break to try and get a few bodies back but can have no excuses for not going to Longford and looking for 3 points.
Pats v Dundalk depends on which Dundalk turns up. Another win for Bohs and they will be starting to dream again.

First divison has a few interesting matches with 3 points separating 2nd to 7th.
UCD could do with a win to keep pushing Shels and Galway need to start getting results that their full time status deserve.
Treaty V Bray will be a good match, Bray another club who would have been expecting to challenge for the title

As long as no one mentions a Longford cup final Rovers should be ok, Tricky fixture when there is a bit of pressure on but Longford for all their good play are a bit on the toothless side. Dundalk,,, I am not going there! Drogs and Derry is an interesting one, a home win and they can genuinely consider a push for Europe. Bohs should win but a bit hit or miss this season and Waterford have had time now under the new manager. Harps put a stop to the rot and will be not be easy for Sligo but they need to keep pressure on those at the top end of the table.

[nigel-harps1954]

Big game for Harps to keep in touch with the top sides going into the mid season break. Bohs resurgence hasn't helped and would like to stay in touch with the top four or five for as long as possible ideally.

[Martinho II]

Why is there KOs at 4pm on Saturday is that cos of the Champions League final?I think thats a ridiculous time tbh.

[Neish]

Big game in Finn Park, Harps came back from conceding early to take all 3 points in Waterford, Sligo went top of the table and probably the in form team as we go into the mid season break . On paper Sligo look the better side but one lapse of concentration was the only difference in them last time they met, I'll be happy with a point

[Jack B]

Owolabi has been an absolutely fantastic nuisance for Harps in this game so far.

[joey B]

Owolabi has been an absolutely fantastic nuisance for Harps in this game so far.

Could have had hat-trick there,fearing we're gonna regret not going in ahead here...

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Great game

[Jack B]

Could have had hat-trick there,fearing we're gonna regret not going in ahead here...

Yeah, quality-wise has been inconsistent at best so far but he's causing a lot of chaos and forging chances for himself.

[redarmyfaction]

????????

[CorribsideSteve]

It seems like Parkes left his head in there a little bit, but it was more of a harmless, rolling nudge against the Finn Harps player. And the linesman was only a few feet away. Silly and soft, but it meets the minimum requirement by the rule book. Other than that it's been a very good game. Sligo incredibly sloppy at times in the first half, especially for the goal they conceded. Harps lucky not to have scored more than 1 through Owalabi.

[Jack B]

That save from McGinty could be huge. Big win for Sligo to see that out.

[joey B]

Wont score enough goals and cant defend crosses/corners ,played ok,looked hopeless trying to break down 10 men though,frustrating.........

[redarmyfaction]

It seems like Parkes left his head in there a little bit, but it was more of a harmless, rolling nudge against the Finn Harps player. And the linesman was only a few feet away. Silly and soft, but it meets the minimum requirement by the rule book. Other than that it's been a very good game. Sligo incredibly sloppy at times in the first half, especially for the goal they conceded. Harps lucky not to have scored more than 1 through Owalabi.

If Parkes had to go Sadiki had to too, the decision probably cost Harps at least a point because we parked the bus after.

[Jack B]

Making a bit of a habit out of somehow finding ourselves behind in games. Dundalk were horrendous for around half an hour there and have managed to sneak an own goal. Need to actually make something of our dominance.

[Nesta99]

All said and done we'd probably have taken 6points from these 3 games, would have been nice not to have been hammerd by Bohs though. If we had gone back to some basics v Bohs like tonight we would have been massively better. There was some defensive shape that keeps pats at arms length and give them lots of the ball and make it really hard for them to break the defensive effort down. Bit of fortunate with the 1st goal which helped settle things and Abibi has a clean sheet. Not so depressing just now for DFC fans.

[pineapple stu]

Second time in a month coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 :)

Not sure we can keep shipping goals like that, but it cements us in second for now, which is an improvement on last year. Can't ask for more than that really.

[Longfordian]

Caulfield must be headed for the sack very soon surely?

[Straightstory]

Drogheda 1 Derry 2. Goalkeeping errors and appalling refereeing win it for Derry.

[pineapple stu]

Caulfield must be headed for the sack very soon surely?
Ditto Healy you'd have thought?

Surely Cork's problems aren't so bad they justify being eighth in the First Division?

[Longfordian]

Agreed. It shouldn't be that difficult to be in and around the play offs even if it's not easy to actually go up.

[nigel-harps1954]

Not entirely sure how we managed to lose that. Another shocking decision by the officials to disallow Owolabi another goal for offside. Another super goalkeeping performance by McGinty with two or three huge saves.

Shows how far we have come that we're gutted to have not beaten the league leaders though.

On the sending off, Parkes had to go, no matter how you look at it, you can't put your head into another player.

For the size of our team, we just can't defend set pieces. Something Ollie Horgan sides have prided themselves on for years now, basic defending set pieces is killing us.

[Guitd]

Pure **** from Galway tonight
Had a great squat part time end last season but full time shocking stuff this season hard to understand

[pineapple stu]

Cork's first league loss to Cobh in 26 years tonight. They still have three players - McNulty, Morrissey and Beattie - who won the Premier. That alone should be a good enough foundation to challenge for the play-offs in the First Division. How on earth are they so bad?

[CorribsideSteve]

If Parkes had to go Sadiki had to too, the decision probably cost Harps at least a point because we parked the bus after.
I'd have to see a replay of the whole thing to be sure, This squaring up to each other, posturing about, is common in todays game and is generally harmless. The rules say ANY contact with the head is a red, but the whole act looked so inoffensive and mild. Two yellows probably could have done in common sense land. It was such a nothing burger of an incident and I wonder if Parkes feels a bit foolish. Great result for Sligo though, and a fnatastic save at the end from McGinty, or McGinley as Sligo's twitter referred to him at one stage this evening :p

[CorribsideSteve]

Pure **** from Galway tonight
Had a great squat part time end last season but full time shocking stuff this season hard to understand

It's very disappointing. They've been so flat and poor so far, getting out of jail with last minute winners and draws here and there, but that's miles from enough. These are the types of performances seen under Alan Murphy and Shane Keegan, but I thought JC would have more about him.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

The disallowed goal was a blatant push on Mahon so should have been a feee out for that anyway. Really see very little in the red card. Harps player at the time didn’t react until Webster came running in from 30 yards away. A LOI ref never needs an excuse to brandish a red card all the same.

McGinty is the best keeper in the league. Be surprised if he’s with us in September.

[total hoofball]

Pure **** from Galway tonight
Had a great squat part time end last season but full time shocking stuff this season hard to understand
Galway are the 2nd worst full-time professional team I've seen in my lifetime just behind Cork's even worse full-time professional embarrassment

[Nesta99]

Galway are the 2nd worst full-time professional team I've seen in my lifetime just behind Cork's even worse full-time professional embarrassment

Big money in the 1st. Have there been many FT teams in the 1st division over the years out of interest? The dream team at Galway should really be tearing up that league.

[pineapple stu]

Limerick and Waterford in recent years walked the FD with lots of money anyway.

It was more obvious they had money than Cork/Galway this year, let's say that much!

[da bishop]

Big 3 points for Treaty tonight ,mind you not a result one would have predicted at halftime as Bray dominated and squandered at least 3 good chances,all Treaty did was hang in there ,hoofing balls up the pitch.2nd half Treaty a lot better grew in confidence while Bray got more sloppy.Treaty first goal one to win any game and subs made huge difference..Stream was good except for the commentry,hadnt a clue

[joey B]

Galways only wins are against Cobh,who got a red card in the 18th minute, Wexford with the last kick of the game and a walk over against Cabo,thats unbelievable really.....

[sidewayspasser]

Cork's first league loss to Cobh in 26 years tonight. They still have three players - McNulty, Morrissey and Beattie - who won the Premier. That alone should be a good enough foundation to challenge for the play-offs in the First Division. How on earth are they so bad?
Beattie has barely played so far. McNulty is 40 and not as good as he was a few years ago. Morrissey - I sometimes wonder does he struggle with the leadership role that is expected of him? In my opinion, he doesn't have the presence on the pitch that Greg Bolger or Conor McCormack had in our successful seasons.
But one major problem is that, bar the 5-0 against a terrible Wexford side, City struggle to create clear-cut chances in the final third. And of those that are created, too many are wasted.

[Nesta99]

Cork could struggle to get 1 or 200 fans to go to games at TC when lockdowns starts to lift, such is the stock of the club and how bandwagon fans scarpered when looking like relegation,

[ToberonaTornado]

Surprising win for us last night but also a well deserved one. A few of our better paid players stepped up and put in a bit of a shift(for once)
Shout-out to Dave McMillan on his 100th League goal. Also to young Adedekoun,getting better with every game.
Nice response from us to Monday's desperate performance against Bohs.

Rumour number 6 in my series called next Dundalk manager rumours - Return of Vinny Perth as manager. -Won't be happening.
Strong feeling in Dundalk that Magilton will be remaining in the manager hot seat position for the rest of the season.

https://scontent.fdub3-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-0/s640x640/192284458_171901631607959_8053496637344716716_n.jp g?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=j5Skvtzs4JMAX8k782q&_nc_ht=scontent.fdub3-2.fna&tp=7&oh=5bd58477a6e4eddd549c93eaac5ad4ce&oe=60D7BE86

[Dalymountrower]

[QUOTE=ToberonaTornado;2077888]Surprising win for us last night but also a well deserved one. A few of our better paid players stepped up and put in a bit of a shift(for once)
Shout-out to Dave McMillan on his 100th League goal. Also to young Adedekoun,getting better with every game.
Nice response from us to Monday's desperate performance against Bohs



Not surprised that Dundalk raised their game last night and that they beat a Pat's side that has relied on lucky breaks and dodgy refereeing to get results in their previous two games.

[redobit]

Not entirely sure how we managed to lose that. Another shocking decision by the officials to disallow Owolabi another goal for offside. Another super goalkeeping performance by McGinty with two or three huge saves.

Shows how far we have come that we're gutted to have not beaten the league leaders though.

On the sending off, Parkes had to go, no matter how you look at it, you can't put your head into another player.

For the size of our team, we just can't defend set pieces. Something Ollie Horgan sides have prided themselves on for years now, basic defending set pieces is killing us.

Looked like a Owolabi push in the lead up as NNN has said.

When Parks made the head 'gesture' then he's asking for trouble. I think there was two of them in it but Parkes was a wee bit more forceful. Couple of yellows and move on would have cleared it up.

From a Harps point of view the defending for our second goal was suspect alright. For us I think Mahon done brilliant to win two headers and keep the ball alive but Im sure Ollie be having kittens looking at that.

Enjoyable enough game. Looking at the table over the break will be nice. Will need a bit of luck to stay there but looking forward to finding out. Just a pity the crowds aren't in the Showgrounds to experience it ... apart from the money side of things these are the seasons that cement our future. By that I mean that Sligo Rovers good seasons bring in strong crowds and loads of younger fans. Those young boys and girls will be the future supporters, sponsors, committee members we rely on to keep going. Its Rule 1 on how to maintain your future and traditions. A lot of kids missing out on great experiences at the moment.

[pineapple stu]

Rovers up to their usual tricks I see. 96th minute winner in Longford (per livescore)

[Calcio Jack]

Rovers up to their usual tricks I see. 96th minute winner in Longford (per livescore)

We’ve limped literally to the break but again managed to find a late late winner today ( brilliant delivery from Mandriou again and finish by Gaffney) ... get key players fit and Towell available in a few weeks and we’ll be looking good ... plus 1,000 Hoops at next match

[sbgawa]

Longford wasted so much time they ended up screwing themselves.
Rovers dominated start to finish, great to get the win and hopefully get a few players back in two weeks time,
I'll be at the Harps game as a member :rolleyes:

[placid casual]

Watched the game on my phone whilst queuing up in the Aviva to get my vaccine. Nurse in the station thought I was stressed about the jab until I told her it was because of the game. All those sitting in the chill out area for 15 mins witnessed me jump and shout "YES" when we scored.
As already alluded to, we are crawling across the mid season break line - slow, ponderous, inept up front, Burke ruining the flow of the team and Grace always looking likely to gift a chance to the opposition.
Longford are adrift near the bottom and should already be preparing for the play off as Waterford look doomed to relegation even now.
Can't wait for the Harps game!

[Dalymountrower]

Longford and Waterford are gone at this stage. Presumably Rovers will improve when Towell comes in and J O'Brien gets back, but Sligo should have enough about them to maintain their lead and win the league.
Bohs, Derry and Dundalk will also kick on and I suspect that Drogs and Harps will fade away.Pats may have enough of a lead to hang on to third, but I doubt it.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Watched the game on my phone whilst queuing up in the Aviva to get my vaccine. Nurse in the station thought I was stressed about the jab until I told her it was because of the game. All those sitting in the chill out area for 15 mins witnessed me jump and shout "YES" when we scored.
As already alluded to, we are crawling across the mid season break line - slow, ponderous, inept up front, Burke ruining the flow of the team and Grace always looking likely to gift a chance to the opposition.
Longford are adrift near the bottom and should already be preparing for the play off as Waterford look doomed to relegation even now.
Can't wait for the Harps game!

Good news on the vaccine

[Bohtastic]

It's way too early for any lead to be enough. If any team (from Derry in 8th) were to put a proper run together they could challenge for the league, never mind Europe. Shamrock Rovers look unconvincing ATM- and there will be a lot riding on Towell. Sligo have been performing well, but their squad might not cover injuries/suspensions. Pats also unconvincing.
All to play for.

[patsdad]

[QUOTE=ToberonaTornado;2077888]Surprising win for us last night but also a well deserved one. A few of our better paid players stepped up and put in a bit of a shift(for once)
Shout-out to Dave McMillan on his 100th League goal. Also to young Adedekoun,getting better with every game.
Nice response from us to Monday's desperate performance against Bohs



Not surprised that Dundalk raised their game last night and that they beat a Pat's side that has relied on lucky breaks and dodgy refereeing to get results in their previous two games.


That's actually very funny. The dodgy refereeing in the Bohs game all favoured you and you still got beat.

[ontheotherhand]

Longford and Waterford are gone at this stage. Presumably Rovers will improve when Towell comes in and J O'Brien gets back, but Sligo should have enough about them to maintain their lead and win the league.
Bohs, Derry and Dundalk will also kick on and I suspect that Drogs and Harps will fade away.Pats may have enough of a lead to hang on to third, but I doubt it.

Wouldn't be so sure on Sligo. They are on a good run of grinding out results but that could easily change. It wasn't long ago that they dropped 7 points across 3 games v Derry, Drogheda and Pats. The do look very solid at the back though so they could definitely keep the run going. Bohs are probably the best side we've played though and I'd expect them to take points from everyone now. It will be close until the end.

The break may change a lot of things. Rovers do need Towell to perform but more importantly we need Watts, Greene, Burke and Finn back to full fitness. We are completely out of shape and unbalanced at the moment. I'm not sure we will see much of Joey again sadly. The body seems to be telling him something. Same with Kavanagh and Farrugia. A shame as all 3 are important. End of last year I was thinking this squad would only need minor adjustments for a year or so but losing McEneff and Jack plus having those three now looking crocked puts us in a different situation.

[placid casual]

Good news on the vaccine
Cheers NNN, yeah if Rovers keep playing like they are currently ill need a sedative instead of a vaccination!
Sligo probably not wanting the break now as they're going so well - would there be money there to recruit in the summer, to bolster their title chances?

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Would have thought there would be. Actually made money last season and that’s before the European money is taken into account. Debt free for the first time in a good while (just as we go looking for a 17m stadium). Actually a pity the grounds are closed as we’d be getting 1k at least more then we would have budgeted for I’d say

Defence and centre midfield we’ve good cover but could do with something else attacking wise as it’s bare enough there. Buckley was hoping to get someone else in before the start of the season so I would have thought he’s still on the look out for another player there. Kenny and Byrne have played a lot more then anyone could have envisaged. Done great all the same.

[ToberonaTornado]

Good news on the vaccine

Or not......