Games weekend 18th/21st June

[placid casual]

Delighted to hear Burkey wasn't taking any crap from the vermin in the stand. He's 100% Rovers.
On the game itself, it was a tale of 2 strikers - Gaffney had 4 chances in the first 20 mins and missed, Kelly had 1 good chance and took it well.
Hopefully Towell coming in will give us a cutting edge up front as it's badly needed if we want to remain Champions of Ireland.

[Bohtastic]

There is a lot riding on Towell hitting the ground running. Continue the current form and Europe might not be nailed on.
Re. The chances you had, there were some, but maybe the luck that helped earlier in the season has swung the other way.

[placid casual]

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with any of that summation bohstastic, although given the lack of quality in the league I'd expect Rovers to comfortably qualify for Europe next season.
Swings and roundabouts with luck I guess, same as any other team

[Northsider]

Alan Cawley was spot on when he said Rovers have regressed badly from last season. Bohs were very comfortable once we took the lead, Rovers had one chance I think and spent the rest of the time doing snidey fouls and pumping long balls into the sky.

Two clean sheets in a row against teams above us is encouraging and if we can sort out our defending and stop gifting goals we can make a move up the table.

Hard to believe we are only 7 points behind after the dismal start we've had.

[Dalymountrower]

I wouldn't necessarily disagree with any of that summation bohstastic, although given the lack of quality in the league I'd expect Rovers to comfortably qualify for Europe next season.
Swings and roundabouts with luck I guess, same as any other team

Rovers will be first or second, no question.


I seem to remember you predicting 20 goals for Georgie Kelly before the season started.
He could easily reach 20 with the way he is putting them away

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps were abysmal again last night. Down a hell of a lot of bodies though. Folan, Webster, Dunleavy, O'Sullivan, Russell, Connolly and Timlin all missing. Connolly and Dunleavy sat on the bench but neither were going to play. Ended up with a lot of square pegs in round holes, had three academy players come on for their debuts, and Ryan Rainey making his first start for the club in midfield. None of that ideal against Pats.

Lot of individual errors again and poor defending for the goals. Never really looked at the races.

Rob Harvey is a joke of a referee. Denied a stonewall penalty and Conor Barry had a foul against him for getting his nose bust open. Go figure.

To make matters worse, Mark Coyle is due a suspension for Longford on Friday night. So down another player again.

We really need to get some bodies in this window.

[sbgawa]

Delighted to hear Burkey wasn't taking any crap from the vermin in the stand. He's 100% Rovers.
On the game itself, it was a tale of 2 strikers - Gaffney had 4 chances in the first 20 mins and missed, Kelly had 1 good chance and took it well.
Hopefully Towell coming in will give us a cutting edge up front as it's badly needed if we want to remain Champions of Ireland.

Getting Watts and a fully fit Finn as well as Towell will make a big difference to us but with the lack of a lead in the league i wonder is a European run going to be a good or a bad thing this year.
If Rovers win against Slovan we will have 6 more mid week games and with the way we are struggling now that could cost us the league.
If i was offered go out after 2 rounds in europe (the minimum with parachute) but win the league id take it and run.
Gaffney should have taken 1 of his chances early and it would have been a different game but hey ho on to next week and hopefully pick up 3 points against Drogs

[2 Year Contract]

Anyone know who decides how many fans are allowed at a game, looking at Bohs-Rovers, Bohs could easily accommodate 400-500 safely, no use to Rovers but 100 is ridiculous.

The government guidelines. If a ground has a capacity of over 5000, 200 fans are allowed in, if it’s capacity is less than 5000 then 100 are allowed. I believe that’s due to raise to 500 and 200 fans respectively in July and then another increase is due in August but there’s no word yet on how many fans that may be (fingers crossed it’s 1000 at the very least)

[D24Saint]

I'm really impressed with what I've seen from us since the break. There is a great work ethic in the group and I think SOD has done brilliant with team. I'm hopeful now that we can defiantly secure European football for next season.

[placid casual]

Getting Watts and a fully fit Finn as well as Towell will make a big difference to us but with the lack of a lead in the league i wonder is a European run going to be a good or a bad thing this year.
If Rovers win against Slovan we will have 6 more mid week games and with the way we are struggling now that could cost us the league.
If i was offered go out after 2 rounds in europe (the minimum with parachute) but win the league id take it and run.

That's what I expect to happen anyway.
New season signings sucees is 50/50 in my view - Hoare & Danny have been brilliant, but both Gannon and particularly McCann look finished as footballers at the top LOI level.

[Calcio Jack]

That's what I expect to happen anyway.
New season signings sucees is 50/50 in my view - Hoare & Danny have been brilliant, but both Gannon and particularly McCann look finished as footballers at the top LOI level.

Agree re McCann offers nothing as for Gannon he’s still an excellent full back but simply not suited to playing in a 3-5-3 formation .

[Longfordian]

Bloody FAI allowing Rovers to field 12 players now.

[placid casual]

Agree re McCann offers nothing as for Gannon he’s still an excellent full back but simply not suited to playing in a 3-5-3 formation .
Yeah I know what you mean about Gannon, but his lackadaisical attitude at dundalk last year, and now this season - I just think his competitive mojo has gone - I'd love to be provided wrong tho, as he seems a decent genuine bloke.
Talk of stokes having a trial with Rovers now-jesus wept.

[sbgawa]

Gannon has been excellent in patches for us but not consistant.
I wouldn't be giving up on him yet tbf.
Stokes might have put one of the 3 or 4 chances that Gaffney missed last night away but he is a loose cannon to say the least.

[Martinho II]

Very controversial game last night in bishopsgate. We are in serious serious trouble and cant see any way out. Dean Byrne & Rob Manley were extremely poor last night. We started brightly but were slack for Waterfords first goal, Aaran McNally was superb for our goal but then in second half we fell asleep and allowed Waterford to score unchallengend.

After that we never created a chance really. Waterford are a very streetwise side under Mark Bircham and knew how to play the ref. We lack that attribute badly. Ref didnt help matters last night. On numerous occasions Brian Murphy was timewasting with his kickouts. I never saw so much of our supportbase scathing about our lack of football.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Good to be back then?

[Martinho II]

Good to be back then?

Not really Nah Nah Nah Nah if we were playing to bigger crowds than the first division if there was no COVID then yeah cos the bigger clubs would have a great away support to Bishopsgate. But I find it hard to get into loi football without fans being there for majority of season.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I’d love to get to a game. Still waiting to get drawn out. Hopefully get Europe game at least if NPHET don’t shut the country down.

[Tomas]

Good set of fixtures tonight. My money is on Derry, Waterford, Longford and Drogheda to win. Bohs with a big win tomorow.



Dundalk19:45Derry City

Waterford19:45St Patrick's Athletic

Finn Harps20:00Longford Town

Shamrock Rovers20:00Drogheda United

[Straightstory]

Drogheda being outplayed by Sham Rvs at Tallaght. Drogs really missing their star player James Brown. Still, it took a penalty-which-was-never-a-penalty to divide the teams. 1-0.

[Jack B]

Three games that has been hugely effected by horrendous decisions it seems. The officiating in this league is past the point of being hilariously bad.

[Dalymountrower]

Three games that has been hugely effected by horrendous decisions it seems. The officiating in this league is past the point of being hilariously bad.

Three a week!.
It is beyond a joke.

[D24Saint]

Three games that has been hugely effected by horrendous decisions it seems. The officiating in this league is past the point of being hilariously bad.

Never been any better if your of a certain vintage you’ll remember a certain John Stacy (Athlone) enough said. It’s always been horrendous.

[2 Year Contract]

So unless Sligo beat Bohs by 5 goals tomorrow night Pats have clinched the 18 game title tonight ;)

[D24Saint]

So unless Sligo beat Bohs by 5 goals tomorrow night Pats have clinched the 18 game title tonight ;)

I will take it :cool::cool:

[Calcio Jack]

Same stuff from Rovers again - huge amount of possession ,missed lots of chances, gave away a stupid peno ; don’t think Drogs had even one other chance- and for what it’s worth Deegan has to be the dirtiest player in the whole league - a ‘nasty’ type and never nice to see a professional try and deliberately hurt another professional .

Anyway big hope is that Towell can make the difference by injecting much needed pace into our game that is lacking at present - so half way stage and still despite ourselves equal on points at top ; so in with a real chance of retaining title as I can’t see other teams improving much but Rovers have huge room to improve

[sbgawa]

At least pats only drew :)
Hard to believe the chances we have missed against bohs and drogs. Has to change soon

[Dalymountrower]

At least pats only drew :)
Hard to believe the chances we have missed against bohs and drogs. Has to change soon
Drogs missed chance of the game in the last minute.

[placid casual]

My first game back in tallaght since that great night against dundalk in March 2020, and the difference between that Rovers team and this is like night and day. Horribly unbalanced, slow, ponderous rubbish. Greener playing left wingback, Burke slowing every move down to walking pace, Gannon shouldn't be anywhere need that team, and we don't have a single credible striker to call on.
No subs from Bradley tonight so clearly Watts was not fit- why have him on the bench?
Thankfully there isn't even a remotely decent team in the league this year so I guess if Rovers go on to win the worst standard of league in living memory I'll take it at this stage. A shedload of changes needed for next season tho.

[joey B]

Good night for league of Ireland officiating it seems! Harps/Longford was bad, ref was worse, their goal was a joke, the penalty we got which we missed looked harsh and it seems we are intent on playing for the relegation play-off AGAIN!

[ToberonaTornado]

Decent show from Dundalk tonight with lots of players stepping up on their previous performances. Derry did comeback in 2nd half(2 good subs from RH at ht) but our defence held firm and were able to hold them at arms length. Decent match.(edit - Toal looks a right good player for Derry,very impressive)
Great to see Shields got the send off he deserved as well.

Lets not talk about that Longford goal v Harps! Horrendous reffing from Ben Connolly once again!

[Nesta99]

My first game back in tallaght since that great night against dundalk in March 2020, and the difference between that Rovers team and this is like night and day. Horribly unbalanced, slow, ponderous rubbish. Greener playing left wingback, Burke slowing every move down to walking pace, Gannon shouldn't be anywhere need that team, and we don't have a single credible striker to call on.
No subs from Bradley tonight so clearly Watts was not fit- why have him on the bench?
Thankfully there isn't even a remotely decent team in the league this year so I guess if Rovers go on to win the worst standard of league in living memory I'll take it at this stage. A shedload of changes needed for next season tho.

All the more frustrating for Dundalk, if we were a bit less sh1t we'd be in the mix. Reeling in 9pts is not unheard of though. We were definitely a lot improved on the Longford game and if that level of improvement continues Europe is certainly possible, have some influence on the titles destination and another cup run could save the season. Keep this level up and we could find ourselves pushing in to the business end of the table.

[nigel-harps1954]

Another pretty horrible night at the office for Harps. Can only blame so much on the injury problems, we're the masters of our own downfall too. If you don't take your chances, you don't deserve to win and it was yet another game where missed chances cost us.

We're not playing good football at the minute, we're incredibly frustrating, and the players look shot of confidence. On the plus side, it's great to see Johnny Dunleavy in flying form again. Man of the match by a mile last night. Tunde Owolabi starting to find his shooting boots as well, which is a bonus. Apart from that, little positives to take from the game.

With respect to them, low budgets and all, Longford are as poor a side as I've seen in the Premier Division in a long while. They're well organised, and Doyle doing a fine job there, but it's hard to see them staying up this year.

[Nesta99]

Can only blame so much on the injury problems, we're the masters of our own downfall too. If you don't take your chances, you don't deserve to win and it was yet another game where missed chances cost us.
We're playing good football at the minute, we're incredibly frustrating, and the players look shot of confidence. On the plus side, With respect to them, low budgets and all, Longford are as good a side as I've seen in the Premier Division in a long while. They're well organised, and Doyle doing a fine job there, but it's hard to see us staying up this year.

Ollie's version...

[Longfordian]

We finished fourth in the First Division last year and haven't really strengthened dramatically. I wasn't optimistic before the season started but the odd win would be nice.

[ontheotherhand]

Drogs missed chance of the game in the last minute.


I'd argue that the dubious honour of missed chance of the game goes to Mr. Rory Gaffeney...again. He could've picked a limb to swing at the ball he got or even taken it down after the Drogs defender fell over. How he got under it I don't know.

We actually looked good in the first half with a proper central midfielder on the field for the first time in weeks. Finn lost steam in the second half though and the rest followed. It's not our only issue but it's been the most obvious and perhaps easiest to fix. We needed to replace McEneff's mobility and box to box running with either another like-for-like player or a combination of players and we've failed to do that, partly due to injuries but also due to poor signings i.e. McCann. How I wish we'd taken Coote and Wilson instead of McCann and Gannon. Towell and Watts may be the answer if they stay fit and if we can solve that issue I think others will come together but even then, it will go down to the wire. If we can't solve that I'd say we will slip a few places and it's up for grabs for any of the others. My money would be on Bohs unfortunately.

At least we have plenty of time to sort things out before Europe.........oh ****.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Superb game of football in The Showgrounds

[pineapple stu]

So unless Sligo beat Bohs by 5 goals tomorrow night Pats have clinched the 18 game title tonight ;)
They're giving it a go anyway!

One goal away from the top three split by goals scored at the half way stage

[Dalymountrower]

They're giving it a go anyway!

One goal away from the top three split by goals scored at the half way stage

Well and truly hammered by Sligo, reckon they have their poor form behind them and will be there or thereabouts at top of league at end of season.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Bohs had plenty of chances also. It was an absolutely brilliant game.

[ontheotherhand]

My money would be on Bohs unfortunately.




My team talk for Sligo clearly worked.

Begrudgingly happy for young Kenny. He hasn't been around long enough for me to detest him yet so it's nice to see a young lad make his mark. Might not be saying that if it wasn't against Bohs mind you.

[SeanDrog]

Drogs beat Sligo - Bohs hammer Drogs - Sligo hammer Bohs ........ go figure

[Tomas]

Bit of a horror show by Bohs, after a spirited win against rivals Rovers at Dalymount the other night. Sligo were just ruthless tonight. Bohs still very much in at least european cup places but in need to nick a couple away wins on top of a decent home form.

Waterford battled hard against Pats and it looks like there is a bit of spark to survive in the top division after an ownership shuffle. Longford in trouble now while Dundalk look like being back - even making the Conference League spot with a late push. Go to games if possible lads, this is an interesting league many people dont appreciate for some reason. Hope Shels keep their ground its a nice place for a game of football.

[Nesta99]

Drogs beat Sligo - Bohs hammer Drogs - Sligo hammer Bohs ........ go figure

Worst standard season ever might actually be true this season. Im not even ruling out Dundalk....

[placid casual]

When your most influential player decides to leave mid season, I'd rule out dundalk if I was you.

Sligo are the best team Rovers have faced this season, and will be running Rovers close for the league title.

[Nesta99]

Tongue firmly in cheek PC, But with Rovers desperate enough to sign up an OTR who knows how the league will finish up - Id rule out nothing!

[redarmyfaction]

We have been threatening to play well all year and it finally happened last night.

[Dalymountrower]

When your most influential player decides to leave mid season, I'd rule out dundalk if I was you.

Sligo are the best team Rovers have faced this season, and will be running Rovers close for the league title.

Agrreed , Sligo are the best team Bohs have played , by some distance.We'll see what Towell brings to Rovers but good enough anyway for top two..Pat's hanging in there though.One of the current top three will win the cup.
Between Bohs Dundalk and Derry for fourth.

[Dalymountrower]

My team talk for Sligo clearly worked.

Begrudgingly happy for young Kenny. He hasn't been around long enough for me to detest him yet so it's nice to see a young lad make his mark. Might not be saying that if it wasn't against Bohs mind you.
Yeah, a feeling of dread and despair washed over me when you tipped Bohs.

[D24Saint]

Agrreed , Sligo are the best team Bohs have played , by some distance.We'll see what Towell brings to Rovers but good enough anyway for top two..Pat's hanging in there though.One of the current top three will win the cup.
Between Bohs Dundalk and Derry for fourth.

I be dancing up emmet road if we won the cup and finished third or fourth. It’s been an turbulent couple of seasons and SOD & Mathews seems to have us back on the right road.