Games weekend 11th to 14th March

[sbgawa]

Friday 11th
Premier Division

Shels v Dundalk 19:45
Drogs v Sligo 19:45
UCD v Derry 19:45
Finn Harps v St Pats 20:00
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians 20:00
First Division (All 19:45)

Bray v Galway
Cork v Cobh
Treaty v Longford
Waterford v Wexford

Monday 14th (All 19:45)
Premier Division

Derry v Drogheda
St Pats v UCD
Sligo v Finn Harps
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians v Shelbourne

[sbgawa]

Double game Weekend so big opportunity with 2 wins for anyone to make a big stride forward or with two losses to begin a crises.
Two wins for Rovers and we are off and running anything less and its banners in the stands time judging by the reaction to last weeks loss :)

Every game seems vital at this stage crowds are great as well.....truly the League of Ireland.....Its not that bad you know.

[DCSIL]

Ticket for UCD sorted... Bus routes sorted... nearest pub?

[pineapple stu]

Clubhouse Bar on campus. Less than five minute walk from the ground

[D24Saint]

Ticket for UCD sorted... Bus routes sorted... nearest pub?

slim pickings off campus.

[pineapple stu]

I think Farmer Brown's in Clonskeagh is the nearest off campus - a 15 minute walk per Google maps. Ashton's is just beyond it too.

But Clubhouse Bar is fine.

[Nesta99]

I'd rather not have Shamrock Rovers on the Monday! It sensible to go all out to get 3 points at Shels, they too will see it as a chance to register a win so a battle of attrition in line I feel. That makes its extra tough for Monday though motivating players for games against the champions shouldnt be a problem but will there be enough gas in the tank to press for 90+mins and also get on the front foot at times also.

[ontheotherhand]

Sure we all have two games. No better time to play us than after our derby. It's worked out well for you in the past....

[Nesta99]

Fair point, though a few days prep on tactics wouldnt have gone amiss with a newly assembled team (have to get the excuses in early) and specifically for playing against arguably the strongest side.

[ontheotherhand]

Fair point, though a few days prep on tactics wouldnt have gone amiss with a newly assembled team (have to get the excuses in early) and specifically for playing against arguably the strongest side.

It's very arguable at the minute! Great time to be playing us. I'm told there have been strops! The camp is in disarray. And even if we beat bohs we will be banjaxed. It's clearly your game to lose.

[Nesta99]

Dont forget about the pitch! In the unlikely event of Rovers dropping more than 4 points points they could be prophetic words oth, at face value Derry should be picking up all 6.

[ontheotherhand]

Dont forget about the pitch! In the unlikely event of Rovers dropping more than 4 points points they could be prophetic words oth, at face value Derry should be picking up all 6.

Didn't wanna win the league this year anyway. It's a ****e standard.

[Nesta99]

You are not Roddy Collins by any chance lol. He was on the Press Box podcast recently and made his opinions on the standard or how competitive it is/was pretty clear. Actually a good listen in general tbf! The Bradser Out banners must be near completion by now;)

[ontheotherhand]

You are not Roddy Collins by any chance lol. He was on the Press Box podcast recently and made his opinions on the standard or how competitive it is/was pretty clear. Actually a good listen in general tbf! The Bradser Out banners must be near completion by now;)

Didn't hear that one. He's entertaining alright. Utter spoofer but box office. He's been on a few lately. Must be sniffing around for a job. Said he had one lined up in England I heard.

No banners in this house though Nesta. I'm a believer. But who can compete with billions? If Derry don't win it from here it'll be a complete capitulation.

Hard to know how good anyone really is at this stage but at least it's shaping up to be a bit of a battle.

[PartySaint]

Any chance of the game in Ballybofey getting called off?

[D24Saint]

Any chance of the game in Ballybofey getting called off?

No word of an inspection being required yet.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Market's Field passed an inspection at 10am, but will continue to be monitored throughout the day. A bit more rain expected today. If another game gets called off there difficult questions will have to be asked.

[PartySaint]

UCD vs Derry off.

[Mr A]

No word of an inspection being required yet.

Pitch is good to go, inspection passed easily

[2 Year Contract]

No word of an inspection being required yet.
Finn Park passed an 11:30 pitch inspection this morning. Fingers crossed it holds up for tonight

[pineapple stu]

UCD vs Derry off.
Surprised at that tbh. I think it's only the second time since the turn of the century we've had a game rained off. Last time was actually a live game when Rovers won the league; it was shown live the next evening instead. That was lashing rain as I recall; it's nowhere near as bad today.

Suits me though, strangely

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Park passed an 11:30 pitch inspection this morning. Fingers crossed it holds up for tonight

Pitch in Finn park is fine and didn't even need a pitch inspection.

[D24Saint]

Pitch in Finn park is fine and didn't even need a pitch inspection.

Excellent news , on the long road up now.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

League said it passed an inspection at 11.30

Surprised at UCD. Didn’t think it had rained that much.

[DCWA]

How could Belfield be waterlogged? Weather been grand.

That being said possibly a blessing for Derry as our last two game weekend we were really leggy looking second half of the Monday game.

[LOI101]

How could Belfield be waterlogged? Weather been grand.

Must be the sprinklers....

[WeAreRovers]

Surprised at that tbh. I think it's only the second time since the turn of the century we've had a game rained off. Last time was actually a live game when Rovers won the league; it was shown live the next evening instead. That was lashing rain as I recall; it's nowhere near as bad today.

Suits me though, strangely

Was sat in McCloskeys in Donnybrook that night with buckets on the floor collecting the rain coming through the ceiling when we heard that game was called-off. Rain nowhere near that level today but all DLR pitches are unplayable this weekend too FWIW.

[pineapple stu]

Must be the sprinklers....
Funnily enough, the sprinkler makes the front cover of the programme (https://www.ucdfc.ie/programme?pgid=kzzng86o-885a32f4-8600-47fc-a304-05233f68a8ee) for the game! Must have been tempting fate too much...

I know online programmes are controversial, but one handy thing about them at least is that they've just saved us a few hundred quid.

[D24Saint]

Funnily enough, the sprinkler makes the front cover of the programme (https://www.ucdfc.ie/programme?pgid=kzzng86o-885a32f4-8600-47fc-a304-05233f68a8ee) for the game! Must have been tempting fate too much...

I know online programmes are controversial, but one handy thing about them at least is that they've just saved us a few hundred quid.

Id say all clubs could go down that road eventually, we did a double printed for our first two home games. I don’t think the interest in programmes is a strong as it once was. I think
a eight page team sheet with one or two articles would suffice these days.

[Nesta99]

The Tolka pitch tends to get waterlogged or flooded, I havent seen any talk about a pitch inspection so it is unusual that UCD is unplayable and Tolka is grand. The printed Dundalk programme is still very popular on match nights and I think a digital version is available for free for expats though possibly the day after the game.

[MattB11]

Treaty v Longford called off less than an hour before kick off

[NeverFeltBetter]

Difficult question time!

They may need to consider somewhere else until the pitch is fixed. And by that I basically mean Jackman. It's that or play away every game. Ridiculous situation.

[Longfordian]

Decidedly crap first few weeks for us. One game played in four weeks. And that was 0-0.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Club had a FB post up around noon claiming the pitch had been partially resodded and "looks well". It might be the case that it just can't handle any bit of rain after it wasn't looked after properly over the winter.

Next home game is next Friday, 3pm against Cork. They'll be a lot of pressure for a firm green light on Thursday evening. A back up plan has to be formed.

[passinginterest]

Dublin derby has been a strange one so far. Lacking any real intensity. Rovers on top for the most part without threatening too much. Talbot with a couple of dodgy moments representing the best chances and at least partially at fault for Rovers goal. Since they scored Rovers went down a level. Bohs probably should have had a penalty towards the end of the half but haven’t looked very dangerous otherwise.

[Jack B]

Some of the pitches in this league, jaysus.

[TonyD]

Some of the pitches in this league, jaysus.

Indeed. Not a bad game in Finn park though, considering. Lots of chances now on both sides. Harps not out of it by any means.

[TonyD]

Pats go two up. Somewhat fortunately it must be said. Harps have had their chances.

[pineapple stu]

Are Harps going to struggle for goals this season? Finishing really let them down in the Bowl too. They've gone below us on goals scored now (with obviously most of the season left)

[Jack B]

Indeed. Not a bad game in Finn park though, considering. Lots of chances now on both sides. Harps not out of it by any means.

Yeah, the game improved as a spectacle for sure as both teams went for it more. Still remained an awfully scrappy game but you can't really blame either side for that one, not much they could do when the pitch is playing like that.

Quality of keepers have made the difference for me, might be harsh re: the second but I think McGinley's let himself down for both goals while Anang made one big save and has generally been great under crosses. He got written off ridiculously after one mistake against Rovers but has looked impressive ever since for me.

Special mention to Adam O'Reilly as well, been excellent since he's come in and made midfield look far less of an issue than it was before he got his chance.

[Calcio Jack]

Much better from Rovers against albeit an as usual well organised , motivated but limited Bohs ( not meant disparagingly ) who were well up for it - also good to see common sense re away fans being allowed in as it’s adds so much to the atmosphere- overall Rovers should of easily won by 2 or 3 nil and Bohs will claim they should of had a peno just before HT to make it 1-1 at the break - highlight/s of the night were some of Burke’s flicks and back heels and of course Gaffney’s goal

[joey B]

Aren’t taking our chances,hit the post and missed a one on one before conceding,gonna be a long season if we don’t start finding the back of the net….

[sbgawa]

Bohs were poor , about as comfortable a 1 nil as u can get.
Rovers missed a couple of easy chances to be more comfortable but to be honest it's all about 3 points in the derby. I'd have taken a **** performance and 3 points

[DCSIL]

Was on way to Dublin so went to Shels v Dundalk instead.

Draw fair result, Shels didn’t really get going up front and Dundalk prone to the odd clanger at the back. The peno award was bizarre, looked like the Shels player was trying to keep hold of the ball or something, Dundalk keeper interviened and a peno came out of nowhere - he got his hand to the shot but it was strong enough to go in.

Good crowd, bar back open.

[Northsider]

Was a poor game in Tallaght. We were woeful in the first half, a lot better in the second, but didn't really create much. Badly missed Promise up front. Just annoyed to lose to such a soft goal, Talbot was all over the shop in the first half. Had a nice seat by the halfway line and it's much better over there than being stuck in the corner.

Big game against Shels now on Monday, I see they got a decent result.

[D24Saint]

Very tough game as it often is in Finn Park. I’m delighted to get out of the game with three points. I think Git was motm , when he is on form he is unbelievable. It’s great to see Eoin Doyle off the mark eventually. I wouldn’t be wax lyrical about us so far this season but we are motoring along ok.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Very good first half from us. Not good at all second half. Drogheda missed a penalty and had a few other chances. Missed Lyons as you’d imagine he would have been on the end of some of the ones that flew across the goal. Buckley and and McDonnell off injured and both limping after the game would be a worry with 2 big games this week. Still we have a much better squad this year and didn’t need to bring Bolger on.

Fair play to the Drogs fans. Sang the whole way through the second half.

[trevy]

Waterford struggled to a 2 1 win over Wexford. Penalty given to us from a corner early on. It wasn't clear what is was for from the stand. Junior scored but Wexford equalised from a nice free kick soon after. Phoenix Patterson scored after starting and finishing a nice move so 2 1 at half time.
Wexford dominated near the end and came close a few times and Waterford fans were glad to hear final whistle.
Big game now on Monday night away to Cork.
.

[Kingswood Rover]

I thought Rovers were very average tbh against a very average team. We have not clicked yet and last night it was a very much we are not gonna loose performance. In the 2nd half we stood off Bohs and let them get some belief. Our bench made a huge difference and i thought Towell and Cotter brought that physical engagement to Bohs that we were missing and we cruised from there till the end of the game. Not Sure about Sean Hoare, would Ronan Finn be better there with Cotter starting???. One other point Bohs have always been adept bringing the game to Rovers by getting around the back or having a nice inside pass of our wide defenders, nothing in that department last night seems to be a lack of pace in the team up front.

[Bunny Kelly]

Waterford struggled to a 2 1 win over Wexford. Penalty given to us from a corner early on. It wasn't clear what is was for from the stand. Junior scored but Wexford equalised from a nice free kick soon after. Phoenix Patterson scored after starting and finishing a nice move so 2 1 at half time.
Wexford dominated near the end and came close a few times and Waterford fans were glad to hear final whistle.
Big game now on Monday night away to Cork.
.


I thought Waterford were dreadful, Morris is such a conservative manager, he cost his side 2 points last week & should have again last night