Games Weekend Friday 15th to Monday 18th April

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Friday 15th

Bohemians v Finn Harps 19:45
UCD v Drogheda 19:45
Dundalk v Sligo 19:45
Derry City v Shelbourne 19:45
Shamrock Rovers v St Pats 20:00

Monday 18th

Shelbourne v Bohemians 15:00
UCD v St Pats 17:00
Finn Harps v Sligo 18:00
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk 19:00
Drogheda v Derry City 19:45

First Division

Friday 15th

Cork City v Bray 19:45
Wexford v Cobh 19:45
Waterford v Galway 19:45
Athlone v Treaty 19:45

Monday 18th

Waterford v Cork City 14:00
Bray v Longford 15:30
Cobh v Athlone 16:00
Treaty v Wexford 19:45

[sbgawa]

Derry with two very winnable games and Rovers with two tricky ones.
I'd settle for still being 6 points behind after the weekend.
Bohs, Harps, Shelbourne UCD and Drogs all playing each other so will be an interesting weekend in terms of teams putting themselves in position to look up not down as such.
Big weekend for Waterford in Division 1 playing Galway and Cork on both of whom they have already lost ground.

[pineapple stu]

Hopefully the draw in Sligo (and a first goal for Whelan) will kickstart us a little bit - cos we could really do with a win against Drogheda. Harps are doing their best to not cut us adrift at the bottom, but still...

[outspoken]

Longford play Cobh tomorrow night in a rearranged game. Town have to keep this early season momentum going. Should never have lost to Bray. Win our games in hand and we are bang in the mix. Lack of ruthlessness in front of goal is my only real concern at this point. I think there's a lot to be said for Graydon through the middle and drop Verdon a bit deeper but Cronin knows best. Overall I'm happy with our start.

[SeanDrog]

Hopefully the draw in Sligo (and a first goal for Whelan) will kickstart us a little bit - cos we could really do with a win against Drogheda. Harps are doing their best to not cut us adrift at the bottom, but still...

I’ve never been to the bowl - heading this Friday - is it pay on the gate or online?

[pineapple stu]

Either or

[TonyD]

Tough game for Pats. I just get the feeling it will be hard to get two good results against Rovers on the bounce. Would happily take a point now. Hope to God Chris Forrestor is back fit and well.

[Finlay Harp]

Not sure what Harps team will turn up in Dalymount. We need a win badly.

[brendy_éire]

Derry with two very winnable games and Rovers with two tricky ones.
I'd settle for still being 6 points behind after the weekend.

Would expect a win against Shels, just based on their poor scoring form.
Drogheda, not sure. Haven't lost in four, and that was a good win against Dundalk. Hard to know what to think of Drogs at the moment.

With two matches in Tallaght, I'd expect two home wins. You get the sense that things starting to come together there. I don't expect Derry to be top this time next month.

[SeanDrog]

Either or

Perfect - I just saw it in the webpage too … first away game since Covid started - looking forward to it.

[pineapple stu]

Looking forward to UCD away - changed times indeed!

[sbgawa]

Longford winning 1 nil and looking to really push into the promotion shake up. The Longford fans pre season weren't expecting this. Credit to the manager

[Martinho II]

Longford winning 1 nil and looking to really push into the promotion shake up. The Longford fans pre season weren't expecting this. Credit to the manager

It was only my second game this season at home as I was at Bray game. We have really come on in leaps and bounds I am quite impressed. Darren Craven with a screamer of a goal and a cracking header from Eric Molloy. Lovely surprise!

[De Town]

Longford winning 1 nil and looking to really push into the promotion shake up. The Longford fans pre season weren't expecting this. Credit to the manager
I'd definitely fall into that category of not expecting much before a ball was kicked but I've been pleasantly surprised with how we've started. And our only defeat was against a poor Bray side who we battered for 20 minutes and should have been 3 or 4 up on before gifting them 2 clangers of goals from our point of view.

A couple of points of caution though. Our squad is tiny, and a couple of injuries could easily derail us. We've had mainly untried young lads and 2 keepers on the bench in most games and last night Elworthy and Graydon both went off injured. Also, while Verdon is doing well up top in a hold up/bringing others into play role, we don't really look like scoring too many in any game.

Long may the good run continue but I'd still be surprised to see us in the title shake up come the end of the season. Playoffs would be the most I'd see us achieving.

[Longfordian]

This. A good start, better than I expected definitely but I'd still be happy with the play offs. The Premier Division is no craic anyway!

[Jd2793]

didnt think cobh were too bad last night, given some of the performances theyve turned in. no quality in forward areas though and thats killing them. doyle aint a bad signing for longford either. another strange one that bray let him go given he was with cabo too.

[Martinho II]

didnt think cobh were too bad last night, given some of the performances theyve turned in. no quality in forward areas though and thats killing them. doyle aint a bad signing for longford either. another strange one that bray let him go given he was with cabo too.

Had JD made any first team appearances for Bray this season JD? I thought there was a transfer window I would ave thought?

[Stav]

I think out of contract players can still sign. They certainly have a longer window.

[Stav]

Premier Division

Friday 15th

Bohemians 1 v Finn Harps 1
UCD 1 v Drogheda 1
Dundalk 1 v Sligo 2
Derry City 2 v Shelbourne 0
Shamrock Rovers 2 v St Pats 1

Monday 18th

Shelbourne 1 v Bohemians 2
UCD 0 v St Pats 2
Finn Harps 0 v Sligo 1
Shamrock Rovers 1 v Dundalk 0
Drogheda 1 v Derry City 2

First Division

Friday 15th

Cork City 3 v Bray 0
Wexford 1 v Cobh 1
Waterford 2 v Galway 1
Athlone 1 v Treaty 1

Monday 18th

Waterford 1 v Cork City 1
Bray 1 v Longford 1
Cobh 1 v Athlone 1
Treaty 2 v Wexford 1

[nigel-harps1954]

How presumptuous.

[sbgawa]

This guy is a good judge of teams

[Nesta99]

Ah in fairness he may have forgotten how much at home Dundalk feel in Tallaght!

[pineapple stu]

For any Drogheda/Pat's fans this weekend, the UCD programme is free online here (https://www.ucdfc.ie/programme?pgid=kzzng86o-e341860c-2691-43ca-937a-0c8e798cafc2), or you can download by QR scan in the ground.

Includes a Q&A with Paul Crowley and a look back at when Steve Heighway nearly signed for UCD to prolong his Ireland career. Bonus points in the quiz if you can spot the wrong answer too. :mad:

[D24Saint]

Bland enough overall in the Tallaght municipal stadium. There has been a few chance to both sides but a stalemate for most of the first half. I’d take a draw and move on.

[pineapple stu]

Two poor teams in the Bowl and a dodgy handball call seems an appropriate way for Drogheda to take the lead. And then Kerrigan goes off injured

Can't really afford bad luck when we're not great to start with

[Finlay Harp]

Against the odds due to inept officiating Harps salvage a point with 9 men.

[Longfordian]

Any sign of Bohs fans losing faith in Long yet?

[D24Saint]

Any sign of Bohs fans losing faith in Long yet?

We take Long they take Tim, sorted.

[joey B]

Good point for us against the odds,good fight shown,Bohs going forward are decent but the midfield and defence seemed on edge for a lot of it and nearly expecting to give up chances,they could have scored more no doubt but have no clue how to manage a game….

[pineapple stu]

Against the odds due to inept officiating Harps salvage a point with 9 men.
There's that bad luck again. (Have Harps ever had a player correctly sent off btw?)

Also, this league is weird. It seems the middle six are falling over themselves to be more mundane than each other. The race for the last two European slots at least looks like being the most open in years; should help crowds a bit

[Finlay Harp]

There's that bad luck again. (Have Harps ever had a player correctly sent off btw?)

Also, this league is weird. It seems the middle six are falling over themselves to be more mundane than each other. The race for the last two European slots at least looks like being the most open in years; should help crowds a bit

Not bad luck at all. Have you watched the replay of the McWoods incident or have you still got your anyone but Harps glasses still on???

[SeanDrog]

Two poor teams in the Bowl and a dodgy handball call seems an appropriate way for Drogheda to take the lead. And then Kerrigan goes off injured

Can't really afford bad luck when we're not great to start with

Have to say I need to see that handball as at the game I didn’t think it was on or if it was even in the box. We were poor in the first half but Brennan coming in made a difference (he almost scored a screamer from his first kick), we hit the bar twice and overall think we deserved the win.

Nice ground and enjoyed my first away match since Covid :)

[Olander]

Not bad luck at all. Have you watched the replay of the McWoods incident or have you still got your anyone but Harps glasses still on???
Ah stop, you know what he means. Every week there's indignation about Harps getting yellows and reds. There's a reason for it, they're a dirty side and always have been under Horgan.

This narrative Harps fans are trying to sell about them being wronged every week by officials is embarrassing. It's not hard to see why their discipline is so poor when you see the loon on the sideline and the way he acts. The Harps twitter page is a cringefest, every week Harps are wronged apparently.

[Kingswood Rover]

Really solid performance by Rovers tonight dominant in the 2nd half and should have had a couple more. Some crowd i say the biggest v pats in Tallaght, brilliant atmosphere, cant fathom how poor Pats were tonight when compared to their performance in the Presidents cup final. Hoops starting to click, roll on Monday, going to be tough as Dundalk always turn up in Tallaght, then away to FC bozos nothing easy in the league this season.

[Calcio Jack]

Really solid performance by Rovers tonight dominant in the 2nd half and should have had a couple more. Some crowd i say the biggest v pats in Tallaght, brilliant atmosphere, cant fathom how poor Pats were tonight when compared to their performance in the Presidents cup final. Hoops starting to click, roll on Monday, going to be tough as Dundalk always turn up in Tallaght, then away to FC bozos nothing easy in the league this season.

Agree Pats very poor - Eoin Doyle is still a class act but got no service ( and Pico literally had him in his pocket) great to see such a large crowd ( again) - Rovers starting to ‘hum’ and I’m really impressed with how Richie Towell has slotted into central midfield beside JB - sad to see amount of ‘whinging’ from Forrester in fairness he’s not usually like that.

[Finlay Harp]

Ah stop, you know what he means. Every week there's indignation about Harps getting yellows and reds. There's a reason for it, they're a dirty side and always have been under Horgan.

This narrative Harps fans are trying to sell about them being wronged every week by officials is embarrassing. It's not hard to see why their discipline is so poor when you see the loon on the sideline and the way he acts. The Harps twitter page is a cringefest, every week Harps are wronged apparently.

Serious question. When did you last watch us play to come to the conclusion we are a dirty side?

[oriel]

Not quite sure what to make of that Dundalk win, 2-0 up at HT, but Sligo were the better side for the first 15, and we did very little in the second half. Benson going off middle of first half caused a big re-shape, but we stuck it out.

Up to 3rd, but its very tight, and realistically very unlikely to be still there by Monday night.

Still, happy with the win, and good to meet some of the 2002 FAI Cup winning side who were invited for the 20th anniversary, Prizeman, Keddy and McGuinness, decent of Pats to loan us the FAI Cup for the night which was on display for photos from the 2002 squad, most who made it up.

[D24Saint]

Really solid performance by Rovers tonight dominant in the 2nd half and should have had a couple more. Some crowd i say the biggest v pats in Tallaght, brilliant atmosphere, cant fathom how poor Pats were tonight when compared to their performance in the Presidents cup final. Hoops starting to click, roll on Monday, going to be tough as Dundalk always turn up in Tallaght, then away to FC bozos nothing easy in the league this season.

It’s been very tight in the three games between the sides so far. We were a bit unlucky in the Presidents cup. The one in Richmond we really had to hang in there but got the win despite heavy pressure. It was a crap game tonight and Rovers got the better end of it, overall it should have been two draws so a win each is ok.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Not quite sure what to make of that Dundalk win, 2-0 up at HT, but Sligo were the better side for the first 15, and we did very little in the second half. Benson going off middle of first half caused a big re-shape, but we stuck it out.

Up to 3rd, but its very tight, and realistically very unlikely to be still there by Monday night.

Still, happy with the win, and good to meet some of the 2002 FAI Cup winning side who were invited for the 20th anniversary, Prizeman, Keddy and McGuinness, decent of Pats to loan us the FAI Cup for the night which was on display for photos from the 2002 squad, most who made it up.

Strange aul game but enjoyable. McGinty error really the difference as whoever got the lead goal was probably always going to win it. Still thought we played a bit better in patches then recently. Finished with a better team then we started with. Bolger miles off the pace this season. Big game in Ballybofey on Monday for both teams.

[Olander]

Serious question. When did you last watch us play to come to the conclusion we are a dirty side?
Serious answer, I've watched enough of Harps over the years to know what they're like under Horgan. They always have a nasty edge to them and they're very cynical. They're consistently at the top end of the charts when it comes to yellows and reds every season.

It must just be a giant conspiracy though against poor Ollie Horgan, who makes a buffoon of himself every week on the sideline.

Harps have lost a few of their usual kickers in the off season with Sadiki (hatchet man) and Coyle (not related to a footballer) moving on - somehow the refs are still picking on them though :rolleyes:

[oriel]

Agree Pats very poor - Eoin Doyle is still a class act but got no service ( and Pico literally had him in his pocket) great to see such a large crowd ( again) - Rovers starting to ‘hum’ and I’m really impressed with how Richie Towell has slotted into central midfield beside JB - sad to see amount of ‘whinging’ from Forrester in fairness he’s not usually like that.

I obviously didn't see the game as I was watching Dundalk, but I think Doyle only has 2 goals to date, his hold up play is good any time I saw him, but I`m sure he was expected to have scored more than this going into the second series?

Looking forward to seeing the highlights of this game, as seemed to be a tight enough contest?

[nigel-harps1954]

Serious answer, I've watched enough of Harps over the years to know what they're like under Horgan. They always have a nasty edge to them and they're very cynical. They're consistently at the top end of the charts when it comes to yellows and reds every season.

It must just be a giant conspiracy though against poor Ollie Horgan, who makes a buffoon of himself every week on the sideline.

Harps have lost a few of their usual kickers in the off season with Sadiki (hatchet man) and Coyle (not related to a footballer) moving on - somehow the refs are still picking on them though :rolleyes:

So, not a serious answer then?

[sbgawa]

Pats came to try and knick something on a break, very little pressing by them and stood off us a lot.
Rovers deserved the win handy enough and should have scored a couple more in the second half.
Big week ahead , nice of Shels to go and win in Derry :)

[Olander]

So, not a serious answer then?
The cycle continues, always hard done by the officials.

At least accept what you are.

[ToberonaTornado]

Mad league!

Handy win for Dundalk at OP last night against a poor Sligo side.

Benson pulled ham S. during match and his direct replacement(Williams) also got injured and was subbed so injury worry there before v Shams.

Sligo look a shadow of the side that Pats not so long ago.

[trevy]

Disappointing result for Waterford last night and pressure building on Ian Morris now. Galway scored early on and defended well for rest of game. Waterford dominated 2nd half and hit the crossbar twice in 5 seconds following a corner so when that happens you know it's not your night. Overall performances are not good enough and we can't afford another defeat to Cork on Monday.

[Jd2793]

I obviously didn't see the game as I was watching Dundalk, but I think Doyle only has 2 goals to date, his hold up play is good any time I saw him, but I`m sure he was expected to have scored more than this going into the second series?

Looking forward to seeing the highlights of this game, as seemed to be a tight enough contest?

its mental that his manager (and mate) convinced him to join then shafts him by putting him in a postion whereby he doesnt get the ball within 18 yards of goal enough times every game. doyles age + wages mean pats need to get a tune out of him this season and clancy cant do it. stop faffing around with king behind him and play someone who can play some defence splitting passes so doyle can stay high instead of dropping deep to get involved. doyle is getting less shots per 90 in LOI than he was with bolton before his move, that says it all.

[Jd2793]

cork were putrid, had 2/3 half decent chances but the performance didnt deserve a win. Bray came with a plan to stifle us and it worked, pressed us well in the first half and completely disrupted the flow of the midfield. they didnt really create a whole pile but it was as good an away performance as i expected from them. Huge miss opportunity given waterfords dropped points, a win last night would have knocked them out of the title picture.

[Nesta99]

I was surprised at how off Sligo looked overall. A lot of their good moments came more from sloppy play from us - Sloggett being the main culprit with loose passes, though when he was taken off we did concede a chunk of the midfield. Losing Benson and Williams disrupted things also. Big worry for us as while there is little info on how bad their injuries are they looked like 4-6 weeks or or more. Neither are soft players that bail with a niggle, Williams had to be helped off by 2 people and looked in bits so unless it was a stinger of a dead leg we wont see him for a while.

Yeah Sligo seem to be in a real rut and are brittle confidence wise at the moment. Other results were kind to us last night. Bar the top two its tight for European places and even the top 2 are not infallible occasionally.

Good to see the 2002 cup winners (20yrs ago....ffs), while we were a victim of a league restructure, not the only time.... with 3 being relegated I still think that was one of the better sides to ever be relegated. Finishing that season in league winning form added to the cup run. That LoI 01/02 season had it all, points deducted and given back only for a another bigger points deduction to happen - St Pats celebrating their league 'win' in Oriel Park with the Dundalk PoTY trophy, arbitrations, visits to the high court, Ollie Byrne sifting through player registrations single handedly winning the league for Shels, the 3 automatic relegation slots with the cup won by one of those relegated, last winter season. Could it be the greatest season of the GLITW?

[pineapple stu]

Have to say I need to see that handball as at the game I didn’t think it was on or if it was even in the box.
Good to hear that anyway! I presume you were in the away end so had a better view it (and whether it was in the box); I was at the other end of the stand and I was annoyed a free-kick was given, and then had to work out had he actually given a penalty.

We had a big peno shout a few minutes earlier ourselves - and when you add that to clear penalties denied in the 0-0 draws against Harps and Shels, you can see how big the cumulative impact of those calls is.

But the flip side is that we can't really rely longer-term on penalties or penalty calls to get us results. We created very little last night and our two most disappointing performances of the season have been against Drogheda, which we really can't afford. Had hoped the result in Sligo would give us a fillip, but evidently not.