Games weekend 13th 14th May

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Friday 13th

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

Saturday 14th

Sligo v St Pats 19:45

First Division

Friday 13th (all 19:45)

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

Monday 16th

Treaty v Longford 19:45

[sbgawa]

Even without my Rovers blinkers the big game is the clash of the top two. It is the standout match.
A win for Rovers combined with a win for Dundalk would put Dundalk 7 points behind Derry with a game in hand as well as heaping the pressure again on Keith Long. Can they get into the race.
To be fair Pats are two points ahead of Dundalk albeit with a game more played , i suppose anyone who strings a few wins together could separate themselves from that crowded middle ground
Harps v UCD is a must win for UCD but you couldn't fancy them tbh, Shels v Drogs is a big six pointer as well.

[joey B]

I think Harps/UCD is a must win for both teams,crowds will really start falling away if we can’t beat the likes of UCD and would be a shot in the arm for them aswell….,

[sbgawa]

I think Harps/UCD is a must win for both teams,crowds will really start falling away if we can’t beat the likes of UCD and would be a shot in the arm for them aswell….,

You could be up to 8th if Shels beat Drogs or right on top of both if it goes the other way.
If UCD lose its a VERY long way back.

[El-Pietro]

I hate the 9 team first division.

[sbgawa]

I hate the 9 team first division.

Support Rovers second team application next year ;)

[JC_GUFC]

I hate the 9 team first division.

I actually don't mind it - though our bye weeks have been ok so far... We were off on the first day which gave us a weekend to spy on Cork and then we had a bye on Easter Monday after we'd won down in Waterford on Good Friday.

This weekend it adds pressure on our trip to Wexford because you're not playing - we'll finally get level on points with you again.

As disappointed as I was that ye nabbed that winner in Athlone in some ways it adds an even greater edge to the match at the end of the month if we're behind you in the table going in to it, if even on goal difference.

First off we have to take care of Wexford - they're the only team we haven't beaten this season and going forward certainly have players that can trouble us and probably should have gone 2-0 up in Galway earlier in the season. We've improved since then but we can't take them too lightly.

[El-Pietro]

Our bye weeks have been fine too, we got to play our entire first round of games before getting a break, and we've played 6 of 8 this time around. We don't get any Mondays off though. I think the scheduling in general has been poor. For example we just played two home games over a Friday/Monday, before being away to Athlone and having a bye. So we get two home games in 3 days and then our next home game is 18 days later. We also had Cobh/Waterford at home on Friday/Monday, and we played Waterford away on a bank holiday Monday a few weeks later. With a little bit of planning we could have had a better spread of home/away games so people are encouraged to come out to more games. I'm sure other teams have the same problem.

In general I don't like having a weekend off, and we have the mid season break coming up too.

[JC_GUFC]

For us we've only 3 Monday games all season - Home v Treaty and Home & Away v Longford. Neither of the home games were on the back of a Friday night home game so it's ok for us in that sense.

I do think, particularly in Division 1, that it's better to keep the Monday games to local ones. I know there's the argument that if those games were on a Friday they could potentially be bumper crowds but I wouldn't think having Galway v Wexford or Waterford on a Monday would really be fair on the travelling side unless it's a Bank Holiday.

Funnily enough our next break comes after we play you and added to the mid-season break we don't have a game for another 3 weeks after we play you at the end of May.

[The Bowler]

Surely if UCD are beaten Myler has to go. Normally the excuses come after the mid season break and they lose a few players, but to be as poor as this with the talent at his disposal this season, simply not good enough. Felt like got lucky last year in the playoffs when Bray didn't show up at Dalyer and Waterford imploded like only Waterford can in the week of the playoff. But even accounting for that luck,.they should still be in double figure points after 14 games. Harps Drogs Sligo Shels are all bang average and a better managed team would be in and about that lot. Waiting for the usual Ollie Horgam inspired ridiculous run of results to come, probably too early in the season yet for that, they need to be in deep doodoo before they get the Ollie inspiration. Anyway, maybe UCD will surprise and give us hope....until Whelan and Kerrigan leave at least

[Martinho II]

JC I thought Wexford were highly dangerous against us the other night. I expect them to be in the running strongly in the playoffs. The only thing that might lead to their demise is their discipline. They could have more than one player sent off Sat night!

[outspoken]

JC I thought Wexford were highly dangerous against us the other night. I expect them to be in the running strongly in the playoffs. The only thing that might lead to their demise is their discipline. They could have more than one player sent off Sat night!

They were very impressive on the counter attack and played some lovely stuff but still haven't beaten a team above them yet this season. Plus they concede far too many goals. If they can get a run going they could rob the fifth spot but I'd say it's unlikely at the moment

[TreatyOnTop]

Absolute must win game tonight at home against Bray for us. We have Bray, Longford, Cobh all at home within the space of 10 days, and with how our away form has been (haven't won away from home since February), anything less than 7 pts would be a massive failure.


Realistically, Cork and Galway are going to be the ones challenging for the First Div title but we just have to make sure we finish in the top 5.

[2 Year Contract]

Derry have been the better team this first 35 mins in Tallaght and are unlucky not to be ahead, good save from Mannus.

Dundalk's defending of the corner for Bohs goal was horrendously poor

[passinginterest]

Rovers very poor for the most part. Last 10 of the first half probably their best spell. Feel sorry for McCann who’s battling well in the middle but he’s got the non-footballer Towell beside him and Jack Byrne is strolling around like a lad who thinks he’s too good for the league.

[kksaints]

Was sceptical when I saw Stephen Walsh starting upfront for Galway but he scored a very nice goal aswell as a header unmarked from a yard out from a corner. Wexford cannot defend set pieces at all against this Galway team.

[Calcio Jack]

Rovers very poor for the most part. Last 10 of the first half probably their best spell. Feel sorry for McCann who’s battling well in the middle but he’s got the non-footballer Towell beside him and Jack Byrne is strolling around like a lad who thinks he’s too good for the league.

Utter rubbish your comments about Byrne and Towell - they are both working their socks off - our problem is that Derry’s press has been excellent and so far it’s working to stop us from creating anything

[TreatyOnTop]

Was sceptical when I saw Stephen Walsh starting upfront for Galway but he scored a very nice goal aswell as a header unmarked from a yard out from a corner. Wexford cannot defend set pieces at all against this Galway team.

He's actually been quality up top for them this season, has to be one of the top scorers in the first division.

[passinginterest]

Utter rubbish your comments about Byrne and Towell - they are both working their socks off - our problem is that Derry’s press has been excellent and so far it’s working to stop us from creating anything

Towell is running around like a hyper active jack russle might as well be chasing his own tail, constantly runs out of good position to receive the ball. Byrne is miles off the level of his previous Rovers spell, maybe still not fully fit. Derry press has been good but very little quality from Rovers on the ball to beat it either.

[joey B]

UCD better side in Finn Park,pretty woeful from us again tbh,lucky to be level

[passinginterest]

Mandriou made a difference off the bench. Goal was coming. Not sure about the defensive shape now with no real sitting midfielder.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Certainly wouldn’t say the goal was coming but the changes made a difference again. Derry better team for long spells but just didn’t take the couple of chances they created.

[pineapple stu]

UCD better side in Finn Park,pretty woeful from us again tbh,lucky to be level
Huzzah! 1-0 up!

Gives a bit of false hope for the next few weeks if we can hang on here. Suddenly just two points behind Harps, and five off Drogheda.

Would be our first away win in the Premier since Oct 2014. And our first Premier win - home or away - in 27 games. We've picked up six draws in that time.

[Nesta99]

Utter rubbish your comments about Byrne and Towell - they are both working their socks off - our problem is that Derry’s press has been excellent and so far it’s working to stop us from creating anything

Ah it might have been a bit harsh but not utter rubbish. Until the the subs Rovers were generally lax, sloppy passing and not matching the work rate. But it all means nothing as Rovers picked up the points, Derry will feel they left that game behind and could or should have been ahead from just the 1st half.

Dundalk showed continued progress by winning coming from behind. Solid performance and played more to the strengths of our attacking players especially Hoban. Bohs showed some good moments and if they could put together more passages of play they would be fit to give anybody a tough outing, there must be serious frustration that they only play in fits and starts. I will take where we are after 15 games, third with the game in hand on the top two. Not that I think they will be caught but from a confidence point of view its good to be still just about in touch. Ifs and buts - but bar the sloppy conceding a 2 goal lead v UCD and a really poor outing at Drogheda we'd actually be considered still in a title race. Building some squad depth and cutting out that sort of inconsistency and we'd not be miles off being a solid European spot team.

I think tonight Ollie can be as negative as he likes and get away with it, thats a worrying result for them, with respect to UCD you'd have thought Harps could have at the very least bullied the ball in to the net for the points.

Hard to know what result would suit best in Sligo tomorrow, a draw or a Sligo win.

[pineapple stu]

Big result in Donegal confirmed.

Our first Premier win since the infamous 1-0/3-0 win over Bohs in July, which was our downfall in a way as it's the game Kearns was sent off in.

Our Premier record since then has been 26-0-6-20-16-74, which is Kilkenny levels of awful.

[Calcio Jack]

Ah it might have been a bit harsh but not utter rubbish. Until the the subs Rovers were generally lax, sloppy passing and not matching the work rate. But it all means nothing as Rovers picked up the points, Derry will feel they left that game behind and could or should have been ahead from just the 1st half.

I’ll stick by my original comment as describing Byrne as strolling around and Towell as a non footballer isn’t a bit harsh but as I called it …. As for the second half our one bit of class made the difference …. I was impressed by Derry especially allowing for McElney and Duffy missing but most impressive was Lopes for 90 mins and Danny’s for the second half and 12 unbeaten and 30 from 36 points is some run of form by us

Finally I hope all LOI fans will join in congratulating our fan Joe Barnes on his 87th birthday and celebrating 81 years following Rovers and he still attends all home games and almost all away games… a true legend

[joey B]

Awful awful rubbish from us,got exactly what we deserved….

[Nesta99]

I wouldnt call either non footballers but they werent working as hard as they needed to so could, with slight exaggeration, be called out for strolling around. If Derry had been a bit more composed in front of goal especially 1st half, 25 minutes of the 2nd and got their noses in front it would have been due to the way they were dominating midfield, but in general given too much time and space. I do think Derry didnt make it count before they tired and didnt have the bench to see out the draw as a minimum. I suppose you could say Rovers managed the game well, did a rope a dope job, but I doubt that was the tactical intention. The keeper should probably have done better than parrying the ball back out straight in to play. Derry have plenty of work to do eg they were getting frantic trying to equalise with time to play and over cooked it when they needed to keep the head and just play their game - what Rovers did and was a feature of Dundalk league winning sides.

[passinginterest]

I’ll admit to being a bit harsh on Byrne, but I thought he did work harder in the second half and Mandriou brought him to life. Had some lovely touches at times. I’ll maintain that he’s still not at his previous standard. I always defended his work rate in his previous spell and when he was around the Ireland squad. I though first half tonight highlighted his weaknesses. He can’t afford to cruise if he wants to be part of the Ireland squad again.

It will take a lot to convince me that Towell is a footballer. Couldn’t understand Rovers bringing him in and I can’t see what he adds to the team. He’s a liability shape wise and his quality on the ball is not enough to compensate for running around like a headless chicken. I watched him closely because I wanted to see if I was missing anything and his choices when making runs and moves were baffling. Constantly taking himself out of the game and running into dead ends rather than making himself an option to actually receive the ball.

[2 Year Contract]

I’ve just seen Dundalk's second goal tonight, brilliant team move starting with the keeper and ending up being walked into the net

[placid casual]

Worst Champions ever! 😁.
Bradser is not helping himself with the last two games in a row picking the wrong side to start with, but I guess the luxury of that is having the quality to come off the bench.
Rovers were blessed not to be a couple down, and pretty much scored with our first effort on goal. The midfield was overrun by the harder working Derry team. Jack Byrne might be the most skilful player in the league but for me Pico is the best player in the league, and shows why he he didn't look remotely out of place in the AFCON tournament.
Derry were the best side to come to tallaght since Tallinn last year and look a proper side who will challenge Rovers.
Nice one the students, btw.

[ontheotherhand]

I’ll admit to being a bit harsh on Byrne, but I thought he did work harder in the second half and Mandriou brought him to life. Had some lovely touches at times. I’ll maintain that he’s still not at his previous standard. I always defended his work rate in his previous spell and when he was around the Ireland squad. I though first half tonight highlighted his weaknesses. He can’t afford to cruise if he wants to be part of the Ireland squad again.

It will take a lot to convince me that Towell is a footballer. Couldn’t understand Rovers bringing him in and I can’t see what he adds to the team. He’s a liability shape wise and his quality on the ball is not enough to compensate for running around like a headless chicken. I watched him closely because I wanted to see if I was missing anything and his choices when making runs and moves were baffling. Constantly taking himself out of the game and running into dead ends rather than making himself an option to actually receive the ball.

Byrne's been slowly getting there. Looked a bit off in the first half but I think Derry just did a great job of pressing him, often in numbers. He hasn't been short of running in other games.

I'd agree on Towell tonight but he's also had some games where he has provided some of the energy we lost when McEneff left and that brought a better balance to our midfield. Our current good run coincided with that, Danny finding form and Jack starting to find enough fitness to run for 90 mins.

It wasn't the midfield that was the issue for us for me. It was Sean Hoare playing LCB in Grace's absence. Every time he plays there we look sloppy going back to last season and especially Europe. No shock that we started to gain the upper hand when he moved to the right and Sean Kavanagh took his place on the left. Suddenly we had a better base to work from and things started to work further up. Watts and Danny also played a part of course.

Derry looked good and should have scored at least one but I was pretty confident when we changed the back line. Thought we looked the most likely to score from there but they wouldn't have been undeserving of a point. They will be right there until the end though as they are a good bit better than Pats or Sligo were last year.

[Candystripe]

Delighted with the Derry city performance, final pass at least 5 times from Derry left Rovers still in the game. The work rate from Derry was excellent and even though we lost theirs so many positives from that game.
We move on to another sold out Brandywell next week against Dundalk.

[Nesta99]

Byrne's been slowly getting there. Looked a bit off in the first half but I think Derry just did a great job of pressing him, often in numbers. He hasn't been short of running in other games.

I'd agree on Towell tonight but he's also had some games where he has provided some of the energy we lost when McEneff left and that brought a better balance to our midfield. Our current good run coincided with that, Danny finding form and Jack starting to find enough fitness to run for 90 mins.

It wasn't the midfield that was the issue for us for me. It was Sean Hoare playing LCB in Grace's absence. Every time he plays there we look sloppy going back to last season and especially Europe. No shock that we started to gain the upper hand when he moved to the right and Sean Kavanagh took his place on the left. Suddenly we had a better base to work from and things started to work further up. Watts and Danny also played a part of course.

Derry looked good and should have scored at least one but I was pretty confident when we changed the back line. Thought we looked the most likely to score from there but they wouldn't have been undeserving of a point. They will be right there until the end though as they are a good bit better than Pats or Sligo were last year.

So Gannon really should never start to make sure Hoare players in a better position for him? If he is surplus I'd still have him back in Oriel if Macari gets recalled in July!

[ontheotherhand]

So Gannon really should never start to make sure Hoare players in a better position for him? If he is surplus I'd still have him back in Oriel if Macari gets recalled in July!

Honestly they've both had good games at RCB this year and we need both but Hoare would be my first choice there yes. We just need two equally good options at LCB so Hoare isn't used there again. Kavo starting to look like an option.

You can have Gannon back next season when you need the squad depth.

[sbgawa]

worst performance by Rovers all season but we come away with 3 points so happy days. Im calling that as 2 points picked up to make up for the points we never should have dropped in sligo. 4 points clear is fantastic from where we were a few weeks ago

[sbgawa]

Honestly they've both had good games at RCB this year and we need both but Hoare would be my first choice there yes. We just need two equally good options at LCB so Hoare isn't used there again. Kavo starting to look like an option.

You can have Gannon back next season when you need the squad depth.

harsh on him . he was excelent on Monday against Sligo

[ontheotherhand]

harsh on him . he was excelent on Monday against Sligo

Harsh on who? Gannon? I like Gannon. I prefer Hoare most of the time. It's close though.

[sulywaterfordfc]

Good win for us tonight. Came from behind twice to run out 4-2 winners. 4 wins from 4 since Morris got the chop. Opposition hasn’t been exactly spectacularly but we’ve made an evident improvement since Morris was let go.

[Nesta99]

I’ve just seen Dundalk's second goal tonight, brilliant team move starting with the keeper and ending up being walked into the net

It was well worked and a good example of how effective Hoban can be with the right ball and his lay off. Likewise with the one Hoban scored himself. It was a shame to see the bottles and coins thrown at the Dundalk players after the Benson tap in! Maybe we should issue a club statement......

[sbgawa]

Harsh on who? Gannon? I like Gannon. I prefer Hoare most of the time. It's close though.

harsh on Gannon. been excelent recently

[total hoofball]

Shels just about shaded our 1 nil win over Drogheda, another really big 3 points for us after beating Sligo last week

Poor quality first half from both sides, Shels came out really well for first 20-25 minutes of 2nd half, lovely cross from Farrell on a tee for Boyd to head home well.
After their the substitutions Drogheda woke up for the last 20 minutes while Shels got sloppy with the ball but Drogheda couldn't find their way through the Shels defence

[ontheotherhand]

harsh on Gannon. been excelent recently

He has. It was more tongue in cheek - as in Dundalk don't need the depth of 2 in each position this season. Was poorly executed. I'm not great at trolling.

Gannon and Hoare are two good options at RCB and we need both. I'd like to see an excellent option brought in next season all the same.

[outspoken]

Thought we were woeful tonight but got away with it. Pitch In Athlone is dreadful whatever they are doing or not doing with it. Atlhone showing glimpses but just look a poorly drilled side. No cohesion or structure about them. Easy to play through especially after they concede a goal. Looked a tiny home crowd too. Not good.

[oriel]

harsh on Gannon. been excellent recently

If its in the mix, can we have Gannon back on loan then?

[oriel]

I’ve just seen Dundalk's second goal tonight, brilliant team move starting with the keeper and ending up being walked into the net

It was an excellent goal really, some hold up by Hoban, and perfect killer ball through by Ward between the centre halfs, from my stand view I thought it was offside, but looking back on LOITV highlights, it was well onside once the pass was played.

I didn't see that second half performance coming at HT as we were 'flat' for the first 45, but what a display in the second, clearly the better side and saw it out fairly comfortable in the end. Back up to 3rd, what a crazy season.

[ToberonaTornado]

It was well worked and a good example of how effective Hoban can be with the right ball and his lay off. Likewise with the one Hoban scored himself. It was a shame to see the bottles and coins thrown at the Dundalk players after the Benson tap in! Maybe we should issue a club statement......

We rolled bohs 2nd half, apart from their goal they largely didnt show up!
Pat Hoban wasn't potm (sloogett)but what a player he is,had a big hand in everything Dundalk done well.

As for the bottles and coins from the bohs fans side tonight-Grant me fcuking patience?
The brand new "model club" need to clean up some of their fans before they get ahead of themselves, absolute tools but I'm sure bohs have a record of every tix sold (all season ticket holders I believe/and can/Will I'd the perpetrators.

Great win for Dundalk though, loved it.

[JC_GUFC]

Was sceptical when I saw Stephen Walsh starting upfront for Galway but he scored a very nice goal aswell as a header unmarked from a yard out from a corner. Wexford cannot defend set pieces at all against this Galway team.

Walshy has been a revelation up front this season. In our second game against Waterford we were 2-0 down and struggling and no-one could believe Caulfield brought Walshy on up front but he changed the game and scored the equaliser. He’s now got 8 goals for the season already.

Wexford were poor tonight, particularly defensively but we controlled the game very well in the second half.

We have now beaten every team in the league this season, next week at home to Athlone we can equal a club record of 7 wins in a row… and then the small matter of Cork City coming to town.

[sbgawa]

We rolled bohs 2nd half, apart from their goal they largely didnt show up!
Pat Hoban wasn't potm (sloogett)but what a player he is,had a big hand in everything Dundalk done well.

As for the bottles and coins from the bohs fans side tonight-Grant me fcuking patience?
The brand new "model club" need to clean up some of their fans before they get ahead of themselves, absolute tools but I'm sure bohs have a record of every tix sold (all season ticket holders I believe/and can/Will I'd the perpetrators.

Great win for Dundalk though, loved it.

Your normally a sensible poster but clearly you don't get the big picture.
While the refurbishment / rebuilding of dalyer was being discussed the COO was on RTE discussing pride week.
The problem with you is you don't appreciate that the primary objective of football clubs is not necessarily winning football matches.
You just aren't that smart. Dundalk may have won a few things recently but what did they ever do about the bees? Pollination is in crises

[ToberonaTornado]

Right on the money sgbwa.