Weekend games Thursday 19th to Monday 23rd May

[TonyD]

I am unhappier than all Harps and Sligo fans added together after that tonight.

Yeah. I’m fuming. That was a disgrace tonight from Pats tonight. It’s one thing getting spanked by Derry, and that’s bad enough, but this was totally unacceptable.

[Jd2793]

harps collapse doesnt look good for horgan. 1-0 up and cruising vs 11 , drogs down to 10 and the game turns in their favour and they score 3. madness.
cork absymal again, galways league to lose.

[Nesta99]

Is this the weirdest league in a long time?

Shels when they lose look awful it seems, yet they win away to Sligo, Pat's and Derry.

That's not a good Dundalk team but they've only lost twice and are on a great run of form lately (I think they got 9 points and six draws from their first eight games? So that's 19 points from the next eight). And one of those defeats was against Drogheda.

Sligo, Bohs and Pat's seem incapable of any consistency, which is strange given how well they've been performing the last couple of seasons.

UCD and Harps have plenty of consistency and it's hard to see either of us stay up. Drogheda seem crap too but they're winning the games that matter.

Third to seventh is going to be a hell of a scrap for the last Euro spots

I wouldnt say its not a good Dundalk side, but not yet a Dundalk side that were dominating. Its a better side than many over the years and should not have lost to Drogheda or coughed up a 2 nil lead at UCD. Definitely better than those results and even 4 points, as would have been expected, and yer on the coat tails of top spot.

Not even half ways through the league so I still think the Derry will push Rovers more than others have the last few years. If Dundalk keep ticking over we really could get among things during others' rigours in Europe, Im enjoying the inconsistencies of this season which will of course be declared the worst standard league ever! It is important for Dundalk to qualify for Europe 2023 while our coefficient can still make a difference before falling away.

[pineapple stu]

And Derry now only 9 points from last 8 games
Good spot; I didn't realise their form was so bad.

That includes 11 goals in a week as well!

[oriel]

Super win of course by Dundalk, thought we might get something but didn't think it would be a win, incredible to think first away win and there of all places. Prob not far off Derry doing same in one of the Kenny years at Dundalk.

Increased our lead in 3rd, but nothing changes from my hopes, to qualify for europe by any method = excellent season.

Pineapple - what you saw last Fri was the probably the worst from Dundalk all season, I think UCD probably would have seen themselves unlucky not to have won, you were the better side last 45.

#Weirdest League indeed

[nigel-harps1954]

I really hate football sometimes.

Clearly, so do the Finn Harps squad.

[JC_GUFC]

Well Galway United have won 7 games in a row for only the second time ever. We’ve also scored in our first 15 games of the League season for the first time ever.

We can set a new club record by beating Cork next weekend, which would also mean we’d have gone through this series of games having beaten every other side in the Division.

It’s also the first time we’ve been top all season, which of course will change next week should we lose.

Next week should see a massive crowd, hopefully over 4k, there’s a real buzz about the place now.

[placid casual]

I dunno why everyone's giving out about the league this year, I think it's goin really well so far! 😁

[pineapple stu]

Pineapple - what you saw last Fri was the probably the worst from Dundalk all season
Well that's fair - everyone will have different views of clubs when they only see them once or twice. And yeah, to have lost three games, of which two were against Drogheda and UCD, would have been even weirder!

I think though the comments at the start of the season were that Dundalk had a good 1-11, but no real strength in depth and had a couple of players who were maybe on their last legs (McMillan and Gartland for example). In that regard, to be potentially a point off second, having lost twice in the opening half of the season, is an amazing outcome. If nothing else, I think in previous years one of Pat's/Bohs/Sligo (and let's not forget Cork!) would be doing ok and would be ahead of ye.

I think one thing we can definitely conclude is that O'Donnell has half an idea what he's doing.

[sbgawa]

How did the drinks go sbgawa ? Sorry love just nipping to the jacks, 'live score.......great 1-0 Dundalk..........then 2-1...............treat yourseves to a curry chip on the way home !

Dundalk actually extended the lead in 3rd, this is good stuff, Benson goal was outstanding, serious shift by Hoban with the late winner, and John Martin too for his assist.

Drinks went well and the scores coming in helped to turn it into a very good night indeed.
7 points clear is a great lead, cant believe the Derry team who turned up in Tallaght have 9 points from last 8 games.
Dundalk confuse me they looked dreadful in Tallaght and i have no idea how they draw with UCD from 2 nil up... but if they win their game in hand they are a point off second. ..SOD doing a great job based on points.
IF Derry are in the title race then so are Dundalk so the truce is over i hate you lot again :D
Bohs beating Sligo was also good as it keeps the Long/Lambert duo in place for longer, think about the bees.

[yurt]

Seeing what Harps managed to throw away yesterday actually made me thankful that Galway are first division. Obviously you want to be playing in the division which actually matters but there is something to be said for watching you team win most weeks.

Would have to worry for Harps after those last 2 results. But it does seem like UCD won't be able to pick up enough points and Harps will be eyeing up the play off from months out.

Galway have won 12 of their first 15 games and have only now been able to go top of the table. Incredible consistency from the top 2 in the first division. Hopefully the game matches the occasion next week in Galway.

[joey B]

https://mobile.twitter.com/FinnHarpsFC/status/1527983394767896576

Shame to see Ethan Boyle racially abused in Drogheda last night,empty heads everywhere unfortunately…..

[mackend6]

https://mobile.twitter.com/FinnHarpsFC/status/1527983394767896576

Shame to see Ethan Boyle racially abused in Drogheda last night,empty heads everywhere unfortunately…..

Yup, not on at all. Person removed from the ground and banned apparently.
https://twitter.com/DroghedaUnited/status/1527991581109805058?t=l9nAQGgqKiOePXAzOCAi_Q&s=19

First time I've heard of a racist incident at a Drogheda game, but not the first anti social (for want of a better term) incident this year. Hopefully the club and the fans as a group nip this stuff in the bud before it becomes part and parcel of match night.

[Nesta99]

Acting swiftly, no excuses, no messing about, no finger pointing - Job well done by Drogheda. It's also testament to the anti-racist efforts across the league that such incidents are very rare now and that there is disgust across the board on any such incident.

[2 Year Contract]

An own goal as bad or worse than the howler of an og earlier in the season for Longford has Waterford 1-0 up

[ToberonaTornado]

Brilliant win last night for Dundalk last night at a bonkers Brandywell.
Some goal from Bob and with Hoban then getting on the score sheet with 10 to go it felt like old days.
O'Donnell has brought some nuggets to the club so far,John Martin,Paul Doyle and Nathan Sheppard have have all been brilliant since coming in.Few more i should mention but no time rn.
Great to see O'Donnell and a few more Dundalk heads boiling the pish of the BW faithful after Hoban scored :D:D

Btw
Rob Harvey is the new Anthony Buttimer.

[joey B]

An own goal as bad or worse than the howler of an og earlier in the season for Longford has Waterford 1-0 up

Peter Enckelman springs to mind with that one!

[joey B]

Waterford back in the race for automatic promotion anyway,seem to have turned things around…good win for them tonight …

[sulywaterfordfc]

Waterford back in the race for automatic promotion anyway,seem to have turned things around…good win for them tonight …

Although it wouldn’t of take much to better aimless long balls to the opposite keepers. We’ve really uppered our game and performance levels. 5 wins on the bounce now. Two really tough games coming up which will dictate whether we’ll be in the race for automatic promotion or a play off place. It’ll be interesting to see if we’ll make the temporary management team permanent or will we still bring someone else in.

[ontheotherhand]

I wonder if that game tonight will become famous for other reasons?

What's the story here Kiki?

[brendy_éire]

Effective from Dundalk, good retention of the ball in tight situations, went long when needed and slowed things up when Derry getting on top. Unmarked header for the equaliser was down point. Didnt see that result coming and surprised at Derry as they didnt play with the intensity you'd expect.

Dundalk were great, best performance of an away side at the Brandy this season.
We didn't play particularly well, or with our usual intensity, but I reckon a lot of that is down to Dundalk's management of the game. We weren't allowed to play it our way.

Cracking goal by Benson for the first, even if we allowed him more space than I'd have liked. From then until our goal, we had a few chances, but nothing really clear cut. Dundalk had the middle of the park sown up, and we didn't go wide early enough.

Noticed that after we scored, Dundalk didn't attempt to time-waste or slow things down. Commented at the time that they were looking to win the game. Mistake from Kavanagh gave Hoban the goal, but most other teams wouldn't have been pressing us at that stage of the game.

Of course, could nearly have got a last minute equaliser from Patching's free kick, but we wouldn't have deserved it.

That's a poor run we're on now. Lots to work on before Sligo tomorrow.

[oriel]

Drinks went well and the scores coming in helped to turn it into a very good night indeed.
7 points clear is a great lead, cant believe the Derry team who turned up in Tallaght have 9 points from last 8 games.
Dundalk confuse me they looked dreadful in Tallaght and i have no idea how they draw with UCD from 2 nil up... but if they win their game in hand they are a point off second. ..SOD doing a great job based on points.
IF Derry are in the title race then so are Dundalk so the truce is over i hate you lot again :D
Bohs beating Sligo was also good as it keeps the Long/Lambert duo in place for longer, think about the bees.

We sure were that night, made no attempt to win it Benson was injured, think Connolly suspended, Hoban and McMillan didn't start but still a dreadful display, that said Dundalk should have beaten Rovers at home 0-0 game, Hoban missed what looked like a certain goal in 93rd min.

Anyway for this season def going better than expected, 3rd and on merit, long way to go and FH away always tricky, but our position there looks safe at the minute, as we have taken 13 points from the last 15 on offer. Pats are in poor form and 3 points behind with a game more played, Bohs are hot and cold and Sligo on the slip and manager gone.

I started off this season having realistic hopes of 4th, I think I'd be disappointed now if its less than 3rd, coming second would be almost like winning the league given what happened in half of 2020 and most of 2021, but I am still sticking to my view of qualifying for europe by any method is a fantastic recovery and achievement for Dundalk.

[oriel]

Dundalk were great, best performance of an away side at the Brandy this season.
We didn't play particularly well, or with our usual intensity, but I reckon a lot of that is down to Dundalk's management of the game. We weren't allowed to play it our way.

Cracking goal by Benson for the first, even if we allowed him more space than I'd have liked. From then until our goal, we had a few chances, but nothing really clear cut. Dundalk had the middle of the park sown up, and we didn't go wide early enough.

Noticed that after we scored, Dundalk didn't attempt to time-waste or slow things down. Commented at the time that they were looking to win the game. Mistake from Kavanagh gave Hoban the goal, but most other teams wouldn't have been pressing us at that stage of the game.

Of course, could nearly have got a last minute equaliser from Patching's free kick, but we wouldn't have deserved it.

That's a poor run we're on now. Lots to work on before Sligo tomorrow.

Fair play for that post BE, decent of you. I didn't make this game was but good few of us stayed over in Derry twice in 2019, a League game and LC Final, love the wee bars on the way to the ground, great craic there with the locals (is one called Mary B?) and in the city later that night, the Bentley Bar was excellent for food and drink late afternoon in the city. Hope the curry chips at the ground still to that excellent standard**, they were a welcome addition on a freezing night, think it was for the league game, March 2019.

**Come to think of it Cork City curry chips another worth of mention - very footy scran this, that twitter feed.

[Martinho II]

We were shocking bad last nite. No game plan no nothing.We have a very weak bench too. Think that GC is completely the wrong person to have in charge I didnt hear him animated on the bench once. Think a long spell in the first division rebuilding awaits us. Aodh Dervin a huge loss to us in midfield. We have no leaders on the pitch at all. Fair play to Waterford they were by far the better side.

[sulywaterfordfc]

We were shocking bad last nite. No game plan no nothing.We have a very weak bench too. Think that GC is completely the wrong person to have in charge I didnt hear him animated on the bench once. Think a long spell in the first division rebuilding awaits us. Aodh Dervin a huge loss to us in midfield. We have no leaders on the pitch at all. Fair play to Waterford they were by far the better side.

Being realistic Longfords target going into the season would have been a play off place. Longford sit 4th with a 9 point lead on 6th. If anything Longford are probably doing better then what was expected in preseason. It would be incredible harsh to sack the manager. What benefit would it be to Longford? They’ll probably achieve the play offs and go into the play offs as underdogs, which is exactly what the current manager is on the road to doing.

[sadloserkid]

Animation on the sideline is no indication of a good manager either. There's probably a thread in taking a trip down memory lane focussing on the rogues gallery of loud incompetents who have somehow found their way into various dugouts over the years.

[pineapple stu]

Martin Russell was great like that. No histrionics ever; he'd just quietly tell the linesman he was wrong and he might give us the next call, and make a few constructive comments to players on the pitch. Nothing much more than that really.

[lofty9]

Dundalk were great, best performance of an away side at the Brandy this season.
We didn't play particularly well, or with our usual intensity, but I reckon a lot of that is down to Dundalk's management of the game. We weren't allowed to play it our way.

Cracking goal by Benson for the first, even if we allowed him more space than I'd have liked. From then until our goal, we had a few chances, but nothing really clear cut. Dundalk had the middle of the park sown up, and we didn't go wide early enough.

Noticed that after we scored, Dundalk didn't attempt to time-waste or slow things down. Commented at the time that they were looking to win the game. Mistake from Kavanagh gave Hoban the goal, but most other teams wouldn't have been pressing us at that stage of the game.

Of course, could nearly have got a last minute equaliser from Patching's free kick, but we wouldn't have deserved it.

That's a poor run we're on now. Lots to work on before Sligo tomorrow.

I actually thought that they would have problems getting back into a pattern of play after being so negative for the previous hour. If Dundalk had've went for a 2nd at any stage before we equalised I believe they would have run riot.

[Jack B]

Just seen our starting XI. Bohs will win.

[joey B]

Just seen our starting XI. Bohs will win.

Maybe youse should just play Tunde more😀!!

[Jd2793]

pats are terrible, not sure how bohs are losing.

[sadloserkid]

Martin Russell was great like that. No histrionics ever; he'd just quietly tell the linesman he was wrong and he might give us the next call, and make a few constructive comments to players on the pitch. Nothing much more than that really.

One of my fondest LOI moments involved Russell. A Limerick player was played into space, great chance, made a mess of his first touch, amounted to nothing.

"Ugh, his touch," I hissed to whoever was watching the game beside me from my spot close to the dugouts. Russell turned to me and, in a very conversational tone, observed "touch is everything."

[Calcio Jack]

Rovers back to playing utter muck , lots of possession but no end product … Drogs created one chance and scored a beauty… and Danny Mandriou shows his petulant side and gets a red

[Jack B]

Just seen our starting XI. Bohs will win.

Hope everyone enjoyed this excellent joke. Played some unknown fella from the academy tonight and he's only gone and banged in a hat trick.

[joey B]

Lost again but could have stole something at the end,as I’ve said before we’ll always give teams goals,incapable of keeping clean sheets and it’s looking a long way back for us now….

Ruaidhrí Higgins will be glad to see us anyway,we’ll get them back on track on Friday no doubt!

[D24Saint]

Fairplay to Tunde, took his goals lovely. I don’t know how Bohs didn’t score in the first half. I thought Joe Anang play brilliant tonight.

[TonyD]

Hope everyone enjoyed this excellent joke. Played some unknown fella from the academy tonight and he's only gone and banged in a hat trick.

I’d take that crystal ball back for a refund anyway 😀

The game suited Tunde tonight. Lots of ball to run onto. He’s not really a back to goal-bring people into play type of striker, but give him a run at a defence and he can be effective. To be honest Bohs were very good first half, and there was a period when an equaliser looked like it had to come. Joe Anang made some super saves. Second goal just before half time was the decisive moment. We were fairly comfortable second half. Joe Redmond outstanding again at the back, and Adam O’Reilly worked his socks off in the middle. Great to get the win and improved performance after the horror show that was last Friday.

Mad league though, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Rovers lose to Drogs, and wtf has happened to Derry ? The wheels really seem to have come off since they battered us in Inchicore.

[2 Year Contract]

Wasn’t expecting that Pats performance after the horror show last Friday. So comfortable second half. Bohs will need to improve their form ahead of their campaign in the newly founded UEFA Europa Friendly Championship over in Berlin.

Has anyone checked on that Derry fan on here who claims they’re the only good team in the country?

[oriel]

Weekend winners by a mile are Dundalk, like the old bus joke, waiting for one, then two come at once, no away wins then two on the trot.

No extra points for this, but with the madness of Rovers and Derry both losing we have now lost the least games, 2.

Tonight v Harps it was a hard fought win v the gloss v Derry, but 6 points on the road, amazing weekend. Happy to be solid in 3rd, whatever happens after this is a bonus, Pats at home on Friday, hash tag tasty.

[PartySaint]

Bohs in the second half were as bad as Pats were on Friday.

Are there any actual good teams in the league?

[Nesta99]

Celebrations in United Park were unreal, pitch invasion like league winners!

[dong]

Derry looked like they expected us to roll over after conceding a farcical equaliser and to be honest, so did most people in the ground I'd wager.
Deserved the win I felt. Great to see a bit more energy in our play. Hopefully something to build on but I'm not discounting the possibility of losing away to UCD.

[Nesta99]

Higgins and Bradley under pressure ;) Bucko will be lurking! Dundalk FC just at this moment are league contenders mwahahaha!

[ger121]

This league really is nuts. Derry 2 points from 15 after such a good start. Rovers just not clinical enough, yet still 7 points ahead. Shels and Dundalk world beaters all of a sudden. Pat’s, Sligo and Bohs can’t string two results together…. Never mind the rest…

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Derry looked like they expected us to roll over after conceding a farcical equaliser and to be honest, so did most people in the ground I'd wager.
Deserved the win I felt. Great to see a bit more energy in our play. Hopefully something to build on but I'm not discounting the possibility of losing away to UCD.

The players need to put that effort in the whole time. Need to back it up on Friday. Pitch finally in good knick.

[sbgawa]

Higgins and Bradley under pressure ;) Bucko will be lurking! Dundalk FC just at this moment are league contenders mwahahaha!
Bradser under pressure alright, needs ro be more than 7 points clear :) dundalk now clearly in the title race. Hate them feckers ;)

[Jack B]

Pats were blessed to be 2-0 up at a half time through a combination of Tunde but almost more so Anang. Bohs were absolutely horrific in the second half through, stunned by how much that second goal killed them.

[Nesta99]

Bradser under pressure alright, needs ro be more than 7 points clear :) dundalk now clearly in the title race. Hate them feckers ;)

I was going to really resent not being in Europe this summer. Now I'm looking forward to the testing the thesis that our European sides cough up points when distracted from domestic affairs! We could lose to Pats and Slgo next games but that would be awful dull compared to nabbing 6 points before Rovers visit and a Dublin Derby after - could be nip and tuck at the top by then;) and then the stresses of Europe....Dundalk FC 2022 League Champions...im sure some are losing the run of themselves!

[pineapple stu]

hopefully something to build on but I'm not discounting the possibility of losing away to UCD.
While our home form is much better than our away form, if we gift ye goals like we did last night, ye'll be fine.

Never seen a side so obviously decide to have four runners straight from tip to lump the ball up to, but somehow it worked. I think 10 seconds into a half is the earliest I've seen a goal. (Or was that Glen Crowe one in the 4-3 earlier? When tip had to be taken three times?)

Shels were better than us but weren't great and I never really fancied them to score if we hadn't helped them along the way.

[Kiki Balboa]

Felt match night with plenty of storylines in the league.

-Shels are only four points off 4th with a game in hand. Outside chance of Europe now. (Didn't see that coming).
-Derry in freefall. No idea what is happening there. Suddenly look like a mid table team.
-Rovers losing a game that maybe in previous years they would have steamrolled. Mandriou sent off, and Byrne went off injured. Probably only a small blip, but heres hoping whats in the water at Derry affects them too.
-Looking at Bohs fans online, that performance and result might be Longs final nail in the coffin.

-Great result for Dundalk. I think earlier in the season we would not have got all 3 points. Picked a rotated side, and was enough to see us through. Win the extra game, and we are in second.