Games weekend 31st March to !st April

[sbgawa]

Premier Division (All 19:45)

Friday 31st

Cork v Drogheda
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne v Derry
St Pats v UCD

Saturday 1st

Sligo v Bohemians

First Division

Friday 31st (All 19:45)

Athlone v Galway
Cobh v Bray
Waterford v Finn Harps
Wexford v Treaty

Saturday 1st

Longford v Kerry 19:30

[sbgawa]

Another week another oppurtunity for Rovers and UCD to pick up a first win before our relegation 6 pointer on Monday week.
With Bohs away following Dundalk away and then UCD on Monday week we have either a chance to confirm we are done and dusted or with 9 points from 9 get back into the game.
If we play like we did against Pats with about 7 centrehalves on the pitch at the end i expect nothing, if we go and perform anything is possible.

Derry have a tough match against Damien Duffs Shelbourne and the title favourites Bohs have a tricky enough match up in Sligo so heres hoping.
Treaty badly need to avoid losing in Wexford or they could be 10 points off a playoff place and cast adrift with a long season ahead.
Anything less than a win for Longford over Kerry and Longfords season is tailspinning as well

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Must win for Clancy or he's back under major pressure again and for me it needs to be a good performance and a reasonably convincing win

[oriel]

Another week another oppurtunity for Rovers and UCD to pick up a first win before our relegation 6 pointer on Monday week.
With Bohs away following Dundalk away and then UCD on Monday week we have either a chance to confirm we are done and dusted or with 9 points from 9 get back into the game.
If we play like we did against Pats with about 7 centrehalves on the pitch at the end i expect nothing, if we go and perform anything is possible.

Derry have a tough match against Damien Duffs Shelbourne and the title favourites Bohs have a tricky enough match up in Sligo so heres hoping.
Treaty badly need to avoid losing in Wexford or they could be 10 points off a playoff place and cast adrift with a long season ahead.
Anything less than a win for Longford over Kerry and Longfords season is tailspinning as well

Man for man Rovers have the obvious better quality, there is no argument there and silly to argue otherwise, but they have struggled recently in oriel. I`m not a fan of these pitches prefer grass myself, but Dundalk have adapted well how to play it, plus for some reason it has seemed to have 'settled' this season, so we'll see how people notice it tomorrow. Plans are in place to return to grass I`m told, and a change in governance laws would expedite that, but christ Derry's looked just dreadful v Sligo, lets see what ours is like tomorrow.

SB - honest question is there something 'wrong' in the Rovers camp, as it can't be unlucky in almost all of the winless games you have played? That said I have seen some of the displays and you have been decent in some. Its an odd one for sure.

Looking forward to this tomorrow, should be a great atmosphere and match, hard one to call, I`m thinking of firmly sitting on the fence, but I can really see a 1-1 scoreline.

[joey B]

Unfortunate for us that Long was appointed yesterday,will be a very different atmosphere than there otherwise might have been,wouldnt be very confident for our chances tommorow night......

[sbgawa]

Man for man Rovers have the obvious better quality, there is no argument there and silly to argue otherwise, but they have struggled recently in oriel. I`m not a fan of these pitches prefer grass myself, but Dundalk have adapted well how to play it, plus for some reason it has seemed to have 'settled' this season, so we'll see how people notice it tomorrow. Plans are in place to return to grass I`m told, and a change in governance laws would expedite that, but christ Derry's looked just dreadful v Sligo, lets see what ours is like tomorrow.

SB - honest question is there something 'wrong' in the Rovers camp, as it can't be unlucky in almost all of the winless games you have played? That said I have seen some of the displays and you have been decent in some. Its an odd one for sure.

Looking forward to this tomorrow, should be a great atmosphere and match, hard one to call, I`m thinking of firmly sitting on the fence, but I can really see a 1-1 scoreline.

Honest answer is i don't think there is a lot between this season and last , the main problem is after a few unlucky draws (sligo drogs ) we have responded to the pressure of a bad statt by going negative.
Fear was palpable against cork and pats. ..we need to go and win and start building some confidence.
Also think we have been a bit casual at times....we need to tear into teams and keep going until we are 2 up.

[Nesta99]

I would have disareed with the 10 team league format but it is proving to be a good change. Every week, already, there are big games for all clubs. The quality of Dundalk was under scutiny at Derry, and now again v Rovers. Rovers badly need a win so makes for an intriguing match. Pat under pressure, Bohs with a tricky away game, the preseason predicted relegation playoff teams facing off and you couldnt rule out Derry stumbling at Shels. Predictions thread will make for interesting reading this weekend.

[wonder88]

Planning on making my second trip to Lissywollen tonight, was at the women's President Cup earlier in season, and hoping that Galway can keep the wining run going. The trip is shorter than Limerick, so it could be classified as a derby game I suppose. Hope for a decent Galway support anyway. I dislike the artificial surface as it takes something away from the game. My most enjoyable visit to Lissywollen was a fine summer evening for a 1-1 Athlone v Shamrock R game, which was Pat Fenlon first game in charge of the visitors, while Keith Long was the Athlone manager (I think).

[Jack B]

Feels like a bit of a no-win situation for us tonight outside of winning with an extremely improved, convincing performance, which seems unlikely. Looks set to be another big crowd in Richmond though which is encouraging to see for a game against UCD after the break and our dreadful start to the season.

[sbgawa]

Bench pico and Burke and start Kenny..........why not start our strongest team when we are desperate for a win. Kenny is an anchor weight compared to burke

[legendz]

Benson sent off. I've switched over to Shels. Shels should have equalised. Blazed over the bar from 6 yards out.

[Calcio Jack]

Benson sent off. I've switched over to Shels. Shels should have equalised. Blazed over the bar from 6 yards out.

Silly challenge by Benson ( no malice) but very dangerous so had to be a red…. We finally catch a break hopefully we can hang on

[SPXcyan]

3-0 Waterford at half time, as comfortable as you'd want it to be.

[pineapple stu]

Tis a remarkably tight league at the moment - though maybe Harps could come back...?

[SPXcyan]

4-0...

[Nesta99]

Bench pico and Burke and start Kenny..........why not start our strongest team when we are desperate for a win. Kenny is an anchor weight compared to burke

Hasnt made that much of a difference but pre game you see that team sheet and its a positive lift for Rovers opposition to not have those lads start - you hope Bradley will rue leaving them out. Games not panned out that way, red card has killed off any way back in to the game without a minor miracle. Benson's 1st ever red card, we'll put it down to being injured for so long and too eager to make an impact upon his return.

[joey B]

My worst fears were realised.....

[thebronze14]

That is up there with the worst performance I've ever seen. Embarrassing. I know we are a work in progress but that was chronic. Defensive were a shambles. Couldn't tackle, defend set pieces or pass the ball. Going to be a long season. Waterford didn't even play that great which is the scariest thing

[SPXcyan]

We look average and still ran rampant, a badly needed win on our part, 7-1 feels a bit odd but we'll take it.

[legendz]

We look average and still ran rampant, a badly needed win on our part, 7-1 feels a bit odd but we'll take it.
A forewarning for Kerry. Park the bus. Take a leaf out of Ireland v France on Monday. Les Bleus of Waterford v the Green of Kerry.

[gufc4life]

Our unbeaten run continues 7 from 7.
You would expect that win should kick start Waterfords season.

[Bunny Kelly]

For first 20mins I thought Harps seemed decent & the 3-0 score line at HT was very harsh but the 2nd 45mins was beyond a shambles.

How many of this Harps squad are on 2 year contracts?

[joey B]

For first 20mins I thought Harps seemed decent & the 3-0 score line at HT was very harsh but the 2nd 45mins was beyond a shambles.

How many of this Harps squad are on 2 year contracts?


7 on 2 year deals,I’d have varying opinions on how good the 7 are,the keeper is one and up until tonight he’s been grand,had a bad one tonight though …DaSilva,Harris,Rainey,Flood,Keogh and Lynch are the others,I’ll reserve judgement on them till we see how the season pans out….,

[Jd2793]

drogs are a much better football side than us. they have some really tidy players but they died off a bit in the 2nd half. draw fair in the end. we'll do well to not finish 9th

[nigel-harps1954]

That was a painful experience. We'll call it character building for a young squad..

[Nesta99]

That was a painful experience. We'll call it character building for a young squad..

Even the slightest of doubt on Dave Rogers?

[placid casual]

Bench pico and Burke and start Kenny..........why not start our strongest team when we are desperate for a win. Kenny is an anchor weight compared to burke
Don't worry, about a thing, cos every little thing, s'gonna be alright.

[Yossarian]

Hasnt made that much of a difference but pre game you see that team sheet and its a positive lift for Rovers opposition to not have those lads start - you hope Bradley will rue leaving them out. Games not panned out that way, red card has killed off any way back in to the game without a minor miracle. Benson's 1st ever red card, we'll put it down to being injured for so long and too eager to make an impact upon his return.

I think the positive lift pre match was for Rovers with Dundalk not having Hoban playing. He drives everything we do and John Martin is a very poor substitute. Rovers have players of a similar level to come on, we don’t.
On the game I thought you could see Rovers were playing at a high level and may have won anyway, but the red card completely killed it as a contest. I thought it was very harsh, the two players both were high but Benson got there a fraction earlier than Grace. The whole Rovers bench leapt up and that influenced a poor ref.
The end result may have been the same but it was over as a contest after that.
The players Rovers could bring on compared to us showed a huge difference in the strength of the respective squads.

[nigel-harps1954]

Even the slightest of doubt on Dave Rogers?

No, I think the majority of Harps fans can see what we're trying to do with a very young team and a very small budget. Knifes aren't out just yet. Apparently the Waterford commentary team on LOITV seemed to suggest Rogers was under pressure now, which I can't understand where they managed to pull that from.

Long way to go yet this season, but we're doing okay. To call it an off-night would be an understatement.

Full team and management came right over to the away fans at the end to apologise as well. Poor Tim Hiemer was in tears as well. He's been very good so far but had a dreadful night tonight in goal.

[joey B]

Looked like 2 harsh red cards in the Premier division games tonight….

[ger121]

Looked like 2 harsh red cards in the Premier division games tonight….

Even by normal standards, the level of referring in the league has been abysmal so far this season.

[WeAreRovers]

Don't worry, about a thing, cos every little thing, s'gonna be alright.

Bang on! :)

[Nesta99]

Don't worry, about a thing, cos every little thing, s'gonna be alright.

A tune that Ive not taken to in Oriel I have to say, too Bob and Bohs for me! Enjoy your win PC, Dundalk were well put to the sowrd and I know you love us. One swallow doesnt make a summer mind and Derry must be a slight worry still even after a 1st win of the season.

I havent seen the red card in Oriel but did see the 2nd yellow in Tolka, slowed down its easy to say there wasnt enough contact between Barrett and McGonigle but on the spot at full pelt it could well look like Barrett caught McGonigle with an elbow/arm to the face, can see why the ref might have pulled a card, could even have pulled a straight red. Barrett was totally focused on the ball, basically won the wrestling match to get in front and did have an arm across the face and it was milked by McGonigle clutching his face on the deck. There are enough really questionable ref decisions that would nearly have you think they were on commission for cards, I dont think this is cut and dry at all. Doesnt change the vaild point Duff made post match!

[ontheotherhand]

Strange for Benson to do us any favours at all but his karate kick attempt wrapped it up for us. Not sure what anyone could complain about based on what I saw but I'll have another look at whatever angles come out. Looked like he flew in studs up and with his head completely turned away from the ball. Mad thing to do. I like Benson and know he isn't a malicious type but I thought it was a red immediately as did the ref who went for the card straight away. Not sure he even saw the few Rovers staff standing up from the bench. The Shels red is a disgraceful decision though.

Could have been 5 or 6 in the end although Dundalk started both the first and second half very well I thought. They've some very tidy players. Malley looks like a find.

The Dundalk LoI commentary team is also very good. Fair dues to them there. Very balanced and a good dynamic between them.

I was delighted not to see Hoban in the team. As Yossarian said above, Dundalk are far weaker without him and John Martin ain't a striker.

We are staying up.

[ToberonaTornado]

A tune that Ive not taken to in Oriel I have to say, too Bob and Bohs for me! Enjoy your win PC, Dundalk were well put to the sowrd and I know you love us. One swallow doesnt make a summer mind and Derry must be a slight worry still even after a 1st win of the season.

I havent seen the red card in Oriel but did see the 2nd yellow in Tolka, slowed down its easy to say there wasnt enough contact between Barrett and McGonigle but on the spot at full pelt it could well look like Barrett caught McGonigle with an elbow/arm to the face, can see why the ref might have pulled a card, could even have pulled a straight red. Barrett was totally focused on the ball, basically won the wrestling match to get in front and did have an arm across the face and it was milked by McGonigle clutching his face on the deck. There are enough really questionable ref decisions that would nearly have you think they were on commission for cards, I dont think this is cut and dry at all. Doesnt change the vaild point Duff made post match!

That Bob song has been going around op a while and well before Bohs stole it!
You wouldnt know that though.

[trevy]

Finn Harps actually played well for first 25 minutes or so and we were no better in that part of game than in previous home games. Roland Idowu got a brilliant goal then and 2 goals just before half time wrapped it up. Finn Harps keeper was poor for 4th and 5th goal. Great start under Keith Long.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Benson on LOI Weekly going n about his great goal scoring record against Shams was always going to come back to bite him

Enjoyable game on RTE. Would have fancied Shels to get back into it (awful miss at the end of first half) without the red. Disgraceful decision. Refs should be certain that what theyre doing is correct but as always they’re way too quick to reach for their pockets. Not helped by so many players in the league going down holding their heads at every opportunity going. Unfortunately no one ever seems to want to do any retrospective action for diving etc so there’s no real deterrent.

[total hoofball]

A tune that Ive not taken to in Oriel I have to say, too Bob and Bohs for me! Enjoy your win PC, Dundalk were well put to the sowrd and I know you love us. One swallow doesnt make a summer mind and Derry must be a slight worry still even after a 1st win of the season.

I havent seen the red card in Oriel but did see the 2nd yellow in Tolka, slowed down its easy to say there wasnt enough contact between Barrett and McGonigle but on the spot at full pelt it could well look like Barrett caught McGonigle with an elbow/arm to the face, can see why the ref might have pulled a card, could even have pulled a straight red. Barrett was totally focused on the ball, basically won the wrestling match to get in front and did have an arm across the face and it was milked by McGonigle clutching his face on the deck. There are enough really questionable ref decisions that would nearly have you think they were on commission for cards, I dont think this is cut and dry at all. Doesnt change the vaild point Duff made post match!
I'm not one to defend to referees in the LOI they are awful but their job is becoming increasingly challenging the the laws of the game moving towards non-contact sport and by more and more players in this league exaggerating/feigning injuries. The Barrett/McGonigle one last night was a perfect example of what is going on for something that would not have even been a free kick a decade or two ago with the ref also falling hook/line/sinker for the theatrics

[Dermobohs]

Shels got a bohs player sent off with the same play acting so goes around comes around I guess.
Managers and players need to stop play acting after every tackle and then we can look at the refs.
Several dives by shels tonight, Malloy and the other ginger lad falling over was ridiculous.
Derry did a couple too particularly the wide players.

[DCWA]

I thought we were very poor last night must be said although have to account for conditions and the state of that pitch in Tolka - not sure how it is so bad?

[sbgawa]

Massive game now next week . If we can go to bohs and win we start building momentum. Feels odd waking up this morning and looking forward to the rest of the weekend. :)

[The Bowler]

Sadly, my expectations for the students proving spot on. 1 point so far, and that was a lucky point. Dare I say it without being jumped on.......Myler out.

[brendy_éire]

I thought we were very poor last night must be said although have to account for conditions and the state of that pitch in Tolka - not sure how it is so bad?

Pitch certainly made it difficult, especially in the second half, but we weren't great really. After that early goal, I'd have loved to see us on and kill the game before half time.
Undecided about the sending off. It's feels harsh, but by the letter of the law it's probably careless play. Changed the game, but Shels weren't too bad after it really.
Positive that McJannet got a game in, hopefully we'll have more lads back for next week. Whatever about the performance, it's a win in Tolka in miserable conditions. Take that any week.

Worrying result for Harps there, unacceptable for them to be conceding that many, young team or not. I'd have thought they'd be finishing in a playoff spot, but looks unlikely.

[TonyD]

I thought we were very poor last night must be said although have to account for conditions and the state of that pitch in Tolka - not sure how it is so bad?

In fairness it peed rain all day in Dublin (still going this morning.) I saw about the last half hour of the Shels match on RTE +1, and the pitch did seem very soft, but understandable as I say. The pitch in Richmond took on a lot of water too.

On the Pats game, nice professional job from us, and we could have had a couple more. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

[desaintsno.12]

Pats still brutal....UCD really brutal.

[Jd2793]

Pats still brutal....UCD really brutal.

doesnt sound encouraging for pats if they were brutal v ucd. clancy still under presure?

[Glen Of Aherlow]

Pats still brutal....UCD really brutal.

Bit harsh , UCD are brutal in fairness but thought we knocked it around well …..I guess we’ll see over next few games

[cláirseach]

Finn Harps actually played well for first 25 minutes or so and we were no better in that part of game than in previous home games. Roland Idowu got a brilliant goal then and 2 goals just before half time wrapped it up. Finn Harps keeper was poor for 4th and 5th goal. Great start under Keith Long.

I saw Rogers spinning a similar line in the press. It's something you hear a lot after a beating - we were in it for the first X minutes, until they got their goal. It is a little generous last night as Waterford had created several good chances, finishing poorly, before the opener and had really turned the game in the minutes leading up to it. Thereafter it was a total shambles and they could easily have hit double figures.

It is tempting to see the Rogers era already as an overcorrection to Horgan's tenure. His constant salesmanship, manifested mostly as #positivity and #energy was.. a little different to what Horgan offered and there were great promises to do all kinds of things, from playing the right way, to bringing youth through, to whatever else it was that you wanted to hear. He had an answer for everything, accurate or otherwise. The change of direction from Ollie certainly seemed to fit into the vision and direction of the new chairman. Four years is a long time.

There are a lot of lines to be used to deflect from the standard of player and performance at Harps, most of which don't stand up very well if anyone cared to look closely at them.

You can say that these are young players learning and growing, but the only young players who shown enough so far to mark them as capable of making a significant impact in senior football are on loan from Stockport and Derry.

It is a multi-year project, however the list of players on deals suggest that, a little like Bohs last year, the players are getting the length of contract that you'd wished you'd given the ghost of the past. Beyond the loans the only acceptable level of performance have been from a player on a short-term deal, arguably a 37 year old and from Ryan Flood. There are multi-year contracts here for players who simply cannot make an impression on senior football games.

I'm not going to bother with suggestions that they are playing the right way, or any of that nonsense. They're barely attacking at all.

The budget is a fan's favourite. Budgets are only important in relation to those around you and look at our neighbours in the table here are wonder if that can really be a factor. How you allocate it is another thing. Harps have a full-time manager for what is I think the first time in their history, and a surely it must be the first occassion on which they have had a full-time assistant. There is a big emphasis on availability for daily training, which has an impact on the players willing to commit and also on the cost and expense of training. Players are still being sourced internationally who struggle to play at this level.

Regardless, Rogers will retain plenty support for now and has a great chance in the next two games to get some good results on the board. It is not often that you play teams like Kerry and the current Treaty United side back-to-back in senior football. If they can do this then people can go back to believing.

[joey B]

Some goal from Athlone last night!


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[Nesta99]

That Bob song has been going around op a while and well before Bohs stole it!
You wouldnt know that though.

It has, I recall Danny of the famous SSA trying hard to cheerlead it with mixed results years back, footage of Ajax fans singing it started the interest and subsequently there was much fawning of Ajax fans at White Hart Lane singing it pre European game. Still never took to it! Bohs stole it?? Sure they own Bob Marley cause he was in Dalymount once in 1980 or something!! Funny enough Spurs claim him too, there are quite a few Bohs like Bob Spurs jerseys knocking about...