Matches 15/16th March 2024

[Nesta99]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0315/1438250-duff-claims-fitness-coach-subjected-to-racial-abuse/

Its on the low key side for a Duffer general rant which makes it all the more believable. No evidence but maybe some in the crowd could speak up. Ye cant legislate for individual idiots but the days of being almost alone on a terrace are past so someone else heard and I dont think Duff would go there unless there was something to it.

[joey B]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0315/1438250-duff-claims-fitness-coach-subjected-to-racial-abuse/

Its on the low key side for a Duffer general rant which makes it all the more believable. No evidence but maybe some in the crowd could speak up. Ye cant legislate for individual idiots but the days of being almost alone on a terrace are past so someone else heard and I dont think Duff would go there unless there was something to it.


Appears it was a young kid,not condoning it at all,unacceptable but just some context…..

[TonyD]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0315/1438250-duff-claims-fitness-coach-subjected-to-racial-abuse/

Its on the low key side for a Duffer general rant which makes it all the more believable. No evidence but maybe some in the crowd could speak up. Ye cant legislate for individual idiots but the days of being almost alone on a terrace are past so someone else heard and I dont think Duff would go there unless there was something to it.

You’ll get idiots in every crowd. Some of the Pats fans around me are hard to listen to at times (though nothing racist or beyond the pale in terms of personal abuse I hasten to add.)Someone behind me was giving Duff some stick after the game (you’re only a mouthpiece etc) just stupidity more than anything else.

[joey B]

Longford/Treaty OFF

[Longfordian]

Town vs Treaty is off. FFS. We've had two games!

[brendy_éire]

Bohs were brilliant tonight, not always pretty but they dug in and fought for it.

Can't agree that Bohs were brilliant, bar Connolly and Keta who had great games.
I thought the lacked quality, moreso on the City side.
Horrendous stuff from Todd for the first. Nightmare performance from him. Hoban very quiet, as he got no service. Tones of the past few seasons there.

Less said about the game the better. Few weeks off, we should have a few lads back from injury.

More concerning to me is that we're boring. We have been for a time, but you'll get away with being boring as long as you're winning, but that's three aways in a row with no wins.

[oriel]

Was waiting on Waterford to fill my treble along with Bohs and Shels and watched last 30 at Oriel, neither team seemed particularly bothered about scoring, wheels coming off Waterford after their good start?

Bothered, we have scored ONE goal in 5 games, and that was a free kick !

[WoodquayBoy]

More concerning to me is that we're boring. We have been for a time, but you'll get away with being boring as long as you're winning, but that's three aways in a row with no wins.
If you think you lot are boring, you better bring a pillow to the Ryan McBride when we pop up at the end of the month! Snooze-fest guaranteed

[Nesta99]

Appears it was a young kid,not condoning it at all,unacceptable but just some context…..

If he is known all the more reson to nip it in the bud especially if he is young. Doesnt have to be a lifetime ban or anything like it, on this occasion an organised opportunity to apologise and maybe have him introduced to the diversity aspect of the club that there undoubtedly is from academy up. Thats being nice, ban him unless he gains some insight in to the impact of racism - Im sure there are plenty of groups that would only be too willing to help the chap make life less angry for him in future.

There will always be idiots as I acknowledged, and it doesnt reflect on St Pats or the fanbase but dont let Duffer be right about it be brushed under the carpet, zero tolerence is to prevent that slippery slope which tbh society in general is sliding on atm.
I really dont think you can make too much of such a 'small' incident when it isnt a witch hunt, and education is basis of atonement.

Yup there is ott and personal abuse of players, coaches and officials, its as distasteful at times, Bradley can attest to the Cork example. I do enjoy when a mouth in the crowd is told to wise up and the shock evident when they cop they considered an idiot!

[placid casual]

Enjoyable, friendly atmosphere in terryland last night, with stewards and cops very relaxed - which makes a change. For that reason alone I sincerely hope Galway stay in the premier division,but I just cant see them surviving playing that kind of ball in this day and age- kick and rush won't get you enough points to survive, I think.
Less said about Rovers the better at this moment in time,we are not at 1/10th of our levels.

[CorribsideSteve]

If you think you lot are boring, you better bring a pillow to the Ryan McBride when we pop up at the end of the month! Snooze-fest guaranteed
We're more toothless than the front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert. The crowd were phenomenal though. I just worry that a good 1,000 or so of the recent attendances will fall away, if the majority of our season is made up of 0-0 draws and losses. We played a fairly average Rovers side and just couldn't get any decent attacks going. They are clinical despite playing well within themselves, and they killed us, winning ugly.

[Nesta99]

Can't agree that Bohs were brilliant, bar Connolly and Keta who had great games.
I thought the lacked quality, moreso on the City side.
Horrendous stuff from Todd for the first. Nightmare performance from him. Hoban very quiet, as he got no service. Tones of the past few seasons there.

Less said about the game the better. Few weeks off, we should have a few lads back from injury.

More concerning to me is that we're boring. We have been for a time, but you'll get away with being boring as long as you're winning, but that's three aways in a row with no wins.

Connolly is fast and direct but I dont know how he isnt nullified tactically. He always goes outside, his close control is poor, it knock the ball past and run on to it. Covering players or make him turn inside in to traffic and he becomes more headless chicken. 3 at the back and wide players pushing up will give him free reign to look world class...maybe. Switching wings was when he was handy against better prepared wide players.

[Another Bohemia]

Connolly is fast and direct but I dont know how he isnt nullified tactically. He always goes outside, his close control is poor, it knock the ball past and run on to it. Covering players or make him turn inside in to traffic and he becomes more headless chicken. 3 at the back and wide players pushing up will give him free reign to look world class...maybe. Switching wings was when he was handy against better prepared wide players.

He must have improved a bit since he left Dundalk because his close control is decent enough. Not the best in the team or league by any stretch but a far stretch from poor. Still has a tendency to go outside etc but he's not a headless chicken when he goes inside. Usually does the simple thing mind but you can live with that. He's still a bit suspect in his decision making and with the final ball but obviously with every player in the league there are limitations.

[Nesta99]

He must have improved a bit since he left Dundalk because his close control is decent enough. Not the best in the team or league by any stretch but a far stretch from poor. Still has a tendency to go outside etc but he's not a headless chicken when he goes inside. Usually does the simple thing mind but you can live with that. He's still a bit suspect in his decision making and with the final ball but obviously with every player in the league there are limitations.

Maybe we just have different standards or describe similar traits differently. Ok his close ball control isnt so good that it should bother a half decent full back, they should get a good chance to get a toe on the ball when not galloping on to his default knock the ball long past a defender, this should be easy to read also imo and he lacks the footballing brain to go with his footballing ability to really mix it up. If he cuts inside he gets guided in to dead end channels so goes back to heading for the end touchline to cross or cut back. He could be effective as a shock tactic when he isnt known eg in Europe. Ball over the top of a high line and he will threaten, although not a finisher. He still needs to be pushed in to drifting in to a far post when the ball is on the opposite wing. Stuff that you'd hope could be coached to the kind of raw talent and potential that saw Dundalk pay a fee for him. Yeah he has improved over time, but not anywhere near early potential indicated. Take his pace away and is he a good footballer? The ultimate of the frustrating player to watch.

[The Bowler]

Sligo 2 up after 25 mins. Jack Keaney twice with no clue that Mata was behind him, clueless defending, which we saw plenty of at The Bowl last season.

[Nesta99]

We're more toothless than the front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert. The crowd were phenomenal though. I just worry that a good 1,000 or so of the recent attendances will fall away, if the majority of our season is made up of 0-0 draws and losses. We played a fairly average Rovers side and just couldn't get any decent attacks going. They are clinical despite playing well within themselves, and they killed us, winning ugly.

Giving hope to us Dundalk fans is just cruel unless you follow up!! Ive upgraded my hopes to the battle for 9th to try and stay up.....

[brendy_éire]

If you think you lot are boring, you better bring a pillow to the Ryan McBride when we pop up at the end of the month! Snooze-fest guaranteed

Careful now. Kenny Shiels was lambasted for suggesting that about the last side Caulfield managed.

[Shinkicker]

Can't agree that Bohs were brilliant, bar Connolly and Keta who had great games.
I thought the lacked quality, moreso on the City side.
Horrendous stuff from Todd for the first. Nightmare performance from him. Hoban very quiet, as he got no service. Tones of the past few seasons there.

Less said about the game the better. Few weeks off, we should have a few lads back from injury.

More concerning to me is that we're boring. We have been for a time, but you'll get away with being boring as long as you're winning, but that's three aways in a row with no wins.
You copied part of my post to suit yourself, in my post I also said Keta, Mills and Connolly played well. Like I said Bohs were brilliant., they fought hard and dug in, They were more brilliant than what can only be described as a poor boring Derry side who lacked any inventiveness, guile or ability to break Bohs down. They had no fight in them and no desire to win. I await with great anticipation the return of your injured players to see you top the league and conquer everything around you.
But some how I don't think so.

[Martinho II]

Theres major drainage issues at Bishopsgate that was reason why game was off. Its coming from the field behind the goal at far end of ground. Farmer next door was supposed to fix it but didnt. Dont know what to make of it tbh but its not the first time that a game in Longford has being called off from heavy rain. The local GAA ground Pearse Park matches went ahead tonight. Its turnin into a big problem for us.

[Old Chap]

Sligo 2 up after 25 mins. Jack Keaney twice with no clue that Mata was behind him, clueless defending, which we saw plenty of at The Bowl last season.
Rovers had more than their share of luck tonight, and will play better this season and lose. Drogheda were good and created plenty; there’s a lot more to them than organisation and graft alone, and Markey’s a terrific player.

JR’s taken a lot of criticism for his substitutions this season, but they worked well tonight and lifted Rovers at a time when panic was setting in and a Drogheda equaliser looked likely.

I’d probably give McGinty MoTM.

[joey B]

Very decent start to the season for Sligo ,was definitely doubtful about Russell staying but can’t argue with how they’ve started…..

[Nesta99]

You copied part of my post to suit yourself, in my post I also said Keta, Mills and Connolly played well. Like I said Bohs were brilliant., they fought hard and dug in, They were more brilliant than what can only be described as a poor boring Derry side who lacked any inventiveness, guile or ability to break Bohs down. They had no fight in them and no desire to win. I await with great anticipation the return of your injured players to see you top the league and conquer everything around you.
But some how I don't think so.

But Hoban is the deliverer of all Derrys hopes - the last piece of the puzzle!!

[ToberonaTornado]

Was waiting on Waterford to fill my treble along with Bohs and Shels and watched last 30 at Oriel, neither team seemed particularly bothered about scoring, wheels coming off Waterford after their good start?

NUDES IN BIO!

I thought we played well and tad unclucky not to win.
Big difference this week was that the players have started to communicate and talk to each other during the match! ?Annesley(captain for the night very vocal and gave good direction ) lead well at back Johnson stepped up, Munro was good.
Anyway,on to Shels in a couple of weeks

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Great start to the season for us but lucky enough last night. Scored 3 great goals but Drogs missed a good few chances.

[outspoken]

In regards to a post above, there's no drainage issue in Longford. I could count on one hand the amount of games called off over the last 20 years, that pitch is usually able to take massive amounts of rainfall but it hasn't stopped in weeks, all the fields around the ground are under water. The gaa stadium is near the town centre, area around Bishopsgate is all low lying.

[Nesta99]

As per last season, any side that strings together a few wins will change the look of the table. Shels have stood out for really just being defensively solid and scrap to hold what they have. Derry still look like they will drop points in the unexpected expected way of last season. Rovers are like an old lorry that takes time to warm up and get going - same issues with same injured players and hence same issues as last season so far. Still favourites but still relying on others not to capitalise again. Even Dundalk are showing some green shoots of growth but easily stomped on by a more canny and better coached Shels. Their development really has been un shels like - considered, incremental, and based on a sensible internal coaching appointment that they have backed, reliable tried and tested LoI players mixed with younger lads. Even the loss of investors hasnt brought a house of cards down. They have even found some fans! If there is a fly in the ointment there it is the DCC terms for Tolka which if they stick would stunt the progress of any clubs onfield push. Sligo have so far shown how a predictions thread is nothing more than a guessing game, although I did suggest that they are well capable of springing a surprise (RAF). Drogheda should be better off but you cant always be unlucky to not pick up points. Im going to stick my neck out here and say that both promoted sides have been over performing and will start to go backwards. Bohs will improve just having Croly in the backgound - Fenlon will be an ongoing headache for team affairs as he just wont be able to not stick his oar in, not in his nature!

[nigel-harps1954]

In regards to a post above, there's no drainage issue in Longford. I could count on one hand the amount of games called off over the last 20 years, that pitch is usually able to take massive amounts of rainfall but it hasn't stopped in weeks, all the fields around the ground are under water. The gaa stadium is near the town centre, area around Bishopsgate is all low lying.

To be honest, I thought the game against Harps at the start of the season was lucky to go ahead. After walking on the pitch that night it was incredibly soft.

It's just the time of year though. There's very few pitches in the country that can withstand the weather we've had the past few months, no matter how much drainage is in place.

[redarmyfaction]

Great start to the season for us but lucky enough last night. Scored 3 great goals but Drogs missed a good few chances.

Drogs dominated possession for long periods and cut through us at will at times, definitely can feel unlucky to have got nothing from it.

[outspoken]

To be honest, I thought the game against Harps at the start of the season was lucky to go ahead. After walking on the pitch that night it was incredibly soft.

It's just the time of year though. There's very few pitches in the country that can withstand the weather we've had the past few months, no matter how much drainage is in place.

Soft but playable, no standing water. As you said it's tough going for every pitch at the minute but not having suggestions above that there's something seriously wrong other than the ridiculous rainfall

[Martinho II]

Soft but playable, no standing water. As you said it's tough going for every pitch at the minute but not having suggestions above that there's something seriously wrong other than the ridiculous rainfall

Regardless of your opinion its the truth. A source who volunteers regularly as hes regularly out there due to his commitments with the underage said it to us.The drain out the back is goosed. Whover owns the land behind the pitch wont go in and clear it out. How would you know? You dont even live in the county any more . Have some respect for your elders.

[Shearer]

The Markets Field surface looked alright on Saturday for the Women's Premier Division opener, great result too.

[ontheotherhand]

We're more toothless than the front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert. The crowd were phenomenal though. I just worry that a good 1,000 or so of the recent attendances will fall away, if the majority of our season is made up of 0-0 draws and losses. We played a fairly average Rovers side and just couldn't get any decent attacks going. They are clinical despite playing well within themselves, and they killed us, winning ugly.

Brilliant home crowd. The stadium was a breath of fresh air compared to others as were the home fans, guards and stewards.

Would agree we played within ourselves but I don't think any team is going to win pretty in Galway this season. That said, our goal was worthy of winning any game.

[L.T.F.C.]

Regardless of your opinion its the truth. A source who volunteers regularly as hes regularly out there due to his commitments with the underage said it to us.The drain out the back is goosed. Whover owns the land behind the pitch wont go in and clear it out. How would you know? You dont even live in the county any more . Have some respect for your elders.

Can't remember the last time I posted on this site but you know this is the LOI? A source? Deep Throat is it?
You don't live in the county? Have some respect for your elders? What are you jawing about?

As you well know there has been very few games called off in Longford down through the years, pitch is normally bulletproof.

And not the first time a game in Longford has been called off? No ****! This is Ireland! The bank holiday we played Galway last year the pitch was like a lake the day before but was in perfect condition 24 hours later. Sometimes pitches don't make it, that's the end of the story.

[LTFC]

We're more toothless than the front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert. The crowd were phenomenal though. I just worry that a good 1,000 or so of the recent attendances will fall away, if the majority of our season is made up of 0-0 draws and losses. We played a fairly average Rovers side and just couldn't get any decent attacks going. They are clinical despite playing well within themselves, and they killed us, winning ugly.

I would not expect your average to stay above 4k, but if its stays above the 3k mark would be very good. The away support from the Dublin clubs and Sligo Rovers should mean a few more games close to 4k gates.

[Buckett]

After four home games, our average is currently 3,678, which is fantastic for Galway Utd. It's great to be back in the Premier and having the away section full, it really adds to the atmosphere. The pitch isn't in great shape at the minute, but nearly every match I go to I notice some small improvement somewhere in the ground, like a new coat of paint somewhere or the groundworks started for the new bar

[Nesta99]

Can't remember the last time I posted on this site but you know this is the LOI? A source? Deep Throat is it?
You don't live in the county? Have some respect for your elders? What are you jawing about?

As you well know there has been very few games called off in Longford down through the years, pitch is normally bulletproof.

And not the first time a game in Longford has been called off? No ****! This is Ireland! The bank holiday we played Galway last year the pitch was like a lake the day before but was in perfect condition 24 hours later. Sometimes pitches don't make it, that's the end of the story.

See, plastic pitches are the only way, no civil war on flooded piches!!

[Stuttgart88]

Brilliant home crowd. The stadium was a breath of fresh air compared to others as were the home fans, guards and stewards.

Would agree we played within ourselves but I don't think any team is going to win pretty in Galway this season. That said, our goal was worthy of winning any game.Anyone see Celtic's second v STJ on Saturday? Mirror image of Kenny's goal.

Eamonn Deacy Park looked great on LOITV. I loved the MN/DC banner! Their groundsman is the uncle of a poster on this forum. Really well regarded. Seems like Galway FA play lots of games on the pitch. It looks like a good pitch but overrsused and victim of recent bad waether.

[outspoken]

See, plastic pitches are the only way, no civil war on flooded piches!!

Thankfully, we're playing Athlone this week so barring a natural disaster in the Lissywoolen area we should get a game of ball at last.

[ontheotherhand]

It's wet in Ireland lads. Really wet during Winter and Spring.

[Nesta99]

and getting wetter annually! I have never seen anything like before or after the Dundalk v Sligo Setanta Cup Final in Tallaght where the runoff from the road was pouring through the wall at the Square end. How that game was played still boggles the mind. Probably why such a major draining job was done at Tallaght not that long after. I wish i'd taken some footage it was mental.

What is the basis for a pitch being declared playable. Days of old I loved playing on a mud bath where you could end up sliding half the length of the pitch on one tackle. Is it player welfare, hard dry pitches are of greater risk, or is t0 to do simply with the product, maybe not wanting to further damage a surface. But of an old traditionalist me! You play the condidtions regardless if you are a team of silky footballers or complete hoofers.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

My memory from that day was someone shouting “kick it into the deep end” when we were hanging on

[Nesta99]

Lol yup that sums it up!