Games weekend 4th July

[sbgawa]

Premier Division

Friday 4th (All 19:45)

St Pats v Bohemians
Shelbourne v Cork
Drogheda v Galway
Derry v Waterford

Saturday 5th

Sligo v Shamrock Rovers (19:45)

Division 1

Friday 4th (All 19:45)

Bray v Wexford
Cobh v Athlone
Finn Harps v Longford
Kerry v Dundalk
UCD v Treaty

[sbgawa]

Big game for Drogs a Galway win would put Galway 3 points behind with two games in hand.
If Drogs want to make Europe these are the games they need to winto put the teams behind them off.
Pats with 2 points from 5 games must be desperate for a win and Friday against Bohs will be a big test, the Pats supporters will be a disgruntled bunch if Bohs turn them over.
Waterford were decent against us and will hopefully do us a favour against Derry.
Sligo are one of the in form teams at the moment and they hate us up there,,big test but its our last league match for a month....dig in for 3 points and then see how the chasers get on with the games in hand while we thanks to Drogs do......F ALL.

Dundalk with a big win last week travel to in form Kerry (performance wise if not results) with Cobh at home to the basket case that is Athlone they need to pick up the 3 points and continue to drive on

[Keen2win]

Thanks lad yer dead right, hopefully young Elding continues to show everyone how to play football and Sligo Rovers beat the Shamrocks - homeless homeless Shamrocks until they played the pauper to the council, in fairness pats and bohs constantly begging for the council to sort their sh!t out too - gimme gimme gimme .. I see the fai are scrambling to get him signed up now that he is showing himself the best in country, should have been done years ago.. problem was that Paul Osam etc just like pickings dubs that wouldn'tlace his boots , I believe he has family connections in pats it so boring . . . But the cream rises to the top, hopefully he stays with Ireland but after how the dub fai treated him he might be considering sticking with his birth country I don't know

As for ltfc, I'll leave that to the experts that make new profiles and post 90% of their posts at me kc (this is Longford lad, lets meet lets go) 😂😂😂😂😂🍍

[Buckett]

That's a fairly bizarre rant! Interesting that you mention "playing the pauper" while your own club, just this week, set up a gofundme account to re-build a wall!

[2 Year Contract]

Half 9 in the mornings a bit early to be on the whiskey :D

[Kiki Balboa]

Sligo seem (as an outsider) going to most improve this window. Its a big ask for them to catch up to Waterford, but if they are able to get that far, in their current form, Pats will also be in trouble.

With all the extra games in hand, thought it would be handy to look at Points Per Game. Looks more grim for Pats, with a strong top 3 emerging.

Rovers: 2
Derry: 1.68
Bohs: 1.68
Drogheda: 1.46
Shelbourne: 1.33
St. Pats: 1.29
Galway: 1.31
Waterford: 1.22
Sligo: 0.86
Cork: 0.68

To put into context, last year: Dundalk finished bottom with 0.72, Drogheda went into the playoff at 0.94, Bohs in 8th with 1.17, St. Pats in 3rd with 1.64, and Champions Shels with 1.75.

-----------

In the First this year, Dundalk are on 2.19, and Cork finished on 2.17 last year. Cork has a cake walk, but even though things are closer in the First, Dundalk are getting more per game than Cork did.

[Another Bohemia]

Sligo seem (as an outsider) going to most improve this window. Its a big ask for them to catch up to Waterford, but if they are able to get that far, in their current form, Pats will also be in trouble.

With all the extra games in hand, thought it would be handy to look at Points Per Game. Looks more grim for Pats, with a strong top 3 emerging.

Rovers: 2
Derry: 1.68
Bohs: 1.68
Drogheda: 1.46
Shelbourne: 1.33
St. Pats: 1.29
Galway: 1.31
Waterford: 1.22
Sligo: 0.86
Cork: 0.68

To put into context, last year: Dundalk finished bottom with 0.72, Drogheda went into the playoff at 0.94, Bohs in 8th with 1.17, St. Pats in 3rd with 1.64, and Champions Shels with 1.75.

-----------

In the First this year, Dundalk are on 2.19, and Cork finished on 2.17 last year. Cork has a cake walk, but even though things are closer in the First, Dundalk are getting more per game than Cork did.

That's really interesting. I think 2+ PPG is a normal enough league winning number. I think Shels were an anomaly with 1.75 last year but I'd take an anomaly league win because they all count the same.

For the moment it looks like the teams at the bottom are slightly more adrift than last year although I wouldn't have thought that. Perhaps the league is just that bit stronger than last year? Still a lot of games to play and a few teams in Europe who may find form or suffer European hangovers so it will be interesting to see how a table like this evolves over the next few weeks.

[sbgawa]

This is where the games in hand thing tends to make us automatically do the +3 maths which is lazy ,,,,,,,Derry/Bohs 11 /12 behind are only 5/6 points behind with their 2 games in hand.
Statistacally both will only take 3 or 4 points from those matchs (one they play each other). One of them needs to win both matches to keep the pressure on.
Both on a decent run of form.

Re Another Bohemians point about 2 per game being a normal winning score Bohs achieved slightly above 2 per game in 2020 but were unlucky to come up against probably the best Rovers team in terms of play that year averageing 2.67 PPG , 44 goals scored and only 7 conceded in the shortened 18 game season.

I think i went back 20 years looking for a lower PPG then Shels last year as a winning total.....from memory i think there may have been 1

2020 was the year Cork and Shels were relgated following Harps doing a Steve McQueen....

[Dermobohs]

I’d rather the points than games in hand tbh

[Another Bohemia]

I’d rather the points than games in hand tbh

Agreed, games in hand are a bit decieving unless you have games in hand & a lead over the competition then they are great.

[El-Pietro]

Sligo seem (as an outsider) going to most improve this window. Its a big ask for them to catch up to Waterford, but if they are able to get that far, in their current form, Pats will also be in trouble.

With all the extra games in hand, thought it would be handy to look at Points Per Game. Looks more grim for Pats, with a strong top 3 emerging.

Rovers: 2
Derry: 1.68
Bohs: 1.68
Drogheda: 1.46
Shelbourne: 1.33
St. Pats: 1.29
Galway: 1.31
Waterford: 1.22
Sligo: 0.86
Cork: 0.68

To put into context, last year: Dundalk finished bottom with 0.72, Drogheda went into the playoff at 0.94, Bohs in 8th with 1.17, St. Pats in 3rd with 1.64, and Champions Shels with 1.75.

-----------

In the First this year, Dundalk are on 2.19, and Cork finished on 2.17 last year. Cork has a cake walk, but even though things are closer in the First, Dundalk are getting more per game than Cork did.

At this point last year City had played 22 games and collected 49 points, with 14 wins, 1 loss and 7 draws. 2.23 points per game. By the time we won the division we had played 30 games, winning 17, losing 1 and drawing 9, for a total of 69 points or 2.3 points per game.

After securing promotion we won two of our final six games, losing 1 and drawing 3. Comparing our full season to your season right now is misleading.

[brendy_�ire]

Waterford were decent against us and will hopefully do us a favour against Derry.

Waterford have beaten us twice this season. We've been rubbish in both games.
Waterford are a bit like Cork though, in that they can't keep a clean sheet. We've gotten better at plugging away at teams that sit in until we get a goal. Decent test of that tonight.
We've Irish League refs tonight. I like these exchange programmes, feel that IL refs are more inclined to let the game flow.

I probably think this every week now, but it feels like a big game for Pat's tonight. Can't say I fancy them at all against Bohs.

[D24Saint]

We could do without playing Bohs tonight. I've done the whole be optimistic and our form will change thing over the past few weeks and it just hasn't. On paper it looks a Bohs win.

[Dermobohs]

I felt you played better last week, always wary of st pats.would I take a draw now? I’m hopeful of three points but yes one would do, Europe is the target, keep the points tally ticking over.
Watching on the tellybox tonight, hens teeth those tickets are.
Let’s hope for a decent spectacle anyhow keep the image right!

[Tomas]

What a tricky set of fixtures in both top divisions.

Its about 15mins walk to bookies for me but I have no clue. Havent put a bet on for good couple months. Thankfully the games are so hard to predict so I save some change for Prazdroj.

Will try and find Pats v Bohs stream, that should be a decent game. Must be a sell-out.

Wild predictions: Waterford draw Drogheda win Shelbourne draw Dublin Derby in Inchicore draw
Bray draw Athlone shocking win Finn Harps win Kerry amazing draw Treaty win

[Bohtastic]

Trying to look at the bohs match in France. Virgin Media geoblocked, and loitv not going beyond buffering. Thank f for newstalk radio coverage.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Lots of empty seats in inchicore

[Dermobohs]

Awful in incicore, we are way off it

[Shinkicker]

Awful in incicore, we are way off it

I've gone to the shed, got a plank and some paint, to watch it dry.

[Kiki Balboa]

Thats a very harsh red for Cork vs Shels.

[Shinkicker]

If the new boy was on at 92 mins we would have scored. Heading is not Whelan's forte

[Dermobohs]

Neither ourselves or pats could finish our breakfast, miserable stuff. Three great chances in the last three minutes passed up, new guy fluffed his lines with a gimme first half, pats looked to be hard done by on a dodgy offside but virgins camera angle(singular) who knows??

[Shinkicker]

Neither ourselves or pats could finish our breakfast, miserable stuff. Three great chances in the last three minutes passed up, new guy fluffed his lines with a gimme first half, pats looked to be hard done by on a dodgy offside but virgins camera angle(singular) who knows??
A lot of folks saying Clarke should have scored, nonsense,!! He couldn't reach it

[placid casual]

5 &1/2 year contract for rainman kenny.. :):)

[Dermobohs]

Just seen the pats offside goal back, oh dear!!also the red card for the cork lad v shels shocking.

[2 Year Contract]

A 6th 0-0 of the season for Pats. The wind didn’t help things for either side but I thought Pats shaded the first 80 mins and were unlucky not to have scored with McClelland hitting the bar, Power scoring a perfectly good goal ruled offside by a Lino 5 yards behind the play playing the guessing game all night, as well as a brilliant clearance off the line from a Leavy chance. Bohs could’ve won it with the couple of chances they had in the last 10 though. Pats just need a goal to go in off someone’s arse at this stage, they look devoid of confidence in and around the opposition’s box

[sbgawa]

Pats did us a favour but waterford.....Derry are starting to look dangerous.

[pineapple stu]

Two points dropped in the Bowl tonight. Bar the first five minutes of the second half - even we had a man sent off and conceded a goal - we were the better side throughout. But creating chances is still a huge problem for us. Only Athlone have scored less

Great finish by Brennan to earn the draw though, which was the least we deserved. Bit surprised he hasn't been more involved this season

[Kiki Balboa]

Hopefully Derry can give a proper challenge now for this league. They looked excellent. Two great strikers played in that game with Amond and Boyce. Games are so much better to watch when you have proper strikers on the pitch.

Great Dundalk win. Delighted for Eoin Kenny, has put in some really good performances since the break and deserved a goal. Six teenagers playing tonight, with two on the scoresheet. If Dundalk get promoted, a lot of academy eligible players will be the reason why.

[ger121]

The real winners tonight were the Pat’s fans who stayed at home.

[2 Year Contract]

Great Dundalk win. Delighted for Eoin Kenny, has put in some really good performances since the break and deserved a goal. Six teenagers playing tonight, with two on the scoresheet. If Dundalk get promoted, a lot of academy eligible players will be the reason why.

Ironically, a lot of those academy lads will need to pack their bags if the club does get promoted and wants to stay up next year as they’ll go straight back down if there’s more than just a small few of them in the squad. How has Eoin Kenny done overall this season? Goals wise it doesn’t look great but I know that doesn’t always tell the story so would be interested to hear. I was impressed any time I saw him play last season and would’ve thought he’d hit 10-15 goals in the FD

[joey B]

We were very poor going forward this evening,didn’t work the keeper enough and probably should have lost towards the end but for poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping,4 clean sheets in a row for our young 17 keeper since his debut now,quite a start to his career…

[nigel-harps1954]

A pretty poor game in Finn Park. Harps got it tactically wrong playing 5 at the back, and Tony mcnamee up front against a very poor Longford team.

We had pretty much all the possession for 80 minutes, but done nothing with it, and Longford could have won it at the end.

We badly need a striker.

[De Town]

against a very poor Longford team.
I think 3 draws and our respective positions in the league show we're as poor as each other.


We badly need a striker.
Where's Dara McGuiness gone? He looked to have something about him.

EDIT: never mind, I see that's answered in the rumours thread.

[nigel-harps1954]

I think 3 draws and our respective positions in the league show we're as poor as each other.


Where's Dara McGuiness gone? He looked to have something about him.

Absolutely no disagreeing. Said the same thing last night after the game in Finn Park, we're every bit as bad as each other and league position reflects it.

McGuinness loan ended and he's looking at signing for a premier division side.

[outspoken]

Described the two teams as limited early in the season, the last couple of meetings have confirmed that.

[oriel]

Ironically, a lot of those academy lads will need to pack their bags if the club does get promoted and wants to stay up next year as they’ll go straight back down if there’s more than just a small few of them in the squad. How has Eoin Kenny done overall this season? Goals wise it doesn’t look great but I know that doesn’t always tell the story so would be interested to hear. I was impressed any time I saw him play last season and would’ve thought he’d hit 10-15 goals in the FD

Personally speaking, I think he can be a hard worker, a lot of a games he's played out wide by Kilduff, he seemed to suffer a bit from confidence during April and May, last night he was very good, but his goal tally is not, this was only his 3rd league goal, Ebbe is on 7 but even he is not scoring lately and is will behind Mikey Rowe (Wex) and Coffey (Cobh) both on 15.

Kenny needs to work on his game in my view, his first touch and his weaker foot, but as said last night he was very good, worked really hard, he needs to back this up. Still only 19 mind.

[brendy_�ire]

Hopefully Derry can give a proper challenge now for this league. They looked excellent. Two great strikers played in that game with Amond and Boyce. Games are so much better to watch when you have proper strikers on the pitch.

We were excellent last night, could even have scored more. Diallo's goal was stunning, Mickey Duffy had a goal and four assists.
That said, we didn't look great defensively, and conceding those goals took some shine off the performance. Certainly something to work on.

Felt sorry for Waterford's keeper, Bradley Wade, on his debut. I don't think there's much he could have done about the goals, bar the second.

On to next week, and it's Sligo away. This time last year, we won four on the bounce, hammering Drogs at home, before going away to Sligo and losing, as we usually do. Followed it up by getting dumped out of ECL by Bruno's Magpies.
If we can get a result next week in Sligo, it would give me a lot more confidence in our side.

[Buckett]

I had been fooling myself, clinging to a misguided belief that Galway Utd were good enough to finish in the top four and maybe qualify for Europe, but now that dream is over. What's another year?

[total hoofball]

Thats a very harsh red for Cork vs Shels.
Nash himself has confirmed Lyons said something to the referee that resulted in the straight red, it was impossible to tell what exactly happened from the stands or during the 14 seconds of the LOITV replay of the tackle but during that time Lyons went from injured on the ground to then walking away from Harvey who was still holding the yellow in his left hand to then pulling out the red with his right hand

[ger121]

Derry purring along nicely now. I think they’ll push Rovers. Especially if they win their games in hand.

[sbgawa]

Big match for us tonight. Always a hard place for us to go. I'll take a one nil win off gaffneys arse in the 90th minute

[joey B]

Sligo 1 up already,they’ve started well ….

[joey B]

Sligo 2 up ! Cork should start getting ready for the First Division watching this so far,Waterford will be looking over their shoulder also…

[ger121]

Rovers gone off the boil a little since they were beaten in the Dublin Derby.

[brendy_�ire]

Did anyone notice the ref doing the keeper countdown last night? Didn't notice it once in the Brandywell.

[Jack B]

Deary me Lomboto...

[Jack B]

On last night, wasn't the worst 0-0 Pats have had this season (many to choose from) but anything other than a win at the moment is a poor result given the current run.

You can see the lack of confidence radiating throughout the team game-by-game. We're often having good spells but failing to capatalise on them through poor decision making in the final third, either down to a dearth of quality or confidence, or both. Didn't help that Power appeared to be onside for his disallowed goal, but these decisions happen.

[brendy_�ire]

That was an enjoyable game tonight. Some decent goals, plenty of physicality. The ref, Paul McLaughlin, helped let it flow.
Even less confident now that we've to go there next week.

Jack Byrne diving at the end was poor, glad to see it caught out. I presume certain fans will be equally as condemnatory tonight as they were after Patrick McEleney last year in the Brandywell.

[dcfc_legend9]

Did anyone notice the ref doing the keeper countdown last night? Didn't notice it once in the Brandywell.

It was done once in the Brandywell. You weren't paying attention 😉