Games Weekend August 1st to 4th

[sbgawa]

Great win for shels and shows joey was bang on with his team selection mid week.
If we can beat derry tommorow there will be 4 points separating 2nd to 5th. Big battle for europe

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Thought the lino gave it even if it wasn’t outside. Made no difference anyway as game was over. Can’t miss 2 open goals like we did.

[2 Year Contract]

Can see Waterford beating Pats without many problems tommorow. I wouldn’t be confident going into this game anyways but off the back of 120 minutes in Estonia on Thursday coupled with the injury list now containing Palmer, Elbouzedi, Hoare, Keena and McClelland, I can see a bit of a cobbled together side of mainly fatigued and/or backup players playing this one which isn’t ideal against a side like Waterford that work their socks off and are in good goalscoring form to boot

[placid casual]

What happened to the "2 players in every position" we were hearing on here at the start of the season?

[2 Year Contract]

What happened to the "2 players in every position" we were hearing on here at the start of the season?

Read the post again, there are 5 injuries there for a start. The word backup players generally means they aren’t quite as good as the starter. Given the injuries, a lot of the players that will play today have played a lot of minutes during the week anyways. Also a lot of the players haven’t been anywhere near as good as they were last year and haven’t lived up to the expectations that were on them at the start of the season, that’s football

[Dermobohs]

Just seeing that Future Ticketing news, another bad look for the self proclaimed best ran club in the country ;)

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/08/01/bohemians-faces-breach-of-contract-lawsuit/

In all seriousness, their marketing and sales is on another level, but as you say when it comes to treating staff properly and honouring contracts etc it’s an area they’re lagging behind in
Always great to have advice on running a club, thanks.

[Kiki Balboa]

Waterford looking the better team, and then suddenly are all over the place after giving the ball away, and Pats go 1 up.

Could see a lot of goals in this game.

[Dermobohs]

Big win for the saints there, didn’t see that result at all, I felt it had draw all over it. Very tidy display. Forrester is a huge ex Bohs regret for me I ****ing love watching that lad, always finds room to play ball.

[2 Year Contract]

Well that went pretty much the opposite of how I thought it would thankfully. For a lot of that game you’d have thought Waterford were the ones that arrived home from Eastern Europe on Friday night after 120 mins the night before. Pats should really have put that game to bed much earlier than they did but the poor finishing continues

[2 Year Contract]

Always great to have advice on running a club, thanks.
No worries, however I, like whoever at Bohs is costing your club 6 figures over simple stuff like contracts, am totally unqualified in running a football club :)

[Jack B]

About as complete a performance as Pats have put in this season. Which isn't saying much.

Play Chris Forrester.

[TonyD]

About as complete a performance as Pats have put in this season. Which isn't saying much.

Play Chris Forrester.

Waterford started quite well I thought, and it looked like they would cause us problems. Was a bit surprised how comfortable we were in the second half. Great result to get.

[Dermobohs]

No worries, however I, like whoever at Bohs is costing your club 6 figures over simple stuff like contracts, am totally unqualified in running a football club :)

Probably the COO who made us 4 mill or so on shirt sales.
Then again most likely not, a part time volunteer board member who missed the fine print.
I do agree with your broader point, we really ought not to be getting stung with contract issues , it’s an incredibly bad look.
Bit like that case with your lot and fat Bernard really.

[sbgawa]

Decent mat h in Talaght. Rovers easily the better team overall but Derry could have scored a couple. Amazed not to jack or Burke even on the bench tonight.
If we keep going like tho
Is i think we will win it but even a draw will have us 8 points clear.

[Dermobohs]

Very decent game in tallaght,Duffy costing me at least a hundred on first scorer the ********.
placid casual was having a pop at the Bohs crowd being quiet the other night,at least we get a crowd, pathetic from thee home side. If they stop winning **** how many turn up?

[ger121]

Well that’s the league over.

[Buckett]

There are 200 more in Tallaght tonight than there were at Dalymount on Friday

[sbgawa]

There are 200 more in Tallaght tonight than there were at Dalymount on Friday

Over 10000 in this week , not bad....

Did u get 3 points for your crowd on Friday?.....sorry i forgot u guys dont judge success on results on the pitch h

[Dermobohs]

Over 10000 in this week , not bad....

Did u get 3 points for your crowd on Friday?.....sorry i forgot u guys dont judge success on results on the pitch h
Ah stop it’s a pathetic show, team running away with the league, no restrictions on away numbers, ffs 4 k in a 10 k stadium and the team at the peak of the game here it’s awful.
That side deserves better backing.
Aside from the crowd sniping, as i said in a post months ago, shams first but the real interest now is secon third and , if fourth qualifies, the euro spots.
Derry pats Bohs Waterford shels drogs ????
Great finish coming up, depending on the cup winners, could be only two of that six get in.

[sessylU]

As a Derry fan, that was very predictable. Was watching the first half knowing that Derry aren't going to get the breakthrough by half time and that Rovers will come out after the break and score a few (I expected 3).

Still though, it's nice to be able to stop thinking about it for another year. The alternative was Derry winning that match, then having to spend the next few months anxiously watching them somehow appear to stay in it before falling to 4th or 5th. Now it's all over and done with.

[trevy]

Poor performance from Waterford yesterday and deserved win for St Pats who showed no ill effects from their European game on Thursday night. Thought we could have had a penalty in 1st half for foul on Lonergan. We were poor in 2nd half and 2nd goal from Pats killed the game off.

[brendy_éire]

As a Derry fan, that was very predictable. Was watching the first half knowing that Derry aren't going to get the breakthrough by half time and that Rovers will come out after the break and score a few (I expected 3).

It was predictable, but to focus on the positives, we looked decent in the first half. Probably should have a scored really. I liked our pressing, ability to win the ball back. Hard to keep that up all game (though Drogs often manage it).
Second half, defending was poor. A recurring theme. Bannon had an absolute shocker. He should have been subbed off after he got booked, a mistake by Lynch there. If I'm being generous, I could forgive him for allowing Gaffney the shot for the second. A defender that knows the league would have always expected Gaffney to come back inside. His second yellow was idiotic.

At the start of the season, I wanted an improvement on last year's points total. We're 14 points off that, so it's still achievable.

More generally, there was always talk we'd be in danger of being one of those leagues were the same team wins annually. I think we're basically at that stage now. It's early August, and the league is over. We're another one of the likes of Azerbaijan, Wales, Bulgaria (and France and Germany).
I know it doesn't last forever, (see Sheriff Tiraspol) but it's not great, is it?

[sessylU]

Defence (and defensive selections) have been a bit of a concern all year, aye. I mentioned in another thread that I sometimes flit between trusting that Lynch has a keen eye for tactics and wants a team that is can change shape/setup to adapt to different situations, and thinking that Lynch is just throwing stuff a the wall to see what sticks. I probably land more in the former than the latter, but the defence generally looks more like the latter to me.

Having said that, it was always going to be a bit of a job getting the team to play the way he wants, which is very different to what came before. Not just in terms of playing style, but training, wider setup, culture etc. I remember feeling pretty gloomy during the off season, thinking about the number of players who were either past it or just not good enough, thinking that I couldn't see Derry anywhere near any of Rovers, Shelbourne, St Pats or Bohs, and that Derry might have to settle for being the best of the rest and hopefully not collapse into a relegation battle.

I suppose that from that gloomy perspective, this is pretty good.

The league is weird, in that it's one of the best I remember, anyone can beat anyone, but Rovers still will finish 10-15 points ahead of the pack.

[brendy_éire]

Thought Harps had that sown up tonight, but fair play to Bray. Kept at it right till the end.

That's probably Harps' league season over, being realistic.

[nigel-harps1954]

One point from a weekend where we needed six to have any chance of getting back into the playoff mix. A real sickener to lose and to draw from winning positions.

[outspoken]

Dundalk hammer longford's B team. Bizare team selection

[oriel]

It was a decent game for a change, Eoin Kenny got a great goal, Dundalk hit bar twice in 20 seconds or so, nice of Ebbe to get back scoring with a brace.

Fine goal too by the Longford lad - clean header from a corner.

[outspoken]

It was a decent game for a change, Eoin Kenny got a great goal, Dundalk hit bar twice in 20 seconds or so, nice of Ebbe to get back scoring with a brace.

Fine goal too by the Longford lad - clean header from a corner.

Jaysus it was a brutal game. Wind really effected it. In saying that, we hit the post to make it 3-2, would have set it up for some finish.

That Dundalk team would do well to win more than a handful of games in the premier next season

[listowelceltic]

Kerry get a deserved draw in Limerick. 4 points from the weekend is a good return considering the form we were in.
Treaty fans gave Kerry plenty of stick over recent events. All good natured of course. Attendance of over 1k.
Hard to gauge the away support with the stand closed but we'll over 100 in my opinion.

[Kiki Balboa]

One of the worst performances by Dundalk all year, and we score 4 ... Go figure.

Eoin Kenny showed the spark that Dundalk were missing for two seasons. Just had magic moments that turned a sluggish performance into a routine win.

[da bishop]

Kerry get a deserved draw in Limerick. 4 points from the weekend is a good return considering the form we were in.
Treaty fans gave Kerry plenty of stick over recent events. All good natured of course. Attendance of over 1k.
Hard to gauge the away support with the stand closed but we'll over 100 in my opinion.
Ya a draw about right ,good goal from Treaty in an otherwise poor display Ferry took it well , Kerry defended well , good shape about them,McGrath was good when introduced.2 wins in 10 now ,the football on show is dire and Barrett well backed this season and as usual all we are getting is excuses/

[oriel]

Jaysus it was a brutal game. Wind really effected it. In saying that, we hit the post to make it 3-2, would have set it up for some finish.

That Dundalk team would do well to win more than a handful of games in the premier next season

I stressed 'for a change' overall the standard of the FD in teams I have seen this year has been very poor, (include DFC in at that at times) but at least some goals to enjoy earlier. Agree though on the PD if we get promoted, would need at least 6-7 possibly more starters to have a chance of staying up.

Not sure on finances but would need fairly chunky investment, as that team in current shape def would struggle to stay up.

[dundalkfc10]

I stressed 'for a change' overall the standard of the FD in teams I have seen this year has been very poor, (include DFC in at that at times) but at least some goals to enjoy earlier. Agree though on the PD if we get promoted, would need at least 6-7 possibly more starters to have a chance of staying up.

Not sure on finances but would need fairly chunky investment, as that team in current shape def would struggle to stay up.

Yes apart from JR Wilson, Horgan, Dervin and Leonard (who could be off abroad by then, serious player) we would need a complete new team. Horgan hasn't even been that great since he came back but has moments of quality

[outspoken]

Yes apart from JR Wilson, Horgan, Dervin and Leonard (who could be off abroad by then, serious player) we would need a complete new team. Horgan hasn't even been that great since he came back but has moments of quality

Horgan is showing glimpses at best. Won't be worth a skitter next season

[MoydowMonty]

Haven't been a bit impressed by Dundalk any time I've watched them this year, they're only top because Cobh have sh1t themselves when they play each other. Against the other 8 teams Cobh actually have more points.
I think that Dundalk team is worse than the one Cork had last season when they went up, and Cork ended up gutting that squad. They'll go up this year and Kilduff will be praised, but they're getting seriously found out next year if they don't add a bunch of big names over the Winter.

[Kiki Balboa]

Haven't been a bit impressed by Dundalk any time I've watched them this year, they're only top because Cobh have sh1t themselves when they play each other. Against the other 8 teams Cobh actually have more points.
I think that Dundalk team is worse than the one Cork had last season when they went up, and Cork ended up gutting that squad. They'll go up this year and Kilduff will be praised, but they're getting seriously found out next year if they don't add a bunch of big names over the Winter.

Bit of a bizarre rant.

You do know games between 1st and 2nd also count? And Cork gutting their squad hardly worked out for them.

Kilduff has done a fantastic job, rebuilding a club that nearly went to the wall only a few months before the season. He has built a well balanced side, with strong young core peppered with some seasoned pros. Plenty of times this year we had a back four of only teenagers. Since Arubi has gone up top instead of Ebbe, we have another improvement.

The free transfers of young players like Shane Tracey and Andy Paraschiv to build out the squad really reflects well on Kilduff as a manager too. It is his first year managing in the League, I really cant think how could of done any better of a job.

Plenty of players really improving as the season goes on too. Hard not to give Aodh Dervin player of the season. He has been sensational lately. But really, without the academy graduates, we wouldn't be where we are.

Cork set a very high benchmark last season. Fair play to them. Not sure they faced teams of calibre like Bray and Cobh tho. Even UCD last week play really decent and competitive ball.

I know its easy to sh*t on the 1st Division, but I was surprised in a good way about the standard. Its higher than I thought it was going to be. Lots of teams are set-up pretty well. Obviously, it isnt the Premier, but thats why we have Divisions...

My big fear for Dundalk is losing all these young players. Take away Leonard and Kenny yesterday , like we lost Keogh, and we are significantly weaker.

I dont think promotion is guaranteed to be honest either. Its a competitive league. And I dont think Dundalk has any right to be automatically promoted.

[outspoken]

Beat Athlone Friday and hope Bray and Cobh draw and that's it really.

[Buckett]

Beat Athlone Friday and hope Bray and Cobh draw and that's it really.

Hopefully the title race lasts a bit longer. The First Division seems tighter than it's been in a few years now. Cobh at home to Dundalk on the last day could be huge

[oriel]

Haven't been a bit impressed by Dundalk any time I've watched them this year, they're only top because Cobh have sh1t themselves when they play each other. Against the other 8 teams Cobh actually have more points.
I think that Dundalk team is worse than the one Cork had last season when they went up, and Cork ended up gutting that squad. They'll go up this year and Kilduff will be praised, but they're getting seriously found out next year if they don't add a bunch of big names over the Winter.

I don't know a single Dundalk fan who thinks this current squad would stay in PD, so everyone knows it will need 6-7 new players in. Also Dundalk are 6 points clear, and still lost 2 games, so its not saying much for the chasing pack really. That said nothing confirmed obviously, still 10 games left.,

I still think the quality is poor in FD mind, yet some teams are set up well that must be frustrating for their fans such as Treaty, then Wexford, 2 great strikers, but not even close to the top 3. There are just far too many times you see players mis placing passes, booting it up the field, a Longford lad last night perfect example, had the ball stand side, right wing, second half, had all the time in world, could have easily dribbled into box, he just boots it in, and comes to nothing. That said Keith Ward lost the ball in MF first half too and almost caused a goal.

[oriel]

Hopefully the title race lasts a bit longer. The First Division seems tighter than it's been in a few years now. Cobh at home to Dundalk on the last day could be huge

3 rooms in a hotel booked !!!

[Dermobohs]

3 rooms in a hotel booked !!!
That’ll be very crowded.

[2 Year Contract]

Sam Sargeant's red card for Sligo at the weekend has been overturned after an appeal

[brendy_éire]

Sam Sargeant's red card for Sligo at the weekend has been overturned after an appeal

No details on why it was overturned. Could argue either way it's a red or yellow.
Must be disheartening for officials who make a subjective call on something in real time.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Thought it was obvious enough on replay it was on the line. Be more disheartening for a player to miss a game because of it.

[Kiki Balboa]

Thought it was obvious enough on replay it was on the line. Be more disheartening for a player to miss a game because of it.

Even if it was outside the box, it was not a red card.

[Nesta99]

FAI must be terrified of VAR in LoI, soooo to stave off any potential calls for VAR in the next few years, throw a bone to clubs and finally allow overturn of cards. Cant think of other reasons that havent always existed and ignored for the sudden change of heart. To call it disheartening for the refs brendy.... small karma for all the times we've fumed on pure sh1t decisions on cards and goals and forced us into having extra post match pints!

[Nesta99]

Haven't been a bit impressed by Dundalk any time I've watched them this year, they're only top because Cobh have sh1t themselves when they play each other. Against the other 8 teams Cobh actually have more points.
I think that Dundalk team is worse than the one Cork had last season when they went up, and Cork ended up gutting that squad. They'll go up this year and Kilduff will be praised, but they're getting seriously found out next year if they don't add a bunch of big names over the Winter.

We are only top because we have more points than everyone else! Couldnt give a hoot how, why or against whom, we will care even less if it remains the same by FT last day if hammered by Cobh. Experience tells that its is about getting out of the damn 1st Division not how sexy the football is!!!!!! Next season is for next season.

[sbgawa]

Your only top because you are using points as the arbritrar , if we use red and yellow cards as the arbitrar you are way off and its the FAI we are dealing with so whos to say that thye use points in the end.....this could be Galway all over again

[Eminence Grise]

Your only top because you are using points as the arbritrar

S**t the bed! Have I been getting this league table thingy wrong all these years?

[sbgawa]

S**t the bed! Have I been getting this league table thingy wrong all these years?

It's like the matrix, a parallel universe where bihs are champions for having the most moustaches in the crowd and Dundalk are relegated for having the lowest percentage of people with 5 fingers...