eL 2005 Round-Up / 2006 Preview thread from another forum

[Réiteoir]

There's a few of us here who post on another unconnected forum - where we have our own little corner of eL goodness.

Been looking through the thread on there for this season's preview (posted in December) and a small summary of the best posts of the 2005 season.

Thought I'd drop it in here for your viewing pleasure.


The Interdepartmentally Choreographed 2006 eircom League Thread

Special Thanks to Damien Richardson's Hat Department

So the annual thread on the greatest League in North-Western Europe which has the letters "e" "r" and "c" in it's name makes it's appearance a bit sooner than last time.

I won't thank Roy Race - becuase lets face it - we don't need to be making a ****ies ego even more bigger than it already is (only joking - well done down there on the title - God I feel so dirty now having to say that

Anyway onto the important stuff:
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League


eircom League Super Fabulous Premier Division
Final Table:

Premier Division
Final Table:
1.Cork City 33 22 8 3 53-18 74 Champions
2.Derry City 33 22 6 5 56-25 72
3.Shelbourne 33 20 7 6 62-25 67
4.Drogheda United 33 12 12 9 40-33 48
5.Longford Town 33 12 9 12 29-32 45
6.Bohemians 33 13 6 14 42-47 45
7.Bray Wanderers 33 11 6 16 40-57 39
8.Waterford United 33 9 7 17 30-49 34
9.University College Dublin 33 7 12 14 28-44 33
10.Saint Patrick's Athletic 33 7 11 15 26-36 32
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
11.Shamrock Rovers 33 9 8 16 33-52 27 [-8] Relegated Hilariously in the Playoff
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12.Finn Harps 33 5 6 22 30-51 21 Relegated

NB: Shamrock Rovers 8 points deducted due to financial
irregularities in license application

So Cork Village carry off their first title since 1992/93 - when they had that quite farcial play-off system in place - Bohs won the first two stages - but didn't win the title due to 1 game right at the end of the season.
I'll post the table of that season shortly :D

Anyway - Harps were relegated automatically - tbh looked pretty much down and out of it early on - will they bounce back at the first attempt - time will tell.
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eircom League There's a "First Division" ?
P W D L F A GD Pts
Sligo Rovers 36 15 16 5 45 27 18 61 Promoted
Dublin City 36 15 14 7 57 34 23 59 Promoted Hilariously in the Playoff
Cobh Ramblers 36 15 11 10 49 40 9 56
Kilkenny City 36 15 8 13 46 35 11 53
Galway Utd 36 14 11 11 46 43 3 53
Dundalk 36 12 13 11 44 40 4 49
Limerick FC 36 13 9 14 44 49 -5 48
Kildare County 36 10 11 15 33 42 -9 41
Monaghan Utd 36 9 9 18 36 66 -30 36
Athlone Town 36 6 10 20 28 52 -24 28

Probably a very good title race in the First Division - but as we get no media coverage of it at all - I know nothing about it.


Promotion/Relegation Playoff
First Leg [Nov 22, Dalymount Park]
Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Dublin City
[Trevor Molloy 58pen; Aidan Lynch 45, David McGill 86]

Second Leg [Nov 25, Tolka Park]
Dublin City 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
[Robbie Collins 55; Derek Treacy 57]
Dublin City promoted, Shamrock Rovers relegated (first relegation since entering the top flight in 1922/23)

:D - nothing more needs to be said - sure DC are a boil on the face of Irish Football - but hey - who cares - they did a great thing in Tolka that night

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Onto the final standings for the Premier Division Top Scorers Award - something I've christened the "Brendan Bradley Award" - after the League of Ireland's All-Time Top Goalscorer



22 Jason Byrne Shelbourne
18 Mark Farren Derry City
13 Kevin McHugh Finn Harps
12 Eamon Zayed Bray Wanderers
11 John O'Flynn Cork City
8 Gavin Whelan Drogheda United
8 Glen Crowe Shelbourne
7 Kevin Doyle Cork City
7 Pat McCourt Shamrock Rovers
7 Declan O'Brien Drogheda United
7 Patrick McWalter UCD
7 Stephen Ward Bohemians
7 Robbie Doyle St. Patricks Athletic
7 Fergal Harkin Bohemians
7 Ciaran Martyn Derry City
7 Gary O'Neill Shelbourne

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FAI Cup


Final [Dec 4, Lansdowne Road]
Cork City 0-2 Drogheda United
[Gavin Whelan 52, Declan O'Brien 83]
Cork City: Michael Devine; Neal Horgan, Greg O'Halloran (Colin O'Brien 84),
Dan Murray, Alan Bennet, Joe Gamble, George O'Callaghan, Billy Woods,
Liam Kearney, John O'Flynn, Neale Fennn (Dennis Behan 63); coach:
Damien Richardson;
Drogheda United: Dan Connor; Damian Lynch, Simon Webb, Graham Gartland,
Stephen Gray, Gavin Whelan, Shane Robinson, Stephen Bradley (Paul
Keegan 71), Jermaine Sandvliet, Sami Ristila (Mark Rooney 77), Declan
O'Brien (Paul Bernard 90); coach: Paul Doolin;
Yellow cards: Cork: George O'Callaghan 27, Dan Murray 28;
Drogheda: Gavin Whelan 31, Damian Lynch 80;

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin);
Att: 24,521

Drogheda prevent Cork from doing the double with a 2-0 win to carry off their first ever FAI Senior Challenge Cup - in front of a very impressive crowd at Lansdowne Road!

I feel it fitting to name those teams that pulled off cup shocks last season:
Malahide United taking Sligo to Extra-Time in a replay in Round 2 - before going down 2-0
Dundalk beating Monaghan 7-1 in Round 2 :eek:
Bray getting to the Semi-Finals despite having a rotten League season - conceding the most League goals in the process

But the special Cup Performers award goes to:
Wayside Celtic defeating Cobh in Round 2 - before coming back from 2-0 down against Bohemians to take it to a Replay in Round 3 - eventually going out 2-1 to Bohs at the Carlisle Grounds
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PFAI Awards
These took place at the Burlington Hotel back in November:
PFAI Players' Player of the Year: Mark Farren (Derry City)
Young Player of the Year: Pat McCourt (Derry City)
First Division Player of the Year: Kieran O'Reilly (Cobh Ramblers)
PFAI Merit Award for Services to Irish Football: Tony Mannion (Galway United)
Referee of the Year: Alan Kelly (Cork)
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2006 Season Key Dates

28th January: League AGM to decide League Format for 2006 season
13th February: Fixtures Released
Friday 10th March: Season Starts
Friday 9th June: League Shuts Down for World Cup
Sunday 18th June: League Resumes
November: Season Ends

Here's to next season!

[Réiteoir]

and the 2005 round up - courtesy of a bloke who also posts here:


The 2005 eircom League Thread Round-up in rememberance of Jammer :rip:

Warning: Don’t expect this to be brilliant /o\

The new dawn :cool:


Originally posted by elmonzo:
Happy new year.
And with the new year comes (eventually) the new season of the gratest domestic league in the world (probably). Due to the bannings ofJammer (who started the thread last year), Gearoid, eamonn04 and the disappearance of a few of the old regulars, I took it apon myself to open the thread this year.
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Greeted by the hugely obsessive Norn Iron kid

Originally posted by byebecks:
Looking forward to the Setenta Cup, or whatever it's called. The mighty Linfield will destroy everyone in their way
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The Syracuse Salty Dogs. :D

Originally posted by elmonzo:
Sligo Rovers manager Sean Connor has revealed the identity of his first major new signing of the close-season, bringing in left-sided player Kupono Low from American Major League Soccer side Syracuse Salty Dogs.
what a name for a football team!
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Fixed quite rightly

Originally posted by Worcester City Researcher 6-4:

Originally posted by DanishBhoy:
Come on Set Piece Athletic :thup:
Fixed :thup:
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Saha wanders in...

Originally posted by elmonzo:

Originally posted by Saha:
Less than a post a day for an entire league thread

Yeah well the season does not start till the end of March.


Originally posted by Saha:
And I thought starting a thread more than a week before a game was bad


Originally posted by elmonzo:
well that’s ypu and your thoughts....


Originally posted by Saha:
Who is ypu?
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byebecks attention-seeking once more

Originally posted by byebecks:
THERE'S ONLY ONE TEAM IN IRELAND
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Aslan was fairly pleased about something...

Originally posted by Aslan:
What a night in Dalymount. 2-1 to the BIG CLUB. Outclassed $h€£$ in every part of the pitch. Poor Bobby Ryan, it was the last place on earth he wanted to be tonight. Crowe got equal dogs abuse when he came on too. Best atmosphere in the place in a long time, since the BATE Borisov game I'd say.
Up into 5th and only 5 points behind Cork and the losers at the top now.
SETANTA CUP! YOU'RE HAVIN' A LAUGH!!!
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FIGHT NIGHT! Sc*mbag special: Roddy VS Oily.

Originally posted by Muller:
Brilliant, not only do Rovers beat Shels 2-1, despite having two players sent off, but Ollie Byrne shows who the real hooligan is and starts a fight with (brother of ex-world champ boxer Steve) Roddy Collins! Ollie throws two digs in the tunnel, Roddy replies with one, flattening Ollie and leaving him requiring stitches! For the first time ever, I'm delighted with Roderick.
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Alan Reynolds continued the trend :thdn:

Originally posted by elmonzo:
Harps won last night...with reynolds punching Breen in the face


Originally posted by elmonzo:

Chris went over and shook hands with him after the final whistle and Reynolds punched him in the face. Pure thug. Was chatting to one of the Waterford fans on the way out the gate and he reckons that will be the end of him at their club. The pressure was on him already and after this he couldn't see him keeping his job
From the Harps Forum
Disgraceful from their own manager. This better be a 3 match ban offence
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How many other Dundalk managers have had this said to them?

Originally posted by gregory_isaacs:
die Jim Gannon die
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Blast from the Past: 2004 eL thread. #1 – I hope you told him to put it on his head

Originally posted by Mauriceg:
The Flan Siro??? Jebus, when we played there at the start of lst season it was more like the bleedin Flan Sandpit, there was so much sand on the pitch. I swear I saw Bobby Ryan with a bucket and spade at one stage....
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Dear oh dear snipersdream...

Originally posted by Roy Race:

Originally posted by snipersdream:
WAFFA Cup later.
Cork City play FK Ekranas at 4pm GMT. Neale Fenn is in the Bon Secours or somewhere, waiting for his wife to give birth and Liam Kearney is an injury doubt.
Meanwhile, if anything happens Michael Devine, our back-up is Phil bloody Harrington. All 42 years of him.
You fu(king numpty sniper, you're allowed one guess as to what happend fourteen minutes into the match
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Dear oh dear Roy Race...

Originally posted by Roy Race:

Originally posted by snipersdream:
Richardson knew he had a back problem before kick-off, not my fault tbh.
Anyways, Roy O'Donovan has scored, nothing to worry about.

Say next that you hope I win a million euro


Originally posted by Roy Race:
Damn, meant that you hope I don't win a million euro


Originally posted by snipersdream:

Originally posted by Roy Race:
Damn, meant that you hope I don't win a million euro
Sorry, I've already wished you win a million euro. Expect the bailiffs anytime now...

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Blast from the Past: 2004 eL thread: #2 – From Bray to Barcelona!

Originally posted by Ed McMullan:
Eamon Zayed is off to Barcelona for a trial!
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St Pat's Athletic were boring everyone in season 2005 - even their fans!

Originally posted by kennedy:
I fell asleep midway through the second half. Most exciting thing that happened was the PA guy getting the names wrong or that guy falling down the steps, whatever.
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:D

Originally posted by Kev2411:
At half time, when the ref was walkin in, pats fans were givin him abuse. Barry Ryan stepped in behind a fan and shouted "Yeah You ****ing Gobsh!te ref" The ref turned and told the fan to **** off. Hilarious

[Réiteoir]

Continuing on:


Rhetorical question! :p

Originally posted by Bóithéimeach:

Originally posted by elmonzo:
Kevin Doyle has been called up to Kerrs squad...
Wonder If he was still playing here, would he?
*Bitterly rolls eyes*
Hell no!
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Brian de Salvo praise :cool:

Originally posted by Kev2411:
Brian de Salvo

Originally posted by Bóithéimeach:
I keep in contact with Brian on an occasional basis via email.
When he holidays in England he sometimes stays in a town 6 miles from where i live :cool:

FACT OF THE WEEK
Brian played in goal for Drumcondra in the League a few years back.
Pete Mahon once scored an own goal past him, and he's never forgiven him!

Originally posted by Roy Race:
Yeah de Salvo is cool. Cork City off the top for the first time in ages, selling Stephen O'Flynn could prove the difference between winning the league and not wining it, not that he was going to get in the team, just that he scored against Cork and Shels at the Brandywell.
Today's 'Irish' Sun says that Roy Keane is 150-1 to Cork City, which is news to me. I can't believe this rag is the best selling tabloid in Ireland (and I didn't buy it, I read it after a round of golf as it was the only paper in the clubhouse)

Originally posted by Kev2411:

Originally posted by elmonzo:
What’s so cool about him?
He talks about football in a posh accent :thup:
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*sighs*

Originally posted by Aslan:
talking to yourself as usual elmonzo!!

Originally posted by Roy Race:
*feels like Elmonzo, talking to himself*

Originally posted by Bóithéimeach:
I normally only post on Foot.ie on Friday nights - it's a bit more livlier on there
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The Rodster was in yet another fight

Originally posted by kennedy:
I haven't been in here in a while but anyway.
What a win last night. Helping to send Rovers down while keeping ourselves up
Absolute pandemonium at the end though,the ref made a few howlers. I left just as Collins ws getting in a fight with someone
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byebecks was kitted out in full Derry City kit

Originally posted by byebecks:
Derry til i die
I'm Derry til i die
I know i am, i'm sure i am
I'm Derry til i die
Northern Irish teams > Republic of Ireland teams


Originally posted by Aslan:
You're all Irish, even Linfield. Champions of Ireland (according to the Setanta Cup). Have to live with that man, we're all Irish. Some of us are even drunk Irish. Baha!
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11th November brought Harps Premier adventure to an end

Originally posted by elmonzo:
Drogheda Utd 2-0 Finn Harps RES
Whelan 13 Scoltock s/o 32
Ristila 76
Shamrock Rvs 1-2 Waterford Utd RES
McDonagh 16 Crowley 63
Waters 69
Bye-Bye lads L


Originally posted by Bóithéimeach:
Tonight's issues decided:
Finn Harps Relegated to the First Division
Waterford stay in the Premier
Rovers into the Relegation Play-Off
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