sligoman
12/03/2006, 11:09 PM
Mark O'Neill-Cummins' eircom review(From Aertel)
The waiting is finally over and eircom League soccer is back with us and what an interesting opening weekend it proved to be.
Champions Cork City could only manage a 1-0 win over Dublin City, and that from the penalty spot, while Shels were held to a draw out in Bray.
Both sides have had decent enough performances in the Setanta Sports Cup so far but failed to reproduce that form on Friday night, but it's early days.
One side with Setanta ambitions who will be happy with their league opener are Drogheda United.
Drogs thoroughly outplayed Bohs at Dalymount Park and left with three points courtesy of a 1-0 win.
It could have been more but for a decent performance from Stephen O'Brien in the Bohs goal.
Bohs were very poor against Drogs and won't relish a trip to the home of the First Division champions.
Big signing Vinny Arkins was played out of the game and failed to make an impact, while Stephen Ward had an unusually quiet night.
An interested observer at Dalymount was Sligo Rovers boss Sean Connor.
Bohs travel up to The Showgrounds next weekend and Connor will fancy his chances of taking all three points.
However, his and Sligo's cause will not have been helped by the postponement of their opener against Longford Town at Flancare Park, especially so close to kick-off.
This is sure to have inconvenienced both fans and players alike, but given the heavy rainfall, match officials would have had no other option but to postpone the game.
Over at Richmond Park, Pat's again had the bad luck that afflicted them all through 2005.
Last season's problems were long and varied: failing to hold a lead, missing easy chances, conceding late goals, etc, etc.
Against Waterford on Friday it was a missed penalty, or a saved penalty to be precise, Jimmy Fyffe expertly denying Trevor Molloy.
Pat's really need to start taking these opportunities or they will stay stuck in the doldrums.
Shamrock Rovers hosted Dundalk in the First Division clash of the fallen giants and came from behind to take the points.
Pat Scully was happy with the win, as he would be, but it's too early to suggest that Rovers will walk this league as some pundits have claimed.
Galway are in with a shout but will be seriously disappointed with a 0-0 draw at Monaghan.
Limerick also fancy their chances but their tie with Kildare was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Hogan Park.
The same fate befell the Finn Harps v Athlone Town clash to bring the total of postponements to three.
But what would our league be without the odd bit of disruption, even on the opening weekend?
The waiting is finally over and eircom League soccer is back with us and what an interesting opening weekend it proved to be.
Champions Cork City could only manage a 1-0 win over Dublin City, and that from the penalty spot, while Shels were held to a draw out in Bray.
Both sides have had decent enough performances in the Setanta Sports Cup so far but failed to reproduce that form on Friday night, but it's early days.
One side with Setanta ambitions who will be happy with their league opener are Drogheda United.
Drogs thoroughly outplayed Bohs at Dalymount Park and left with three points courtesy of a 1-0 win.
It could have been more but for a decent performance from Stephen O'Brien in the Bohs goal.
Bohs were very poor against Drogs and won't relish a trip to the home of the First Division champions.
Big signing Vinny Arkins was played out of the game and failed to make an impact, while Stephen Ward had an unusually quiet night.
An interested observer at Dalymount was Sligo Rovers boss Sean Connor.
Bohs travel up to The Showgrounds next weekend and Connor will fancy his chances of taking all three points.
However, his and Sligo's cause will not have been helped by the postponement of their opener against Longford Town at Flancare Park, especially so close to kick-off.
This is sure to have inconvenienced both fans and players alike, but given the heavy rainfall, match officials would have had no other option but to postpone the game.
Over at Richmond Park, Pat's again had the bad luck that afflicted them all through 2005.
Last season's problems were long and varied: failing to hold a lead, missing easy chances, conceding late goals, etc, etc.
Against Waterford on Friday it was a missed penalty, or a saved penalty to be precise, Jimmy Fyffe expertly denying Trevor Molloy.
Pat's really need to start taking these opportunities or they will stay stuck in the doldrums.
Shamrock Rovers hosted Dundalk in the First Division clash of the fallen giants and came from behind to take the points.
Pat Scully was happy with the win, as he would be, but it's too early to suggest that Rovers will walk this league as some pundits have claimed.
Galway are in with a shout but will be seriously disappointed with a 0-0 draw at Monaghan.
Limerick also fancy their chances but their tie with Kildare was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Hogan Park.
The same fate befell the Finn Harps v Athlone Town clash to bring the total of postponements to three.
But what would our league be without the odd bit of disruption, even on the opening weekend?