Whats the biggest derby in Irish football

[sheao]

On the Eircom league of Ireland website: Which fixture is the biggest derby in Irish football?

Cork City v Cobh Ramblers
Derry City v Finn Harps
Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers
Bohemians v St. Patrick's Athletic
Shamrock Rovers v St. Patrick's Athletic
Drogheda United v Dundalk
Bohemians v Shelbourne
Galway United v Sligo Rovers
Cork City v Waterford United

For me it would be Cork City v Cobh Ramblers , Bohemians and Shamrock rovers and Derry City v Finn Harps

[TheBoss]

Has to be Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers, they are there since the start of the league and have built up a rivalry since then.

[deecay]

Bohs v Shams is out on its own.

I love playing Longford,closest team to us

[jebus]

Bohs vs Rovers, anyone who says different is a moron at best

[The Man Himself]

cork v waterford

[finnpark]

Derry vs Harps with 7,000 at it makes it the biggest Derby in years :)

[Réiteoir]

Bohs vs Rovers, anyone who says different is a moron at best

what he said

I equate it to the Old Firm derby without the pleasantries

[Blue-Army]

Bohs vs Rovers, anyone who says different is a moron at best
I'd love to say Cork V Waterford, but Bohs vs Rovers is the biggest by far.

[4 in a row]

rovers v bohs definetly.... doesnt pull the biggest crowds but everybody know rovers and bohs is the biggest...

[Tis-smeee]

Cork - Waterford by far

[BacRod]

Being from Derry, I'd probably say Derry - Harps, because of the sort of underlying friendliness between the clubs through all the crap that has went on with us in the last thiry years.

However, I reckon the biggest derby in Irish football hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet. I reckon it's probably Linfield - Glentoran.

[harry crumb]

Bohs vs Rovers

[Joey Killester]

Waterford fans, just because it's the biggest one for you's doesnt meen its the biggest for everyone else. I'd say Bohs-Rovers aswell.

[mattie]

when the league was at its height cork hibs v. cork celtic was the biggest derby.

[dancinpants]

Attendance wise Derry-Harps
Rivalry/sheer despising-of-eachother wise Bohs/Rovers

Biggest on the island? Glens/Linfield - even Bohs/Rovers pales in comparison.

[mrtndvn]

Its actually a quite straight forward question this and no real debate is needed.

Linfield - v - Glentoran is the biggest.

Derry - v - Finn Harps is the second biggest.

Followed, not closely, by the Dublin derbys.

[cheifo]

Biggest in what way?

Attendance?Harps V Derry I would guess.

In Hatred?Not Harps/Derry, a lot of colour and slagging yes but both sets of fans can walk out together without the threat of violence.
I guess its either Glens V Linfield ot Rovers V Bohs.Never being to them but you get the impression you would'nt take your Granny to either.

[sullanefc]

Bohs V Shamrock is only a hatred thing. If you're talking about attendance then Derry V Harps was big this year. Bohs V Shamrock could never get a crowd that size.

[Patrick Dunne]

Three other derbies/rivalries not mentioned -

Dundalk vs Monaghan
Athlone vs Longford
Waterford vs Wexford

Galway vs Sligo is not really a derby, more of a rivalry. The teams are based 80 miles apart.

[Dalymountrower]

Bohs V Shamrock is only a hatred thing. If you're talking about attendance then Derry V Harps was big this year. Bohs V Shamrock could never get a crowd that size.


Young gentleman are you? Before the current poisonous atmosphere took hold about ten years ago, crowds of 6-8,000 would not have been unusual. The pity now is that neutrals keep away because of the bad publicity and because of the scummish behaviours of some rovers fans and retards who have attached themselves to Bohs. I would reckon that there will be at least 5.000 in Tolka next Friday and if that fixture doesn`t generate bad publicity and both clubs are still competing at the top of the league, we should be getting the biggest crowd of the season at the next match between the sides at Dalymount .

Linfield v Glens or possibly Linfield v Cliftonville is about as close as it comes to Bohs/Rovers on the Island.( outside of the "boxing" day traditional match the crowds at Blues/ Glens are modest enough afaik.)

I remember the Hibs/Celtic games and I would say that was the main derby game in the early `70`s.

[Knappagh Red]

Galway v Sligo a rivalry, keep dreaming on Corribside

[Patrick Dunne]

Yes, as we all know Sligo Rovers are rivals with Shamrock Rovers :rolleyes:

[Knappagh Red]

Look at the all time table and you'll see who Galways' rivals are

[BohsPartisan]

Bohs V Shamrock is only a hatred thing. If you're talking about attendance then Derry V Harps was big this year. Bohs V Shamrock could never get a crowd that size.

Never? I'm sure there have been bigger attendances at Bohs V Rovers in the past. Going back a while though.
Derry V Harps isn't even a proper Derby anyway, you're not even in the same county.

The only real Derbys are the Dublin ones, and at a push Drogs V Dundalk and Cork V Cobh.

[dcfc_1928]

I'd say:

1. Linfield v Glentoran
2. Bohs v Rovers
3. Derry v Harps

If Harps had spent more time in the Premier Division and had a better record against City, then I might put it a bit higher.

[saint morrissey]

people are getting a little too excited over the big crowd at derry v finn harps the other week. of the 20 years that derry have been in the league of ireland how many of them have they been in the same division as harps? id also say that bohs-rovers is a bigger rivalry than linfield v glentoran. anybody who suggests to the contrary is banking on the fact that peple on the forum dont really watch the irish league, that fixture doesnt get amazing crowds.

[OneRedArmy]

anybody who suggests to the contrary is banking on the fact that peple on the forum dont really watch the irish league, that fixture doesnt get amazing crowds.Go and do a bit of research and then come back and update us....

Glens v Linfield crowds **** all over any EL attendances.

[dcfc_1928]

That's rubbish - they get great crowds, particularly for the Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day game.



id also say that bohs-rovers is a bigger rivalry than linfield v glentoran. anybody who suggests to the contrary is banking on the fact that peple on the forum dont really watch the irish league, that fixture doesnt get amazing crowds.

[The Man Himself]

I'd love to say Cork V Waterford, but Bohs vs Rovers is the biggest by far.

bohs and rovers pull in an avarage of 3000 for a derby where as waterford v cork can pull anything up to 8000.
and going back to the 60s 70s and 80s waterford v cork games use to pull in anything up to 30,000,
bohs and rovers never came anywhere near that.

[half_full]

Bohs Vs. Rovers is the only proper derby in the LoI. Waterford Vs. Cork isn't a derby, never has been.

[adamcarr]

bohs and rovers pull in an avarage of 3000 for a derby where as waterford v cork can pull anything up to 8000.
and going back to the 60s 70s and 80s waterford v cork games use to pull in anything up to 30,000,
bohs and rovers never came anywhere near that.

Never a crowd near that mark when ye were in the Premier for the last few seasons.

[pete]

Bohs Vs. Rovers is the only proper derby in the LoI. Waterford Vs. Cork isn't a derby, never has been.

Exactly. In your heyday we did not exist & since we have competed at the top ye have not been in the Premier enough.

Bohs-Rovers may not get huge crowds but most intense match on the calendar.

[Neish]

Harps Vs Derry for attendance and the fact vast majority of people that go to these games ar true fans that can get on both before and after the game and aren't wannabe english yobs.

[BohsPartisan]

Harps Vs Derry for attendance and the fact vast majority of people that go to these games ar true fans that can get on both before and after the game and aren't wannabe english yobs.

Yes because the Majority of Bohs and Rovers fans are wannabe English yobs! :rolleyes:

[fitzknows]

Bray - UCD??

[historynut]

Historically was not the original big Dublin derby Drumcondra v Shamrock Rovers, Real northsiders v southsiders.
I would say that it was the demise of Drums and Bohs dropping of amatuer status (both late 60's) that saw Bohs emerge as prominent North side club,
Ironically one would think the ultimate Dublin derby should be Shels v Rovers as both clubs originated from the same part of town.
This season should see an interesting encounter in Div 1, re the Midlands Derby - Athlone v Longford. Athlone seeing themselves as traditionally the midlands no1 club, having to swallow the bitter pill of Longfords success since their election to the league.
Out of curiosity why is Harps v Sligo not got the rivalry that Derry v Harps has ?

[bellavistaman]

Rovers Bohs no doubt about it.

[oriel]

I would say Bohs v Rovers, then again 2 seasons ago Dundalk v Drogs in the fai cup attracted just over 4,000 for each game, recent crowds between Bohs + Rovers weren't too much higher than this.

Derry/Harps also deserves a mention as they can easily account for the largest derby crowd if not a season high in itself.

[pineapple stu]

Three other derbies/rivalries not mentioned -

Dundalk vs Monaghan
If this is a derby/rivalry, then so is UCD v Bray.

So it's not. Except at a very minor level maybe.

[GuisaSaigon]

Mervue Utd- Salthill Devon?

[red bellied]

Historically was not the original big Dublin derby Drumcondra v Shamrock Rovers, Real northsiders v southsiders.
I would say that it was the demise of Drums and Bohs dropping of amatuer status (both late 60's) that saw Bohs emerge as prominent North side club,
Ironically one would think the ultimate Dublin derby should be Shels v Rovers as both clubs originated from the same part of town.
This season should see an interesting encounter in Div 1, re the Midlands Derby - Athlone v Longford. Athlone seeing themselves as traditionally the midlands no1 club, having to swallow the bitter pill of Longfords success since their election to the league.
Out of curiosity why is Harps v Sligo not got the rivalry that Derry v Harps has ?

Before Derry entered the league the Sligo Rovers/Finn Harps fixture was a guaranteed crowd puller. Especially late seventies early eighties when both teams were doing well and there was the Patsy McGowan factor. I remember when I started going to the Showgrounds around 1982 there was 5,000 crowd for a League Cup fixture. Nothing like that now but there was decent enough crowds in Rovers promotion season in 1994 in the Showgrounds and Ballybofey.

[BohsPartisan]

No mention of Shels v Sp. Fingal? :D

[holidaysong]

Dundalk - Monaghan is considered a derby by them, not by us.

[superfrank]

If this is a derby/rivalry, then so is UCD v Bray.

So it's not. Except at a very minor level maybe.
In fairness, Bray UCD is a bit of a rivalry. They both have similar levels of quality and both tend to be in or around each other in the league. Either we're battling at the top of the First or down the bottom of the Premier.

Biggest in the eircom league in terms of passion and tension is, doubtless, the Bohs Rovers one.

Derry Harps may get big crowds but there seem to be a lot of friendliness between the two clubs. Whereas, Bohs and Rovers absolutely hate each other.

I interviewed Shay Kelly before and he told me that when he played in the derby, someone threw a pig's head onto the pitch and people were throwing pig's feet at the players. That is rivalry.

The biggest derby on this island is definitely Linfield Glentoran.

[The Man Himself]

Bohs Vs. Rovers is the only proper derby in the LoI. Waterford Vs. Cork isn't a derby, never has been.

munster derby ya plank.

[BohsPartisan]

munster derby ya plank.

A derby is two teams in the same city - at a push you could say county. If you can have a provincial Derby think of all the Leinster ones! :rolleyes:

[holidaysong]

A derby is two teams in the same city - at a push you could say county. If you can have a provincial Derby think of all the Leinster ones! :rolleyes:

I wouldn't say they have to be in the same city. Liverpool - Manchester United is most definitely a derby.

[Cosmo]

If this is a derby/rivalry, then so is UCD v Bray.

So it's not. Except at a very minor level maybe.

In fairness Monaghan people hate dundalk. My grandfather was a monaghan fan and I used to go to some of their matches when I was a kid when visiting him and they do hate them.

Dont think it works both ways as much though - but a dundalk fan would answer that better.

Personally I love Drogheda/ Dundalk derby.

Derry/Harps one sounds good too.

Cork dont really seem to have a proper one with either waterford or cobh!

Have been to rovers/bohs and didnt think it was anything special! Best one on the island though is defo Linfield V Glentoran! Went to Portadown V Glentoran this season too which was fairly decent (thats another 'grudge' match up there)

[Finlay Harp]

A derby is two teams in the same city - at a push you could say county. If you can have a provincial Derby think of all the Leinster ones! :rolleyes:

Have to disagree. Harps and Derry are in two different counties but are only about 20 miles apart. Its still a derby as many of the fans work together, live together and socialise together.

[historynut]

Bit of a rivalry for a Portadown v Glenavon encounter.