FAI Intermediate Cup 2008

[razor]

3rd Round Draw

Rockmount AFC V Bluebell United FC
Glebe North FC V Beggsboro AFC / Bangor Celtic FC
Newtown Rangers FC V Carrigaline United FC / Midleton AFC
Dalkey United FC V Avondale United FC
Lissadel United FC V Ringmahon Rangers FC
CYM Terenure FC V Liffey Pearse FC
Moyle Park PPFC / Drogheda Town FC V Ballincollig AFC
Edenderry Town FC V Belgrove FC
Leeds AFC V Crumlin United FC
Fanad United FC V Loughshinny United FC / Fairview CYM FC
Greystones AFC V Douglas Hall FC
Mount Merrion YMCA / Tolka Rovers FC V Wayside Celtic FC / Larkview Boys FC
Everton AFC / Fermoy AFC V Celbridge Town FC
Cherry Orchard FC V Swilly Rovers FC
Templemount Celtic FC V St. Mary’s AFC
Kildrum Tigers FC V Confey FC / St. James’s Gate FC

to be played week ending December 9th 2007

[Avondale No1]

I see Tolka Rovers crashed out early in the competition over the weekend. We played them two years ago and they were by far the best team we played. A big team not in the hat for the next round.

[champagne]

Alright lads, i've been playing up in dublin for a while now after playing in the MSL for a few years.

Just to give you the heads up on a few of the dublin teams that the MSL teams got in the intermediate cup:

Rockmount AFC V Bluebell United FC - don't know a lot about bluebell, haven't seen them this year, but they're mid-table in the premier and I reckon the overall standard of the LSL premier is a bit better than that of the MSL, so it will be a tough one. Rockmount to come out on top though - best intermediate team in the country at the moment I reckon.

Newtown Rangers FC V Carrigaline United FC / Midleton AFC - I've seen Newtown this season, they are an average LSL 1st division team. Young team but not a lot of quality. Their pitch is meant to be tight and bumpy though. I fancy Carrig (I presume they'll beat Midleton) to take this tie back to Cork and beat them well there.

Dalkey United FC V Avondale United FC - potential upset on the cards here. Haven't seen dalkey play yet but they've added to their squad with a couple of ex-Eircom League players (I know, they're rarely all they're cracked up to be, but still). Going well in the LSL 1st division. Not sure what their pitch is like, but I can see them pushing Avondale all the way. From what I've heard, Avondale are not as strong as previous seasons. I'm going for a home win here.

Lissadel United FC V Ringmahon Rangers FC - don't know much about them. Going for a draw here.

Moyle Park PPFC / Drogheda Town FC V Ballincollig AFC - Moyle will beat Drogheda. They're an average team though, mid table in the Premier, but I would expect them to come close to relegation. They have a tidy striker, but an average team other than that. With Ballincolling riding high, I'm backing them to win it.

Leeds AFC V Crumlin United FC - Crumlin are still a very good side. Haven't seen leeds in a couple of seasons but up in that pitch anything is possible I suppose. Still fancy Crumlin to have too much quality.

Greystones AFC V Douglas Hall FC - Don't know much about Greystones, but fancy DOuglas Hall to progress here,after extra time or replay. Will be a tough test for the Hall. Usually these country town clubs have nice pitches, so that will suit the Hall. I reckon the Hall are a good outside bet to win the cup outright.

Everton AFC / Fermoy AFC V Celbridge Town FC - don't know a lot about Celbridge either. I reckon Everton (presuming they beat Fermoy) will do enough on their fabulous pitch to progress.

My money is on Rockmount to win it - outside bets are Douglas Hall, Mount Merrion and Glebe North.

That's it lads - comments appreciated.

[drummerboy]

Newtown Rangers v carrick/middleton. Pitch, which is up the Dublin Mountains has a decent surface and is wide. However there is an enormous slope across the pitch and this can be very disorientating for away teams. The away team will have to be able to mix it with the home team, as they play a very physical but fair game

Dalkey v Avondale. Dalkey are managed by ex Shamrock Rovers player Matt Britton, who has recruited quite a few ex-EL players. Their pitch is big but not always kept in the best condition. I reckon they could cause a shock.

Lissadell v Ringmahon. Dell will be very hard to beat on a small narrow pitch in the “quaint“ St Michaels Estate. They are a decent football team though and I would expect them to win.

Celbridge are one of the youngest teams around. They play an attractive game and are top of the 3rd tier of LSL, having won promotion. Two trips to Cork will surely test their mettle.

[Avondale No1]

Dalkey v Avondale. Dalkey are managed by ex Shamrock Rovers player Matt Britton, who has recruited quite a few ex-EL players. Their pitch is big but not always kept in the best condition. I reckon they could cause a shock.

Dalkey look to have started the season in fine form if the league table is anything to go by. While Avondale have won more games than they have lost this season they do not seem to be playing with the same confidence thay had in previous seasons. Noel Hartigan returning at the back should sort out their recent defensive problems. I wouldn't be too confident going into this one. Any idea of what the pitch is like. (Flat, Long, wide, bumpy??)

[centre mid]

Dalkeys pitch is ok, on a slight incline.

[Clifford]

Newtown Rangers v carrick/middleton. Pitch, which is up the Dublin Mountains has a decent surface and is wide. However there is an enormous slope across the pitch and this can be very disorientating for away teams. The away team will have to be able to mix it with the home team, as they play a very physical but fair game

Dalkey v Avondale. Dalkey are managed by ex Shamrock Rovers player Matt Britton, who has recruited quite a few ex-EL players. Their pitch is big but not always kept in the best condition. I reckon they could cause a shock.

Lissadell v Ringmahon. Dell will be very hard to beat on a small narrow pitch in the “quaint“ St Michaels Estate. They are a decent football team though and I would expect them to win.

Celbridge are one of the youngest teams around. They play an attractive game and are top of the 3rd tier of LSL, having won promotion. Two trips to Cork will surely test their mettle.

What about Bluebell DB this season? Strong enough to come to Rockmount and test them? They are normally very very strong.

[Clifford]

Alright lads, i've been playing up in dublin for a while now after playing in the MSL for a few years.

Just to give you the heads up on a few of the dublin teams that the MSL teams got in the intermediate cup:

Rockmount AFC V Bluebell United FC - don't know a lot about bluebell, haven't seen them this year, but they're mid-table in the premier and I reckon the overall standard of the LSL premier is a bit better than that of the MSL, so it will be a tough one. Rockmount to come out on top though - best intermediate team in the country at the moment I reckon.

Newtown Rangers FC V Carrigaline United FC / Midleton AFC - I've seen Newtown this season, they are an average LSL 1st division team. Young team but not a lot of quality. Their pitch is meant to be tight and bumpy though. I fancy Carrig (I presume they'll beat Midleton) to take this tie back to Cork and beat them well there.

Dalkey United FC V Avondale United FC - potential upset on the cards here. Haven't seen dalkey play yet but they've added to their squad with a couple of ex-Eircom League players (I know, they're rarely all they're cracked up to be, but still). Going well in the LSL 1st division. Not sure what their pitch is like, but I can see them pushing Avondale all the way. From what I've heard, Avondale are not as strong as previous seasons. I'm going for a home win here.

Lissadel United FC V Ringmahon Rangers FC - don't know much about them. Going for a draw here.

Moyle Park PPFC / Drogheda Town FC V Ballincollig AFC - Moyle will beat Drogheda. They're an average team though, mid table in the Premier, but I would expect them to come close to relegation. They have a tidy striker, but an average team other than that. With Ballincolling riding high, I'm backing them to win it.

Leeds AFC V Crumlin United FC - Crumlin are still a very good side. Haven't seen leeds in a couple of seasons but up in that pitch anything is possible I suppose. Still fancy Crumlin to have too much quality.

Greystones AFC V Douglas Hall FC - Don't know much about Greystones, but fancy DOuglas Hall to progress here,after extra time or replay. Will be a tough test for the Hall. Usually these country town clubs have nice pitches, so that will suit the Hall. I reckon the Hall are a good outside bet to win the cup outright.

Everton AFC / Fermoy AFC V Celbridge Town FC - don't know a lot about Celbridge either. I reckon Everton (presuming they beat Fermoy) will do enough on their fabulous pitch to progress.

My money is on Rockmount to win it - outside bets are Douglas Hall, Mount Merrion and Glebe North.

That's it lads - comments appreciated.

Wow just seen this one Champagne, nice summary. Everton did beat Fermoy handy, don't know the other results.

[drummerboy]

Having seen much of Bluebell lately. They took a bit of a beating last weekend. From what I hear they are missing a few players through injury, not sure if they will be back for the Inter.

[razor]

Having seen much of Bluebell lately. They took a bit of a beating last weekend. From what I hear they are missing a few players through injury, not sure if they will be back for the Inter.

Another soft home draw so for the Mount, now theres a shocker !!

[Clifford]

having been away for every match for the last 5 seasons they finally remembered that we pay good money for a home draw all the way to the final!!

Nothing easy about this one though, home advantage is the only thing going for us so far. Tough out fit Bluebell.

[centre mid]

Bluebell probably arent the force they were a few years ago, but there always well organised and a tough side, capable of beating anyone on any given day.

[razor]

Heard Mount won 2-1 and that Avondales game was off

[Clifford]

Indeed Rockmount won 2-1 today in terrible conditions. A tough Bluebell side made it very difficult, but didn't have enough football to get through. Alan O Connor direct from a corner early on, cancelled out by a back post header from Bluebell early in the second half. Micky Deasy hacked down in the box led to the spotter that Wille Byrne thumped home.

Relieved to be through that one.

[champagne]

I heard Ballincollig made the trip to Drogheda only for the game to be called off. Absolute farce on Dorgheda's behalf.

90% of the games in LSL were called off on the Thursday because of the bad weekend weather forecast, so you'd think they'd have the kop on to call it early (although in fairness their pitch is sweet).

Ballincollig will thump them down on their patch (game has been switched to Cork I think).