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Premier Division (All 19:45)
Friday 23rd
Drogheda v Waterford
Dundalk v Galway
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers
St Pats v Bohemians
Saturday 24th
Sligo v Derry
First Division (All 19:45)
Friday 23rd
Cobh V Athlone
Finn Harps v Cork
Kerry v Bray
UCD v Treaty
Wexford v Longford
Rovers will be anxious to get the season started properly with a win but Tolka isnt where id be happy to go looking for it.
Assuming Clarke, Farrugia, McAneff, Pico and JAck B are all out (Maybe Burke back) i'll be traveling in hope rather than expectation.
Rovers already 1 point better off than last season, its all over when you think about it :)
Sligo v Derry will be interesting as will all the matches i suppose at this early stage.
First division not looking such a cakewalk for Cork after 1 round with UCD and Athlone looking decent , big test for Cork going up to Harps nd will maybe give Harps a good feel for where they are in relative terms.
Will be a good test for us after good start,unfortunately our squad is stretched massively already with 4 probable starters injured before Saturday,1 injured early on in the game the last night and our best player from last year AWOL and seemingly not for coming back,I’d take a narrow defeat if we get everyone through it unscathed….
Torn between watching City on LOI TV or heading to the Cross to watch Cobh. Leaning towards the live football.
How long are Cobh playing there for?Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
Bradley clearly stated last week that he’d expect Burke,Byrne, Towell and Kenny to be fit for this Friday and McEneff to most likely be available .Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
O'Donnell and Dundalk players that were around last season have some atoning to do from the cup game in ED Park last year. Its too early to really tell but we showed some fight and doggedness in the 2nd half in Tallaght compared with last seasons brittleness and tendency to capitulate. JC will hae Galway fired up with most of the players that hammered Dundalk still there. I dont envisage it being one for the purists as we find our feet as a team and well the Galway management's preference for the agricultural. 1st home game of the season so seeing if Dundalk fans can or will step up by attending the game will be woorth watching. There was a real disconnect between the team and the fanbase last season, wasnt helped by the club, or some performances so maybe with some fight and more football braking out as the weeks progress then a bounce in crowds could spread to Oriel....unless its raining, or too cold, or too hot...
Given the depth of injuries at Finn Park, as alluded to by Joey B, I'd bite your hand off for a draw this week.
Conor Tourish, Kevin Jordan, Sean O'Donnell, Ryan Rainey, and now Aaron McLaughlin would all be expecting to be starting, or near the starting XI this Friday night if they were fit. On top of that, you've a goalkeeper who played his first competitive game in 7 months on Saturday, the sub goalkeeper off on international duty, and the departure of Ryan Flood last week unexpectedly, we're already down to the bare bones in an already small squad, with two very tough games against Cork and Athlone ahead.
I think its the first 3 or 4 games but could be extended depending on how the work goes at Colmans Park. They have tickets up for sale for the first three games right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
[QUOTE=Calcio Jack;2177671]Bradley clearly stated last week that he’d expect Burke,Byrne, Towell and Kenny to be fit for this Friday and McEneff to most likely be available .[/QUOTE
He also said last week that Jack might make the dundalk game. Messing with other managers heads is part of the game. I'd be surprised if anyone who didn't figure starts next week having not been for for the bench this week. Hopefully unary right. Burke best chance I reckon
Are Ramblers doing much remidial work to their ground?Quote:
Originally Posted by El-Pietro
New astro and floodlights
https://cobhramblers.ie/st-colmans-park-upgrade/
Stephen Ireland blast from the past!Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckett
Wexford and Longford Town postponed tomorrow due to a waterlogged pitch.
Wexford clearly afraid of the hammering they were about to get.
Tomorrow already feels like being a key game for Kerry, in that with last week having effectively been a "free hit", this will be the first occasion where expectations will have been raised from last season, due to the new signings and an actual pre-season. A draw will be the minimum return demanded, even if Bray tend to be unpredictable even to their own fans!
Dundalk need to back up a surprisingly very decent performance and result away to Rovers, with a win at home to Galway, this won't be easy as they will be direct, as all JC teams are.
I still fancy us to win 1 or 2-0, Galway are without their main striker, red card last week, but they won't make it easy that's for sure.
Interesting game at Drogs who are home to Waterford, hard to call that one, but one things for sure, our county cousins won't lose too many at home.
Pats should exploit Bohs weakness in defence, but will need to work hard too you'd imagine.
Shels v Rovers, another hard one to call, Rovers will prob grind out another draw, and same next week before eventually starting to win games in March and pull into the top 2 !!
Byrne, McEneff, Pico, Clarke and Farrugia all missing so agree a draw most likelyQuote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Just looking at Betfair and ye look a price @ 6/5 to 5/4ish, we are knocking on the door of 7/2 and seeing Derry haven't won here the last 2 seasons we might have a squeak, another home team at a slightly bigger price than us are Shels who might be value if Shamrock are slow out of the box again this season, though in both our cases the prudent bet is on the lay side at bits on.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Sligo definitely do. The most pleasing wins we can get are away to Sligo and Drogheda. Poor records in both grounds. I know past records shouldn't count for much, but they seem to. Usually a goal would settle this match, but doubt it'll be as higher scoring as the 5-4 win for Sligo in pre-season.Quote:
Originally Posted by redarmyfaction
Sold out away allocation for Saturday, presume the home allocation will sell out too?
Potential for a lot of draws in the other PD. Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are close both even money, but wouldn't be tempted at those prices.
Will also be keeping an eye on Harps-Cork. Have Harps now moved their KOs to 7:45 instead of 8:00 for this season?