Final rehearsals for league clubs

Final rehearsals for league clubs

Several pre-season friendlies took place over the weekend as teams put together their final preparations for the league campaign, which begins this coming weekend.

Bohemians hosted Latvian champions Skonto Riga at Dalymount Park, the game ending in a 1-1 draw, Bohs’ equaliser coming from a Colin Hawkins free kick after 65 minutes.

Link: Bohemians 1-1 Skonto Riga

North-western rivals Derry City and Sligo Rovers met at the Brandywell, where the First Division side came close to a morale-boosting victory over the Candystripes.

Paul McTiernan, rumoured to be a close-season transfer target of Derry, netted for Sligo after 59 minutes, but Gareth McGlynn ensured that Derry’s last match before Thursday’s season opener at home to Longford Town did not end in defeat with a 79th minute penalty.

Shelbourne’s record signing Jason Byrne continued his breath-taking start for his new club at Finn Park, Ballybofey.

The game finished in a 2-2 draw, with Byrne nabbing both of the Reds’ goals, taking his tally to six goals in five pre-season matches for the former Bray striker.

The match at the Carlisle Grounds between Shamrock Rovers and Byrne’s former club also ended in a 2-2 draw.

Kieran ‘Tarzan’ O’Brien and Stephen Fox put Bray ahead after Trevor Molloy’s early opener, but winger Shane Robinson found a leveler for Liam Buckley’s much-weakened Premier Division side 17 minutes from the end.

Buckley sent another Rovers representation to meet Dublin City, and the First Division Vikings, expected to challenge for promotion under former Kildare County assistant boss John Gill this season, came out on top on a 3-1 scoreline.

Kildare County travelled to Flancare Park to meet Premier side Longford Town, and the home side came out on top on a 2-0 scoreline, the goals coming from Sean Francis and Darragh Sheridan.

Louth rivals Drogheda Untied and Dundalk played out a scoreless draw at the Meath & District League grounds in Navan, with the former coming out on top on penalties.


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