Not sure you could say at the start of the season we had a squad second only to Rovers . We did'nt have Anang , Keena , Elbouzedi ,Kazeem until halfway and Tom Grivosti and Axel were out injured until well into the season .
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All this talk about Pats next season being certs and favourites is way over the top imo
Obvs they have an excellent manager and should go close, but Rovers will be alot better and Derry will be too without Higgins as they have money to get the top players too
As for Rovers underachieving, in a few weeks you could be looking at a team that's League Champions 5 in a row and qualified for the knock out stages of a European competiton.
I doubt any Rovers fan cares if they win the league by 20 or Goal Difference, a title is a title
Citation needed. When was the last time Rovers were stronger than the previous season? 2020 maybe.
This is also far from certain. It's the LoI after all. If Higgins goes (is he going?), who will replace him? Will that person be any good? I think Kenny and Duff have shown the standard of manager in the LoI is quite poor.
Rovers fans probably won't care for sure. But if they do win the title this year, they shouldn't be falling over the line, they shouldn't be going backwards in terms of points, and they shouldn't be avoiding successive first round European elimination by virtue of a missed penalty. It doesn't paint a good trend for future years. Celtic would sack their manager for what Bradley has achieved this year for example.
Will there be many Dundalk fans in Drogheda tonight? I’d personally rather be anywhere else if I was a Dundalk fan but I’m sure there will still be a crowd down…..
17 and a half years after I first set foot in Tolka, I'm actually in disbelief it's come down to this tonight.
I haven't enjoyed a single moment of this season (bar the European games) as I've been a nervous wreck every single week.
Whatever happens tonight happens, but I'm glad I'll get to see it in Tolka. Tis only right.
Been an unbelievable season either way, and great to see our league finally breaking through to more corners of the country.
Those barstooler threads we used to have here feel like decades ago.
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Not necessarily saying that, but I certainly thought we had a squad good enough to challenge. The difference in my view is the return of Grivosti and Sjoberg, the signing of Elbouzedi and the transformation of Jake Mulraney, who has improved dramatically since SK came in.
As for next season, I kind of agree with Dundalk FC10. I don’t think we’ll run away with it by any means, but I expect us to put in a really strong challenge.
Rovers winning anyway. You'd imagine they'll see the game out from here. Waterford's form has been crap lately; can't see them coming back from an early goal
Pat's take the lead in Sligo - that's them on course for 11 straight wins in all competitions. Last non-win was in Turkey in August
Just about deserved I think. Remarkable run really. Hopefully we can finish the job now. Squeaky bum time for Shels. Not sure they’re the best side to be chasing a goal. Am watching on a second screen, and obviously he Pats match has my attention, but Derry look to be edging it to me ?
Shels haven’t created much but they’ve missed 2 one on ones with the keeper,might regret them at full time….
Shels score! 5 to go - can they hang on?
Congratulations to Shelbourne ,well deserved league title for them !
Well done Shels, deserved title winners.
What a season!
Yeah, congrats to Shels, winning on merit. Some scenes at the Brandywell. Top for the entire season virtually. Derry get what they deserve, 4th. It's good for the league that Duffer wins it. Like him or not, he brings eyes and ears onto our League. We finish off our season with another draw. 26 of 36 unbeaten, finishing just 3 points off Europe. Things like drawing 6 games 0-0 have caught up with us ultimately, but pretty happy overall considering we were relegation favorites for a few people surely. Congrats to Pats for finishing 3rd, thats a major achievement considering they were 8th in July or thereabouts. So another season done, on to the Cup Final and then into the long winter, but it'll be a bit shorter and warmer in Drumcondra.
Quick question, sorry if it sounds daft, or has been answered already. Watching Shels lift the trophy in Derry. What IF Shamrock Rovers had won it, were they going to have it helicoptered from Derry or was there two?
Can't say they fell over the line when they won the last 3 matches. I know some people are sick of hearing about Duff, but himself, Joey and the staff have done an incredible job with that group.
Derry or Pats first signing in the off season should be Sean Gannon !!
Shels to be fair were top for most of the season, they even had the points built up to on was it 4 weeks during August, no wins.
Best team wins it, so congrats to Shels, and their fans, enjoy the celebrations.
Some achievement only 3 years up from the PD, and now up to joint 2nd most league titles with 14, some going.