Weekend games 16th to 19th May

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Originally Posted by TonyD

On Mulraney, he showed last season that he is capable, but this year he is back to his pre-Kenny form. Having said that I thought he started ok this evening, before tailing off.

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Agreed, thought he had a good first half tonight although he should’ve scored his 1 on 1, but it was still encouraging to see him actually get into that position. He got past corks young left full a load of times and put some decent balls into the box too. Second half he, like the rest of the team just didn’t show up until there was about 5 mins to go in the game, which is becoming a bit of a trend this season with them being a first half only team. Incredible feeling to win a game that way but I’ll happily take a smoother 2-0 win in future! Should’ve killed the game off with some of the first half chances but Cork to their credit were excellent second half and will be scratching their heads at losing the game after going ahead late enough into the game

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

no matter how many times i watch him i just see absolutely nothing in mulraney. find it mental he played for a few seasons in MLS!

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I can understand why you have erased Cork’s last season in the premier division but here's some clips to jog your memory ;)

https://youtu.be/DyWzFd3kuyg?si=VrZsxphRXDvEpvB_

https://youtu.be/FZR8wBIx2A0?si=IS0rm1eCL9yOK-pl

https://youtu.be/-xGbVbnGLbE?si=GABjqykNv4ObgxgT

Good win for Rovers in Waterford, unfortunately soured by reports that our young bright hopeful Victor Ozhianvuna was subject to racist abuse from a Waterford fan while warming up. Hopefully the perpetrator is identified and steps are taken.
If Rovers can win on Monday it puts us in a position to go into the break top of the league and looking forward to Europe.

Horrible to hear about thankfully rare racist abuse at a game.
The fact he’s a kid as well makes it even more horrible for me, I do hope the gob****e in question is subjected to a “get him out” from waterford

Good performance from Waterford again but a bad mistake from our keeper cost us. McMullen has been good for us so far this season but he'll have nightmares about that goal. Then Bakboord loses possession and we are caught for a 3rd goal in injury time. Padraig Amond scored his second brilliant header of the season. We haven't drawn a game so far in the league this season which is mad after 16 games.

Just hearing that Barry Baggley is suspended for the game in Tallaght on Monday. Redmond and Leavy off injured last night too which doesn’t help things with Palmer and Forrester already out injured too. Jamie Lennon is the only out and out midfielder available in the squad so I’d imagine the only option there is to shoehorn McClelland into midfield beside him because Brandon Kavanagh isn’t good enough physically or defensively to play anywhere but in the 10 or out wide. I’d snap your hand off for a draw now if offered it

Thought Pats were absolutely abject last night, the draw would have been flattering never mind the win. We're nearly halfway through the season and have barely put in a performance yet, mad stuff.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Thought Pats were absolutely abject last night, the draw would have been flattering never mind the win. We're nearly halfway through the season and have barely put in a performance yet, mad stuff.

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You’ll probably win on Monday so.

Great result for Bohs last night. Shame it wasn't a convincing win. We certainly had the opportunities to have a 2/3 goal lead by the time Cootenwas was sent off but credit to Conor Kearns he took off some very good saves and to Gannon for clearing Tierney's effort off the line. Overall a well deserved 3 points.

On the sendings off. I could see why they might be considered harsh but in both cases the players gave the ref a decision to make and in this league that's a huge risk. If a player isn't aware that refs are hit and miss in the league well then that's a huge problem because the dog in the street knows it.

Lastly the "in our hedge" jokes about Duff last night will never fail to make me smile. I had heard he dinned a similar outfit for the Bohs V Rovers game in the Aviva so he wouldn't be spotted. Very odd altogether but highly amusing none the less

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Originally Posted by ger121

You’ll probably win on Monday so.

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Yeah probably:)
I'm pleasantly surprised that Rovers have ascended to the summit before the break, I pessimistically presumed we'd be chasing at least 2 other clubs and would struggle to overtake them.
derry have got their act together with a manager who knows how to win a league and they've spent money on instant success so this game on Monday and next Friday in the brandywell will be a marker for Rovers season I feel.
With Europe rolling around again It can affect clubs abilities to go every 3 or 4 days but Rovers under Bradley have the nous to know what's required, I'm fascinated to see how drogs get on- Are they playing their euro games in tallaght does anyone know?

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Just hearing that Barry Baggley is suspended for the game in Tallaght on Monday. Redmond and Leavy off injured last night too which doesn’t help things with Palmer and Forrester already out injured too. Jamie Lennon is the only out and out midfielder available in the squad so I’d imagine the only option there is to shoehorn McClelland into midfield beside him because Brandon Kavanagh isn’t good enough physically or defensively to play anywhere but in the 10 or out wide. I’d snap your hand off for a draw now if offered it

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I think I would have started McClelland in centre mid anyway. Lennon, McClelland and Kavanaghis the way to go. Stephen Kennys thinking seems to be that it’s either Cian Leavy or Brandon Kavanagh at no 10, and it’s hard to disagree with that. Leavy is a great carrier of the ball, while Kavanagh can see a through pass, and offers more goals, so they both have different qualities.

For Monday, far more worrying is if Joe Redmond is out. Don’t fancy facing Rovers without him. Would absolutely be happy with a point.

Derry very fortunate to grab a point with a massive deflected goal in the 88th minute. They were TERRIBLE for 80 mins, subs woke them up a bit. Drogheda be sick, should have killed the game a couple of times at 1-0. Poor game overall very frantic and scrappy. Three yellows in first 15 mins. Adam O'Reilly with a fairly poor tackle on Owen Lambe, one of those borderline orange card situations.

Irrespective of the ability of teams, I dont really recall games in United Park of realy quality. Frantic, battles of attrition, set pieces key, inriguing and entertaining in their own way but just real quality games, i genuinely struggle to think of any. Small pitch is at the core of this imo but the best of sides struggle to break down average opposition and phases of play tend to be disjointed and a single spoiler in midfield can be the main influence on a game. Not a Dundalk observation as there ha been plent of opportunity over the years to see games as a neutral when in different divisions. On a different scale when great defensive Arsenal side moved from Highbury to Wembley they werent so invincable at 'home'.

Don't know what is going on at UCD these days, but an abject thumping at Treaty. If it wasn't for the the points from Wexford for playing an ineligible player, we'd be propping up the 1st Division table. No fans means no hard questions for the manager, who clearly isn't up to it. The rest of the football hierarchy at the college are unsackable, nice safe jobs, no accountability to performance. It's a different set up to other clubs, that's fine, but it means it's carry on regardless with nobody giving a rats.

Dawson Devoy was very good last night. He's always been extremely talented but is starting to run games now too. On his day I think he's one of the best players in the league.

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Originally Posted by trevy

Good performance from Waterford again but a bad mistake from our keeper cost us. McMullen has been good for us so far this season but he'll have nightmares about that goal. Then Bakboord loses possession and we are caught for a 3rd goal in injury time. Padraig Amond scored his second brilliant header of the season. We haven't drawn a game so far in the league this season which is mad after 16 games.

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That Bakboord just doesn’t seem up to standards. He can have the game of his life and he’d still find a way to make a mistake leading to the opposition scoring. Our number priority going into the window should be to replace him.

Jaysus, harsh stuff. You’ve been on a hell of a good run sully in fairness.very solid v bohs and although I felt we deserved a point the blues were well up for it. Rovers would have multiples of your budget too.

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Derry very fortunate to grab a point with a massive deflected goal in the 88th minute. They were TERRIBLE for 80 mins, subs woke them up a bit. Drogheda be sick, should have killed the game a couple of times at 1-0. Poor game overall very frantic and scrappy.

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Pretty much sums it up. Maybe we started playing well for the last 20 minutes, but splitting hairs really. We were desperate for the majority of the match, very frustrating.
On the other hand, that was probably a match we'd have lost in recent years.
The subs had a huge difference, Paul McMullan is increasingly become a nuisance for defences. Nice to see.

As Nesta mentioned there, I don't think anyone goes to Drogheda in expectation of a good game of football. Granted, Drogs have more about them going forward than before. They're capable of playing nice stuff, but they're still not good to watch. And the playacting.....worse that Damian MacGraith bought a lot of it. They're not as bad as Pat's, but they are bad at it.

I don't usually go to games in Drogheda any more, and Friday night reminded me of why. The view is brutal obviously, but silly things just make it more unpleasant. Had a bottle cap taken off me going in, but you can buy bottle with caps on in the shop. Then the surface in and around the stadium has gotten worse again. It wouldn't even cost that much to fix. Worst of all was seeing wheelchair users struggle to get across it, particularly just outside the turnstiles. It's bang out of order really.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Thought Pats were absolutely abject last night, the draw would have been flattering never mind the win. We're nearly halfway through the season and have barely put in a performance yet, mad stuff.

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Watched highlights, Kenny seems to be a lucky general, if you had not won that, would have been some pressure. Felt so sorry for Cork C after their recent troubles, but to be fair Pats kept going and going, very fortunate deflection for 2-2, but have to say what a strike for 3-2, Cork C will be gutted. That's football.

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Originally Posted by brendy_�ire

Pretty much sums it up. Maybe we started playing well for the last 20 minutes, but splitting hairs really. We were desperate for the majority of the match, very frustrating.
On the other hand, that was probably a match we'd have lost in recent years.
The subs had a huge difference, Paul McMullan is increasingly become a nuisance for defences. Nice to see.

As Nesta mentioned there, I don't think anyone goes to Drogheda in expectation of a good game of football. Granted, Drogs have more about them going forward than before. They're capable of playing nice stuff, but they're still not good to watch. And the playacting.....worse that Damian MacGraith bought a lot of it. They're not as bad as Pat's, but they are bad at it.

I don't usually go to games in Drogheda any more, and Friday night reminded me of why. The view is brutal obviously, but silly things just make it more unpleasant. Had a bottle cap taken off me going in, but you can buy bottle with caps on in the shop. Then the surface in and around the stadium has gotten worse again. It wouldn't even cost that much to fix. Worst of all was seeing wheelchair users struggle to get across it, particularly just outside the turnstiles. It's bang out of order really.

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Before anyone jumps on, I`m quite aware and not happy about what Dundalk have to offer away fans, but Drogs for away fans is actually quite dangerous, especially in Feb/March and from Sept-Oct, that away terrace and the height of the steps, amazed not more injuries there esp with big away following. Poor view too for 1/3 pitch, but OP is exact same, terrible view same for away fans that area.

Louth is on its own, only GAA county that can't host big games (Louth playing at 'home' v Monaghan in Newbridge tomorrow) then you have Utd Park and Oriel. It won't happen anytime soon, but if Dundalk got back to Europe, wonder would there be an option to use the new Louth GAA stadium in Dundalk, (ready by 2027 I hear), for a one off game, I`m sure 50k to rent would come in handy.