Games weekend 24th / 25th Feb 2023

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Originally Posted by Longfordian

I've been critical all week so I'm delighted to give credit for an excellent result for LTFC tonight. Didn't get to watch it but it sounds like a spirited performance from a very young team. Athlone may be better than I had given them credit for too given their good win tonight.

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Brilliant performance from the young lads. Very unfortunate own goal, probably caused by the new floodlights. The Waterford lads on commentary said before the game that they were the brightest lights they've ever seen and the pylons are low. And that this could cause issues with high balls coming in. Jack made a great double save but other than that I don't think Waterford had much more chances. Very nervy opening 15-20 minutes but after that they settled down. Muhammed took his very well in fairness to him. But I do still think we look very light up top.

Shels better than last week frustrating loss when it was a pretty tight even game but like alot of games last season looking too blunt in the final third. I thought Barrett was fouled leading up to the Pats goal "one of a number of questionable decisions by Neil Doyle" which is a phrase I've been saying on Friday nights for nearly decades now

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

Shels better than last week frustrating loss when it was a pretty tight even game but like alot of games last season looking too blunt in the final third. I thought Barrett was fouled leading up to the Pats goal "one of a number of questionable decisions by Neil Doyle" which is a phrase I've been saying on Friday nights for nearly decades now

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I don't see a foul in the replay. Looks like Lewis just gets to the ball in front of Barrett who was excellent for the most part tonight. We were fairly poor tonight but I won't complain about the result. Shels were very defensively set up but I don't see them being in danger at the end of the season. They will grind out enough wins for safety. We will need to improve if we're to challenge for the title and top three. Very ponderous in possession with Redmond and Lewis often passing the ball between themselves for what felt like minutes at a time.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Malley has been a find.

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Early days but can't agree with this. He looked good in our preseason friendlies and I was excited about him but the real stuff has started now and he's been massively disappointing in both games. All I can remember him doing is giving the free kick away for the UCD equaliser when he should have been long subbed and losing the ball tonight for Bohs second.

Not sure what his role is either, he's not playing as a number 10 anyway. He's had two chances and hasn't done it. Yli Kokko, impressed when he came on and should be given a chance next Friday

Athlone Town flying. Hinds in midfield looks a real find.

Missing our new striker Pierrot through suspension aswell, I expect him to bag alot of goals this season, looked such a handful against Longford before the silly sending off.

Harps were chronic bad tonight. Athlone look a handy enough side though.

Referee was utterly abysmal for both sides too.

Could be a long season for us, but it's early days for an entirely new squad.

On another note, the complete lack of any sort of match night arrangements for Athlone is a worry. Zero stewards, zero crowd segregation, zero organisation at the gates, and a mad looking half time kickabout by about 30 teenagers on the pitch who kept running in the middle of the two teams groups of subs who were doing their half time drills.
Never seen a more chaotic setup.

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Originally Posted by mcgonigle

Early days but can't agree with this. He looked good in our preseason friendlies and I was excited about him but the real stuff has started now and he's been massively disappointing in both games. All I can remember him doing is giving the free kick away for the UCD equaliser when he should have been long subbed and losing the ball tonight for Bohs second.

Not sure what his role is either, he's not playing as a number 10 anyway. He's had two chances and hasn't done it. Yli Kokko, impressed when he came on and should be given a chance next Friday

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Didnt see any of preseason but from the first 2 games I think there is a quality player there. Could change opinion if the whole team are hitting a stride and he isnt showing up. I felt that he scrambled reasonably well, plugging gaps in a midfield that was on the back foot. You are right about the significance of those errors, there have been 2 frees now that hurt us in 2 games. but there was plenty of sloppy moments from more than Malley.

We are top of the league, said we are top of the league…

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Originally Posted by ger121

We are top of the league, said we are top of the league…

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Pleasantly surprised by Bohs. 2 games, 2 wins and Dundalk were **** poor tonight. Dundalk goal was a freak bounce from a long range shot Talbot normally deals with all day long.

It took until July for Bohs to win 2 games in a row last season. Hopefully Bohs can continue their form. Nothing to fear from that shocking Dundalk side

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Harps were chronic bad tonight. Athlone look a handy enough side though.

Referee was utterly abysmal for both sides too.

Could be a long season for us, but it's early days for an entirely new squad.

On another note, the complete lack of any sort of match night arrangements for Athlone is a worry. Zero stewards, zero crowd segregation, zero organisation at the gates, and a mad looking half time kickabout by about 30 teenagers on the pitch who kept running in the middle of the two teams groups of subs who were doing their half time drills.
Never seen a more chaotic setup.

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Welcome back to the First Division

Frustrating result for Waterford in a game they were expected to win. Dominated early on and scored with an own goal and had lots of corners but left Longford back into the game. After Longford equalised we got on top again but didn't create clear chances and Longford defended well. In injury time Longford had a shot that went just over the bar.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Disappointing to lose against Sligo this evening; general view (including Paul Buttner) is the winning penalty was outside the box. Certainly looks very tight on the highlights

Thought we played well overall though and certainly we're better than I was thinking we would be. Behan and Kinsella-Bishop have come on well after a year in the LSL and that could be huge for us.

Not sure who we'll finish ahead of yet, but I'd be more confident we will finish ahead of someone

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Yeah thought ye did well. We started both halves great but ye managed to score inside the first couple of minutes then it as all us both halves until we equalised but even enough both halves after that. Winninng penalty looks outside but couldn’t believe he didn’t give a third one after.

Good to see a decent home support. Enjoyed the young lads down the front with the drum. Especially the “is this a library” chant. Pitch not in great knick but never is this time of the year with the rugby from memory

Didn’t do the predictions at the start but would have had ye in playoffs with Cork bottom. Haven’t seen anything to change that yet

Anyone got a loan of a centre half for next week?

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Originally Posted by Dermobohs

Pleasantly surprised by bohs , we look very up for it, Devine backing up the talk , I’m impressed. Definitely up for the top 4 battle. Sligo Patrick’s and Derry all look very good, shams curiously stale, ucd and drogs also up for a fight, shels a bit flat so far, poor signings? Fascinating start.

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Great to see every Bohs player work so hard. Defence looking good they can play ball and put in strong tackles, midfield pacey, skillful, willing to work with plenty of creativity and uptop a handful for any defence. We just need to see games out better. A great start to the season but there won't be any easy games this year and that includes the teams expected to be at the bottom. So one game at a time.

bohs impressive on highlights. devine has the rocket up them anyway. gary cronins fingerprints all over that team, helps working with better players aswell. city are going down , we are hopeless.

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Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

Didn’t think we looked jaded , in fact if Kenny took a few of the sitters he was played in for we’d of been at least 3 up… he didn’t and then the Grace/Cleary moron show kicked in ….. Cleary particularly was a disgrace managing to go out of his way to make sure he got two yellows ; he’s been superb since he joined but tonight’s act of petulance will take a long time to redeem

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Clearys second yellow looks harsh

11 yellows and 3 reds in Rovers first 2 matches. Cleary needs to reflect on his actions this week and i am sure he will but when will people learn that narking a ref in no way helps you or your teams chances of winning. Get the psychology support staff in there quick Bradser. When you look back at this season in in its entirety on paper 2 draws away to Sligo and Drogheda would not raise any disapproving eyebrows but this mornings reflections are more of the shooting ourselves in both feet with both barrels type. Derry next week now assumes an even bigger rating on the importance pole, 3 defenders missing, the team possibly afraid/reluctant to tackle and refs looking to nail Rovers players petulance. Full house cant wait WAR.

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Originally Posted by Kingswood Rover

11 yellows and 3 reds in Rovers first 2 matches. Cleary needs to reflect on his actions this week and i am sure he will but when will people learn that narking a ref in no way helps you or your teams chances of winning. Get the psychology support staff in there quick Bradser. When you look back at this season in in its entirety on paper 2 draws away to Sligo and Drogheda would not raise any disapproving eyebrows but this mornings reflections are more of the shooting ourselves in both feet with both barrels type. Derry next week now assumes an even bigger rating on the importance pole, 3 defenders missing, the team possibly afraid/reluctant to tackle and refs looking to nail Rovers players petulance. Full house cant wait WAR.

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Expect Sean Hoare will be fit and is it confirmed that Lopes is suspended next week ? As for the 11 yellows not as bad as it looks as nearly all of them were for time wasting after the red cards… agree 100% that Cleary et al need to reflect on their indiscipline…. And Bradley will ensure they will

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Originally Posted by wexfordned

Pleasantly surprised by Bohs. 2 games, 2 wins and Dundalk were **** poor tonight. Dundalk goal was a freak bounce from a long range shot Talbot normally deals with all day long.

It took until July for Bohs to win 2 games in a row last season. Hopefully Bohs can continue their form. Nothing to fear from that shocking Dundalk side

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When you think of all the Dundalk sides since 2014, that has to be the poorest one for quality I have seen. For sure early days yet but a great start. Big improvement since the dark days of last season and we actually have a bit of bite in us this year, which is very pleasing.

All part of the plan, be rubbish early, give a false sense of security and then roar back to win the league!

11 yellows in Dalymount last night from Harvey the madman, who was as bad as I've seen him in ages. Not a bad tackle or any real aggro in the game either.

Will judge things moreso after 10 games but the town were very poor tonight bar a spell in the first half and the last 10 minutes. Tidy in the middle but no pace or tempo in the team at all and very little invention. Positioning all over the place at the back & lacking a Garts/ Connolly to talk the young lads through games. Looks like the young lads signed are getting to grips with mens ball and the pace, tempo and power of the league is at a level they're not used to.

Hoban's hold up play still as good as ever but what bit of pace he has is gone, was through one on one with a couple yards head start and was easily caught, few years ago you'd put your house on him getting through and scoring. The Finnish lad showed flashes of quality when he came on and got a great goal, the Swansea lad too looks a decent player.

Devine & Cronin have Bohs back ticking, set up well and plenty of energy, fight and quality back in the team. If they can keep Afolabi fit he's going to have a great season and would expect them to be challenging for Europe. Special word for Dylan Connolly, still the wannabe wind up merchant whose easily wound up himself, bags of pace and no end product. Bohs have finally replaced Wardy for the entertainment value.

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Originally Posted by total hoofball

Shels better than last week frustrating loss when it was a pretty tight even game but like alot of games last season looking too blunt in the final third. I thought Barrett was fouled leading up to the Pats goal "one of a number of questionable decisions by Neil Doyle" which is a phrase I've been saying on Friday nights for nearly decades now

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I thought Shels were very good last night (and I don’t say that lightly :p). Pats pretty poor really. Shels really got after us, and their passing was pretty good too. We struggled to create and looked ponderous. Felt like we stole the points really, but that can be a nice feeling at times too :cool:

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Originally Posted by ger121

When you think of all the Dundalk sides since 2014, that has to be the poorest one for quality I have seen. For sure early days yet but a great start. Big improvement since the dark days of last season and we actually have a bit of bite in us this year, which is very pleasing.

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Dundalk were dreadful last night, but on comparison still a long way to go with performances for 2-3 months in the summer of 2021 under Magilton, including a 5-1 defeat in Dalymount, those few months were almost rock bottom stuff. Lost at home to Finn Harps first time in 30 years or so, scrapped draws home and away to Longford, almost tools down stuff before he eventually left, and Perth came back to steady the ship and finish 6th.

We deserved absolutely nothing last night, really poor start to the campaign.

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Originally Posted by oriel

Dundalk were dreadful last night, but on comparison still a long way to go with performances for 2-3 months in the summer of 2021 under Magilton, including a 5-1 defeat in Dalymount, those few months were almost rock bottom stuff. Lost at home to Finn Harps first time in 30 years or so, scrapped draws home and away to Longford, almost tools down stuff before he eventually left, and Perth came back to steady the ship and finish 6th.

We deserved absolutely nothing last night, really poor start to the campaign.

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Indo is reporting that Pats’ case v O’Donnell is in court on Monday. Some Dundalk fans on here were hoping it had gone away but that was always wishful thinking. Makes a nice scene setter for next Friday in Oriel!

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Originally Posted by patsdad

Indo is reporting that Pats’ case v O’Donnell is in court on Monday. Some Dundalk fans on here were hoping it had gone away but that was always wishful thinking. Makes a nice scene setter for next Friday in Oriel!

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Manager leaves club after winning them an FAI Cup

Can managers not leave whenever they want?

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Originally Posted by patsdad

Indo is reporting that Pats’ case v O’Donnell is in court on Monday. Some Dundalk fans on here were hoping it had gone away but that was always wishful thinking. Makes a nice scene setter for next Friday in Oriel!

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Hoping for what?

He agreed a verbal contract extension then decided not to take it up ?

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Originally Posted by dundalkfc10

Manager leaves club after winning them an FAI Cup

Can managers not leave whenever they want?

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Originally Posted by oriel

Hoping for what?

He agreed a verbal contract extension then decided not to take it up ?

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No need for us to speculate about it here, I’m sure it’ll all come out in court.

We have more red cards than points. Doing ourselves absolutely no favours and getting none either. Some positive signs all the same. Burke and Jack look reasonably sharp. Poom and Kenny looked a bit better even if Kenny missed every chance he got.

Drogs have some good players though. Holding on to Markey was good for them. Deegan still doing his thing. Reckon they'll be alright. Might need to find a striker.

We are in serious trouble for the Derry game though. Will be a back 3 of players who are either coming back to fitness or not centre halves or both.

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Originally Posted by Town Legend

Brilliant performance from the young lads. Very unfortunate own goal, probably caused by the new floodlights. The Waterford lads on commentary said before the game that they were the brightest lights they've ever seen and the pylons are low. And that this could cause issues with high balls coming in. Jack made a great double save but other than that I don't think Waterford had much more chances. Very nervy opening 15-20 minutes but after that they settled down. Muhammed took his very well in fairness to him. But I do still think we look very light up top.

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This is no word of a lie, driving into the RSC last night at the roundabout I was genuinely dazzled by one of the floodlights over on the new stand side of the ground. During the game I looked up for a header and it took me a good few seconds for the blur to go. Saw a few players misjudge crosses because of the lights, they are incredibly strong

Premier Division highlights.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...AQKvBNEGiejfeA

First Division highlights not available yet. FAITV have shared a video on Kerry's first match:
https://youtu.be/p126SYIjMEs

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

We have more red cards than points. Doing ourselves absolutely no favours and getting none either. Some positive signs all the same. Burke and Jack look reasonably sharp. Poom and Kenny looked a bit better even if Kenny missed every chance he got.

Drogs have some good players though. Holding on to Markey was good for them. Deegan still doing his thing. Reckon they'll be alright. Might need to find a striker.

We are in serious trouble for the Derry game though. Will be a back 3 of players who are either coming back to fitness or not centre halves or both.

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Bradley in his post match interview said that the ref booked the wrong player for Clearys’s first yellow; he said even the linesman and 4th official tried to point that out but ref wouldn’t listen … so if that’s correct then surely Rovers will use the new process and appeal and hopefully have the ‘red’ downgraded to yellow which would free up Cleary and if as expected Hoare is fit then things won’t be so bleak ….

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Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

Bradley in his post match interview said that the ref booked the wrong player for Clearys’s first yellow; he said even the linesman and 4th official tried to point that out but ref wouldn’t listen … so if that’s correct then surely Rovers will use the new process and appeal and hopefully have the ‘red’ downgraded to yellow which would free up Cleary and if as expected Hoare is fit then things won’t be so bleak ….

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Can't appeal two yellows but perhaps this falls under mistaken identity? Again, I thought that only applied if it was a straight red but that would make no sense but it's the FAI we're dealing with so....

Speaking of refs. The quality of refereeing in Dalymount was a shambles. Lost count of the number of cards dished out and it was not a dirty game. He kept looking to his linesman before making calls.
What are others opinions on the quality of refereeing in the league so far?

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Can't appeal two yellows but perhaps this falls under mistaken identity? Again, I thought that only applied if it was a straight red but that would make no sense but it's the FAI we're dealing with so....

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Watched it back and the ref booked cleary for delaying the throw in. Cleary and one of the subs were standing talking to each other then the sub threw the ball up the line and it was kicked back to cleary by one of the rovers staff. The ref will probably say cleary should have taken the ball off the sub. The refs never admit to being wrong so no chance it will be overturned.

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Originally Posted by Calcio Jack

Bradley in his post match interview said that the ref booked the wrong player for Clearys’s first yellow; he said even the linesman and 4th official tried to point that out but ref wouldn’t listen … so if that’s correct then surely Rovers will use the new process and appeal and hopefully have the ‘red’ downgraded to yellow which would free up Cleary and if as expected Hoare is fit then things won’t be so bleak ….

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Yeah the first yellow confused me. Cleary then goes ballistic at the ref though, guaranteeing that any other excuse would be taken to send him off. Really stupid. Both were soft but his attitude was poor.

Hoare with Gannon and Kavo either side with O'Neill back in midfield to help protect them would be OK....but you'd fancy Derry's attackers to exploit the lack of fitness and lack of familiarity we will have. Hopefully we can match them for goals and win out in a slugfest.

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Originally Posted by da bishop

Galway win far more convincing than score would indicate, good crowd at Terryland ,some very good performances especially Manning,McCormack and McCarthy,Treaty tried hard but were well beaten,didnt create one chance from play,interesting to note not one player from Limerick on the team afaik.

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Pretty difficult to find local players to step up when most of the top junior teams in the city are paying their players(ahem, allegedly)

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Originally Posted by ger121

Speaking of refs. The quality of refereeing in Dalymount was a shambles. Lost count of the number of cards dished out and it was not a dirty game. He kept looking to his linesman before making calls.
What are others opinions on the quality of refereeing in the league so far?

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Quality of reffing in the league is awful. On top of dishing out the cards on Friday I felt that he never actually had a grip on the game or the respect of the players. I assume the bit of a coming together after the game was players/managers having a go at the ref as both sides had some questionable decisions against them. I'm not sure how you improve it though because I can't see where funds would come from to make it a well paying pursuit and if you pay peanuts you're not going to attract the best candidates.

Tbf, the northern ref they sent to oriel for UCD game was poor imo and he's done UCL and international games.

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Originally Posted by da bishop

Galway win far more convincing than score would indicate, good crowd at Terryland ,some very good performances especially Manning,McCormack and McCarthy,Treaty tried hard but were well beaten,didnt create one chance from play,interesting to note not one player from Limerick on the team afaik.

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There were two lads from Limerick starting for Galway and one glad to sit on the bench for Derry City for the rest of the season.

I'll give you a hint, it starts with M and rhymes with Honey.

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Originally Posted by Shearer

There were two lads from Limerick starting for Galway and one glad to sit on the bench for Derry City for the rest of the season.

I'll give you a hint, it starts with M and rhymes with Honey.

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would you take a poorer job for expenses or a better job where you were paid a decent wage? ryan aint a PD keeper but if hes offered a solid wage at a PD side to be 2nd choice then he'd be mad not to take that.