Games weekend 2nd August

Having seen a lot of Dundalk this season I thought they were going in the right direction even before Daly came in, Burns and Garts got rid of the ticky tacky crap and had Dundalk going after teams again and it was working. Daly came in and got some good early results but that was one of the worst performances I've seen from any side so far this season tonight.

I've also very rarely if ever seen the home fans turn on the players but the ground emptied very quickly with chants of your not fit to wear the shirt and words exchanged between some players and fans. Not exactly what Daly and Moutney had in mind when they talked about the importance of the crowd in the lead up to the game all week.

Lots of talk on here tonight about Pohls but my God this new chap at Dundalk is a total calamity.

If Dundalk start that GK again for rest of season he will effectively give the opposition a one goal start, he is brutal. End of. I'd actually put the first goal down as an own goal, the state of him flapping at it, actually embarrassing for a pro.

He's not alone mind, the defence as a whole is all over the shop with no one taking control, Mountney as captain was as quiet as a church mouse, Boyle has to be the man to lead, not sure he did, but this is a team which should be fighting for their lives, yet they are in almost in pedestrian pace.

Shocking performance and deserved nothing, Galway could have won by 3 min.

3 defeats in a row for Waterford now. Rovers dominated the first half and could have been 2 or 3 up by half time. We stood off them. Big change in 2nd half when we got on top and deserved to be level. Rovers had a good finish to game with Burke finishing well from a cross to back post for winner.
We need a win v Bohs away next week to get back on track and keep in hunt for European football.

"Leonardo Gaxha opened the scoring for Athlone in the 33rd minute just two weeks after departing Kerry for the midlanders, but Oran Crowe and Andrew Spain had the visitors ahead at the break."
Very lazy by RTE.

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Originally Posted by trevy

3 defeats in a row for Waterford now. Rovers dominated the first half and could have been 2 or 3 up by half time. We stood off them. Big change in 2nd half when we got on top and deserved to be level. Rovers had a good finish to game with Burke finishing well from a cross to back post for winner.
We need a win v Bohs away next week to get back on track and keep in hunt for European football.

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Sorry best we can do is an entertaining draw.

Just watched the clanger from Pohls. He’s woeful when he has to come off his line. How many costly mistakes has he made this year?

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

I havent seen a keeper practically throw a ball in to the net like tonight since Jody Byrne but at least we ended up winning the league that year after he was dropped for the mad hatter Van Boxtel.

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You’ve a very short memory so - Ross Munro did the exact same thing back in May when we beat ye 2-0 down here, he threw the first goal into the net

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

The old become the new new. It amuses at times when people talk about gegenpress/high press as a football revoluton - Jack Charltons Ireland were all about pressing and putting pressure on out of possession, closing down all the time, full of fish and chips and minus the fitness levels today. Sure it was long ball, no passing out from the back heart attack football but effective. Ive been a critic of Caulfield and his rudimentary tactics in the past but mainly because he had players that could do more than run through walls but this Galways side are not full of ballers but credit where it is due, he is getting the job done of consolidating Galway in a pragmatic way. Now if the qualify for Europe and sign a bunch of top players and keep with plan A then its back to criticism. It would be a repeat of the cycle that happened at Cork.

I havent seen a keeper practically throw a ball in to the net like tonight since Jody Byrne but at least we ended up winning the league that year after he was dropped for the mad hatter Van Boxtel. If in trouble at the bottom of the table, the last thing you need is players with no confidence in a keeper. The body language was like having Abibi back where players just dropped the heads after a pretty soft goal and just retreat deep. Loss of any momentum being built up and even a couple of draws and its advantage Drogheda. Thought Dundalk were wasteful too, it looked like the lack of goals was lifting a bit but when you see a bunch of long range efforts being pinged in and off target its a sign of desperation in the players imo.

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That'd be fantastic for the club, a real boost in confidence and obviously the money made from it. Even if it were just for a round (Derry) or two, a la Shels this year, it'd be a great experience. You can see how much it meant to them after nearly 20 years without any Euro competition.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

I havent seen a keeper practically throw a ball in to the net like tonight since Jody Byrne but at least we ended up winning the league that year after he was dropped for the mad hatter Van Boxtel. If in trouble at the bottom of the table, the last thing you need is players with no confidence in a keeper. The body language was like having Abibi back where players just dropped the heads after a pretty soft goal and just retreat deep. Loss of any momentum being built up and even a couple of draws and its advantage Drogheda. Thought Dundalk were wasteful too, it looked like the lack of goals was lifting a bit but when you see a bunch of long range efforts being pinged in and off target its a sign of desperation in the players imo.

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Oh God, I forgot about that guy.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

I havent seen a keeper practically throw a ball in to the net like tonight since Jody Byrne but at least we ended up winning the league that year after he was dropped for the mad hatter Van Boxtel. If in trouble at the bottom of the table, the last thing you need is players with no confidence in a keeper. The body language was like havingAbibi back where players just dropped the heads after a pretty soft goal and just retreat deep. Loss of any momentum being built up and even a couple of draws and its advantage Drogheda. Thought Dundalk were wasteful too, it looked like the lack of goals was lifting a bit but when you see a bunch of long range efforts being pinged in and off target its a sign of desperation in the players imo.

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Funnily enough, my first experience of LOI would've been 93/94 ish, watching Sports Stadium highlights on Saturday mornings. I remember both of them being awful whenever I saw them on TV as a little kid.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Loss of any momentum being built up and even a couple of draws and its advantage Drogheda. Thought Dundalk were wasteful too, it looked like the lack of goals was lifting a bit but when you see a bunch of long range efforts being pinged in and off target its a sign of desperation in the players imo.

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I'd like to see Dundalk stay up, but with the lowest goals scored, and despite beating Drogs recently, they're looking like they're getting their act together. It's gonna be an all Louth shootout to stay up.

Harps in a bad run of form. Success' inconsistency has shone through after a bright start, just one goal in his last ten.

Would take him back in the morning tho.

Kerry need an experienced no nonsense defender. Throwing away two goal leads isn't good enough. Bray and Athlone taking a share of the spoils.

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Originally Posted by legendz

Kerry need an experienced no nonsense defender. Throwing away two goal leads isn't good enough. Bray and Athlone taking a share of the spoils.

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Saw they were 3-1 up and well into the 80th minute and yet I thought that could finished 3-3 or 4-3 to Athlone. They just have form throwing away big leads in the closing stages.

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

You’ve a very short memory so - Ross Munro did the exact same thing back in May when we beat ye 2-0 down here, he threw the first goal into the net

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Naw it wa more miss timed and through the hands, what Im talking about is throwing the ball in to the net....but maybe there have been so many calamities recently they are merging.

They are - he tried to palm it over the crossbar but instead just flapped it into the net

Rovers wre good last night with a good bit of squad rotation as well with Europe inm mind.
Good to see McEneff on the bench and also only 20 to 30 mins for clarke farrugia honohan burke all of whom i would expect to start in europe mid week.

if Derry could beat Shels on Monday we would be 7 points behind (if wewin our game in hand).
Its do able but we havent even approached the levels needed to go on a 4or 5 game wiining streak...........be a good time to start

Rovers would also need Shels and Derry to drop points over at least 2 more weekends, and to win at the same time to get back into serious contention.

That said PP odds are shortening:

Shels........ 11/10
Derry........ 6/4
Rovers.......9/2

To finish bottom

Drogs .....4/11
DFC........13/5
Pats........14/1
Bohs.......20/1

No even sure why Pats / Bohs are even priced, its a straight shoot out between the two from Co Louth who are easily the worst 2 in the division this year.

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Originally Posted by oriel

Rovers would also need Shels and Derry to drop points over at least 2 more weekends, and to win at the same time to get back into serious contention.

That said PP odds are shortening:

Shels........ 11/10
Derry........ 6/4
Rovers.......9/2

To finish bottom

Drogs .....4/11
DFC........13/5
Pats........14/1
Bohs.......20/1

No even sure why Pats / Bohs are even priced, its a straight shoot out between the two from Co Louth who are easily the worst 2 in the division this year.

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Stranger things have happened, I remember Tony McCoy coming off a horse and the beast was put out to 999/1 by Betfair traders trying to catch the unwary, he was heading back to the weighing room in a Jeep when he became aware that the other runners had fell too, he remounted and won his race, they banned remounts after that.

In this case Dregs and Dun are only overriding over round to about 1.01, all the other teams mathematically relegateable represent the layers profit.

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Originally Posted by redarmyfaction

Stranger things have happened, I remember Tony McCoy coming off a horse and the beast was put out to 999/1 by Betfair traders trying to catch the unwary, he was heading back to the weighing room in a Jeep when he became aware that the other runners had fell too, he remounted and won his race, they banned remounts after that.

In this case Dregs and Dun are only overriding over round to about 1.01, all the other teams mathematically relegateable represent the layers profit.

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The Racing Post memorably interviewed one of the traders on the day who had spunked his assiduously won and substantial Bank to win, I think a diver, gave his account and finished with" I can't talk any more about it, I am going out to get bladded".

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

They are - he tried to palm it over the crossbar but instead just flapped it into the net

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No they're not - your turn!

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Originally Posted by Shearer

Harps in a bad run of form. Success' inconsistency has shone through after a bright start, just one goal in his last ten.

Would take him back in the morning tho.

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Seems to be a serious lack of confidence in the squad at the minute. Awful run of form and really needs to turn around before it's too late.

After Fridays game, it was easily the most angry I've seen Darren Murphy post match. He was absolutely raging with our defending of set pieces, which has been a huge achilles heel for us this season.

Going forward there's a real lack of goals, and Success is definitely struggling in that regard now too. We've only scored 6 goals in our last 11 games and on a run of 4 defeats in a row including the cup game at Cork, and now two more away games in a row to Wexford and UCD.

Been pointed out that aside from Cork, we're the only team who hasn't been outside the playoff places this year, but I'd fear that'll soon change unless a spark comes from somewhere.

Rob hennessy does what he does and gives Pats an unbelievably awful decision for a last minute penelty winner.
One of the sligo staff got a straight red for saying something to him after the match finished. I presume it was something along the lines of you are a ducking clown

That last min pen formPats was an awful decision…..even if it is a good result for Rovers! Sligo still playing v well. An enjoyable match

We should start a refereeing howler thread,that’s a joke,how we send Rob Hennessy to do European games is mind boggling….

I have to look at this penalty as it is all over the place.

The guards spent 4 or 5 years investigating match fixing in the LOI to no avail, I know the door they should be knocking on and the same guy will be out next week doing the same thing without any rebuke.

I know your probably not serious about the matchfixing I think its just rank incompetence

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

I know your probably not serious about the matchfixing I think its just rank incompetence

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Its as bad a decision I can remember, its so bad it would question the match fixing angle. It really is that bad.
Either way there are zero consequences for bad decisions/ performances which means it will keep happening and the standard if ref will not improve.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

I know your probably not serious about the matchfixing I think its just rank incompetence

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You have to be sure for such a big decision. Pats really did spend big this week.

I agree one of the worst decisions in a career littered with some absolute howlers. A thread on refs is a good idea.

The Anthony Buttimer finishing school.
Absolutely unaccountable , and he’s not alone.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

I know your probably not serious about the matchfixing I think its just rank incompetence

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I don't believe in match fixing in our league

I have warned and warned about Rob Hennessy about some of the utter dog-shyt refereeing 'decisions' he has given against Shels during the past 2 years which has caused Duff to lose his mind but then Duff gets the brunt of his comments with suspensions and criticisms over his character on social media

I have wondered with Hennessy it is a personal vendetta against Shels or is the guy genuinely hilariously incompetent who you wouldn't have referee at your kids under 8 level football or does he have pre-determined interests in whom which of the teams wins the games he is refereeing in. One of those three determinations is solidified for me based on his latest 'decision' today in the 8th minute of stoppage time today

Given the feedback above and online I must be wrong but I was in line with it and honestly thought it was a penalty. He had a hold of Turner's jersey and dragged him, a couple of us were even saying we'd be fuming with the stupidity of it were we Sligo fans. Haven't seen it back though so maybe just caught in the moment.

For what it's worth I think the linesman gave it too rather than Hennessey.

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Originally Posted by Thewhitepele

You have to be sure for such a big decision. Pats really did spend big this week.

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Hennessey was shocking tonight and the winning penalty indeed looks a howler from the TV angle, but to burst the bubble of the rather enjoyable tinfoil hat posts like this one, I was right in line with it on the camac and the defender pulled Luke Turners shirt. He dropped to the ground straight away once it happened but it was an absolutely clueless piece of defending to allow a ref like Hennessey an opportunity to give a peno. The jersey pull itself wasn’t enough for Turner to naturally go down, but it’s the only way refs give fouls these days

I think most clubs could give you a check list of awful decisions by Hennesy against them. He is incompetent on an equal opportunities basis I reckon

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Given the feedback above and online I must be wrong but I was in line with it and honestly thought it was a penalty. He had a hold of Turner's jersey and dragged him, a couple of us were even saying we'd be fuming with the stupidity of it were we Sligo fans. Haven't seen it back though so maybe just caught in the moment.

For what it's worth I think the linesman gave it too rather than Hennessey.

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Exact same reaction from around where I was on the camac. Firstly celebrated winning the peno then pure laughter and disbelief at the defender’s stupidity

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Hennessey was shocking tonight and the winning penalty indeed looks a howler from the TV angle, but to burst the bubble of the rather enjoyable tinfoil hat posts like this one, I was right in line with it on the camac and the defender pulled Luke Turners shirt. He dropped to the ground straight away once it happened but it was an absolutely clueless piece of defending to allow a ref like Hennessey an opportunity to give a peno. The jersey pull itself wasn’t enough for Turner to naturally go down, but it’s the only way refs give fouls these days

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It was tongue in cheek, rather than tinfoil hat...but none the less an amazing decision.

Refereeing aside… I thought Jamie Lennon had an absolute howler of a performance, he won the ball back a fair bit as usual but constantly gave it away and both Sligo goals came from him cheaply giving it away with wayward passes. Thought Sjoberg was Pats best player tonight and Elbouzedi and Kavanagh were both excellent when they came on. Great to get a win 3 days off the back of a European away game, particularly against a good in form side like Sligo

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Refereeing aside… I thought Jamie Lennon had an absolute howler of a performance, he won the ball back a fair bit as usual but constantly gave it away and both Sligo goals came from him cheaply giving it away with wayward passes. Thought Sjoberg was Pats best player tonight and Elbouzedi and Kavanagh were both excellent when they came on. Great to get a win 3 days off the back of a European away game, particularly against a good in form side like Sligo

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Spot on. Jamie gave the ball away repeatedly, and as you say, for both Sligo goals. Mind you, it was a cracking finish for the first goal.Big three points for us, and I thought we did well considering the game on Thursday. Brandon Kavanagh was excellent when he came on, Kian Leavy was very good too. Can’t comment on the penalty, as I didn’t see it from where I was sitting. Sligo will be kicking themselves though, as they spurned a glorious chance gifted to them by Anang at 2-2. We’ve been on the wrong end of results in these tights games so often this season, maybe our luck is finally starting to turn.

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Originally Posted by TonyD

Spot on. Jamie gave the ball away repeatedly, and as you say, for both Sligo goals. Mind you, it was a cracking finish for the first goal.Big three points for us, and I thought we did well considering the game on Thursday. Brandon Kavanagh was excellent when he came on, Kian Leavy was very good too. Can’t comment on the penalty, as I didn’t see it from where I was sitting. Sligo will be kicking themselves though, as they spurned a glorious chance gifted to them by Anang at 2-2. We’ve been on the wrong end of results in these tights games so often this season, maybe our luck is finally starting to turn.

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Yeah a big let off with them hitting the post at 2-2. The game was in the balance at that stage and could’ve gone either way with Lennon hitting the bar too. Thought a draw would’ve been a fair result but delighted it went our way

Love Jamie but he's been so poor generally this season by his usual standards. Still gets through trojan work (think he has the most tackles won in the league) and sometimes I think he's hung out to dry by being the only midfielder with any defensive responsibility to his game, but he's made heaps on errors in possession. Talk he's off to America in the off season and it'd be a shame for him to go out on this note.

On a similar note I feel like Joe Redmond has been playing half fit all season. His movement has looked awkward and he's seemed like he's playing through pain the majority of games and been half the player he has been previously.