Yeah he commanded his box excellently. Playing against Caulfield's ogres pumping the ball into the box from all angles is always the most difficult games in the LOI for keepers this season but he dealt with it well
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That should be us safe now I think. Wishing for a Rovers win is a not something I’d like to repeat too often.
In a league season of unpredictability, who would have predicted that all the Top 4 sides would actually win. Going to be some end to the season.
A Sligo win tonight and a Bohs draw away to Waterford would open the door for the Drogs if they can shock Tolka Park.
If Pat's are to claim an unlikely title, they'll probably need Drogheda taking points off Shels and relegated Dundalk taking points off Rovers. Pat's beating Derry will put Derry at risk of missing out on the top 3. Sligo away is a tough final day assignment for Pat's. Rovers are likely to be big winners if Derry are taking points off Shels on the final day.
The impetulance of Caulfield is a long time old not just getting there. Seems that SK and JC may have renewed old friendships. Horgan was always unashamedly impetulant and would be at the head of a scuffle not hiding behind his players and still being landed on his ars€.
It was entertaining stuff in Oriel at least. Not sure you'd have picked out the relegated side for significant spells. Dundalk were unlucky not to level the game if not to ultimately lose it. Even the 1st goal was almost actually off strikers backside. The real entertainment was in the stand post match and the subsequent stories about it. Over all the years one of the daftest things done by a Dundalk fan is to thump a barrister. There is a sense of relief that the focus can no be fully truned on the clubs future and the small details can be addressed like getting a license for next season and not bein folded.
Caulfield wasn’t sent of collopy and Byrne. Jc has given United fans their best season in 3 decades and a whole new generation of football fans. Why do the highlights skip contentious decisions like the Pats handball last night ???
JC is always impetulant sent off or not. Best season in 3 decades sure but everything is relative. If he was even a slightly braver man he'd have done more at Cork and maybe even have Galway in a title race proper. As has been noted above, Galway only started to play when they went behind and really put St Pats under pressure. What might have been if he hadnt tried to George Graham everything!
Nice win for Cobh to end the year, even if it was only Bray’s reserves. Some good players coming through the Bray academy to give them credit. Will be an interesting off-season for Ramblers.
In fairness, I don’t think Galway would have outplayed us if a footballing game had broken out. They were competitive and very difficult to play against, and their tactic of getting the ball into the box at every opportunity caused us problems. They did what they had to do, which I don’t really have a problem with. The antics on the sideline are another matter. I think Caulfield and Ollie thrive on the aggro tbh. After the kerfuffle at half time Galway really came out with the bit between their teeth in the second half, and the equaliser was a superb strike. It was a big win for Pats, and a game we’d likely have lost at the start of the season.
Yeah my point last night about Galway only trying to really play when behind wasn't a slight on them or the style of play, literally just that they were aggressive when behind and a bit passive when not. Very good at what they do though, it's weird to think Pat's have such a good record against them this season because it's felt like a real battle every time. Last night was probably the most entertaining game of the four I'd say.
All the sideline stuff aside, it was a belter of a game with the deserving side winning. Pats played some lovely stuff and are on a great run, if there was 6 more games left and not 2, they’d win the league.
Referring to Galway players as ogres is a bit unfair. If that works for them, and it clearly has, then it is has proven to be a good tactic. It may not be beautiful but until points are awarded for style of play it makes no difference.
I am not one to expect entertianment at a football game. I go to the cinema or theatre for that. At a football match I go to see my team win 3 pts regardless of how they do it.
The path is easy to set out but unfortunately it’s now very unlikely.
Pats have to win their remaining two (very likely)
Shels must drop points to Drogs in next game and to Derry in last game (quite likely)
Rovers must drop points either away to Dundalk or home to Waterford (very unlikely) and add 2 less to their GD than Pats do.
That Dylan Watts goal for Rovers last night is going to be the difference.
We are all assuming shels don't win their next 2....reasonable based on form but they are 2 clear with 2 to play.....if pats beat derry and rovers don't beat Dundalk its over , shels have won the league before even traveling to derry. Pats are favourites to beat derry and rovers have an awful record in Oriel.
As a neutral shouting for Pat's currently, I'm pinning my hopes on Drogheda taking points off Shels. After Kenny's success with Dundalk, it will be some result if there is a kick in Dundalk and they take points off Rovers.
There is a scenario where Rovers and Pat's could be level on points and goal difference going into the final round.
I didnt say it was ineffective, Ive recently said that Galway should be give the league trophy for their season, Cauldfields Cork sdes were effective too and went toe to toe at times with Dundalk, at times in that one off games like cup finals they'd arguably be favourites but over a league season Dundalk would finish ahead. Head to heads were nip and tuck, it was against other sides away from home where leagues were lost. I have little time for his sideline tantrums but because he denies it, Horgan just doesnt care. In terms of his football philosophy the short comings are not the style of football but how much more cautious his sides are away from home for example, and when there is no option that to go at sides they are more than just in a game. Imo if he was braver, didnt treat away fixtures in an old way really, where you're happy with a 0-0 point, he'd probably overall have picked up more points than what were saved by sitting in. It is an anomaly season where Derry and Galway could be top of the league with such contrasting GD but I dont think there will be seasons like it often and there will be clear top 2 or 3 next year. If Derry dont win anything and Higgins is moved on they have potential to be excellent. Rovers need to freshen things up but are still easilt top two potential. St Pats will be favourites next season. Shels will be good but need to move from on hard to beat and the could. Galway are hitting their heights this season.
the form team in the division Treaty with a win to go 5 unbeaten.....oh wait no pressure with those 5 ,when there was pressure it was 14 without a win.Cant wait for our new ....hybrid model[managers new baby phrase] setup next season ,we are expecting huge things.Harps went missing second half after yet again dominating a first half with a lead.
The end of the Drogs v Rovers was marred by a racial slur from the away section directed at Drigs defender Ahui .
Fair play to Graham Burke for calling out the Rovers fan involved and reporting to Gardaí.