The trophy presentation was an absolute embarrassment from the FAI, still completely useless they are ......
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The trophy presentation was an absolute embarrassment from the FAI, still completely useless they are ......
An amateurish shambles, total disrespect from them
What happened with the trophy?
Interesting that - in a season where no-one could get any consistency going - the top three all ended on I think their longest winning runs of the season (3 for Shels, 5 for Rovers, 11 for Pat's)
Next year will be very interesting - Shels could get group stage football, but they'd need to strengthen I think. Pat's are favourites for me right now. Rovers then without CL money and in need of a big rebuild - but the academy funding is important stuff medium-term
I still think it's been a fairly poor standard overall, but can't remember a more dramatic season for all that
Shels deserve it , yeah they stumbled at the end but finishing with 3 wins and going to derry and winning is some going.
We have been muck for most of the year if we had sneaked it it would have been incredible.
On to next season and congrats to Shels
Hate to be that guy but...was it offside? Would actually be quite fitting for the league if that's how it was won to be fair! Congrats to Shels regardless, it's been such a weird season that it feels weird to say anyone "deserved" it, but they're a very well coached side and overperformed while their competitors did the opposite. In a mad season it feels fitting a team like them pulled it out of the bag.
Another win for Pats, almost getting boring at this stage. 9 wins on the spin and securing Europe for next year is incredible going relative to where we were only a few months ago. I'm both already looking forward to next season and wary of how much expectation there now will be.
I don't have the words to express how embarrassing I find Derry. How they've managed to finish 4th in a two horse race I have no idea but they continue to outdo themselves. Losing to Drogheda in the final would really top it off, glad we don't need to rely on them to get a result.
Shels probably benefited from the League being so top-heavy with the fixtures in the first couple of months of the season.
Rovers and Pats are probably the strongest teams to finish the year. Doubt Shels will care.
Will be an interesting off-season for them. They could build upon this year, or continue as they have since the summer break and struggle.
Drogheda are such a poor side. Dundalk only have ourselves to blame for not even keeping in touch. If Drogheda play like they did today, Derry could put them to the sword next week. Wouldn't rule out the first division side in the playoff final.
Dundalk have a couple of gems from the academy. If we are around next year, will be interesting to see how they get on in the First. Kenny and Keogh only 18. Luke Mulligan looks decent. TJ Molloy made his debut at 15 (but looks a bit off the first team). Mayowa has definitely become a bit more refined as the year went on. Hopefully we can keep O'Kane, and it should be a decent core of young local lads.
Congrats to Shels!
Pat's fully deserving of their European place. An incredible winning run.
Both Rovers and Pat's, the top two performers in Europe will be starting from Q1 next year. Shels, Rovers and Pat's will be optimistic of making an impact on Europe next year.
They had the old league trophy in TallaghtQuote:
Originally Posted by CorribsideSteve
What a year.
17 and a half years of going to Tolka through absolute misery and pure fury, but there's nothing that I can say that even comes close to the emotions I feel right now as I saunter down O'Connell Street on the way back home to Drimnagh.
The contentment is beyond words. I NEVER thought I'd have moment like Dublin winning the All-Ireland in 2011 or being there for us beating the All Blacks in 2018...
But, standing there in Tolka when Harry scored tonight will live with me forever. Never heard nor felt anything like it.
What a ****ing season.
There is a love that never fades...
UTFR
Congratulations to Shelbourne on winning the league.
Some performance by Duff. 7th in the first season and a cup final. Taking 4th and the final European spot last year. Climbing another 3 places this year to the summit.
Managers of the year based on league:
1. Duff for the above year on year improvement.
2. Caulfield for going from First Division winners to top half of the Premier Division.
3. Stephen Kenny for Pat's incredible end of season run to qualify for Europe.
Notable mentions for Keith Long guiding Waterford to 7th after promotion and John Russell steering Sligo two places higher in a season made more difficult by the qualify of the two promoted sides.
At this early stage looking ahead to next season, the top 7 have the managers in place to be the same top 7 next year.
Whether Cork can have a good off season and a promotion bounce remains to be seen. There's the small matter of Bohs as well. Completely upstaged by all their rivals.
9 into 8 doesn't go, before adding the promotion/relegation winners into the mix.
If Drogheda win as expected, there'll be an immence battle next year.
They have been pathetic. The Bruno’s debacle was pure embarrassing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack B
Their points tally has actually been decreasing for the past 3 seasons.
Higgins manages to make them worse every year.
Well done Shelbourne , to go from promotion to league champions in just 3 seasons is a great achievement, especially when you look at the fact there were at least 3 or 4 teams with far better squad on paper. When Duff was appointed I thought it was just more or less a P.R. appointment and he be gone in 18 months but you can see he inspires hard work and dedication from his players and they give their all for him.
Probably one of the biggest achievements in the LOI in a long time
The best team in the league wins the title every year,and this year is no exception.
Congratulations to shelbourne on being the most consistent team throughout the year.
Every other team below them , without exception, needs to do much better next year.
Is Dermo allowed near the scissors again then?
Boez dermo's assertion that Rovers not winning a 5th title in a row under Bradley would amount to failure deserved the ridicule it received.
Rovers were 15 points behind shels in September (I think) and got the title to go to the last 5 mins of the season.
Next Thursday Rovers play TNS for a chance to cement their place in the ECL play off stages.
Irrespective of how others feel about where Rovers barometer of success lies, it doesn't affect how the Rovers board and fans feel about our team.
Btw, Nesta- don't go missing just cos youse are heading to division 1. Take care of yourself .
I think the TNS game will do a lot to define how Rovers season is viewed, making it past a European group stage is a pretty huge deal. I've not always been convinced by Bradley, but to have won so much before his 40th birthday is already a massive achievement that probably goes underestimated, when you factor in how close he was to losing his job initially, the difficulties faced in his personal life, I only wish him well.
I've been saying all year that teams are less dominant and have dropped so many points because the lower/mid pack are strong, there's been far less easy points to pick up, where teams could rotate or have an off day and still scrape results and I stand by that. It was an outstanding end to the season, Pat's, Rovers and Shels all delivered in the last month when they needed to, only Derry really let themselves down.
There's a lot to look forward to in 2025, but I think on balance it was good for the league to have a new winner, a lot of teams have scope to improve next season, Shels will have to do something special to retain the title.
Shels are probably the third best side in the league at the moment - but that hardly matters. Well done to them. It's deserved over the season.
Duff hugging everyone after the final whistle was quite moving. He's brought a lot to the league with his passion and enthusiasm. I'm sure he'll manage Ireland before too long. (I don't think this Icelandic lad is much good - although it's doubtful that even Duff could motivate the current bunch of dead-beats and losers which currently compose the Irish squad).
Congrats to Shels.