Ha, I've really warmed to them over the last two years or so, used to find them very irritating sometimes.
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Ha, I've really warmed to them over the last two years or so, used to find them very irritating sometimes.
Completely controlled the game. Very hard second half to watch. Harps came to keep the score down and try to nick a goal. They did half that job.
I'd be worried heading up to harps, especially if they narrow the pitch.
No attendance announced as far as I know. I reckon touching 5,000. Place completely full.
Limerick really should have this tie dead and buried form the 2min missing a sitter 10mins later another one probably missed 2 or 3 free headesr which we should of scored.
It nearly cost us midway through 2nd half the sub who came on keeper came out of his goal lad took it past him a bit wide 25yrds out put it wide should of done better.
Buy IMO if Limerick do end up going down to finn harps I'll be very disappointed Limerick are a few steps ahead of them I'm quality.
Well done the Harps tie very much still alive, took a 25 yarder to separate the sides, too bad Banda couldn't take his chance and the ref bottled the penalty decision, seemed like some half decent noise at times from the limerick fans.
Thought harps were very cynical and dirty. How they kept 11on the field is a mystery. That said we had enough chances to kill of the game in this first leg.
Harps are very good at kicking the ball 50 yards in the air, and even better at kicking people. Limerick should have had the game dead and buried by half time.
Harps came more in to the match as both sides tired, missed an absolute sitter when Hall went walkabouts, and it probably was a peno. On the other hand, the harps right back should have been sent off, was good for at least 3 yellows if you count the amount of times fouls were made, two were blatant, one which he was carded for.
Massive crowd, I don't think it was 5k personally, but I couldn't see how many were on terraces to the left of the stand, so maybe it's possible. Limerick might struggle on a narrower pitch in the 2nd leg, but they should never lose to harps over two legs, there's a big gulf in footballing ability. You'd just worry about their ability to do all sorts of nonsense in defense.
On an aside, some sections of the crowd were so, so negative, and very vocal about it, jeering the players when they had the temerity to pass backwards and retain possession, I'm all for seizing the initiative and trying to win the game by more, Limerick were so obviously knackered and incapable of really stretching the game beyond the 60 min mark, still getting decent chances, but getting a fair amount of stick when they weren't piling men forward.
Think he bottled a lot more than just that penalty decision. Advantage must be with Harps now. We completely ran out of ideas on how to break down the 6 man midfield in the 2nd half.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattB11
It was the same a few weeks ago against Rovers. As soon as rovers scored a large portion of the crowd just started turning on the team. A lot of those people are the type that started coming in mid August and seemed to think we would smash in 3 or 4 goals every game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
With that result it should be a bumper crowd in Ballybofey(weather forecast not great but won't put off Donegal folk) and while it is impossible to keep all off these "floating/occasion" fans some have hopefully caught the loI bug. Limerick fans, am I correct in understanding that the home time got more tired in 2nd half compared to Harps? They looked fit enough to me a few weeks back at Galway.
Only difference was Harps bringing on some pace, helped them stretch the game more. Russell obviously doesn't trust the options he has on the bench, making only one sub, bringing on Lynch, for Clarke who was being hacked to death. Both sides looked tired enough, you'd imagine Limerick expelled a huge amount of energy in Sligo, emotionally and physically after everything. Limerick were still the better side at the death. You'd hope both are in better nick by Friday.Quote:
Originally Posted by wonder88
Harps were very defensive all night, defending deep, defending wide, and defending in numbers. They set us the challenge of breaking them down, and we never really did all night. We hit the crossbar and had a few chances from headers but we looked really limited for most of the game. We never had any space in the middle of the field and never found or made any.
Duggan, and Lynch when he came on, had to drop way too deep to look for the ball and try and create something.
Harps created very little (I have no memory of the penalty they might have had - when was it?) apart from Banda going in behind the defence but being pushed wide and shooting wide.
That we didn't put the tie to bed was evidence of just how poor we are and how little guile we have.
Harps will (rightly) feel they have every chance of nicking it on Friday. They'll have to be more attacking, so hopefully there will be more space for us to exploit.
EDIT: And that f**king announcer should be told to take a jump off the stand roof. Would he ever shut his mouth.
Kanyuka running through a man, a bit like the pen in Sligo.
As Brian Kerr would say, the man has the turning circle of a milk truck.
Still have no memory of it - did the Harps players claim for one?
When was it?
2nd half, left of the box, think it was before Banda's chance, harps player runs in, Paddy came in from the right and tumbled in to him with the subtlety of Boris Johnson.
Big calls from Harps if I remember correctly, most around me thought it was going to be given too. I was surprised it wasn't in the highlights at least, to have a 2nd look.
He's far too big and awkward to be over committing like he does, regardless.
The lads on 95FM were pretty convinced it was a penalty and also that it should have been a red card for Kelly. Friday will be one bag of nerves for everyone involved and one thing your gonna get up here is a battle may the best team win!
Limerick are very poor at the back, but good going forward. We done what we set out to do, frustrate them and defend. We never went into that game attacking Limerick and it was clear from the first whistle we were looking to take the game back to Finn Park and have a go there.
In saying that, we missed two open nets, the first half Hall jumped for a catch and missed it completely and Boyle put it wide, second half Hall was rounded by Banda and on his weak left foot Banda shot wide when it should have been 1-1. Stonewall penalty turned down when Funston was bundled over in the box, and for all the suggestions of Harps hacking Limerick, Shaun Kelly should have been sent off for a horrible two footed challenge, only getting a yellow.
For us, there was an awful lot of heavy challenges went in and we were indeed lucky to remain with 11 on the field. It was more like the Harps of earlier in the season and even last season, but I think we went in physical on purpose knowing Limerick wouldn't be able to deal with it.
For match day organisation down there, Limerick need to take a good long hard look at themselves. They outsold the ground by far too much. The Popular side ended up being so crammed that half the crowd took down the barriers and ended up on the grass banks.
The away fans had one male toilet and one female toilet between them. 100 seats were kept for Harps fans, about 60 of which Harps fans got in the end with the rest either left standing in front of the terrace or standing on the steps in the stand. The head steward was a disgrace to deal with and when questioned why home fans were let into the away section became defensive that no home fans were in there. Despite also being told that a bus carrying 33 Harps fans had broken down and would be late, they almost refused to let them in the gate.
We'll not even go into the fact a burger and bottle of water cost 11 euro.
Limerick will not enjoy coming to Finn Park. Pitch is not in great shape, and it's been narrowed as much as it possibly can be. Can't wait for Friday now.
Only found out this morning, the Harps fans that arrived late where charged €17 for student tickets because the lad in the ticket booth 'didn't have the correct change'. Not only did they miss the first twenty minutes of the game, they were grossly overcharged for the experience.
Fair play Limerick.
After the atmosphere and attendance created at the Markets Field last nite, any chance RTE or Setanta are considering covering the second leg at Finn Park on friday!
There should be another 4000+ and another wonderful occasion.
After the craic last night being allowed to go on, would it be safe/legal to allow 4k into Finn Park?
I think Finn Park is limited to 5,500 since they closed the river end. Used to be 7,000. It's a lot bigger than people think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
What'll hurt attendance size is if the entire gantry side of the ground is given to Limerick fans, then capacity will have to be limited greatly, but I'm sure provisions are being put in place by the club.
probably not naw, sure the Harps players would end up 'hacking' at the spectators nearest the pitchQuote:
Originally Posted by Acornvilla
Great to see a huge crowd at this one. When Limerick were getting less than a thousand into Jackman for Cork, Rovers and Dundalk I did wonder if there was any future for them, regardless of a ground move. Looks like there's real potential for LFC at Markets Field
Second leg will be interesting, the onus will be on Harps to come out of their shell, which should open things up a bit for Limerick.
Second clean sheet of the season for Limerick. Have to think that in itself is a missed opportunity for Harps.
Though obviously still nicely balanced for the second leg. Have to imagine whichever team is in the First Division next season will start as title favourites.
If we go down I reckon we will have basically a whole new squad next season so I don't think us going down will make us favourites where as if harps stay down and keep the squad they will most likely be favourites.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
If we stay down, McHugh is retiring and I'd say a few of the players will have better offers from Irish League clubs and possibly Derry/Sligo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jofspring
We really need to get promoted.
I think between the two sides Limerick back 4 is poor more so centre half position but are excellent going forward.
Harps imo is the opposite I was impressed with there centre half's excellent in the air but up front they were very average lad that started worked his socks off but offered very little lad that missed there only real chance plenty of pace but lacked composure as show for that chance he could of taken a touch and composed himself and rolled it un but he snatched at it.
Nathan Boyle had an open net in the first half after the centre half over hit the back pass to the keeper and it bounced over his head. Can't believe he nearly hit the fecking corner flag with his effort.
Banda's chance was one he'd had scored 10 out of 10 times for the Under 19's, I think he saw his name in lights in only his 3rd appearance for the 1st team.
Funston was cleaned inside the box in the 2nd half, stone wall pen.
Shaun Kelly with a 2 footed lung at Tony McNamee should have been a red.
That's about the total of our positives.
With Raymond Foy and Kevin McHugh injured, it took alot away from the team as we didn't keep the ball well and had no burst of pace coming from midifeld.
We still looked threatening and would hold no fear of Limerick on Friday night as they are brutal at the back.
In saying that, they have players who could hurt us and are a surperior footballing side. Damian McNulty was roasted, it was amazing that he played having spent Friday night and Saturday in hospital with food poisoning. Limerick hit the crossbar but other than that, Ciaran Gallagher didn't have any real saves to make.
Great to see such a big crowd and decent atmosphere. Hopefully Finn Park will be something similar on Friday night.
You must of been listening to the game on the radio Limerick should of been out of sight at half time your forgetting the two open goals in the first 15mins one hitting the bar another iv no idea what he was trying to do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy
Also the 2 or 3 free headers in the 6yrd box that went wide really have to be scoring them but I suppose be worse if we created nothing
Were the lads on the radio making up what they saw??
I was at the game.
It wasn't clear headers unmarked, it was under serious pressure from our defenders. As I said, aside from hitting the bar, I don't remember Ciaran Gallagher making a save.
The one that hit the bar was by Damien McNulty.Quote:
Originally Posted by thomas72
Last time I was in Ballybofey, we were on some terrace behind the dugouts. I think the TV gantry was across from us.
Will we be on the opposite side this time?
Yeah, ye will be in our state of the art away section.......Quote:
Originally Posted by osarusan
I wouldn't complain too much about the handing of our supporters other than the fact of over charging them and allowing some Limerick fans into the seats in the middle of us.
There were plenty of Harps fans standing at the fence behind the nets too and were perfectly happy to do so.
Nice stadium at Market fields, only draw back being the stands are so far away from the pitch.
Yeah you will be in the open terrace beside the TV gantry but i don't think they are anyway strict on the movements of supporters especially if it lashes down
Whose fault was it that they missed the first twenty mins of the game? Are you suggesting they should receive a discount for arriving late for a game? How much is a stand ticket for an away supporter anyway cos im trying to work out what sort of financial transactions took place. Tell him write to the club for a refundQuote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
I can't understand where €17 would have come from if there was no change. If there was no change then surely they would have been charged €10, €15 or €20. To me €17 is the kind of price you would need to have change to charge.
I overheard the stewards talking on the radios and they were saying "a bus of fans has just arrived late, the stand is full, and no tickets are left, what will we do" And someone replied "just charge them for terrace and we'll sort something". Obviously I don't know what happened after that and what they were actually charged.
I'm sure they aren't suggesting they get a discount were did you get that from?? They were late because the bus they were on got TWO tyre blowouts on the motorway coming into Limerick,
I was charged €15 into the away section. I think it was something like €12 for students.
The lads were charged €17 each for some reason.
A handful of the lads that got charged €17 each were 2nd level students, who were only meant to be charged €7. They were all told they had to be charged €17 because they didn't have correct change. All because the club sold away tickets to home fans. The lad in the ticket booth out on the road beckoned over home fans he told to go away once we walked away from the ticket booth.
The head steward was well warned in advance that there was a bus load of Harps fans that would be arriving late, but they kept letting in home fans regardless.
It was a shambles of an organisation.
I went to harps game in Jackman park a number of years ago and was charged 8 bloody euro for a burger and can of fanta, what the hell is with the massive over charging for food and drink? Do you Limerick fans pay these prices or do ye just take **** with away fans?
Didn't buy anything last night, but I think it's usually about 4.50 for a burger and chips in the home end. The times I sat in the away end with the Town lads I never got food so can't comment on away end prices, although they had no food in the away end in the MF when they played this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by MattB11