Matches Weekend 18th 19th March

Flares thrown on the pitch by Dundalk fans has been called out but by Dundalk fans, no excuses and thankfully nobody was injured or there could have been a bcd sanction (then overturned), it delayed the game and there will be a fine. I blame the inadequate Drogheda security so Drogheda should be the ones sanctioned for Dundalk idiots behaviour....I'm sure there are people who could have pointed out the culprits in all seriousness. Drogheda fans on the pitch in Drogheda has been criticised both after the goal and post match, Conor Hoey nipped criticism in the bud but yes you are correct, there hasnt been a wider condemnation from fans of other clubs here. Drogheda should be doubly fined for additional inadequate security arrangements. You will have to be more specific for the others oth if its not the general scourge of flares you are referring to. Its a back handed compliment that Rovers fans are held to an expectation of a higher level of restraint than Drogheda fans - they dont get too many opportunities to celebrate wildly, on this occasion a 1 nil league win over Dundalk, so possibly given a fools pardon.

Yeow! Now we're back on something approaching a topic to do with matchdays....

It was 95% a joke. It does get a bit annoying to be called out more regularly than other clubs but, as you say, it is also something of a compliment. Nice to know we are often thought of....

I do think your point on security is fair though. In my opinion (which isn't educated obviously) all clubs should be upping their security and sending a message now. Gates are up so the time is right to invest a bit more. Rovers have for Category A games. You don't see much trouble in Tallaght regardless. If we stamp this ****e out (particularly the stuff happening in the grounds) now it may just die out as people get used to coming back to games after covid and you filter out the real headcases by charging them. The Rovers dopes who lit the firework, damaged the Harps door and punched the Derry fan, should all have been nabbed by security, removed from the ground and handed to the gardai. Bans are great but I'm not sure how you can enforce them across the board.

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Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Yeow! Now we're back on something approaching a topic to do with matchdays....

It was 95% a joke. It does get a bit annoying to be called out more regularly than other clubs but, as you say, it is also something of a compliment. Nice to know we are often thought of....

I do think your point on security is fair though. In my opinion (which isn't educated obviously) all clubs should be upping their security and sending a message now. Gates are up so the time is right to invest a bit more. Rovers have for Category A games. You don't see much trouble in Tallaght regardless. If we stamp this ****e out (particularly the stuff happening in the grounds) now it may just die out as people get used to coming back to games after covid and you filter out the real headcases by charging them. The Rovers dopes who lit the firework, damaged the Harps door and punched the Derry fan, should all have been nabbed by security, removed from the ground and handed to the gardai. Bans are great but I'm not sure how you can enforce them across the board.

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I said pretty much the same earlier - crowds are going up but I'm not sure clubs have put in more security.

For me the one biggest issue and the thing that drives the most unsavoury scenes in pitch encroachment. If this is just stopped, or if fines are issued to the individuals who do it then it will stop pretty quickly. Catch lads running on to the field, hand them to Gardai and charge them with a €500 fine - they won't do it again in a hurry and neither will their mates.

To fine people would need the introduction of legislation i'd imagine, or if fines are issued they can just be ignored. Chucking them out and issuing bans is the club prerogative. Its basically laziness or not wanting the hassle to not escort people to the gate and just send them back in to the crowd to do it again for the next goal. There's a culture element to it, i've been at international rugby matches in the old Landsdowne where people have ran on to the pitch when Ireland scored, for years the post match pitch invasion was the norm. We all know the scenes from Croke Park, when they wanted to stop the pitch invasion with stewarding the 1st year this was to be stopped fans (either Armagh or Tyrone) fans charged the lines and the stewards gave up. Following year there was a perspex barrier installed on Hill 16. There were the very unsavoury scenes after the 2010 Leinster Final also where Louth fans barged the ref about and stuff was thrown at the officials heading down the tunnel. Even with this I dont think for LoI a major effort is needed, a few extra professional security people at certain places in the various grounds.