Premier Review

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 32/33:
BRAY WDS. 3-1 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY 2-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. 2-0 FINN HARPS
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 UCD
SH. ROVERS 1-2 WATERFORD UTD.
SHELBOURNE 0-0 CORK CITY

With all outstanding games played with 2 weeks to go, the last 12 games of the 2005 season will provide ecstacy for some, and despair for others. Week 32 saw the title race take another twist, and the relegation issues settled. There was the unprecedented scenario of 2 live league games on tv. Derry and Pats was shown on the state broadcaster, meanwhile on satellite, Shels and Cork played out the only draw of the weekend. There were 4 home wins, with Waterford the only side to take home 3 points from their away fixture at Ragball Rovers. 12 goals were scored.

Bohs lost in Drogheda earlier in the week, and collapsed at Bray. Bray went 2 up inside 20 minutes. Despite Bohs pulling one back at the start of the second half, Bray sealed the 3-1 win late on. The defeat brings Bohs' season to a competitive end, their fans will be disappointed, but couldn't realistically expect more from a club deep in debt, who let many players leave last winter, without adequately replacing them. Bray's "Rovers flu" bug has cleared up. Beating Bohs in the process, is always a good cure. :)

TV demands moved the Derry-Pats game to a Saturday evening. Regardless of when the game would be played, Derry would be certain winners. 2 goals in the first 35 minutes allowed the home side to stroll past disinterested Pats 2-0. Pats' unbeaten run comes to an end, while Derry head off down to Cork next week to scrap for the title, with the advantage of knowing a draw will do.

And next to Chapter 32 of Finn Harps' woes. Their last trip this season was to Drogheda, knowing anything bar a win would send them down. Cup finalists Drogheda gave their home fans a good send-off, with goals in each half to run out comfortable 2-0 winners. Finn Harps go down to the Discovering Ireland division, on the back of 1 away win, and 5 away points this year, clearly not enough to stay up. Their final game next week with Bray is now a wake.

The last game of the weekend saw the meaningless match at Longford between 2 of the leagues worst-performing sides lately, Longford, and UCD. It didn't promise to be a classic, and the match lived up to it's billing. For the record, Longford won 1-0, but in the grand scheme of things, it barely matters.

Which is not what could be said for the week's remaining games. At Dalymount, Rovers hosted Waterford. Neither side could afford to lose, especially Rovers, and armed with that knowledge, the home side tore into the visitors early on. The pressure was rewarded after 15 minutes following a corner. Then amnesia set-in, and having made Waterford look like a Munster Senior League side in the opening exchanges, Rovers allowed the visitors back into the game, which led to the inevitable equaliser on the hour, following shocking home defending, and Waterford's players deliberately handling the ball twice during the move. :eek: Waterford players deliberately handled the ball no less than 8 times during the game, but they must have had special licence to do so, as their actions were not punished once, not even by a free-kick. By now, Rovers had completely lost the plot, and 5 minutes after the equaliser, the visitors took the lead following an own goal. Finally, Rovers came back into it, but despite having the ball for half an hour, couldn't create a chance, never mind a goal. The final whistle went, and Waterford, a side who hadn't won for 5 months earlier this season, and who looked beyond all hope following their 5-0 drubbing by Shels a few weeks ago, secured their Premier Division status for next year. In so doing, they condemned Rovers to the relegation/promotion play-off, and amidst acrimony, and civil war between players, board, coaching staff, and fans, the Rovers season continues.

Shels hosted Cork on tv, in a snoozefest. There were precious few opportunities during the 90 minutes, the best falling to Cork with 10 minutes to go. The point for Cork from a 0-0 draw, knocks them off the top of the league, and hands Derry the advantage, as they return to Cork next week, to play the Championship cup final. Not since Cork v Dundalk in April 1991, has the title been decided this way. The classic case of
winner-takes-all.

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Originally Posted by bigmac

love these balanced and neutral weekly reviews!
:D

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Dont see the point of it tbh. BTW the Rovers Pats game is the "West Dublin" derby:D

KOH

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BTW the Rovers Pats game is the "West Dublin" derby

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Well, as Pats are based in Inchicore, and we are/will be (primarily) based in Tallaght, it is the West Dublin derby, as the majority of both clubs' support come from, in and around the two suburbs. Indeed, it was often the case in the past, when we didn't share a ground with another club, that the fixture list would be designed to ensure that Rovers and Pats couldn't both play at home/away on the same weekend during the season.

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Originally Posted by nyhoop

Dont see the point of it tbh.

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The point is to keep a concise record and analysis of each game played in the league in 2005. That should be common knowledge by now. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by mypost

Well, as Pats are based in Inchicore, and we are/will be (primarily) based in Tallaght, it is the West Dublin derby, as the majority of both clubs' support come from, in and around the two suburbs. Indeed, it was often the case in the past, when we didn't share a ground with another club, that the fixture list would be designed to ensure that Rovers and Pats couldn't both play at home/away on the same weekend during the season.

Rovers is and always be a southside club. Hopefully next season we'll be back on the southside.

The point is to keep a concise record and analysis of each game played in the league in 2005. That should be common knowledge by now. :rolleyes:

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Common knowledge?:D


KOH

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 33/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-3 SHELBOURNE
CORK CITY 2-0 DERRY CITY
FINN HARPS 2-4 BRAY WDS.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-3 LONGFORD TOWN
UCD 2-2 SHAMROCK ROVERS
WATERFORD UTD. 1-0 DROGHEDA UTD.

And after 8 months, we finally reach Week 33 of the Premier Division 2005, the final day of the championship. With all outstanding issues below them resolved, Cork and Derry took top billing of the weekend to settle the title, in front of RTE. Away from all of that, there were other games played too, with 20 goals entertaining the masses up and down the country as all games kicked off simultaneously. There were 2 home wins, 1 draw, and 3 away wins, which would have been 4, only for a late equaliser at UCD.

When you mention championship clinching crunches, Bohs-Shels games normally roll off the tongue. Not this year, as both sides have underperformed, and allowed their rivals to catch up, and overtake them. Bohs may have been toothless on the field, but their fans made up for their lack of bite off it. Shels won 3-0 with goals from Jason Byrne and Crowe, amidst a hail of missiles fired from the Jodi Stand. Shels finish the season strongly, but their miserable run through early summer, means that they must settle for a UEFA Cup spot next season, a failure in their eyes.

Cork and Derry hosted their Championship shoot-out at Turners Cross, in front of that rarity in Irish club football, a sell-out crowd!! :) Derry only required a draw to win the league for the first time since 1997. However Cork began the game in 5th gear, opening the scoring inside 20 minutes from O' Flynn. The emphasis changed, and the questions were now been asked by Derry. It remained 1-0, at the break, and the next goal would prove decisive. Cork got it on the hour, Kearney finishing off a well-worked move. Needing to score twice to win the title, Derry took control, and had chances to pull it back, but couldn't take them. Derry's third defeat from 3 visits to the South Pole this season, allows Cork to claim their second championship with a 2-0 win. For Cork, the title equates to a €100,000 payday, a chance to win the double at the FAI Cup final, and a Champions League spot next July. Meanwhile, apart from a UEFA Cup spot, all Derry and their fans had to look forward to, was the long bus/plane journey home.

As they approached Derry, they could wave their neighbours Finn Harps goodbye to the First Division. It was a noisy wake at Ballybofey, but the song remained the same. Harps lost again, as Bray rounded off their season with a 4-2 win, and will be pleased to finish 7th. Finn Harps go down once again. As one of those sides who are always there or thereabouts in the lower league, no doubt they'll be back up with the big boys soon enough.

2 strugglers this season met at Richmond, where Pats played Longford. Having secured their Premier Division status against you-know-who, they packed it in early. Longford did likewise, only about 6 weeks beforehand. Longford took the lead on the stroke of half time, and waltzed into a 3-goal lead, before Pats woke up, and grabbed a consolation. Longford's players, and officials can now have their long-awaited siesta, while Pats slip from 8th last year, to 10th by default this season. In their wisdom, the Pats board rewarded John Mc Donnell with a new contract, so already it looks like they will be fighting against the drop again next season.

In contrast to the wall of atmosphere in Cork, the atmosphere at the Belfield fridge was mind-numbing instead. With nothing at stake and Rovers' boss found in Cork of all places :eek: , 700 fans showed up, and saw Rovers go ahead through O'Connor on 13', followed by another from O'Connor on 22'. Just as we were feasting on the rare luxury of a 2 goal lead, normal service resumed, when Rovers' 'keeper Murphy fell over attempting to catch a cross, as McWalter scored from the resulting looping header. After that, UCD dominated, and after wethering the College storm in the second half, out of nothing Finn went through to equalise for the Students with 5 minutes remaining. It was another lead thrown in the bin by Rovers, but the 2-2 result, stopped the rot of 5 straight defeats. While UCD complete the campaign in 9th, Rovers finish the regular season in the dreaded 11th spot, and go into the play-off by default, with Home Farm over two legs. It can only get better from here, can't it???

Last season, Waterford played at home to Drogheda in Week 1. This year, Drogheda were the last team to visit the RSC running track. Waterford already completed the Great Escape last week, and the game was a predictably drab affair. Despite missing a first-half penalty, Waterford won it late on. They finish 8th in the end, Drogheda finish 4th, but still remain an enigma.

Downstairs, Sligo Rovers won the First Division title, Home Farm won the right to face Rovers in the play-offs, Athlone finished bottom.

:ball: After 198 league games in the 2005 Premier Division over 33 weeks, and 8 months, the final league table looks like this:

/ / / / / / / /P W D L Pts

1. Cork 33 22 8 3 74 C
2. Derry 33 22 6 5 72
3. Shels 33 20 7 6 67
4. Drogs33 12 12 9 48 UEFA/SETANTA
5. LTwn33 12 9 12 45
6. Bohs 33 13 6 14 45
7. Bray 33 11 6 16 39
8. Wford33 9 7 17 34
9. UCD 33 7 12 14 33
10. Pats 33 7 11 15 32
11. Us / / 33 9 8 16 27 P.O
12. Harps33 5 6 22 21 R

While the regular season has been completed, we're still not finished, as there remains the relegation/promotion play-off to be decided.
Shamrock Rovers and Home Farm hug the limelight, and the spotlight next week, in the mother and father of all nail-biters.

League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Play-Off 2005:

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-2 HOME FARM
HOME FARM 1-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS

(Rovers lose 2-3 on aggregate) :(

There was a Dublin Derby for the last 2 games of the 2005 league season, as the teams who finished in the bottom 2 positions in 2004, contested this year's relegation/promotion play-off.

The first game was our last home game in Dalymount Park, whatever the result. Much of the first half was scrappy, and evenly-matched. Home Farm took the lead in the last minute of the first half when Heffernan blasted home from 25 yards. Rovers woke up in the second half, and peppered the visitors goal, with one effort hitting the bar from an acute angle. During this period, Rovers keeper, Ryan, unable to take goal kicks all evening was carried off with an ankle injury. It was to prove a critical moment in the tie. Before that however, Molloy was tripped in the box on the hour, resulting in a penalty, from which Molloy sent the keeper the wrong way to equalise. The game then went from end-to-end, with Home Farm dictating the play, and Rovers relying on counter-attacks. The game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw, when McGill, picked the ball up and ran at the sleepy Rovers midfield. His weak shot was neither cleared, nor saved, and it trickled into the bottom left corner, to hand Home Farm the advantage, which they held until the end of the game to take a 2-1 lead going into the return game at Tolka Park 3 nights later. We say goodbye to Dalymount Park, on the back of 3 wins, and 12 home defeats.

The actual support of Home Farm at Tolka for the second leg, was crammed into the right-hand corner of the main shed, while all the Dublin neutrals outnumbered them on the other side of the shed, 3:1. The second leg was live on satellite tv, but a game with a minimal risk of crowd trouble, still saw all fans searched at the gates. :confused: Buoyed up by a win bonus on offer and a fanatical away support, Rovers tore into Home Farm from the off. Chance after chance went begging for the visitors, and the home side were happy to go in level at half time. The status quo continued at the start of the second half, when wouldn't you know it, Home Farm scored from their very first shot of the game. Poor defending, saw the ball eventually fall to Collins, to fire home unmarked from 10 yards on 57'. Rovers, staring relegation in the face, had to score 2 now. Within 2 minutes, Rutherford crossed, Sheridan missed his kick completely, but luckily, Treacy poked the loose ball over the line, in off the post. Game on! Rovers still needed just one more goal to, temporarily at least, stay in the league.

The minutes ticked by. The nails were bitten, the chances were harder to come by, as Home Farm retreated to a 10-0-0 formation. The green wave was merely crashing against the blue wall. The players tired. 12 Premier Division chairmen bit their nails, praying for another Rovers goal, and later a Rovers win, to stave off the financial loss that a home game or two against Home Farm would mean next season. Rovers are by now not picking the lock anymore, but trying to boot the Home Farm door off it's hinges, with Hail Mary's being sent in the general direction of the Home Farm box, without much success, it must be said.

The game progressed to minute 89'. There must be one more chance to stay up. Finally it arrives, Derek Treacy, in his 16th season at Rovers, is free 12 yards out. His header looks like it's on it's way to the bottom corner, but somehow, it goes the other side of the post. The away fans contiue to sing, 4 minutes of time are added on. It's now or never.

It's never. Such was the amount of home support, that the final whistle is blown in near-silence. The 1-1 scoreline, means that Home Farm go up, while Rovers are relegated in a play-off, on a points deduction. Our fight for survival this season has failed. :( The league will be poorer for our abscence next season, as a league without Shamrock Rovers competing in it, is a league without credibility.

Later on, Drogheda won the Cup, beating Cork 2-0 in the final. But, it's time to fast-forward to March 10th 2006, when the new season begins.

What a very, very biased report. Another Rovers fan trying to steal DCFC's thunder

2006 Premier Division Results:

WEEK 1/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
BRAY WDS. 2-2 SHELBOURNE
CORK CITY 1-0 HOME FARM
DERRY CITY 2-0 UCD
LONGFORD TOWN - SLIGO ROVERS
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 WATERFORD UTD.

After a break of 15 weeks since the last domestic league match was played, March 10th arrived to mark the beginning of a tainted 2006 league season. As last year, the 3-round match format remains unchanged, and many of last season's fixtures were simply reversed by the FAI. The most obvious example been that of the final 4 fixtures of each round, i.e. the exact opposite of the corresponding matches from last year. :( FAI-logic!!

Week 1 had the usual NL thrills and spills, i.e. a waterlogged pitch in summer football :confused:, a 0-0 bore draw, and the utterly predictable home wins for Cork and Derry. Even more predictably, theirs were the only home wins of the weekend, with 2 draws, and a single away win completing the sequence of 5 games played on time.

There was a big club playing in Dalymount this weekend, fresh from last season's cup success, and who are title pretenders. The other club of course were Bohs, where mediocrity appears to be the current watch word in Phisborough. Even more so after Paul Keegan's winner early in the second half for Drogheda, leaving Bohs to face 3 away games in the next 4, two of which are at visitor-friendly Cork and Derry, the other one being a cosy trip to fired-up Sligo. Still, they'll clock up the miles anyway.

Shels headed for the seaside knowing that the best way to challenge Cork and Derry was to hit the ground running from the off. Falling behind early on in the first match wasn't part of the plan, Eamonn Zayed netting on 12'. Despite replying 7 minutes later through Jason Byrne, Bray were back in front before the break, through the first own goal of the new season from Shels' keeper Delaney in injury time. Ref McKeown was in no mood for first-night charity, awarding the first red card of the year to Wes Charles, and allowing Byrne to equalise from the spot, and earn Shels a point as it finished 2-2. So just as last year, Shels claim 1 point from the first match of the season. Will they finish third again?

Home Farm stole Rovers place in this year's league, and to rub it in, they took our fixture list for this season too. Instead of a big crowd at the Cross turning up to the first glamour match of the season, Home Farm attracted less than 4k punters to the South Pole, where they also began their previous season in the Premier Division 2 years ago. Then as now, Cork won, and won early, O' Callaghan's penalty after 3 minutes being the first goal of the season. Cork begin their quest to retain the title, while Home Farm start out on the long road to certain relegation. It's just
37 weeks away.

Derry had an equally attractive home game against the hordes of UCD drums, and drowned them out with 2 goals either side of the break, in the first half from Ciarán Martyn to haunt UCD again, followed by the second from Stephen O'Flynn with 15 minutes to go. The routine home win for Derry puts them top of the league, where they can claim another three points at Home Farm next week. UCD are for now of course, bottom.

After so long, the Shed at Inchicore is coming tumbling down. The other goal and terraces at Richmond are also fenced off, so only the main stand is now open. That's ok for the visit of Waterford, but may be more of a problem against the bigger clubs. Pats, set for another season of struggle, couldn't beat Waterford, Trevor Molloy missing the night's third penalty being one of the few highlights. Both sides can count themselves lucky that Home Farm will keep 12th spot warm for them this season, they would be in danger of the drop otherwise.

If you're gonna try report objectively, then how about calling the teams by their proper names?

Didn't know John O'Flynn had signed for Derry...

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Originally Posted by pól-dcfc

Didn't know John O'Flynn had signed for Derry...

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Originally Posted by me

...followed by the second from Stephen O'Flynn with 15 minutes to go...

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That's because he didn't :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by mypost

That's because he didn't :rolleyes:

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Yes and no one noticed you edited 2 minutes after pól posted:rolleyes:

Is this drivel back?! Good God, objective reporting, how are you?:rolleyes:

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 2/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-0 CORK CITY
HOME FARM 1-0 DERRY CITY
SHELBOURNE 0-0 LONGFORD TOWN
SLIGO ROVERS 1-0 BOHEMIANS
UCD 0-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
WATERFORD UTD. 1-1 BRAY WDS.

Week 2 of the league was another low scoring event, only 5 goals went in, with 2 home wins, 3 draws, 1 away win, and the season's first goal in second half stoppage time this week.

Drogheda v Cork is not a fixture known for a sackload of goals, there were just 4 in the league meetings last season. 4 others have gone in since then, 2 each for both sides in the FAI, and Setanta Cups. And these guys probably know each other too well by now, so there was always likely to be a goalless draw between them coming up. And so it happened on this occasion. Both sides move onto 4 points, neither will be too disappointed with the outcome.

Home Farm have moved into Dalymount this season, and entertained Derry this week. As away bankers go, this was a cert beforehand. However, every once in a while, the franchise club come up with a flukey 1-0 win, when the clearly superior opposition have an off night. The shock of the season so far came about, when Higgins sliced a defensive clearance past Forde for the own goal winner on 65'. Derry lose top spot, but Home Farm's flash-in-the-pan win probably won't alter where they end up at the end of the season.

Shels faced Longford, and many would have been expecting the ritual Shels home win, against the mediocre midlanders. Shels created most of the opportunities but Crowe and Byrne couldn't break the visitors down, and had to settle for a point, a moral victory for Longford in their first game of the season.

And now back to Bohs woes. A tricky away trip to Sligo is not an appetising prospect, especially at the start of the season, for a side in transition. Sligo duly came up with the goods in front of their first home Premier Division game since 1999, Aussie Adam Hughes scoring the winner in first half stoppage time to claim the points, leaving Bohs looking down on UCD in second-last place in the table. With trips to Cork and Derry on the way, they may well be staying down there for a while.

Freezing, blowy Belfield saw the Saints take on the students in the week's Dublin derby. UCD continue the form they ended off with last season, as Pats took the points through O'Connor's strike after 61'. UCD remain bottom.

Bray travelled down to the South-East to face Waterford, and as both sides don't give much away, the game was always going to be a tight affair. Bray took the lead through that man Zayed again from the spot on the hour, and held it to injury time. Then, as you do, Bray's players decided to see out the clock at the corner flag, rather than seal their win. :rolleyes: The next thing they saw was Waterford's punishment, :), Kavanagh scoring their equaliser 3 minutes into injury time from 25 yards. Bray suffer from Corner-itis, and promptly throw 2 points into the Georges Channel, while Waterford stay in touch with the sides in mid-table.

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 3/33:
BRAY WDS. - LONGFORD TOWN
CORK CITY 1-0 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY 3-1 SLIGO ROVERS
HOME FARM 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST.PATS. ATH. 2-2 SHELBOURNE
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 UCD

Week 3 of the league saw Bohs on tv, Drogheda back to Dalymount again, a North-West derby, and also Longford needing to book an extra trip to the Wicklow Riviera, after making probably the shortest trip to the seaside all season. 5 games were played, 2 home teams won, 2 away sides winning, and Alan Kelly at Richmond Park, guaranteeing plenty to talk about in an Inchicore draw. 11 goals went in during the weekend.

At the South Pole, Cork faced Bohs on RTE. The Shed End, for so long an integral part of Turners Cross, is now the end that Cork choose to play in the first half of home games. The ongoing renovations have also meant the away fans have now got shifted to within spitting distance of bricks and mortar. Bohs bossed most of the game, but despite creating the better chances, Cork scored on the counter-attack through John O'Flynn midway through the second half, therefore putting Cork top, and Bohs bottom. :)

Heading far away to Derry to find out how Sligo would cope with their first trip back in the big time, in the North-West derby, and indeed they did well enough to hold out to 0-0 after half time. They then forgot how to defend as Derry promptly moved up the gears, to blitz Sligo with 2 early second half goals, from Beckett and a Burns og. Derry made it 3-0 on 68' from a penalty scored by Mark Farren. Sligo pulled one back from McNamara soon afterwards, but Derry win their 4th successive North-West derby convincingly.

There can't be many home games for Drogheda at Dalymount Park, but while it may not technically have been, a large following from Boyneside decamped to Dublin 7, to give the trip the feeling of a home game at least. No houdini acts from Franchise FC this week, as Glenn Fitzpatrick scored with 15 minutes to go, sending the bulk of the crowd wild, and seal victory once again for Drogheda at Dalymount, something they are getting used to lately.

There was another derby too this week, as Pats faced Shels in Richmond. The Rovers old guard of Rutherford and Molloy put Pats 2 in front by the 20 minute mark. It stayed that way till half time, and 12 minutes after that, when goal machine Jason Byrne scored again for Shels. Cue
A. Kelly's intervention. Never one to brandish a yellow card when a red will do, he then sent off a player from both sides a minute later, Heary and Keegan falling foul of Kelly's notorious officiating. Colin Hawkins pulled a point back for Shels with 7 minutes remaining, but after 3 draws from 3 games, it's Shels' title rivals who are busy pulling away from them. They lie 4 points off Cork at the moment.

Waterford were at home again this week, and just like at Cork and Pats, the RSC is undergoing a change of scenery. Everywhere bar the main stand is now effectively sealed off. As for the game, Waterford suffered their first defeat of the new year, thanks to Brian Shortall's winner in first half stopage time, and went a man down after 85', Deans heading for an early bath. UCD could however enjoy a different kind of bath, to celebrate their first win in Waterford for 5 years.

WEEK 1/33:
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 SLIGO ROVERS

1500 hardy souls turned up to see the final team to play at home this season, Longford face Sligo, in Sligo's shortest trip this season. There was rain, wind, a red card for Sligo's Turner, and not much else. Longford are not making much headway so far, but everybody is ahead of Bohs. :D

Can someone put this rubbish in Rovers' section. Seriously it is muck. EVERYTHING is related to Rovers or slagging Bohs. Its pathetic

agree with sfc

Mypost what is the point of this anyway? Set up a blog or something will ya? We fcuking know the results!

KOH

in fairness though

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WEEK 1/33:
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 SLIGO ROVERS

1500 hardy souls turned up to see the final team to play at home this season, Longford face Sligo, in Sligo's shortest trip this season. There was rain, wind, a red card for Sligo's Turner, and not much else. Longford are not making much headway so far, but everybody is ahead of Bohs

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it was great to have it confirmed it was raining last night:rolleyes:

I didn't know it was raining in Longford last night.....not that I care, but I didn't know that...:D