Games Weekend - Fri 13 Mar

FIRST DIVISION
Athlone v Cobh
Bray v UCD
Cork v Longford
Finn Harps v Treaty
Wexford v Kerry

A full Friday night programme in the First Division. All games kicking off at 19:45.
Cobh marginal favourites away to Athlone. Harps v Treaty seems to be 50-50. Kerry need a massive improvement. Hard to see it. Kerry were very poor against Wexford last year and haven't improved since. Bray slight favourites at home to UCD. Cork expected to account for Longford.

ELSEWHERE
Pat's v Drogs
Bohs v Galway
Derry v Shels
Dundalk v Waterford
Sligo Rovers v Shams

There are two Rovers but only one Shamrock.
https://foot.ie/threads/57030-Shams-Or-Rovers

Sligo currently occupy the playoff spot but early days.

Very big game for Dundalk. A win starts putting some space to 10th spot. If Rovers beat Sligo as you would expect on paper then it also keeps noses ahead there. But most importantly we need a win on the board and to show that home fixtures that we've missed can be made to count. Pats can make a bit of a statement with back to back wins, Bohs the same against a side that will sit in away from home. Derry and Shels the battle for midtable. 3rd or 4th European slot. Something for the perennial champions elect to play for. UCD v Bray will be interesting. The rest bar Cork its measuring up a bit like for like in terms of best of the rest when the table settles. 2nd to playoffs could be close and could change right to the end. Some old names in that old thread. Nobody in 2007 would have thought Dundalk would be playing Arsenal in European groups stages....ye just never know, Galways might eventually win a league title or Derry a 2nd with the 1st so long ago it'd be like a Pathé reel!

Treaty are atrocious.

Absolutely no threat up front whatsoever.

Defensively not the worst, but a defence under pressure for most of the game will eventually crack.

Two away matches for Rovers this weekend against Sligo and Drogs could go either way but we are getting sharper.Big game for Dundalk and Waterford, not easy to call Waterford you could say were hard done by a bit results wise but Dundalk at home should shade it if they can play like they did in Tallagt rather than in Inchicore.Bohs have a winable game at home to Galway but are away to Shels on Monday.....title winners elect if they can do a double at the weekend

Harps really need to be kick-starting the season this next week or two. A win against Treaty is a must before a potentially tricky away game against Kerry. 6 points from those two would need to be the aim.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

Two away matches for Rovers this weekend against Sligo and Drogs could go either way but we are getting sharper.Big game for Dundalk and Waterford, not easy to call Waterford you could say were hard done by a bit results wise but Dundalk at home should shade it if they can play like they did in Tallagt rather than in Inchicore.Bohs have a winable game at home to Galway but are away to Shels on Monday.....title winners elect if they can do a double at the weekend

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Bohs would be title winners rather than champions, the importance in semantics

Any games having pitch inspections today? Lots of rain in the South the past few days.

Can’t see anything but a heavy defeat for us tonight, and the same next Friday when we are away to Rovers. Monday’s game against Waterford is massive. It sounds defeatist but I think we should pick a team for tonight with Monday in mind.

Bohs are not champions yet. It is defeatist to not think a result is possible but the positives for Galway fans is thats how JC operates, damage limitation away and hope to make up points at home. So Monday will be targeted and tbh that would suit Dundalk too. Just need somebody thats not us to plug the relegation hole.

Big supposed relegation candidates 6 pointer for Dundalk Waterford...bookies hav Dundalk odds on which is probably about right but Waterford will be desperate not to lose and create a gap this early.Im tempted to have a bit of waterfrod at 3 to 1 but Dundalk look solid.The bitter reds always raise their game when Rovers come to town but 3 points would be a huge win for us tonight...bring it on

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

It sounds defeatist but I think we should pick a team for tonight with Monday in mind.

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I get your thinking, but I doubt it'll be the case.

Big weekend for ourselves. If we just kept a clean sheet in either game, I'd be happy. I'd guess that may be more likely against Pats than Shels, who have scored every game so far this season.
Feels like Lynch needs something out of tonight, or the boos will just get worse.
The bookies have us down as almost even money, seems madness. I've no faith we'll do anything constructive, and fully expect to concede first, as is our way.
Could be grim weekend.

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

Can’t see anything but a heavy defeat for us tonight, and the same next Friday when we are away to Rovers. Monday’s game against Waterford is massive. It sounds defeatist but I think we should pick a team for tonight with Monday in mind.

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No Walsh, no Twardek, Lomboto starts, Kazeem starts - that’s a side with one eye on Monday

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Originally Posted by WoodquayBoy

No Walsh, no Twardek, Lomboto starts, Kazeem starts - that’s a side with one eye on Monday

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Galway look very solid across their defence.
Bohs finding them difficult to break down.
Wont be too much between the teams at full time

Galway were great defensively, we'll set up and resilient , Bohs were terrific to watch for thirty minutes but no real threat. Bohs keeper had to make a great save late on, before a fantastic headed goal from Hickey who was probably our best player on the night.

Great second half from Pats , last season we lose that 1-0

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Originally Posted by Shinkicker

Galway were great defensively, we'll set up and resilient , Bohs were terrific to watch for thirty minutes but no real threat. Bohs keeper had to make a great save late on, before a fantastic headed goal from Hickey who was probably our best player on the night.

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Last season we draw that match. The Centre Halves scoring like Centre Forwards.

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Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow

Great second half from Pats , last season we lose that 1-0

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Finding myself saying that a lot this season. Last year we wouldn’t have won the Galway, Shels or tonight’s Drogs game the way they panned out. Great to see a bit of backbone in the team this year

Harps were utterly brutal tonight for the vast majority of the game against Treaty. Certainly worst first half performance I've seen in Finn Park for a long time. Gavin McAteer though, a generational talent. He's a joy to watch.

St Pats’ recruitment has rightly been criticised in recent years but this year it has been exceptionally good. In particular, on the evidence of his first four games, James Brown could be the signing of the season.
13 points from 6 games that included away to everyone else currently in the top four is a pretty good start. Have to acknowledge that Bohs are flying too.

Perhaps SK has been given more or all control over transfers from this season.

As you say, most of the recent signings (I presume under the watch of GOB as Director of Football) have been atrocious.

Even with a game Monday, I'd be shocked if Jon Daly survives the bus journey back to Waterford.

I've never seen a worst organised premier Division team. There is one plan and one plan only, hoof it and hope for the best. Defensively they are wide open. 5-0 down and defending on the half way line. Utter madness. There's no way back for him. Tiernan Lynch surely won't be far behind him either.

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Originally Posted by ger121

Last season we draw that match. The Centre Halves scoring like Centre Forwards.

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Totally agree, but there is a difference this year that doesn't make you feel we are going to throw it away, its more we are going to score. You haven't seen DJT anywhere? I'd swear it was his pic on a missing poster on the five lamps.

All the games seem big at the moment but away to Drogs on Monday is def a big one, we often struggle up there.If we win we are firmly in the top end mix, lose and mid table, its early yet but it would be nice to not have to makng up to much ground.Shels vmBohs and Pats v Derry on Monday are chances for all to cement a decent start or not.Galway v Waterford is a must not lose game for Waterford, i had thought they would show up in Dundalk and scrap it out but the 5 nil is a terrible capitu;ation

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Harps were utterly brutal tonight for the vast majority of the game against Treaty. Certainly worst first half performance I've seen in Finn Park for a long time. Gavin McAteer though, a generational talent. He's a joy to watch.

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Yeah 60-70 min we were terrible only when McAteer scored did we wake and start to really go at Treaty. Two great goals from McAteer and Tourish and hard to believe McAteer still is only 17 such a potential there. Treaty were dreadful too and were time wasting a making the most out of any 50/50 challenge for basically all of the 2nd half so Tourish's last minute equalizer was just deserts for them

The Derry story is so poor compared to the budget they have spent, a loss at pats on monday would have them.tailed off and with 5 of their 7 games played at home.....still to early for lynch to go i reckon , full series of ganes and a few more at least id say

Important win for Shels last night away to Derry I felt we deserved the win, unfortunately another injury picked up now by Sam Bone so I make that 8 players out with injuries. Derry are going to struggle to finish top 4 this season, if Duffy has an ineffective game like last night they can't do anything in the final third and I don't know why they spent big money signing James McClean to dump him in the middle of the park making no impact or having James Clarke sitting on the bench for the entire 90 minutes

Serios injury to Kearns puts a bit of a dampener on last nights but it was the win needed and the one deserved. I didnt think too much of Dalys time at Dundalk and in the league in general tbh and last night was a reminder. Waterford fans were positive about the squad and players in preseason. Derry champions elect are great craic...

Every time Peter Cherrie plays for Dundalk, I'm amazed he's still playing.

It doesnt say a whole lot for Minogue.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

It doesnt say a whole lot for Minogue.

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Minogue got injured over the week and awaiting international clearance for spitter.

Cherrie was only registered on Thursday.

Great win and a boost to our goal difference

Kerry are a difficult watch at the moment. Halwax pulled off a couple of good saves either of half time go keep the game scoreless. Kerry hadn't registered a shot of note at the time. Took the lead then after good hold up play by Palmer. Would have hoped a defensive Kerry would have learned lessons from recent games but yet again a defensive team couldn't retain a lead.
Kerry played some better football in the first couple of years, just had a bad habit of conceding through naivety. More experienced now but constructive positive football is gone out the window. Teahan is a big loss. Need Ryan Kelliher back as well. Unlikely to make the playoffs from what's been seen so far. Uafásach.

Dundalk were very good last night, the new pitch fully repaired and after the toxic atmosphere of Drogs, just great to get back to football matters, could enjoy the new lights and pitch properly.

Thought the ball moved brilliantly on the new surface, it really is a top quality surface, Dundalk moved it about very well, Waterford were a mess, their defence was just inviting chaos, was one of the worst I have seen in years visiting.

Amazing to think that's our first PD win since July 2024.

Watching the highlights of games. The lack of speed in J McClean movement was so obvious. One of his strengths was always getting it out of his feet quick and looking for one twos, thats well gone.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Every time Peter Cherrie plays for Dundalk, I'm amazed he's still playing.

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He really looks in good shape too, its a great story, plus he was the GK when Kenny won the first of his titles at Dundalk in 2014.

Great servant and also with other clubs too in between.

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Originally Posted by patsdad

St Pats’ recruitment has rightly been criticised in recent years but this year it has been exceptionally good. In particular, on the evidence of his first four games, James Brown could be the signing of the season.
13 points from 6 games that included away to everyone else currently in the top four is a pretty good start. Have to acknowledge that Bohs are flying too.

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I seriously doubt that the signings last year were not Stephen Kenny, or at the very least not approved by him. It seems that rumours of our demise may have been exaggerated slightly. I know we're only six games in but I feel the reaction in pre season and after the first two games (two difficult away derbies btw) was ott and a bit ridiculous. I agree that James Brown looks to be a make the difference signing. Having Palmer back is huge too, and in Edmondson, Keena and Mata, we suddenly look like we have a front line to talk about. Amazing the difference a few weeks can make.

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Originally Posted by Stevie mac

Minogue got injured over the week and awaiting international clearance for spitter.

Cherrie was only registered on Thursday.

Great win and a boost to our goal difference

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Minogue must be the most injury prone keeper in the league? He has been out a few times now with various injuries.

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Originally Posted by Stevie mac

Minogue got injured over the week and awaiting international clearance for spitter.Cherrie was only registered on Thursday.Great win and a boost to our goal difference

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Am I wrong in thinking that such contingencies may not have happened prior to Kilduffs appointment and maybe even last year there could have been registration misses, definitely 2024?

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Originally Posted by TonyD

I seriously doubt that the signings last year were not Stephen Kenny, or at the very least not approved by him. It seems that rumours of our demise may have been exaggerated slightly. I know we're only six games in but I feel the reaction in pre season and after the first two games (two difficult away derbies btw) was ott and a bit ridiculous. I agree that James Brown looks to be a make the difference signing. Having Palmer back is huge too, and in Edmondson, Keena and Mata, we suddenly look like we have a front line to talk about. Amazing the difference a few weeks can make.

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Yeah but SK is past it as a manager so no hope of it not being a flash in the pan or a title challenge!! Patience is just old fashioned bit like SK in football now.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Am I wrong in thinking that such contingencies may not have happened prior to Kilduffs appointment and maybe even last year there could have been registration misses, definitely 2024?

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Registration of players is done by the secretary. Same secretary as last year. So credit to him for that.

To say his job has got easier under this administration would be an understatement.

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Tiernan Lynch surely won't be far behind him either.

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Agreed.
I have always thought Lynch would come good. After Friday, I'm now ambivalent as to whether he stays or not. I think I'm probably in the minority of fans, most of whom seem to want him gone.

Friday was kind of typical of our season so far. Some periods of decent play, but undoing ourselves with brutal defending and clueless attacking.
Paddy McClean had a shocker, Fleming appalling for Shels's second goal.
The only bright spark was Rylah, who scored a great equaliser. Naturally, he was taken off in the second half. Another baffling sub to bring on Dummigan for Bannon, and put him at left back, instead of moving James McClean into the position.
We finished the game with a central defensive midfielder at left back, and a left back as a central defensive midfielder.
I can't understand it.

Pat's away tonight, expecting a handy win for Pats. That won't get Lynch sacked. But we've Drogheda at home on Friday. He has to win it, I'd guess.