Dublin City claim play-off spot
Dublin City claim play-off spot
Saturday, 19 November 2005 10:31
Roddy Collins will have to plan for a play-off with former club Dublin City as he bids to ensure that Shamrock Rovers remain in the eircom Premier Division
Dublin City claimed a promotion play-off spot as they overcame Athlone by 3-1 at Golden Island Park this evening.
Robbie Hederman put the side from the capital a goal in front after sixteen minutes. David Freeman added another just after half-time before Austin Skelly grabbed one back for Athlone with just six minutes remaining in normal time.
Derek Pender put the result beyond doubt three minutes later to set up a play-off with Shamrock Rovers to see who will play in the eircom Premier division next year.
Roddy Collins will now take his Shamrock Rovers side to face the club he left in acrimonious circumstances before the end of last season.http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/1119/dublincity.html
Vikings set sights on Rovers
Vikings set sights on Rovers
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=13305
Gerry McDermott
DUBLIN CITY have earned themselves a chance to repay Shamrock Rovers for wrecking their hopes of staying in the Premier Division last season.
A few weeks before the end of that campaign Roddy Collins sensationally walked out on the Vikings for Rovers and kept the Hoops in the Premier Division at the expense of his former club.
That move left deep scars and revenge will be in the air when the sides meet at Dalymount Park tomorrow (7.45) and Tolka Park on Friday (7.45) in the two-legged promotion/relegation play-off.
Dublin City claimed their play-off spot on Saturday when they beat Athlone Town 3-1 but they won't find Collins in the Rovers dug-out tomorrow as he has been suspended by his club's Board of Directors until Wednesday when the result of an investigation into Collins will be known.
However, Dublin City boss Dermot Keely believes that Collins absence from tomorrow's first leg has taken a lot of the emotion out of the fixture.
"It would have been a circus, but Roddy is now out of the equation," said Keely who admitted he would have mixed emotions himself. "I was part of the greatest team in Rovers history and I would rather we were playing somebody else," said Keely.
PLAY-OFF SCHEDULE
Tomorrow - 1st Leg: Shamrock Rovers v Dublin City, Dalymount Pk, 7.45. Ref: Paul Tuite.
Friday - 2nd Leg: Dublin City v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Pk, 7.45. Ref: Damien Hancock.