Setanta Cup Tonight

All-EL affairs:

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Monday, Mar 12

Group 1
Derry City v Drogheda United

Cork still await FIFA clearance for former Irish international midfielders Gareth Farrelly and Colin Healy while winger Liam Kearney is a doubt following Friday's defeat at Waterford with an ankle injury.

Central defender Brian O'Callaghan, who didn't feature at the RSC due to a groin strain, is expected to be fit for inclusion while striker John O'Flynn may start.

St Patrick's Athletic, who have no injury concerns following their 2-1 league win at Longford on Saturday night, remain confident of signing former Longford central defender Stephen Paisley.


Group 2
Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic

Striker Gary Beckett remains out for up to another fortnight with a pelvic problem as Derry City hope to build on their opening win at Glentoran two weeks ago against the holders at the Brandywell tonight.

Winger Killian Brennan is also unlikely to feature having sat out Friday's league win over Bray with an ankle injury.

Drogheda United hope to have Steven Gray fit following a thigh strain while fellow defender Jason Gavin and winger Richie Baker are avaialble following suspension.

Glen Fitzpatrick (ankle) is a doubt having shipped a knock in Friday's 0-0 draw at Bohemians. Tony Grant stands by to partner skipper Declan O'Brien in attack.

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Not expecting a great game at the Brandywell tonight. From what I've seen so far both teams are a bit rusty so far, and can't see Drogheda going for it given the game's potential importance. So a defensively minded Drogheda against a Derry side who've not exactly been scoring loads lately. Would love a win obviously but can't see past a scoreless draw.

Cork-St. Pats looks like it could be a cracker. Haven't seen them play yet but by all accounts Pats sound like they're great to watch and quite attacking these days. I love their new look midfield as well. Cork always seem to play well at the Cross and need to bounce back quickly from Friday night. Really hard to call but I reckon 2-2 draw. Or Pats victory 2-1 :o

is tonights match all ticket or pay at gate

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Originally Posted by sam_belfast

is tonights match all ticket or pay at gate

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which one ??

Pats game should be a cracker, Pats are a good 11/4 for the victory.

Sweetly struck goal for pats..

My NTL is down, Can anyone shed some light on how the games are going?

nil nil ht in the derry drogs game and gary o neill scored for pats 1-0 ht

2-0 pats Kirby with a cheeky lob

All i need to hear now is that Mulcahy and Frosty nothched too to really rub it into us Waterford folks faces.

Sweet hopefully Pats will hold out and my PP account will be good for some horses tomorrow.

FT Derry 0-0 Drogs

2-1 O'Flynn

3-1 O'Neill again with a pen

i have to say that we are looking very good so far. you would have to fancy us to make it four wins on the spin with waterford coming to inchicore on friday. O'neill and Kirby were outstanding tonight

Great result. Cork ain't up to much and will struggle this year.

That guy Softic looks woeful




No surprise to hear Drogs play another goalless bore

Have a few bob on O'Neill to be topscorer :cool:

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Originally Posted by Raheny Red

Have a few bob on O'Neill to be topscorer :cool:

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Same here. Got 10/1

Plus Saints to win group @ 11/4

I have never seen as much tripe before as i seen from Drogheda tonight. Defend is all they did from first whistle. They were awful. We looked like only team who were looking to win. Ref was poor also

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Originally Posted by Saint Tom

i have to say that we are looking very good so far. you would have to fancy us to make it four wins on the spin with waterford coming to inchicore on friday. O'neill and Kirby were outstanding tonight

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plus with paisley signed for ye things are lookin very good for ye at present.

Top class goal by Kirby. Ndo should have shot after that fabulous lay off by O'Neill. 3 fantastic signings by Pats. Anyone else taking advantage of the early odds on Pats so far? I'd still expect decent odds on them beating Waterford.

Cork were poor alright. Never looked a threat. Pats were good. Ndo, Kirby and O'Neill were great.

I thought Cork City played well tonight (much better than they did against Waterford)but didnt have enough shots on target Joey , Kearney and Ryan played well.Pity John O flynn didnt play from the start.I still think St Pats and City will come through the group.

Pats were quality tonight. Second game in a row they won me some money!:D

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Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Cork were poor alright. Never looked a threat. Pats were good. Ndo, Kirby and O'Neill were great.

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There were chance for us alright but Pats do look good alright. Unreal signings for them alright.

You seemed to be over-relying on Kearney. Your season will hinge on O Flynn staying injury free.

Are Drogheda tactics this year to bore the competition so much that they go to sleep? Dear God they're awful to watch!
Frustrating night in general, Derry were the better side, deserved a win although they had so many misplaced passes it was unbelievable. Mc Court was in another league and must have been frustrated by the rustiness shown at times by his team mates. Still an improvement on Friday's display however.
I honestly think Drogheda are an overrated team, but fear they could1-0 their way to the title this season. Look at Pats tonight- three goals away from home, Drogheda; admittedly had a couple of good chances but apart from that never really looked to attack.
If we don;t win the title this year, I only hope to God a footballing team does instead.

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Originally Posted by Red&White

If we don;t win the title this year, I only hope to God a footballing team does instead.

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Thanks for that, good to know your wishing us the best as we steam role the league! ;) ;)

Beat Pats on Friday and we should be home and dry!!!:D

Pat's were excellent tonight. I can't believe Gary O'Neill didn't get the MoM award, that was one of the best exhibitions of the forward's craft ever seen in League of Ireland football. By the end of this year, everyone will rate him as highly as I always have.

McDonnell must be the jammiest bastid in football. Don't get me wrong, I like the chap, but he could plausibly have been sacked five times over during the course of his tenure at St. Pat's. He rode it out, and then found himself (more through blind luck than judgement) with a top four-standard squad at his disposal, composed of quality players who wound up at Pat's simply because they had nowhere else in the civilised world to go. He's also hit upon Fahey's ideal position (the Pirlo role) serendipitously. They could go far.

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Originally Posted by superblues

Thanks for that, good to know your wishing us the best as we steam role the league!

Beat Pats on Friday and we should be home and dry!!!:D

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My ANYONE but Drogheda campaign starts here.

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he could plausibly have been sacked five times over during the course of his tenure at St. Pat's. He rode it out, and then found himself (more through blind luck than judgement) with a top four-standard squad at his disposal, composed of quality players who wound up at Pat's simply because they had nowhere else in the civilised world to go. He's also hit upon Fahey's ideal position (the Pirlo role) serendipitously. They could go far.[/

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:D :D
They have a great midfield, they have N'do, they're scoring goals, they're good to watch. Don't forget they led the table or where thereabouts for the first third of last season before falling away. They could indeed go far, and while I'm only really judging this on the first few games of the season and pre-season, I wouldn't be surprised by a top three of Derry, Drogheda and St. Pats at the end of the season. Depends on Cork getting their act together, and St. Pats lasting the pace, something far easier said than done.

O'Neill was a great signing for Pats but Ndo comes to you at a cost!! If it's anything like what I hear it is then you may be better off without him.

Cork letting in 3 goals at home ?
What use is the 350K now .....

You need to replace Alan as he was by far and away your best defender.

We outplayed them by playing it on the ground, man of the match John O Flynn :confused: during his outstanding 15 minutes on the pitch only had scraps to feed off. Kearney played well but he was the only outlet for Cork as Behan really isnt very good.

This Setanta Cup thing is easy :D


kdjac

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Originally Posted by kdjaC

This Setanta Cup thing is easy :D

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A bit like the FAI Cup, eh......? :D ;)

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Originally Posted by Sheridan

Pat's were excellent tonight. I can't believe Gary O'Neill didn't get the MoM award, that was one of the best exhibitions of the forward's craft ever seen in League of Ireland football. By the end of this year, everyone will rate him as highly as I always have.

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If its any use to you the travelling Pats fans were split between O'Neill, Kirby and Fahey.

I can't remember a more exciting Pats team

Was surprised how weak Reading's feeder club were tonight, compared with what I'd expected. Loads of possession, plenty of energy from Kearney especially but no creativity and pretty blunt up front.

Love watching us these days though! :)

We need a striker and right sided midfielder and I'll be happy. Hopefully we get Healy in soon enough as well. Not too worried about tonight, it seemed like a glorified pre-season game to be honest. Softic is brutal though

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Originally Posted by Red&White

Are Drogheda tactics this year to bore the competition so much that they go to sleep? Dear God they're awful to watch!
Frustrating night in general, Derry were the better side, deserved a win although they had so many misplaced passes it was unbelievable. Mc Court was in another league and must have been frustrated by the rustiness shown at times by his team mates. Still an improvement on Friday's display however.
I honestly think Drogheda are an overrated team, but fear they could1-0 their way to the title this season. Look at Pats tonight- three goals away from home, Drogheda; admittedly had a couple of good chances but apart from that never really looked to attack.
If we don;t win the title this year, I only hope to God a footballing team does instead.

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According to some on your forum, Derry's tactic were not exactly adventurous, playing only one up front. Do you think Pat will employ same tactics next week?

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Originally Posted by David

According to some on your forum, Derry's tactic were not exactly adventurous, playing only one up front. Do you think Pat will employ same tactics next week?

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I don't think we had any tactics.
Just give it to McCourt and hope for the best.

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Originally Posted by Soko

Hopefully we get Healy in soon enough as well. Not too worried about tonight, it seemed like a glorified pre-season game to be honest.

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Boy those germans have a word for everything.

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Originally Posted by David

According to some on your forum, Derry's tactic were not exactly adventurous, playing only one up front. Do you think Pat will employ same tactics next week?

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We only had one fit forward before the game and McHugh got injured after 25minutes, leaving us with none. I don't think Fenlon had any other choice to play one up front. Anyhow it was brutal to watch. Drogheda defended last night without breaking sweat. Doolin has them playing some tedious stuff though. Job done for them though. McCourt again is playing out of his skin, tackling and tracking back too. Just need the rest of the team to get on his wavelength. BTW that is twice I have seen that eejit Courtney refereeing and he is absolutely brutal.

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Originally Posted by lofty9

We only had one fit forward before the game and McHugh got injured after 25minutes, leaving us with none. I don't think Fenlon had any other choice to play one up front. Anyhow it was brutal to watch. Drogheda defended last night without breaking sweat. Doolin has them playing some tedious stuff though. Job done for them though. McCourt again is playing out of his skin, tackling and tracking back too. Just need the rest of the team to get on his wavelength. BTW that is twice I have seen that eejit Courtney refereeing and he is absolutely brutal.

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Don't we know it. A bit strange Drogheda playing for a draw, one point from 2 games is not exactly a great return. They need a minimum of 4 points in the two games against the Glens and even then, if we beat you at Windsor and you beat us at Brandywell they will still be trailing and will need results away to us and at home to you.