Games Weekend - Fri 13 Mar

[legendz]

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.

[Nesta99]

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!

[osarusan]

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.

[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

[nigel-harps1954]

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.

[Nesta99]

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

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

[listowelceltic]

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

[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.

[Nesta99]

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.

[sbgawa]

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

[brendy_éire]

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

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.

[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.

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

[Dalymountrower]

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

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

[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.

[Glen Of Aherlow]

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

[ger121]

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.

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

[2 Year Contract]

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

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

[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.

[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.

[Inchicore]

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.