Whats the biggest derby in Irish football

**Terry** · 30/03/2008, 1:19 PM

Corks derby match is against cobh, not waterford surely?

it has to be bohs -v- rovers.

**Con-Con** · 30/03/2008, 2:16 PM

Rovers v Bohs.

**The Man Himself** · 30/03/2008, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by joey4ireland

Cork fans never really thought of the blues as rivals no matter how obssessed their fans are with us and how much fat pat said it was the biggest derby in ireland. We need ramblers to stay up as to build up a rivalry with them

won waterford won far more leagues then cork did.
munsters most successful side by far.

**Raheny Red** · 30/03/2008, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by skitz3

Although around the time of the Marney affair, Shels Vs Pats did.

The build up to those games was unbelievable.

**Pablo Escobar** · 30/03/2008, 3:44 PM

Surely it's Finn Harps -v- Derry. You've got one side representing Ireland, and the other representing the UK.

**p�l-dcfc** · 30/03/2008, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

Surely it's Finn Harps -v- Derry. You've got one side representing Ireland, and the other representing the UK.

Linfield - Glentoran by far and away is the biggest Derby in Ireland.
There can't be any argument.

**kingdomkerry** · 30/03/2008, 4:03 PM

Originally Posted by Pablo Escobar

Surely it's Finn Harps -v- Derry. You've got one side representing Ireland, and the other representing the UK.

Theres always a fool!

**Pablo Escobar** · 30/03/2008, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by p�l-dcfc

Linfield - Glentoran by far and away is the biggest Derby in Ireland.
There can't be any argument.

Biggest derby by a mile. You only need to look at the increase of attendance for those games. It's actually crazy that they can have 1,500 for a game one week, then 13,000 the next!

I'm not even going to comment on KK response as my comment was clearly a joke.

**bray boy** · 30/03/2008, 5:30 PM

i read this forum and laughed
how naive people can be
forget linfield glens bohs rovers even celtic rangers...
nothing matches the size, glamour,intensity and rip roaring hate between two sides that you undoubtably know im talking about
records of bray ucd matches are unclear as journalists and cameras are asked not to attend as both sets of clubs need the space for the anormous volume fans that they take care of so well
two seasons ago a cold carlisle witnessed a an event that shook the very bones of the worldwide footballing community
overcrowding of the famous shed (as seen in michael collins) cracked the foundations of the tin shack
undercover repoters tell us that one dog sprained his ankle in what was an event that really changed the face of 'the field of dreams' forever
the old shed was replaced with what can only be described as a green tent which is held up by state of the art lego blocks
and dont even get me started on the violence that meant belfield had to be left for the new bowl.....

**Steve Bruce** · 30/03/2008, 6:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dalymountrower

Young gentleman are you? Before the current poisonous atmosphere took hold about ten years ago, crowds of 6-8,000 would not have been unusual. The pity now is that neutrals keep away because of the bad publicity and because of the scummish behaviours of some rovers fans and retards who have attached themselves to Bohs. I would reckon that there will be at least 5.000 in Tolka next Friday and if that fixture doesn`t generate bad publicity and both clubs are still competing at the top of the league, we should be getting the biggest crowd of the season at the next match between the sides at Dalymount .

Linfield v Glens or possibly Linfield v Cliftonville is about as close as it comes to Bohs/Rovers on the Island.( outside of the "boxing" day traditional match the crowds at Blues/ Glens are modest enough afaik.)

I remember the Hibs/Celtic games and I would say that was the main derby game in the early `70`s.

Linfield vs Glentoran league matches regulary pull 10,000+ attendances, Boxing Day we would get 12,000+ guarenteed. Although recent years these matches have been restricted.

On this island though. Linfield vs Glentoran is the biggest in crowd, biggest in rivalry and historically by a long stretch.

This isn't a slanted view because I am a Blueman, it is just the way it is. Biggest crowds, most hostillity and two very successful clubs.

This is not to take away from anyone elses fixtures though. But I think most people would agree(even if they dont like to admit it)

**HarpoJoyce** · 30/03/2008, 6:18 PM

Originally Posted by the seagull

i read this forum and laughed
how naive people can be
forget linfield glens bohs rovers even celtic rangers...
nothing matches the size, glamour,intensity and rip roaring hate between two sides that you undoubtably know im talking about
records of bray ucd matches are unclear as journalists and cameras are asked not to attend as both sets of clubs need the space for the anormous volume fans that they take care of so well
two seasons ago a cold carlisle witnessed a an event that shook the very bones of the worldwide footballing community
overcrowding of the famous shed (as seen in michael collins) cracked the foundations of the tin shack
undercover repoters tell us that one dog sprained his ankle in what was an event that really changed the face of 'the field of dreams' forever
the old shed was replaced with what can only be described as a green tent which is held up by state of the art lego blocks
and dont even get me started on the violence that meant belfield had to be left for the new bowl.....

Yet again you are right. Always the truth comes from the sea.
But BW and UCD bring a climate of change to the LoI, it scared the pants off some.

Mind the time while Belfield Park was used for football, the regime in Tolka (Shels/Home Farm FC) wished to discard their ordinary blue plastic bench seats. UCD AFC and Belfield Park were able to hide them for a time in the back of our main stand. Sometimes to replace older wooden seats.
But we equated our efforts, to hiding footballers during the Holocaust.

Without proper diets, both Belfield Park and the Carlilse Grounds may seem cold. It is true, Neil Jordan thinks the Carlilse Grounds looks like Croke Park.

**TonyD** · 30/03/2008, 6:27 PM

Originally Posted by skitz3

Linfield Vs Glentoran
Rovers Vs Bohs

No other come close to those two. Although around the time of the Marney affair, Shels Vs Pats did.

For a period there in the late nineties I would say that Shels/Pats actually eclipsed Rovers/Bohs as the main Dublin grudge match, even before the Marney affair. There were some fabulous spats(on the pitch that is) between the two. I'm thinking particularly of the three game FAI cup quarter final in 1998 which had an absolutely electric athmosphere. Just about filled Tolka Park for the two replays. Incredible games. Of course, since Shels departure into oblivion

, that's all history. In terms of crowds at the moment, I would say Harps/Derry would get a bigger attendance than Rovers/Bohs.

**Paddyfield** · 30/03/2008, 7:22 PM

Bohs V Rovers

**deecay** · 30/03/2008, 8:26 PM

If Dundalk got promoted them v Drogs would be up there

**Orangecelt** · 30/03/2008, 8:54 PM

Originally Posted by mattie

when the league was at its height cork hibs v. cork celtic was the biggest derby.

I really miss those Hibs Celtic games in Flower Lodge (now Pairc Ui Rinn.. shame on you, AOH!) and Turner's Cross. I grew up about 200 yards from The Box (about 100 yards from Musgrave Park) and I always get to see Cork City when I'm home. I even wear the new City top and support them enthusiastically to the extent that I insist visitors attend a game with me. Unfortunately, the city can no longer afford 2 league clubs. It probably never could anyway. Does Celtic v Hibs '74 hold the record for largest attendance for a league game? Or was it Hibs Waterford?