Who will win the 1st division

**Sam_Heggy** · 20/09/2009, 9:48 AM

UCD favourites for me, a cracking side who play good football and keep it on the deck.

**SPXcyan** · 20/09/2009, 11:31 AM

Yep! id think UCD will win it! they outplayed us at the RSC a couple weeks back! excellent team effort! best ive seen from anyone this season!

**Lamper.sffc** · 20/09/2009, 11:43 AM

Have to admit, I just dont know. We played UCD at Morton recently and they looked ordinary enough but you cant really base an opinion on a team from watching them in one game to be far. A 5 nil result at harps is a very good result but each and every team has pulled out some great performances this season. I think this is shels wobble at the moment but still very hard to see them not be up there come the end, but all in all, I just dont know. Great isnt it

**pineapple stu** · 20/09/2009, 1:34 PM

I think we've an advantage in that, after 2 October, we'll have played Shels and Fungus, whereas no other top four games will have taken place. So even if we're behind after that game, we've got more chance of our opponents dropping points than the other teams. Not to mention that Waterford and Fungus are still in the Cups as well.

Also interesting to see if we can take our recent form (3-0 and 5-0) into the Kildare game and have that confidence boost brought into the Shels game.

Edit - couple of other possible factors. Apparently Anto Flood was sent off either just before or just after the final whistle on Friday, supposedly for cursing the ref or pushing the ref; that'd be a straight one-match ban plus the possibility of another two to come. If Shels don't go up this year, they'll only have their own discipline to blame. They've also got Richie Baker out injured for the season and are facing the possibility of playing UCD (H), Waterford (A) and Fingal (A) in the one week.

Waterford's two red cards last night, by contrast, will incur initial suspensions to be served in the League Cup Final, which is good for their league campaign.

Killer Kilduff's goals for us last night were his first in the league in 12 games (which included a spell out injured); hopefully he can get back to form now.

**stann** · 20/09/2009, 3:41 PM

Fletch and Cummins will serve their automatic suspensions for the Longford match on Tuesday week I reckon, not the Cup final. They'll both be "automatic suspension in next League of Ireland match as per FIFA directive".
Not sure whether that's better or worse to be honest.
I hope they'll both be appealled too, though it won't help that match.

**atfconline** · 20/09/2009, 3:43 PM

You can only appeal a red card on the basis of mistaken identity.

**stann** · 20/09/2009, 3:44 PM

Sorry, was unclear there, the suspensions I'm talking about. Any extra games that might be added.

**GalwayRed** · 20/09/2009, 3:45 PM

Its very tough to call now. If we can beat Mervue than take 5 from 9 out of the 3 games in a week then we will be in a great position.
That red card for Bisto is no help at all. Our discipline this season has let us down so badly.
Baker and Cassidy will be out for the next few weeks with injury but we arent short on midfielders so hopefully that wont cost us too much.

**blue til i die** · 20/09/2009, 3:50 PM

After the 2 red cards last night, going on to win the game was fantastic and could be a good turning point.

Still too hard to call, someone's got to miss out though.

**Battery Rover** · 20/09/2009, 3:59 PM

Originally Posted by stann

I hope they'll both be appealled too, though it won't help that match.

Not 100% sure what the first was for but the second one looked like an elbow after the tackle. I haven't had a chance to look back at the footage yet to confirm.

**pineapple stu** · 20/09/2009, 4:02 PM

Originally Posted by blue til i die

Still too hard to call, someone's got to miss out though.

Two of us have to miss out. Three if the First Division side loses the play-off.

Originally Posted by stann

Fletch and Cummins will serve their automatic suspensions for the Longford match on Tuesday week I reckon, not the Cup final. They'll both be "automatic suspension in next League of Ireland match as per FIFA directive".

Cool, cheers for that. But yeah, Longford aren't the toughest of opponents. Do you still have a 12-man squad?

**stann** · 20/09/2009, 4:15 PM

Originally Posted by Battery Rover

Not 100% sure what the first was for but the second one looked like an elbow after the tackle. I haven't had a chance to look back at the footage yet to confirm.

The first was for a push on the shoulder, straight red for that these days apparently. The second seemingly was for a perceived stamping. Fletch was absolutely perplexed afterwards, couldn't remember even making contact after the tackle, let alone deliberately.
As a guy said to me at the time, the players' reactions tell a lot. If one player throws a swing at another, or goes in to do another player, or stamp on him, then the injured party's team mates would be all over him in seconds. I don't recall a reaction like that out of any of the home side.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Do you still have a 12-man squad?

No, we do have a few now.

17 seniors and three lads that double with the U-20s.

**blue til i die** · 20/09/2009, 6:26 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Two of us have to miss out. Three if the First Division side loses the play-off.

Obviously meant one will miss out completely on the promotion,play off bit

I think we all knew it would go down to the last series, nobody was going to run away with it really, everyone is weirdly capable of losing to anyone.

Edit: UCD were the best footballing side i've seen play us at the rsc this season too.

**Acornvilla** · 20/09/2009, 6:53 PM

myself i think fingal have by far the strongest squad and i just dont want to have to play them next year! bring back the 12 team premier theres too many good teams in the 1st devision its not fair on the smaller clubs

**stann** · 20/09/2009, 9:37 PM

Originally Posted by stann

No, we do have a few now.

17 seniors and three lads that double with the U-20s.

Sorry, having serious problems communicating today.

Tow of those, of course, were signed to replace two others who are out injured for the rest of the season, so we've 18 effectively.

**Magicme** · 20/09/2009, 10:50 PM

From early in the season I reckoned UCD would be the ones to watch. They were the best we played, consistently, unlike other teams who blew hot and cold.

**Da Real Rover** · 20/09/2009, 11:02 PM

Please not another team from Dublin in the Premier.
Im sick of constantly travelling to the Pale for away games.

**Dunny** · 20/09/2009, 11:05 PM

Shels please. Always loved Shels away. And I think John Gill should have a shot at managing in the premier..

**gspain** · 21/09/2009, 3:32 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I think we've an advantage in that, after 2 October, we'll have played Shels and Fungus, whereas no other top four games will have taken place. So even if we're behind after that game, we've got more chance of our opponents dropping points than the other teams. Not to mention that Waterford and Fungus are still in the Cups as well.

Also interesting to see if we can take our recent form (3-0 and 5-0) into the Kildare game and have that confidence boost brought into the Shels game.

Edit - couple of other possible factors. Apparently Anto Flood was sent off either just before or just after the final whistle on Friday, supposedly for cursing the ref or pushing the ref; that'd be a straight one-match ban plus the possibility of another two to come. If Shels don't go up this year, they'll only have their own discipline to blame. They've also got Richie Baker out injured for the season and are facing the possibility of playing UCD (H), Waterford (A) and Fingal (A) in the one week.

Waterford's two red cards last night, by contrast, will incur initial suspensions to be served in the League Cup Final, which is good for their league campaign.

Killer Kilduff's goals for us last night were his first in the league in 12 games (which included a spell out injured); hopefully he can get back to form now.

It was before the final whistle but after we equalised. I didn't see him push the referee so I assume it was for verbal abuse. It was a straight red. They also picked up 6 or 7 yellow cards but deserved a couple more.

Having come from behind to lead 3-2 and us looking beaten I was shocked to see Shels running the ball into the corner with probably 10 minutes left. Our equaliser came out of the blue but we deserved it based on our first half performance. Shels did not look like title winners on Friday night but certainly did when they beat us with ten minute in Jackman Park with a last gasp goal.

As to who I think will win the league - no idea really. We've looked better than all the top teams at times but way worse than Mervue and Kildare at times.

Fingal have the best players but don't appear to have the best team.

It should be a cracking finish.

**Youths4Ever** · 21/09/2009, 9:47 PM

who ever said Wexford would have an input in who would win the first was right. Tonight's results means that we have won away from home against all the top four teams if only we could play at home