QuoteFor the sake of Irish football - please God, don't let Kildare lose to Salthill Devon.....
Salthill Devon won their group in the A championship. They play Shamrock Rovers in the Final this Saturday in Drom (2pm).
They were the top non-league side in one group, and as there were no non-league sides in the top 4 in the other group, they automatically go through to the play off with Kildare.
For the sake of Irish football - please God, don't let Kildare lose to Salthill Devon.....
There could possibly be 3 teams in Galway and no team in Cork in the LOI next season :O .Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
Never work. You cant just make a club up out of nothing. Oh wait
Why the sudden rush to run-off the play-off anyway? Best to leave the licensing sagas over Cork and Derry play out first. If either or both are demoted, both Salthill and Kildare will be in Division 1, and if the clubs are saved, the play-off can go ahead in January.
Because squads will have changed by January.
Oh the thought of it, 3 Galway teams in the league
Just a question on Salthills grounds, I am assuming it won't be up to eircom league standard like Mervue's wasn't last year, will this mean that they will have to play in Terryland as well as Galway and Mervue
Galway will soon catch up on Dublin. You just need another three more teams now.Because squads will have changed by January.
Oh the thought of it, 3 Galway teams in the league
Who would pay the players in the meantime?
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
Presumably, all this talk of Mervue having Fahy's Field ready for this year seem to be wide of the markJust a question on Salthills grounds, I am assuming it won't be up to eircom league standard like Mervue's wasn't last year, will this mean that they will have to play in Terryland as well as Galway and Mervue
Why? They've been terrible in the A Championship this year. Surely any clamour should be for Tralee. Or maybe Castlebar.
What that man said. Salthill seem extremely progressive and I think they'd only be an asset to the league. if Galway can't sustain three LOI clubs then, in the mid to long term at the very worst, Galway will not sustain three LOI clubs.
True but none of the clubs own Terryland so none of them really have a definitive claim on it.Just a question on Salthills grounds, I am assuming it won't be up to eircom league standard like Mervue's wasn't last year, will this mean that they will have to play in Terryland as well as Galway and Mervue
The ball is round and has many surprises.
Result from the 'A' Championship Final Today:
Salthill Devon 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Cowen 90
According to a poster on our forum, he reckons they'll beat Kildare
Is there any news on new teams joining the A Championship (bar us of course) for next season, and as for three LOI clubs from Galway are Mervue still thinking of pulling out of the league
Portlaoise almost joined last year so I would expect them to join next year. I haven't heard anything concrete about Mervue pulling out either.
I heard last night that they're committed to another season. 3 clubs in Galway seems crazy alright but to be fair to Mervue and Salthill they've got there on merit. At least they're more progressive than a lot of other non-league clubs.
I phoned the speaking clock to hear a voice speak, it said - "At the tone you will be very much alone"
Report
Shamrock Rovers claim Newstalk A Championship title
Salthill Devon 0
Shamrock Rovers 1
Shamrock Rovers claimed the Newstalk A Championship thanks to a Don Cowan goal deep inside second half stoppage time of the competition final at Drom against Salthill Devon. The Hoops claimed a 1-0 win after Cowan struck in the 97th minute with virtually the last kick of the ball.
The first half was splayed in blustery conditions and was evenly contested throughout, both defences in dominant form.Don Cowan for the Hoops showed the first glimpses of form as he threatened the home rearguard, but was contained well by Sean Murphy.
Salthill’s first half chance fell to Shane Browne after 25 minutes but his snap shot was well wide of target. Cowan produced the Hoops’ first real chance two minutes later but his shot from an acute angel was tipped over by Ronan Forde in the home goal.
On the half hour Sean Dunne’s cross was headed over by Marcin Maranek as the home side pressed forward in search of the lead.
Chances were few and far between as the first half ebbed towards the break, with neither side making any errors or delivering any real breakthrough moves. However Mickey Gilmore looked a real threat at times for Salthill while Cowan looked the most likely for the Hoops.
The pattern of the second half mirrored the opening half in many ways with a tight hard fought encounter with few clear cut chances, until the 7th minutes of time added on when goalkeeper Ronan Forde was stranded outside his area and he could not control the ball Cowan ended up with the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net.
Salthill lost striker Marcin Maranek who hobbled off after ten minutes to be replace by Damien O’Reilly who posed a major threat for the remainder of the half. Five minutes later the Hoops had a real chance when Paddy Kavanagh wriggled free but his ‘on target’ shot was blocked by Sean Murphy and cleared.
Rovers looked the stronger in the opening 20 minutes of the half, but Salthill gradually got into their stride and they were the team going forward in the close quarter but could not just get that vital last touch.
The final was a good advertisement for Irish soccer, played in a good spirit with plenty of quality play despite the windy conditions.
Victor Ekanem was selected man of the match for his excellent display in the Rovers rearguard. Shamrock deserved their victory by virtue of the fact that they took their chance when it came. Salthill Devon have come a long way in one season from bottom of the A league last year to contesting this years final. They have a playoff with Kildare for a place in the first division to come as a consolation prize.
Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde, Paddy Quinlan, Geroid O’Lidhinn, Sean Murphy, James Whelan, Ryan O’Donnell, Sean Boyle, Robbie Porter, Mickey Gilmore (Brian Geraghty), Marcin Maranek (Damien O’Reilly), Shane Browne.
Subs not used: Marty Mannion, Ronan Larkin, Ger Cheevers.
Shamrock Rovers: Robert Duggan, Simon Madden, Craig Rothery, Pat Flynn, Victor Ekanem, Barry Johnston, Paddy Kavanagh, Ross Chisholm, Padraig Amond, Don Cowan, Darren Good (Jason Oladele)
Subs not used: Thomas Hyland, Keith O’Neill, Stephen Conlon, Michael Iscihei
Attendance was around 300, with 30 from Shamrock Rovers
I'd say Kildare could beat salthill. They've improved alot and can be a physical team when they want. Think they are better going into this playoff than they where going into it last year.
How come Galway is in a position where it could be hosting three senior football clubs? Given Cork has only one club - and I think never more than two - and no other city has more than one club (if you exclude Institute in Derry), it's strange that Galway has the intermediate set-up to get three clubs into senior football.
(Deep Breath) - Galway does not have an intermediate set-up...there is no Senior League in Connacht (not enough Junior clubs willing to commit to the expense). Hence the reason why Salthill and Mervue decided to enter the A championship to give an outlet for the youth systems at both clubs that they have put so much time and effort into. The Junior league in Galway at the moment is no breeding ground for developing talented youngsters. Neither side thought they would be in the positions they are in now so soon. Mervue scraped into the play-off last year, then fully deserved their win over Kildare. Salthill seemingly were the best side in their group, so now get the same opportunity. Both were aided by the fact that the LOI clubs on this side of the country have been struggling to field A sides, let alone decent ones.
They have both developed fantastic facilities over the last decade (I played for Mervue underage in the 80s when for a time they didn't have a dressing room in Fahy's Field) that they can be proud of, and will continue to develop. This mainly comes from the dedication of volunteers and club members. Salthill and Mervue have gotten to the point where they are consistently challenging for Irish Cups at underage level (Mervue won at U14 and U16 in recent years and Salthill have lost a couple of finals). Hence the desire for them to play at a higher standard when they reached 19/20. When the CSL was around, both clubs best players would have been promoted to this side, and then quite a few went on to play for Galway United.
Compare both these structures to that of Galway United, who after 31 years in LOI have barely got a pot to **** in. No training facilities, renting a ground, massively in debt, no direct influence on ayouth system. Why would either of the other clubs want get associated with that mess. Devon did a few years ago to get Galway out of a jam. The relationship didn't end well from what I remember.
The FAI created the A championship to create a sort of pyramid structure for progressive clubs. Mervue or Salthill can't be blamed for taking advantage of the situation. Whether it will be ultimately to their benefit remains to be seen.
In summation - If there was a Connacht Senior League, this wouldn't have happened. There isn't, so it did.
Shamrock Rovers put out a very strong team today, from the looks of it. Duggan, Amond, Kavanagh, Johnston, Chisholm, Flynn, Madden, Cowan....all played in Premier this year. Salthill had 8 starters who came through the ranks with the club. Not a bad effort to lose to a 97th minute goal.
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