First Division 2010

**MariborKev** · 25/09/2010, 12:06 AM

6-0, doesn't that mean that Kenny is now confirmed as the Second Coming?

**Mr A** · 25/09/2010, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by MariborKev

6-0, doesn't that mean that Kenny is now confirmed as the Second Coming?

**SwanVsDalton** · 25/09/2010, 12:40 AM

Should've been nine - Kenny out.

**GalwayRed** · 26/09/2010, 10:53 PM

So its 5 games to go for all the promotion contenders(except mons who have 6).
Derrys run in looks relatively straight forward on paper but I think I've found some causes for optimism. They have to go away to Wexford who are a tough team to play against and have nothing to lose unlike Derry who will be under a lot of pressure. Derry have ourselves in the Brandywell and if we are serious about wanting to go up this season then we should be aiming to win that match. We wont make it easy for them thats for sure. Derry also have the derby with Harps. I'm sure Harps will be desperate to put a dent in Derrys promotion hopes.
Monaghan then have a similar enough run in to ourselves. Would like a draw from Mons-Waterford. That one could go either way with both teams seeming to be in decent form. Cork away will be very difficult with the form they're in. I think Cork could finally beat Monaghan this season. Playing Limerick is usually tough home or away but unless they pick up their form soon I'd expect Mons to win that one.
Waterford have a tough enough run in. After Mons away they have 3 potential banana skins. I expect them to pick up the 2 home wins but I'm going to remain optimistic about Longford away. I think Longford have beaten them twice in Flancare this season so they obviously have a bit of trouble up there.
We have a very tough run in. We simply have to beat Cork in Tolka. I wouldn't be surprised with that finishing as a draw. Like I said if we are serious about wanting promotion then we need to aim to beat Derry in the Brandywell. I expect us to lose that one though. Limerick away in our second last game of the season will be a nightmare. If we are still in the mix by then they will do everything in their power to stop us in Jackman.
Cork probably have a little too much to do. The only easy match I see for them is Salthill at home. Wexford and Harps away will be both be tough places to go. I can see them dropping points somewhere along the way which they cant afford.
Limerick are 7 behind 3rd and I dont see that being made up in 5 games especially when they still have to travel to Monaghan and play us.
So that would bring us up to the final day of the season. After all that I can see the Mons-Derry match still being a title decider but I would expect Derry to go into the game top of the league. Waterford clearly have a better run in then ourselves but I would hope we could still go into that final day match with at least an outside chance of third. The pessimist in me thinks the play off places will already be out of reach by then though.
So my revised prediction is
1. Derry
2. Mons
3. Waterford
4. Shels
5. Cork

**FrOsTy** · 26/09/2010, 11:04 PM

I think if we win next week we will go onto win the league draw/loss then its 3rd at best.

**legendz** · 28/09/2010, 2:39 PM

Shel's vs Cork will be a big game this weekend. Both have an outside chance of getting into the play-offs.

**Candystripe** · 28/09/2010, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by **FrOsTy**

I think if we win next week we will go onto win the league draw/loss then its 3rd at best.

Do you think Waterford will make up five points on Derry!!!!!?

**legendz** · 28/09/2010, 3:03 PM

Waterford can't be discounted but once it gets to 4 games to go, you'd want to be within 3 points of the target.

**thischarmingman** · 28/09/2010, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by Candystripe

Do you think Waterford will make up five points on Derry!!!!!?

Way to jinx it...

**FrOsTy** · 28/09/2010, 3:28 PM

Originally Posted by Candystripe

Do you think Waterford will make up five points on Derry!!!!!?

If we beat Mons then yes. I can see shels beating Derry where if we beat Mons we realistically should go on to take 3 points from Harps, Longford and Athlone.

Coming down to the last game of the season where we play Shels and you play Monaghan. So yes, with a win against Monaghan I think we can catch ye. However,it is out of our hands and we need results to go our way.

**harps1954** · 28/09/2010, 3:51 PM

In my view, for Monaghan or Wateford to catch Derry, there needs to be a winner in that game this weekend. If it finishes in a draw, and Derry beat Wexford, it's as good as over.

**legendz** · 28/09/2010, 3:53 PM

Not to go on but the 4th placed side should be getting a crack at the play-offs as well. I don't agree at all with the 8th vs 9th play-off in the Premier.

**FrOsTy** · 28/09/2010, 3:55 PM

4th place in the firsy division doesnt deserve a premier shot. Infact 3rd doesnt even deserve it. 1st and 2nd are the only ones who should be going and both both should be automatic.

**legendz** · 28/09/2010, 5:46 PM

Originally Posted by **FrOsTy**

4th place in the firsy division doesnt deserve a premier shot. Infact 3rd doesnt even deserve it. 1st and 2nd are the only ones who should be going and both both should be automatic.

I'd kind of agree with the principle of that. I wouldn't go as far as giving the top two automatic promotion though. 2nd could play 9th in a play-off. Advantage of winning the Division is guaranteed promotion.

**FrOsTy** · 28/09/2010, 5:48 PM

Ye that would probably be the best way! Anyway 3rd gets a chance and uf we don't beat Mons then hooray for that

**CSFShels** · 28/09/2010, 6:32 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Shel's vs Cork will be a big game this weekend. Both have an outside chance of getting into the play-offs.

We're 2 points outside the playoffs having won 6 and drawn 1 of our last 7 games. While I wouldn't call us favourites referring to us as having an outside chance of getting playoffs is definitely downplaying our chances. Very marginal between us and Waterford and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Monaghan get dragged in to a battle with us and maybe Cork if they can beat us this week.

**passerrby** · 29/09/2010, 12:58 PM

reports of our immenent demise have been greatly exagerated

**Mr A** · 29/09/2010, 1:10 PM

Huge, huge games this weekend.

If Derry stutter at all in Wexford their jitters may return with a vengeance. Their game against Mervue could scarcely have come at a better time though, exactly the sort of confidence boost they needed. But they'll know that Mervue are pretty dreadful and that result does not mean anything unless they build on it.

The losers in the Monaghan Waterford match may be out of the race for top spot, while the losers in the Shels Cork game may well find a position in the playoffs getting beyond them.

**Flexy** · 29/09/2010, 1:24 PM

Cant see Derry stuttering in Wexford. The big pitch and good surface will suit them, especially with the wide players Derry have. Can see Waterford and Mons being a score draw while Shels and Cork can see that being a 0-0. I think the big question will be how Monaghan react to their cup defeat last week. Always hard coming back from a cup defeat, whereas the other teams will all be on a high.
Dream scenario would be winning the league at home to Harps on the 2nd last day of the season.

**CSFShels** · 29/09/2010, 7:59 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Huge, huge games this weekend.

If Derry stutter at all in Wexford their jitters may return with a vengeance. Their game against Mervue could scarcely have come at a better time though, exactly the sort of confidence boost they needed. But they'll know that Mervue are pretty dreadful and that result does not mean anything unless they build on it.

The losers in the Monaghan Waterford match may be out of the race for top spot, while the losers in the Shels Cork game may well find a position in the playoffs getting beyond them.

If we lose to Cork, how exactly would the position still be beyond us but not beyond them? Unless the scoreline had a gap of 6 or more we'd still be ahead.