First Division Run In

**Lim till i die** · 31/08/2011, 7:55 PM

Tis tightish!

Shels 53
Cork 47
Monaghan 46
Limerick 44

Shels:

Wexford (H) W
Mervue (A) W
Limerick (H) D
Athlone (A) W
Monaghan (H) D
Waterford (A) W
Finn Harps (H) W
Salthill (A) W
Cork (H) L

Cork:

Limerick (H) W
Athlone (A) W
Monaghan (H) L
Waterford (A) D
Harps (H) W
Salthill (A) W
Longford (H) W
Shels (A) W

Monaghan:

Harps (A) W
Salthill (H) W
Cork (A) W
Longford (H) W
Shels (A) D
Wexford (H) W
Mervue (A) W
Limerick (H) L
Athlone (A) W

Limerick:

Cork (A) L
Longford (H) W
Shels (A) D
Wexford (H) W
Mervue (A) W
Athlone (H) W
Monaghan (A) W
Waterford (H) W

Would give us:

Shels 73
Monaghan 68
Cork 66
Limerick 63

What do we reckon??

**adamd164** · 31/08/2011, 8:18 PM

It'll be tight. Automatic promotion for 1st and 2nd and a two-legged playoff with Galway for whoever finishes in 3rd spot.

Galway aren't exactly a daunting prospect in their current state so 3 would be expected to go up. That said, I hope we don't need the playoff!

**CSFShels** · 31/08/2011, 8:42 PM

Looks alot tighter due to the fact that our game in hand over Limerick and Cork isn't shown there. In reality, if we don't win this league it will be a catastrophe.

**Lim till i die** · 31/08/2011, 8:55 PM

I only really meant twas tight in the context of second to fourth tbh, as above I'd expect Shels to win it handy.

**BonnieShels** · 31/08/2011, 9:13 PM

Ah sure. We couldn't throw it away, again? Could we?

**gormacha** · 31/08/2011, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Ah sure. We couldn't throw it away, again? Could we?

No, I doubt it. It's a very weak division, and I just don't see how you could drop enough points not to win it. (Before anybody points it out, I'm aware of how poor Waterford United must be to languish sixth in a division this poor. Painfully aware.)

Going on what I have seen of these teams this year, I would expect Shels and Mons to take the top two spots. Then its a fight between Limerick and Cork for the playoff. I don't think Limerick have come up to the standards expected after spunking all that cash, but I still think they'll pip Cork to third spot. One can hope at least.

**razor** · 31/08/2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Ah sure. We couldn't throw it away, again? Could we?

Depends on the odds I guess.

**bluewhitearmy** · 31/08/2011, 11:01 PM

Limerick will be out of promotion race by Saturday night im sure.

**CSFShels** · 31/08/2011, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by razor

Depends on the odds I guess.

Ah to be fair, for us to be able to throw anything, we'd need to be able to rely on your lot to beat the likes of Wexford, Mervue and Athlone.

**BonnieShels** · 31/08/2011, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by razor

Depends on the odds I guess.

Well I'd say we are probably odds on to bottle it. Not worth betting on.

Or risking the penalty for doing so!

**CraftyToePoke** · 01/09/2011, 1:49 AM

I have maintained for a bit that Limerick would need a bit of a cushion in third coming into the final series due to the trips to all three other contenders to come. I would love to be proved wrong, but Limerick dont have the look of a side about to do the necessary. I think it will be Shels, Cork and Monaghan.

**micls** · 01/09/2011, 4:15 AM

I'd take that now. Obviously I'd prefer the auto promotion but I'd fancy our chances in a playoff and the only thing that matters is going up.

I think the cup games could affect us. We don't have a big squad and a couple of injuries plus the games piling up over the 2 cup weekends in September could hurt us.

Tomorrow night is vital. If we beat Limerick I'll be confident of top 3. If they beat us it could spur them on hugely.

I think we'll probably drop points against Waterford, they always seem to up their game against us, and Mons, who we've struggled to beat for the last 2 years. We'll also drop a few points where we shouldn't like Wexford last time, maybe against Longford.

On our form over the season, I think we'll take a minimum of 16 points from the 8 games. That would only put us on 63. If we lose against Limerick that could well not be enough. 20 points and i think we have the playoff at least.

It'l certainly be interesting.

My guess:

Shels 72
City 67 (2nd on GD)
Mons 67
Limerick 58

It's dependent on us beating Limerick. More blind optimism than conviction but still

**monsexile** · 01/09/2011, 6:46 AM

I doubt we'll take as many points as you suggest. Harps is a tester for us on Saturday for starters - coming off the back of a disappointing midweek result and with Harps having turned it around winning 3 of the last 4. Otherwise, Cork, Mervue (bogey team), Limerick and Shels matches could go either way. Be gutted to miss out after being in the mix for almost two years now.

**CSFShels** · 01/09/2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by monsexile

I doubt we'll take as many points as you suggest.

Nor will Cork take that many so I wouldn't worry. One would assume there are plenty more draws down the road for them.

**SPXcyan** · 01/09/2011, 12:57 PM

I'd like to see Shels, Cork and Limerick go up, I think they'd be a great addition to next seasons premier league and the first division will be fairly competitive I'd think.

**fionnsci** · 01/09/2011, 12:59 PM

I'd like Shels, Cork and Limerick up. Would make for a good premier division.

**monsexile** · 01/09/2011, 1:37 PM

All this love for Cork and Limerick and Shels. Tell you what, why not let them up, go back to one division and feck off the rest of the teams.

**frenchman** · 01/09/2011, 1:46 PM

I had thought of doing this but it all gets very complicated and decided it was too early...that said, if things go united's way this weekend we could be 5 points clear of limerick WITH A GAME IN HAND. but I think we need to wait another 3 weeks until they all play each other (the same weekend I think)....but on paper we should be more than capable of winning 5 out of 6 and then drawing against shels, cork and limerick which should do it. at least for the ''semi -automatic'' spot.