Quote10 minute highlights don't show the context of the game. The goals were spectacular but Sheriff were utterly battering them from the start of 2nd half I've no doubt they would have eventually scored 3 goals before the 90 minutes.Originally Posted by A face
My observations from watching the game live:
First half
Shels generally played ok. Their two goals were fantastic example of pass and movement that would grace the PD. Some players were playing poorly and making strange decisions, it could be put down to playing ****e, but because Shels were in control of match scoreline and holding most of the ball so its hard to find anything suspicious. Sheriff looked a Junior side. Defence looked slow and for the taking, forwards ineffective but their midfield was competitive. Only sniff at goals were from Shels making defensive errors.
Second half
Shels were a completely different team. Losing Kevin Dawson at H/T may have effected their midfield but in reality Shels never kept hold of the ball and were inviting Sheriff to attack them. Shels defence became very clumsy. Passing became awful thus the ball retention from the first half was gone. It was highly noticeable some players not closing Sheriff down. Some players, usually disciplined were begging to give fouls away at any opportunity. One player I noticed lost about 3 yards of pace from the first half. I noticed another player running in the opposite direction from the ball as it was coming to him. Sheriff were winning most headers easily. Very strange penalty too. Shels showed no reaction when they went 3-2 down which I feel was most damning. Sheriff players were struggling with cramp at this stage too and weren't exploited. Shels players clearly were not trying. I'm not retrospectively analyzing this, I was thinking this as I was watching it, I only became aware of the Sheriff betting mania speaking to someone leaving the ground. Sheriff do deserve their moment of glory, they showed great heart but lets not carried away, they're about Athlone Town level and Limerick should easily get past them.
I personally believe it was thrown. Too many coincidences pre match, too many conicidences and stange goings on during the match but saying who was in on it is obviously hard to prove. I may have gone OTT on the forum the other day saying it was 100% fixed and there were definitely half the team throwing it. Emotions running high there, I think something was up but to what extent among the team is hard to figure out. There are certain players I am suspicious about. It will be impossible to prove anything unless someone with insider knowledge says something. Otherwise I expect the 'scandal' to blow over but I think the club has to keep any eye on this stuff as there is a stink hanging over an another match, maybe two from the past few years.
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