First Division Run In

**MagicMon** · 09/10/2011, 4:45 PM

The promotion places are still far too close to call, for all the predictions on here. I wouldn't be surprised if all of the top 4 dropped points in their next game or something. Pressure and tiredness after a long season can do funny things to players.

**Longfordian** · 09/10/2011, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

And they were expected to lose to Waterford?

I dont think they will lose to them either just saying.

Waterford away is a more difficult game than either of their next two. Still, I guess it does depend on what the pressure does to them. If they'd scored the penalty last night they'd probably have won handy enough but they blew it again.

**adamd164** · 09/10/2011, 5:40 PM

Originally Posted by MagicMon

The promotion places are still far too close to call, for all the predictions on here. I wouldn't be surprised if all of the top 4 dropped points in their next game or something. Pressure and tiredness after a long season can do funny things to players.

Good thing we have a week off to rest before the Longford game then

**bennocelt** · 09/10/2011, 7:02 PM

What are the dates for the playoffs again, they were up on some thread but I cant find them (Dodge, help?!). Might plan a weekend home around them.

**geezer** · 09/10/2011, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

What are the dates for the playoffs again, they were up on some thread but I cant find them (Dodge, help?!). Might plan a weekend home around them.

first week in November Tuesday the 1st and Friday the 4th, The 3rd place in the First division plays the first leg at home on the Tuesday the 1st

It goes to penalties on Friday the 4th after extra time if required

**A face** · 13/10/2011, 2:03 PM

Originally Posted by bluewhitearmy

Think Limericks best hope was that the Brennans missing would lead to a 0-0 with Wexford reckon our hopes are almost gone now Mons will hammer Mervue with them back.

I think you were right there .... Still mathematically possible to get third but not looking good

**El-Pietro** · 15/10/2011, 2:55 PM

Monaghan United seem to have this tendency to score a lot of important late goals. So i decided to see what those goals have meant to them

In the 2011 League of Ireland First Division season so far Monaghan have scored 8 goals after the 85th minute. Those goals have earned them an extra 9 points. Without those points Mons would have just 55 points and would sit in 4th. Limerick would have an additional point and would sit in 3rd with 62 points, just one point behind us and level with Shels.

Longford would have two extra points with 41 and that would put them ahead of Waterford into 5th.

This is how the top of the table would look without those late Mons goals

1. Cork City played 28 points 63
2. Shelbourne played 27 points 62
3. Limerick played 28 points 62
4. Monaghan played 28 points 55
5. Longford played 29 points 41

**El-Pietro** · 15/10/2011, 2:56 PM

Looking at the other contenders as well we can see that Cork City have gotten an additional 3 points through a draw and a win that would have been lost and drawn without two important goals

Shels are down a point overall, getting a late win against Wexford and turning a winning position into a loss against Limerick after conceding two stoppage time goals. They have incredibly scored 9 late goals and conceded just 3 over the season.

Limerick come out even overall, with that win over Shelbourne cancelling out squandered points against Monaghan and Wexford.

Monaghan W 4, D 1, L 0 Scored 8, Conceded 1 Points - 9
Cork City W 1, D 1, L Scored 6, Conceded 1. Points 3
Limerick W (from loss) 1, D (from loss) 1, L 1 Scored 6, Conceded 5, Points 0
Shelbourne W 1, D 0, L (from win) 1 Scored 9, Conceded 3, Points -1

How the top 4 in the table would look without goals after the 85th minute

1. Shelbourne Played 27 Points 63 GD + 26
2. Limerick Played 28 Points 62 GD +24
3. Cork City Played 28 Points 60 GD +39
4. Monaghan Played 27 Points 55 GD + 22

**adamd164** · 15/10/2011, 3:14 PM

That's all very hypothetical.

A goal in the 90th minute is as good as a goal in the 1st, they won those games, that's what counts.

**El-Pietro** · 15/10/2011, 3:19 PM

Originally Posted by adamd164

That's all very hypothetical.

A goal in the 90th minute is as good as a goal in the 1st, they won those games, that's what counts.

of course its hypothetical, and I'm well aware of the value of a goal regardless of when its scored. Just think its interesting that Monaghan have done so well late in games. Its a credit to them and their manager to keep their heads up late in games when wins look beyond them

**adamd164** · 15/10/2011, 3:22 PM

True. Limerick must be sickened after last night because I can't see them going up now.

**leedsfan88** · 15/10/2011, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by adamd164

True. Limerick must be sickened after last night because I can't see them going up now.

We can still hope that shels drop points against harps and cork...fingers crossed

**gormacha** · 15/10/2011, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

Just think its interesting that Monaghan have done so well late in games. Its a credit to them and their manager to keep their heads up late in games when wins look beyond them

As well as keeping their heads up, I wonder are they fitter than other teams?