League of Ireland in Europe 2015

[Acornvilla]

I think that's the sort of situation Dundalk and Rovers would have had no bother dealing with, even pats too, Rovers would have won 1-0, pats and Dundalk would likely have exploited the space and gotten another you'd hope.

Not sure the result is totally indicative of Irish football, more so JC.

[TheBoss]

Some more "Stats for Nerds" after this weeks games: [*Cork City includes data from its previous incarnation]


Cork City
Cork City's last 7 European games: LDLDLDL
The last time Cork City scored an away goal was also in Iceland against Valur [ISL] in 2007.
Not too much more really!


Shamrock Rovers
The last time Shamrock Rovers scored at least 3 goals in European competition was in 1998 against Altay [TUR] in a 3-2 win. But the last time they won by at least 3 goals was in 1982, in a 4-0 win against Fram [ISL]. 6th occasion that they have scored 3 or more goals in a game in Europe. Also the 35th time a LOI side has scored at least 3 goals in match.
Shamrock Rovers' first win in Europe since their famous victory in Belgrade against Partizan [SRB] in 2011. [10 games since then] Also, their first win in Tallaght since 2011 aswell this time against Flora [EST]. [7 games since then]
Shamrock Rovers now hold the record for most goals scored at HOME for LOI side, they overtook Bohemians' total of 30 by now totalling 32 themselves after their 3-0 victory over Progrés.
It will be the first time Shamrock Rovers will play a team from Norway.

	P	W	D	L	F	A
LOI v Norway	15	3	2	10	12	28

St. Patrick's Athletic
St. Pats now on a run of 8 consecutive European matches without a win, 2 draws and 6 defeats. They played sides from Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Lativa.
Last 4 HOME games for St Pats has seen 4 defeats, 1 goal and conceded 12. Before this run, they only lost 2 HOME games from 14 games conceding 9.


UCD
First time UCD have progressed to the next round of an European competition and in doing so also become the first Irish 2nd Tier side to qualify for the next round.
Despite conceding 2 goals, UCD concede on average 1.00 goals per game [6 goals in 6 games], the best average among all LOI sides in European competition history.
UCD become the first Irish side to lose a team from Luxembourg, HOME or AWAY.
Now that UCD are playing a Slovan Bratislava, it will be the 4th occasion that UCD will play a team from a country whose home jersey is predominately white. [England, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Slovakia]

	P	W	D	L	F	A
LOI v Slovakia	4	0	1	3	5	9
LOI v Slovan Bratislava	2	0	0	2	3	5

Other
LOI sides are now 4 matches in a row without winning against an Icelandic team despite the fact that LOI sides have scored at least 1 goal in each of those matches. Last win by LOI side was in 2011 when St. Pats defeated IBV [ISL] by 2 goals to 0.
After UCD's and Cork City's 2-1 loss, it means that LOI sides have now lost by that scoreline more times AWAY [18] than at HOME [17]
I used this stat last week but just to refresh, everytime a Latvian side defeated a LOI side in either the first or second leg, they went through on all occasions and it continued after Skonto's [LVA] progression.
Biggest margin of defeat for LOI side against Latvian opposition [2-0].
F91 Dudelange's first goal v UCD was the 1,000th goal conceded by a LOI side in Europe. English sides scored the most with 96!

[Spudulika]

I have had the absolute p**s taken out of me this morning on live radio after confidently predicting that we'd have 4 teams in the next round of qualifiers. I said Cork would nick a goal and win. The UCD would draw (at worst) and go through. And that while it would be tough, Pats just needed a goal. Sat up watching the Cork match and they looked absolutely scared stiff. I know we can be hard on the manager, players etc, but before half-time it was already looking very ominous.

Proud of both Rovers and UCD, hope that Dundalk will at least keep the tie alive to the 2nd leg (but it will be tough) and that at least 1 of the 3 gets another round out of them.

[White Horse]

To think that many fans thought that it would be UCD who would embarrass the league.

Pats may have lost but Cork were embarrassing.

[oriel]

I only saw the second half of the Cork game, but the lack of speed in their play was just awful. I was screaming out for a central MF guy to win the ball, then play it out to the wings and for the side to advance into attack, at one stage with 15 mins left they were on an attack and not a single player was close to KR's box.

No urgency at any time for the 75 mins I saw and they got what they deserved, nothing. Real shame, as this could have been one of the bigger European nights for an Irish side if they had got a good draw in the next round with a close to full house at Turners Cross.

Based on last night, it is indeed amazing to see how they are 2nd in the league.

Massive congrats again to UCD, as for Pats, they seemded to have been beaten fair and square over the two legs and just came up too short, however I would have expected a better fight.

On to next week now, with 3 more in action and Dundalk entering the fray on Wed night away to BATE, a mix of very worried and a wee bit hopeful for our chances.

[geysir]

The mini rebel army were brilliant, unfortunately their team Cork City played with a spineless, gutless philosophy. This is not about football talent, this is about the way they were set up to play. After O'Sullivan brilliantly set himself up to score a fortunate goal and KR deservedly down to 10, not playing well with hardly a chance created, who would have thought what would happen next.
In the end it was just desserts for the locals who put in a serious shift to totally dominated the rest of the game, with 10 men for 75 minutes and utter dismay at Cork's feeble efforts to play football.

goal celebration
a

[Straightstory]

The mini rebel army were brilliant, unfortunately their team Cork City played with a spineless, gutless philosophy. This is not about football talent, this is about the way they were set up to play. After O'Sullivan brilliantly set himself up to score a fortunate goal and KR deservedly down to 10, not playing well with hardly a chance created, who would have thought what would happen next.

Everybody who has any experience of League of Ireland football.

[Real ale Madrid]

Thanks Geysir for putting up those pics - made me smile.

Won't be doing much of that today.

[White Horse]

Fair play to the Rebel Army who sat through the game in Iceland.

Caulfield and the players should club together and refund the money it cost them.

[D24Saint]

Ahh the highs & lows of football , sadly a soul destroying night we we poor over both legs and deserved what we got, both refs were shocking but that's a minor gripe as we just didn't show up last night bar a spell in the first half.

[nigel-harps1954]

Fair play to the Rebel Army who sat through the game in Iceland.

Caulfield and the players should club together and refund the money it cost them.

Caulfield should assume full responsibility for the muck that was on display in Iceland last night and issue an apology to every fan that travelled. The players can only do what their told really, and it was clear that even they were frustrated with how things were going.

[paykanti]

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague...d=2263993.html

[bennocelt]

Just getting back my senses now after a half decent sleep. That 4 hours, and a bit, early train back to Basel from Lux this morning was a killer!

But it was worth all the effort. The moment the ref blew the final whistle was fantastic, great craic, immense joy and what a relief. That was a very long second half, plus the 5 added on as well!

Cracking start for UCD, but the game plan went astray once Coyne was sent off. His tackle was a bit reckless, but I think a red card was very harsh. With him UCD would have coasted this game, without him it was a struggle
Both goals near the end of the first half were very disappointing. The first Dudelange goal was like in slow motion, he got so much space and got to pick his spot, the second was comical, from a throw in where everyone for UCD fell asleep, a simple free header.
Wasnt looking good for the second half.
But they held out, I dont know how they did, but they did.
The UCD support was great too, for a small bunch they made a lot of noise.

Would love to go to Slovakia, but 1) wife would kill me, and 2) a tall ask to get more time off work!
But I will have a quick look for Bratislava or Odd to at least see if its doable!

Edit: some photos

[PartySaint]

Delighted for UCD.

The less said about Pats the better

[cestlavie]

Cork were just awful. 1 nil up against ten men. Terrible management, only started to play in second half of extra time when they should have been well beaten at that stage. It was an embarrassment for the league. Negative, hopeless tactics, horrible defending. I was sorry to have sat through it. They owe the fans who travelled an apology. Bennet & Murray were brutal.

Obviously one of two of the players were nowhere near match fit. You take boys like Healy & Garnor out of that team & it is a pretty ordinary team. You could through the Dennehy's in their but we wont go into that. O'Sullivan & Morrisey worth a mention too.

[Real ale Madrid]

Cork were just awful. 1 nil up against ten men. Terrible management, only started to play in second half of extra time when they should have been well beaten at that stage. It was an embarrassment for the league. Negative, hopeless tactics, horrible defending. I was sorry to have sat through it. They owe the fans who travelled an apology. Bennet & Murray were brutal.

Obviously one of two of the players were nowhere near match fit. You take boys like Healy & Garnor out of that team & it is a pretty ordinary team. You could through the Dennehy's in their but we wont go into that. O'Sullivan & Morrisey worth a mention too.

Well that's life I suppose cestlavie.

[Dunny]

Ahh lads this is very good.

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/art...to-luxembourg/

Also congrats to UCD boss Collie O'Neill who made it back to Holles Strret hospital at 5am in time to see his son born.What a day that man had.

Collie ‏@collieoneill 17h17 hours ago
Carl O'Neill born at 5:40am, so good of my wife to hold on till I got back from Luxembourg

[osarusan]

Ahh lads this is very good.

http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/art...to-luxembourg/

Also congrats to UCD boss Collie O'Neill who made it back to Holles Strret hospital at 5am in time to see his son born.What a day that man had.

This has made the BBC now:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33482889

[Nesta99]

Dont know what t make of this BATE lot. 5-0 up then collapsed, ended 5-3 but they could have chucked that lead away compeletly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV2AqgFVJRw

[nigel-harps1954]

This has made the BBC now:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33482889

Oh really? Made the BBC you say?