LOI fixtures - 23rd to 27th February 2018

[sulywaterfordfc]

Comfortable enough win in the end though at half time it was in the balance. Waterford didn't really cause us too many problems today. They had a ten minute spell shortly before half time but I don't recall Nults having to make any real saves. Any difficulty we had seemed to be of our own making.
It would have been an interesting game if Cummins was available. We were a bit neutered with Shep up top. Our lack of depth in that position might be our biggest issue this season.
Good start though. Top after two games.

First half was quite even, Cork finished the stronger and we just never got going in the second half. Not one good delivery was put into the Cork box all night. Corbett looked poor without having to make any saves bar a misplaced cross and a long distance shot straight into his hands. Looked dodgy all night. Neither seen much of the ball. Expected a lot more from Cork, created next to nothing, two poor goals conceded by us in my view. Neither team really created anything of note, our second half performance was quite poor didn’t deserve it but certainly positives to take. Hery looked a step above at times. Keegan and Holohan had poor games gave the ball away all night. Felt Holohan was trying to over do it at times. Pitch was poor, as were the officials - some laughable at times (Standard for the LOI in fairness). Both teams played nice football I thought. Good to be back in the premier division. More Blue fans in Cork tonight then our average attendance the season prior to last. The PA chap is Cork was diabolical

[Ezeikial]

There was not a lot for either set of supporters to get excited about at Tallaght, other than the hope of improvement.

Dundalk were solid defensively from No1 to No6 with Daniel Cleary having an exceptional debut at centre back.

While pre-season has been significantly disrupted for many of the Dundalk squad, a number of them showed enough to be optimistic about their potential impact - Pat Hoban and Marco Tagbajumi in particular. Other than Michael Duffy - who roasted Boyle throughout, but especially in the first half - there was almost no attacking creativity from Benson, McGrath, Murray or Connolly and Adorjan when they came on

For Rovers, Finn and Clarke can hardly fail to improve the team, unless Bradley continues to insist on his primitive tactics.

I still can't decide whether Bradley is a master psychologist or totally deluded when he heaped praise on Ethan Boyle in a post-match interview

I think Ethan showed tonight why we brought him here - he was defensively unbelievable

Contrast that with this snippet from Paul O'Hehir in the Mirror

Winger Michael Duffy was livey down the left and had the measure of right-back Ethan Boyle who found the going tough for the second game running.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soc...wsApp_AppShare

[dundalkfc10]

There was not a lot for either set of supporters to get excited about at Tallaght, other than the hope of improvement.

Dundalk were solid defensively from No1 to No6 with Daniel Cleary having an exceptional debut at centre back.

While pre-season has been significantly disrupted for many of the Dundalk squad, a number of them showed enough to be optimistic about their potential impact - Pat Hoban and Marco Tagbajumi in particular. Other than Michael Duffy - who roasted Boyle throughout, but especially in the first half - there was almost no attacking creativity from Benson, McGrath, Murray or Connolly and Adorjan when they came on

For Rovers, Finn and Clarke can hardly fail to improve the team, unless Bradley continues to insist on his primitive tactics.

I still can't decide whether Bradley is a master psychologist or totally deluded when he heaped praise on Ethan Boyle in a post-match interview


Contrast that with this snippet from Paul O'Hehir in the Mirror

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soc...wsApp_AppShare

In fairness in second half Dundalk never got the ball out to Duffy and Boyle done well going forward but anytime Duffy got the ball running at him he was all over the place

Poor game overall, Draw fair result. Rovers playing for a draw with 30 mins to go was a surprise.

We weren’t good enough to break them down, We need O Donnell back big time (he will prob get injured and be about for about 6 weeks after 3 games)

Mountany will be a big plus too but last year he’s injured himself ever second week

[sbgawa]

I thought both teams kept going for the win but didn't create anythijng tangible. We really missed Finn and Clarke for an offensive threat . Interesting season ahead. Monday can't come quick enough

[placid casual]

For the good of the league, we can only hope both Rovers & Dundalk improve immeasurably over the course of the next few weeks, or cork will stroll to the title.

Good to see that the transfer policy Kenny had at Rovers has returned. There's some awful pish players playing for them!!

[Ezeikial]

Good to see that the transfer policy Kenny had at Rovers has returned. There's some awful pish players playing for them!!

Clutching at straws there PC

[sbgawa]

Cork are 4 points clear of dundalk and 5 points clear of rovers with 34 games to go. I'm not throwing in the towell yet dundalk will improve and rovers will too. Still reckon it could be a good season

[TonyD]

Good result for Pats last night. We weren't brilliant,but comfortable enough. Dean Clarke looks pretty good, great run from him for the second goal. Conan Byrne and Fagan again wth the goals. It would be an interesting stat to see what percentage of Pats goals over the past four years or so have come from those two.

[Asterix]

Kavanagh and clarke on the left side could be a nightmare for every team. Miele needs a few games on the bench though he has been well off it these two games.

[sbgawa]

Yeah I was thinking that myself. Nightmare scenerio for a rb

[jinxy lilywhite]

Will Tuesdays matches go ahead with a red weather warning from met eireann

[sbgawa]

Good question . Hope so. Those boys cry wolf a lot.

[osarusan]

Limerick 1-1 Bohs.

Bohs grab a point with a late goal. Poor enough game between two poor enough teams, both very limited in attack.

[patrickccfc]

https://twitter.com/Corks96FM/status/967147015829417985

Our second goal last night

[wonder88]

Galway had the expected win last night, but plenty of room for improvement; passing and control of the ball was often poor. Athlone had a decent spell for 15 minutes after half-time and scored at the end by way of a wonder strike. They look a very young squad and I think they will struggle in the division.
Danny Furlong had a fine start on his return to the LoI and he may a key player for us.

[exiled_gufc_fan]

Goals from Galway v Athlone

https://youtu.be/8N3rijA4p1Q

[nigel-harps1954]

Defending = Non existent.

[disgruntled]

[url]https://twitter.com/Corks96FM/status/967147015829417985[/url

Our second goal last night

Great build up & a lovely finish. Lovely play leading up to the first goal as well.
Very comfortable win in the end.

[thebronze14]

Goals from Galway v Athlone

https://youtu.be/8N3rijA4p1Q

That's a big setback to Athlone's promotion chances

[bluemovie]

Poor enough game between Cork and Waterford. We were very comfortable in the first half and probably on top in midfield. Cork got on Keegan well in the second and that put us under pressure. Aborah was outstanding in the first half, but anonymous in the second. Cork were worth their win, although I think 1-0 would've been a fairer reflection. Cork had two chances and took them - we didn't create any good chance at all. Disappointed, but not at all disheartened. Winning the opening game meant we had a free pass in Cork really. Anything would've been in bonus territory and there were positives to take from what on paper is our toughest fixture - away to the champions.