Premier Review

[Poor Student]

I think its funny mypost insists on typing out the results for us every week, although we know them already Keep up the good work mypost

De Town have you ever recovered from the emotional torment of Longford being left out for a week? Did you notice how fast Longford reversed their decision once he did this?

[De Town]

De Town have you ever recovered from the emotional torment of Longford being left out for a week? Did you notice how fast Longford reversed their decision once he did this?

Ah it killed me, it really did, I didn't know what to think, I had forgot the result from the previous weekend and was relying heavily on mypost but he just didn't deliver To this day, I still can't remember that result

[Poor Student]

Ah it killed me, it really did, I didn't know what to think, I had forgot the result from the previous weekend and was relying heavily on mypost but he just didn't deliver To this day, I still can't remember that result

Hahaha

[joeraki]

I think its funny mypost insists on typing out the results for us every week, although we know them already Keep up the good work mypost

Is he Aertel

[mypost]

I was on holidays. Is that acceptable to you?

He can't see the irony, can he? No, I didn't see the game, but as you didn't either, it hardly gives you the right to have a go at me over it.

So what if you played well to get your point at Bohs? You'd have to play well, to get a result there.

[Poor Student]

He can't see the irony, can he? No, I didn't see the game, but as you didn't either, it hardly gives you the right to have a go at me over it.

So what if you played well to get your point at Bohs? You'd have to play well, to get a result there.

Actually he has watched it on video, so he has seen it. If you checked our forum you'd see he wrote a match report for it. His point is we didn't grind out a draw. Grinding out a result insinuates you were somewhat poorer than usual and clung on for a point playing badly. We played well and deserved no less than a draw if not a win. You saw UCD got a draw at Dalymount against in form Bohs and put two and two together due to your usual anti-UCD bias.

[pineapple stu]

Actually he has watched it on video, so he has seen it.

Thank you. Not to mention Setanta have repeated the game endlessly as they do all of their games. Just saved old Mr Rolly-eyes another trip. No...wait...

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 20/33:
CORK CITY 1-1 WATERFORD UTD.
DERRY CITY 2-2 BRAY WDS.
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 BOHEMIANS
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SHELBOURNE 3-3 DROGHEDA UTD.
UCD 1-1 FINN HARPS

Week 20 was draw week, with no less than 5 draws from the week's fixtures. Only one goal prevented a complete draw weekend. The West Dublin derby was live on TG4, and Ollie Byrne hit (excuse the pun ) the headlines once again. 15 goals were scored this week.

The Munster derby was at Turners Cross, and it looked like a home banker. Waterford can't buy a point, but Cork were lethargic with one eye on Europe. Despite that, they predictably went in front, just past the half-hour, only to let it slip on half time. A battling Waterford held on for the point, as Cork celebrate their trashing of Rovers, by winning just one of their next 4 matches.

With Cork slipping up, a home game to Bray was an ideal chance for Derry to catch up. While, it looked a home banker before the game, Bray battled well, and took the lead twice. But equalizing goals in injury time of each half, saw Derry escape with a 2-2 draw. Clive Delaney's equalizer in injury time, keeps the gap at the top to 4 points, but this was very much an opportunity lost for Derry to close the gap to Cork.

Longford played Bohs at Flancare, and it was the only game that didn't finish in a draw, as Paul Keegan's winner against his old club 20 minutes from time, settled this mid-table battle.

TG4 showed a live league game, and like when they showed Pats in Week 2, it finished in a no-score bore. Many Rovers-Pats games are not easy on the eye, and this one wasn't either. A truly shocking game finished 0-0, and doesn't do much to ease either club's fears of being stuck in the drop zone at the end of the season. The clubs meet again in Week 31, and it could well be crucial for both sides.

Shelbourne returned from defeat in Romania, to play Drogheda at home, and unlike in Romania, started well, taking the lead after 2 minutes. Drogheda equalised 5 minutes later. Shels retook the lead on the half hour, and Drogheda responded again before half time. The second half produced less action, until the 87th minute, when the referee overturned his linesman's offside decision which allowed Drogheda to take the lead. Uproar followed. Pat Fenlon and Eamonn Collins protested wildly, for which Fenlon was sent off. Jason Byrne did manage to equalize for Shels in injury time. Ollie Byrne allegedly threw a punch at a photographer after the game, to add to his pushing the match officials at the corresponding fixture last season. Unlike then, Shels didn't lose, but as they are now an incredible 15 points behind Cork, their season is already over.

Finn Harps made another long trip to the Belfield complex to take on UCD, which offered them a chance to do the double over the Students. It looked as though they would, when Steve Capper put them ahead early in the second half, but Robbie Martin equalized 10 minutes later for the home side, and Finn Harps remain bottom.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 21/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-0 BRAY WDS.
CORK CITY 1-0 SHELBOURNE
FINN HARPS 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-1 DERRY CITY
UCD 0-0 LONGFORD TOWN
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS

Week 20 saw Cork take another march towards the championship, by extending their lead live on tv, Bohs play against Bray on Thursday, Rovers move away from the drop zone with the only away win of the week, after 2 home wins, and 3 draws, leading to just 5 goals scored.

Bohs brought their game against Bray forward to Thursday, and while there have being goals flying in in Bray's games recently, they dried up here. Tony Grant scored the winner from the spot just after the half-hour, and despite both sides being reduced to 10 men near the end, Bohs won to creep up nearer Shels who they meet next week. Bray meanwhile, have 4 of the next 5 at home.

Regarding Shelbourne; when you're 14 points behind the leaders, and should be doing better, a trip to Cork is not the ideal fixture to begin catching up. Instead the gap betwen the two got wider, as Cork completed the treble over their championship rivals this season. Neil Horgan's goal midway through the first half won it, and Shels can only look on in envy as a determined Cork side add another scalp to the Cross' hitlist. Only defeat in Derry and/or a European hangover look like stopping Cork from winning the title now.

If they played Rovers every week, they would probably survive, but as they have played 7 league games since their win at Dalymount in June, haven't won in that time, and sacked their manager, Finn Harps are still struggling. A point in Ballybofey in a 0-0 draw against inconsistent Drogheda, isn't much help either. Drogheda meanwhile, are going nowhere fast.

Derry made their latest trip to Dublin knowing that after last week's missed opportunity at home to Bray, they really needed to come away with full points. Instead Chris Armstrong gave Pats the lead, to lead 1-0 at the break, and despite Derry equalizing in the second period through a late own goal, a point here was not enough either for the visitors. After 2 points from 6 against sides in the bottom half of the table, they simply have to beat Cork on home turf next week to keep their title chase going.

UCD against Longford. You know the score, 0-0. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

A rather more important game was the relegation six-pointer at the RSC where Waterford hosted Rovers. Waterford, bouyed by their point at Cork last week, started well. However Rovers nicked it, with Ciaran Foley scoring the winner in the 66th minute. A first league win for Rovers at the RSC leaves Waterford languishing in where I predicted them to finish in the league -11th, while Rovers turn an 8-point gap to Waterford after Week 10, to being ahead of them on goal difference. Next target - Bray Wanderers.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 22/33:
BRAY WDS. 2-1 FINN HARPS
DERRY CITY 3-1 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-0 WATERFORD UTD.
LONGFORD TOWN 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SHAMROCK ROVERS 1-0 UCD
SHELBOURNE 2-1 BOHEMIANS

Week 22 was the end of the second round of games. Despite clubs games being postponed because of European commitments, all bar 4 clubs had completed their programme to date. Derry-Cork was live on RTE. The week saw another first this season, with 6 home wins from 6 games, with 13 goals going in this week.

We start off in Bray where the home side looked to complete the double over the table-proppers Finn Harps, which they did with a 2-1 victory. Harps haven't won anywhere since playing guess who...Rovers!!

RTE showed their first game live from the Brandywell for 8 years, but Cork had an even longer journey to the venue following them. Derry-Cork is perhaps the only fixture in the NL, when the visitors fly to the opponents ground. Cork won the last fixture at the North Pole, but conceded early to the home side after 5 minutes. 1-0 at the break became 1-1 after an hour, when O'Callaghan equalised from the spot. However, 2 goals in 3 minutes from Derry claimed the three points, to clinch a vital 3-1 win, ensure a long journey home for the visitors, and keep open the possibility of a winner-takes-all clash for the title on 16th November. Cork remain in front by 3 points for now.

Drogheda played freefall Waterford at United Park, a game which they won 3-0 in May. A first-half goal from O'Brien settled it for Drogheda, as Waterford, top after Week 2, find themselves 11th, 20 weeks later.

The last game of the second series saw Longford face Pats, and the return of the 8ft-high fence behind the goal. The boggers made it 2 straight wins at home, and a double over Pats this season, as Barry Ferguson's penalty in the second half clinched it. Pats are only 2 points clear of 10th. Their season has been a disaster.

Returning Eastbound, to two Dublin derbies, with the first one at Dalymount Park, and the only game of the week to not have cameras at it. Good job for UCD that they weren't there, as Jason McGuinness' header on 48' gave Rovers a first win against the Students this season, who go away from Dalymount with extra homework to do, before their trip to face the cup holders next, and Shels after it.

One of the glamour games of recent seasons reduced to a battle for third, saw Shels take on Bohs. Bohs got in on the act early, by having Dessie Byrne sent off on 16' for a career-threatening foul. Shels took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Byrne. Bohs equalised on 53' through Tony Grant, but wouldn't you know it, Glen Crowe popped up to score Shels' winner with 20 minutes to go, and the gap between third and fourth increases before the break for cup weekend.

[mypost]

PREMIER DIVISION RESULTS:

WEEK 23/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-3 SHAMROCK ROVERS
BRAY WDS. 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 DERRY CITY
FINN HARPS - CORK CITY
LONGFORD TOWN 3-0 WATERFORD UTD.
SHELBOURNE 4-2 UCD

Week 23 saw the first week of the third series, and despite Bohs against Rovers being the game of the weekend, TG4 thought otherwise, and showed the Longford - Waterford game live on tv. There were 5 games played as scheduled, which led to 3 home wins, 1 draw, and 1 away win, with 16 goals scored.

Most fans were queueing outside the stadium when the Bohs-Rovers match started, which is another reason why kick-offs should be put back. Bohs refused to delay the kick off, so many fans missed the first 15 minutes at least, which of course is a great way of attracting neutrals to games. By that time, Tony Grant had lobbed Bohs ahead. There were still people waiting to get in by the time Tony Sheridan equalised midway through the first half. 2 goals had been scored, and 1/3rd of the fans at the game had missed them. It remained 1-1 at half time. Doyle was sent off for Rovers on 55', for a challenge so wild, that even the Rovers fans didn't protest against the decision. Trevor Molloy put the visitors in front on 71', from an acute angle, aided by a goalkeeper suffering from a case of the butterfingers. Lee Roche ran for 40 yards to score the clincher for Rovers on 86', and notch up a rare win for us against Bohs, and bragging rights for the next 6 months.

Week 1 saw Bray beat Pats, and they repeated the trick again, after both sides were reduced to 10 men. Kieran O'Brien nicked it for Bray with 5 minutes to go, which sees Pats slip alarmingly, to 10th.

Derry went to Drogheda looking to do the treble over their opponents this season. However, Drogheda dominated and went in front with a brilliant goal from Gavin Whelan on 13 minutes. They looked like holding on to the lead, when Kevin Deery's shot equalised for the title chasers on 80' with the help of a deflection. Derry will view the result as two more dropped points, and have won just 1 of their last 4 games.

The "big" tv game, saw Longford host Waterford, with the home side looking for revenge for losing their opening game of the season. That 8ft high fence is still at Flancare Park. In the end, Longford coasted home winning 3-0, aided by 2 goals in 2 minutes in the second half, and it's their biggest win at home this season, while Waterford face their crunch relegation six-pointer at home to Finn Harps next week, where the losers can effectively wave goodbye to their Premier Division status.

The last game of the weekend saw Shels play UCD, and Jason Byrne at last found some form, scoring a hat trick, even though UCD equalised twice in the process. Owen Heary clinched it for Shels with 10 minutes to go, but the result was academic for both sides.

A rare look at the Discovering Ireland Division, sees Sligo as clear leaders, while Home Farm are only just in front of Cobh, after Cobh's win there at the weekend. Limerick slipped to a 4-0 trashing at Dundalk's "pitch", a surface that should be ruled illegal, and was until recently. However, there are 5 or 6 clubs chasing a play-off place to join the elite bunch next season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 24/33:
CORK CITY 3-0 BRAY WDS.
DERRY CITY 3-1 LONGFORD TOWN
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0-2 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 BOHEMIANS
UCD 2-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
WATERFORD UTD. 2-2 FINN HARPS

With 10 games to go, every point which was vital beforehand, becomes crucial now, and as teams chase precious points, more gaps appear in defence, which might explain why there were 18 goals scored this week.

Cork went into their game with Bray, minus their boss. Rico, was taken to hospital suffering from chest pains hours before the game. However, up against a Bray side, it was a walkover for the league leaders. 2 up at the break, and adding a third after the break, saw Cork claim their revenge over the visitors for nicking a point at Turners Cross on Week 2, and win 3-0.

With Cork winning, Derry had to do likewise at the other end of the country. They took an early lead on 15 minutes through McCourt, added another goal before the break, and yet another one after it, before Longford got a consolation late on. Trips to the Brandywell haven't been a happy hunting ground for Longford this season. Their record reads: Pld 3, L 3.

After winning at Bohs last week, there was no easing off for Rovers at home to Shels. Pat Fenlon was the sole person standing in the rain in the Connaught St. Stand, as he was serving a touchline ban. The game turned on two first-half incidents. Quigley missed a glorious chance for Rovers on 37', when he raced through on goal, only to fire wide. The miss was punished on 45', when sub Ndo waltzed his way through the Rovers defence to fire home. The game ended as a contest, when McDonagh had a rush of blood to the head, and pulled down Jason Byrne in the box, after clearing the ball away. Byrne scored the penalty, the thrid this season between these two, and Shels coasted to the line. But wins for Shels now, are merely hollow ones.

Bohs travelled to Pats again, before the reverse fixture had taken place Pats dominated, but lost 1-0 to a last minute Bohs winner. Pats are getting sucked in towards the drop zone.

Drama at Belfield, saw 3 goals in the first half between UCD, and Drogheda. The visitors equalised late on, but both sides won't be happy or disappointed with a point each.

Waterford took on Finn Harps, with both sides knowing they couldn't afford to lose. Waterford went top, after beating Harps in Week 2, but have lost the plot since. They haven't won since April, and Finn Harps have only won 3 points on the long road so far. they got a fourth, with a late equaliser at the RSC. The point makes the relgation battle no clearer, but Finn Harps play their favourite opposition next week, Rovers. Watch the result with interest, Suir boys.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 25/33:
BOHEMIANS 2-3 DERRY CITY
BRAY WDS. 0-1 UCD
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
FINN HARPS 3-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE 5-0 WATERFORD UTD.

Week 25 saw another live tv game from Dublin, Waterford collapse, Rovers implode, Shels close the gap, 2 home/away wins, and 2 draws, with 16 goals scored.

Bohs against Derry was live on TG4 at Dalyer, and unlike most live tv games this season, we saw a fair amount of goals. Farren put Derry ahead on 25' with a deflected low shot from outside the box, followed by a Bohs equaliser from Ward 15 minutes later, accepting the rebound from Grant's shot that hit the crossbar. Ward put Bohs in front on 61', following a goalline scramble, but Derry equalised after a well-worked move soon afterwards. The visitors stole it on 83', when Farren nodded the ball home, unmarked from 6 yards. Derry complete the grand slam over Bohs this season, as Kenny rubs the Bohs' board noses in it. Derry went on to progress in the FAI Cup QF, and win the League Cup afterwards.

The "Dort Derby", wasn't a classic in April, when Bray beat their neighbours, but was in June, when UCD re-took the bragging rights. They did so again here, to win 1-0, but it was merely a dress rehearsal for their cup tie a week later, when Bray levelled the series for this season, winning 3-2. UCD also lost the League Cup to Derry, so they were brought crashing back down to the College again in no time.

Drogheda against Pats finished 1-1 in April, but with Pats unable to buy a win at the moment, the home side looked favourites to win this one. Didn't quite turn out that way though, as Robbie Doyle snatched an away goal for the visitors on 76'. However, Pats didn't learn their lesson from last week, and gifted Drogheda an equaliser in injury time again, with Shane Robinson firing home. Pats move into 9th on goal difference, but still have work to do to beat the drop.

And if they have work to do, Finn Harps have a trojan amount of it. With no wins from 11 league games, they better start doing it. Then all of a sudden Rovers surfaced in Donegal, and it brings out the best from Ballybofey. McHugh put Harps ahead with a penalty on 37', and with the rovers defence in a charitable mood, Harps knocked in two more in the second half through Bradley. That wasn't bad enough for us however, as O'Connor took out his frustration by getting sent off too. One thing we aren't short of this season, is collecting red cards. Finn Harps take 7 points off Rovers this season, but their honeymoon lasted a week, as normal service resumed, when Shels went up there, to reverse the scoreline. Harps have done enough though, to haul themselves off the bottom again.

Earlier in the season, Longford played Cork at the FlanSiro in the first game of the weekend. With Cork playing in Europe on Thursdays, this game became the last of this weekend, and saw Rico return to the game following his illness. It was a gentle return too, as Longford reverted to type. It finished 0-0 for the second time this season, which moves Cork back to the top, with a game in hand.

...And now to desperate, disasterous Waterford, who facing a resurgent Shels, went up to their game in Tolka on a wing and a prayer. The prayer lasted until the 15th minute when former player Gary O'Neill fired home. It would have been interesting to see what former boss Alan Reynolds made of their decision to throw in the towel, from there on in. Shels added 3 more before the interval through Jason Byrne, and one wonders how you motivate a side who are 4-0 down at the break at the champions, having not won for 5 months. Shels went easy on them after the break, after O'Neill pocketed another goal on 48'. It finished 5-0, as Waterford proceeded to win the red card contest only. Waterford were top of the table before their last trip to Tolka, but they have drifted all the way down to the bottom now. Pat Dolan has being added to the Waterford coaching set-up, in one last throw of the dice, but if that fails, the only local derby for their fans to look forward next season, won't be against Cork, but will be the one against Kilkenny City.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 26/33:
BRAY WDS. 0-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 UCD
DERRY CITY 2-1 SHELBOURNE
SH. ROVERS 4-2 LONGFORD TOWN
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 FINN HARPS
WATERFORD UTD. 2-0 BOHEMIANS

Week 26 saw no live tv games, a touchline ban broken, Pat Dolan back on the scene, Waterford wake up, together with 4 home wins, 1 away win, 1 draw, and 14 goals scored.

Bray were drawn to play Drogheda in the FAI Cup semi-final, and this league game was the dress rehearsal. Drogheda took all 3 points with a 2-0 away win, the only one of the weekend, through Webb on 5 minutes, and an own goal midway through the second half. Drogheda complete the double over Bray this season, while the Seagulls concentrate on the cup tie.

Cork finally went out of Europe to Slavia Prague, and their game with UCD was their last to be rescheduled due to European commitments. Cork ran riot at Belfield in July, and were in the mood to knock in some more after O'Flynn's tap-in on 10 minutes. Cork dominated the game but couldn't breach the UCD rearguard again, and the visitors came close on 2 occasions near the end to snatching another point at the South Pole. It wasn't to be however, as Cork edged home, to remain top.

Which meant that Derry had to keep up, by doing likewise against Shels. They started well, scoring after 2 minutes, with Farren firing home. Shels may have had nothing to play for, but they made a game of it, and equalised after 56 minutes through Crowe's header. Together with Cork, Derry is the worst place to try to hang on for a point, and the visitors failed to do it, as Derry struck in injury time once again. O'Flynn scored after 91' to win it for Derry. Fenlon, still serving his touchline ban, broke it, and faces further punishment from the beaks in Merrion Square.

Heading down the 4-hour journey to Dublin next, to Dalymount, with Rovers looking to avoid a treble defeat to Longford. Dave Mooney returned to Dalymount, received a "reception" from the Rovers fans, and repaid it by scoring twice for the visitors. Having done that, and with the Longford fans still stuck in silent mode, the atmosphere was poor. Molloy put Rovers ahead on 24', which lasted all of 3 minutes until Mooney's equaliser into the empty Schoolboy End. 3 minutes into the second half, he slotted another loose ball under Murphy. Rovers responded by equalising through McDonagh on 71', and going ahead through Roche 3 minutes later. For once, going for goal in injury time instead of the corner flag, was rewarded, when Quigley rolled the ball into a vacant visitors net in injury time, to secure the points for Rovers. There were 11 goals in the Rovers-Longford games this season, TV3 didn't think the rest of the country should see them, as they had no cameras at any of the 3 games.

They did decide to send a camera to Inchicore to cover Pats-Finn Harps though. There wasn't much to film though, as it finished 0-0. Harps claim their 5th away point of the season, and their 5th from their last 4 games. Despite that, they're back at the bottom.

...Following Waterford's win at home to Bohs. Sullivan's goal on 34' will be one of the most talked about of the season, even more so, when TV3 failed to show what happened. Sullivan scored, as Bohs protested against it, claiming offside, and Gary Howlett was sent off for his protests. Crowley added a second in first-half injury time, and Bohs threw in the towel. Dolan's first match of the season, sees Waterford's first win for 6 months, them off the bottom, and Dolan finds himself involved in a relegation-scrap with, of all teams, Pats!! Now, that would be interesting.

Following recent format changes to the website, we cannot edit our posts after 1 day. So, the backmatch result has to go here instead:

WEEK 13/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.

The game finished in a result that does neither side any favours. A tale of 2 penalties after the break, saw Pats score through Foley on 51', with the Bohs equaliser coming through Grant's penalty 15 minutes later, after O'Connor was sent off for the visitors. Pats' next away game is at Waterford, while Bohs don't have to break a leg for the rest of the season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 27/33:
BOHEMIANS - CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
FINN HARPS 0-1 DERRY CITY
LONGFORD TOWN 1-1 BRAY WDS.
SHELBOURNE 1-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
UCD - WATERFORD UTD.

Week 27 saw fans desert the league in droves to support the national side in Cyprus, two games postponed for international call ups, with initially just 4 goals scored, from 2 draws, with 1 home, and 1 away win.

Drogheda played Rovers with the visitors scrapping for more points to avoid the drop. It was no classic, as the home side dominated, with Rovers content to defend for a point. Near the end, two Trevor Molloy free-kicks within shooting range, were tapped straight into the defensive wall, showing the extent of Rovers ambition. It finished 0-0 as Drogheda fail to beat us at home for the first time in 2 years.

The Northern Derby was played on it's original date, and fireworks flew on and off the pitch. Hutton missed 2 early penalties for the visitors, and had Molloy sent off in the first half too. A tight, tense second period was decided by another late winner from Derry with Cillian Brennan running through to slot the ball home after 87', to send their fans wild. Harps endure another post-Rovers defeat, and stay bottom.

Ireland played in Cyprus at the weekend, so Longford and Bray decided to put back their game to the Sunday instead. it finished 1-1 with both goals scored in the first half. A Dave Mooney goal from the spot in first-half injury time cancelling out a goal from Tarzan O' Brien after 8'.

Shelbourne played Pats at Tolka, a tie that was full of needle 4 years ago, following the Pats registration row in the background. Pats have troubles of a different kind now however, and a Gary O' Neill winner with 15' to go, does them no favours, as they slip to 10th, after their 4th defeat in 4 games to Shels this season. Shels can play without pressure for the rest of the season, while Pats could easily end up relegated, with the sides below them both having games in hand to play. A biting cold wind blows over Richmond these days.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 28/33:
BOHEMIANS 3-1 FINN HARPS
BRAY WDS. 1-0 WATERFORD UTD.
CORK CITY 1-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
DERRY CITY 2-0 SHAMROCK ROVERS
LONGFORD TOWN 0-2 SHELBOURNE
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-0 UCD

Week 28 saw a full set of games, and all the NL's Cypriot legion back at home. The matches at the Poles saw home wins, with 2 others too, 1 away win, and 1 draw completed the list. 6 of this week's 10 goals came in the second half.

2 of the other ones came at Dalymount, as Bohs strolled to a facile win over Finn Harps. 2 goals in 2 minutes halfway through the half from Farrelly, and O' Keeffe, put Bohs in command, and even though McHugh got one back for the visitors on 66', Ward wrapped up the home win on 75'. O' Brien, on as a late sub, got two yellows soon afterwards, and was dismissed. It finished 3-1, as both sides consolidate their positions.

Fresh from their novelty win against Bohs, Waterford visited Bray. In April, the game was delayed as the lights failed, but the only thing Waterford failed to do this time, was take their chances. They were punished on 70', when Fox fired home to win it for Bray.

Down to Cork next, as the home side looked for payback on the only side to defeat them at home this season, Drogheda, in the rain. Cork dominated as usual, but weren't really going anywhere until 70', when Connor's clearance was charged down by O'Flynn, and the ball rolled into the empty net, the kind of luck that championship contenders tend to get from out of nowhere. Gartland was sent off again for the visitors for 2 bookables in injury time, but Cork continue doing what they need to do to win the title.

At the other extreme of the country, Derry took on Rovers at home for the third time this season, and didn't take too long to run rings round the visitors. Our efforts to give Cork a hand lasted onto the 50th minute, when Shelley turned the ball into his own net from the onrushing McGlynn, cue silence in Cork. The home side added a second on 77', following a push in the box. Doyle walked when the referee didn't like his protests, as Farren slotted home the penalty. Derry keep up the chase, but Cork still hold the advantage at the top. It was the last day out of Dublin for Rovers this season, having collected 8 points on our travels, albeit with 3 deducted. However, it's still an improvement on the 2 points collected from the trips away from Dublin last season.

Two of the Setanta Cup representatives met at Flancare, as Longford hosted Shels again, but with the 33-game fixture list this season, meaning that Longford's run-in is not so overcrowded this year, their players must be preparing for their holidays early. Shels won easily 2-0, with 2 first half goals from Byrne on 6', and wrapped it up with O'Neill's clincher after 24'.

Nervy Pats hosted listless UCD, another side just playing out the season, with nothing to play for. With away trips to Cork, Waterford, and Derry still to come, Pats needed to get 3 points here, but good goalkeeping, and poor finishing, cost them 2 of the 3 they needed as it finished 0-0. Toal has already left Pats, and it looks like McDonnell will follow him out the door at Christmas, regardless of whether they sink or swim.

WEEK 27/33:
UCD 2-3 WATERFORD UTD.

This game will always be remembered for another juvenile FAI administrative blunder, as the referees were not appointed for this re-arranged game, until the game was due to kick off!! You would be forgiven for thinking that UCD hadn't turned up also, as they allowed the visitors a 2 goal start from Heffernan, and Waters in the first 15 minutes. Instead of pushing on from there, Waterford retreated in the second half, and UCD hit them twice halfway through the second period when McWalter scored again, assisted by Murphy to equalise. Waterford woke up, and needing the 3 points, pushed for the winner. It came in injury time when Purcell rose to head home a corner after 92 minutes, to give Waterford a second win from 3 games under Dolan's stewardship.

WEEK 23/33:
FINN HARPS 1-2 CORK CITY

Level with Derry at the top of the league, and with effectively 3 games in hand on their title rivals, Cork can virtually wrap up the league if they win all 3matches. For the third time this season, they headed to Donegal Airport and from there, on to Ballybofey to face Finn Harps in their first game. Bennett put them ahead after a minute. Cork couldn't press home their superiority however, and Harps equalised early in the second half through that man McHugh again, before Cork stole it through Murray on 67'. It puts them back on top level with Derry, before their back-to-back trips to Dalymount to face Bohs, and Rovers. Win them, and the league's practically theirs.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 29/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. - BOHEMIANS
FINN HARPS 5-0 LONGFORD TOWN
SHAMROCK ROVERS - CORK CITY
SHELBOURNE - BRAY WANDERERS
UCD - DERRY CITY
WATERFORD UTD. 1-1 ST. PATS. ATH.

Just when everyone was falling in line with each other in the table, Cup semi-final weekend interfered, which wiped out most of Week 29's scheduled fixtures. With all the top clubs' games affected, there was only movement at the bottom end of the table this week, at either end of the country. For what it's worth, there was a home win, and a draw from the games that were played on time, leading to 7 goals scored.

Officially, 8 clubs had no league game this weekend, but there was a 9th too, as Longford went AWOL at Ballybofey. You normally don't associate the words, Finn Harps and Ran Riot, in the same sentence, but that's what happened in the first half here. Kevin McHugh bagged two before the break, aided by one each from Conor Gethins and Chris Breen, as generous defending saw Harps find the net 4 times in 20 minutes. With the game gone, Longford tightened up at the back in the second period, only conceding one more to Breen with 10 minutes remaining. Harps claim 4 points from the "Saturday" derby games this season, and move past the 20-point barrier with 4 games to go. But you have to ask, did this game really finish 0-0 in April??

The other game was down in the South-East as Waterford met Pats in yet another relegation six-pointer. With both sides needing to avoid defeat, both of them slugged it out. Waterford looked set to repeat their last win for 5 months in April, when Vinny Sullivan lashed the home side ahead following a corner after 18 minutes. With Pats staring at the play-off door, they found an equaliser with 6 minutes left, an identical finish from Robbie Doyle. Pats will be happy to take the point, whilst recognising that the clubs directly below them have games in hand. Although it should never have happened at all, as the whole league programme should have been postponed, like on previous cup weekends. It's absolutely daft, that clubs have games in hand over others at this stage of the season. The only solution?? Play cup games in midweek, and save league games for the weekend, like in most countries.

Dipping into the Discovering Ireland division, sees Sligo, and Cobh battle it out for promotion, and the play-off spot. Both sides can fight it out amongst themselves, after Home Farm were knocked out of the promotion race after losing at Galway. Thank Christ that they won't be able to pollute the top division again next year. Sligo and Cobh meet next week in Sligo, which is a must-win game for the visitors, but there will be at least one new trip for Derry, Bohs, and Shels, and the rest who survive the drop upstairs, next season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 30/33:
CORK CITY 0-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
DERRY CITY 0-1 WATERFORD UTD.
LONGFORD TOWN 0-1 DROGHEDA UTD.
SHAMROCK ROVS. 0-1 BRAY WDS.
SHELBOURNE 1-0 FINN HARPS
UCD 1-3 BOHEMIANS

TV3 used the opportunity of Champions League football, after a Bank Holiday weekend to make sure that NL fans had to wait an extra 2 days to see the weekend's games. Meanwhile, if you were away on a long trip on Week 30, chances are your side won, with 5 away wins from the weekend, with Finn Harps being the odd ones out. Only 9 goals were scored during the weekend. Cork and Derry did their best to throw the league away this week, but neither side could take advantage of the other's misfortune.

A new beach has been found in Cork, at Turner's Cross. It's a bog in more ways than one. Pats were expected to be lambs to the slaughter, but having lost 2 players to red cards, came up with the goods with a Maguire header unmarked at the near post, just past the hour. The goal was celebrated up north...

...Where Derry were expected to take advantage of Cork's slip-up by disposing of Waterford's brave resistance. And brave it was indeed. All the visitors needed was one shot on goal to win, through Sullivan after 15 minutes. Either side of that, it was a game played in the Waterford half. But Derry suffered another strain of the "beat Rovers" virus, by losing their second straight game since. Waterford thought they were taking a giant leap out of the drop zone, by winning, but Pats' result down South would have sobered them up soon afterwards.

The mid-table clash of Longford and Drogheda didn't promise too much, with both clubs' season over. Drogheda won through Barry Ferguson's own goal on the half hour, continuing Longford's run of defeats.

And back to Dublin for the rest of the week's games. Starting at Dalyer where Roddy Collins served his latest touchline ban for Rovers against Bray. An ugly game was won by a scrappy goal from Caffrey after 50'. Rovers huffed and puffed but couldn't blow the Bray house down, are in a rut of 4 points from 6 games, and are well and truly back in the drop zone now, making next week's West Dublin derby at Richmond a relegation nail-biter.

Shels broke the mould at the weekend, winning 1-0 at home to Finn Harps with a goal from Jason Byrne after 3 minutes. Finn Harps are 5 points from a play-off, but have 3 relatively handy games left to beat the drop, 2 of them at home.

The first of them against UCD, who seem to think the season's already finished. They meekly surrendered once again this time to Bohs, with the visitors running out facile 3-1 winners.

WEEK 27/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-2 CORK CITY

On October Bank Holiday Monday, Cork played one of their games in hand, by making the trip to Dalymount. An early ko allowed a big travelling support. Ward silenced them early on, by putting Bohs in front after 3'. Cork equalised on the half hour, after an inaccurate back pass from Oman found the net off the post. It looked as though it would finish in a draw, before Cork got their latest late winner, as Murray poked the ball over the line following a corner with 5 minutes to go. Cork take advantage of their game in hand over Derry.

WEEK 29/33:
SHELBOURNE 5-0 BRAY WDS.
UCD 0-2 DERRY CITY

The LOI version of Bird Flu, is "Rovers Flu". This virulent virus strikes to (many) sides who then embark on a losing streak after beating Rovers. The latest side to suffer the strains were Bray, who fell apart at Tolka. Shels knocked in 5, with Jason Byrne claiming a hat-trick, helped by Rogers, and later still by Crowe. Despite the result, both team's season's are over.

Derry went on their latest trip to Dublin to UCD, aware of Cork's result earlier that afternoon, and couldn't slip-up. They didn't, as goals from O' Flynn on 13', and Molloy in second half injury time kept up the pressure on Cork. Meanwhile, the queue to stumble over the relegation line at the bottom, is joined by UCD and Rovers, neither of whom can buy a win at the minute. One of the 5 will go down, one other may survive, but slip-ups now from any of the sides involved, could well prove disasterous. Who will win, who will lose, will be found in the Premier Review.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 31/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-0 LONGFORD TOWN
BRAY WDS. 0-3 DERRY CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 0-2 SHELBOURNE
FINN HARPS 1-2 UCD
ST. PATS. ATH. 3-1 SHAMROCK ROVERS
WATERFORD UTD. 2-2 CORK CITY

After Week 31, Derry went to the top, as Cork slipped up, Pats, and UCD secured their premier status, Longford continued their preparations for their long-awaited holidays by losing yet again, and Shels were mathematically eliminated from the title race. However, there were no signs of tension in the various battles around the country, as 17 goals were scored, including 4 at the Munster derby in the only draw of the weekend, which also featured 2 home wins, and 3 away wins.

At Dalymount, Bohs were still chasing 4th against a Longford side, who turn up physically, if not mentally these days. Bohs won 1-0, and stay 5th. Longford stay 6th.

Bray began their latest sequence of home games against Derry, and hoped to repeat their draw at the greyhound track in August, at least. Derry answered in the way title contenders do, by sauntering home 3-0, to complete their second win at the seaside this season. After beating Rovers, Bray's record reads, Pld 2, W0, L2, F0, A8, Pts0. Must have 0 to play for!

Drogheda hosted Shels, in the 3rd/4th place play-off. Shels scored early and late to win 2-0, and claim the only win between the sides this season. However, despite their recent run of good form, other results this week, officially ended their interest in the championship this year.

The first back-to-back relegation six-pointers took place at Ballybofey, where a home win over Jekyll & Hyde, would throw the automatic relegation spot wide open. McHugh put Harps in front after 2 minutes. UCD equalised on 10', when O'Donnell headed home. The game went into a lull after that, but UCD won it near the end, when Martin's winner from the spot, practically condemned Harps to relegation. Having won just 3 times since beating UCD in May, it's not a surprise. UCD beat the drop this season.

The other relegation six-pointer was the West Dublin derby at Richmond, where Pats and Rovers slugged it out. These games are rarely classics, and with the sides drawing twice between each other already this season, this one hardly promised to be any different. Rovers dominated the first half, but Pats went in front in first half injury time from a free-kick. Then the turning point. On the hour, O'Connor ran at the Pats defence, only for Maguire to deliberately handle the ball outside the box. Kenny of Rovers was booked for dissent, after ref. Kelly broke his own rules, by not sending Maguire off for the offence. Instead of being down to 10, Pats went on to double their lead soon afterwards. The ball was then camped in the Rovers half for the next 20 minutes, until Rutherford scored Rovers first goal since September with 2 minutes left. 2 minutes later, McDonnell shoved his opponent in the box off the ball, and Pats got their penalty to make it 3-1, as McDonnell walked. If we thought the ref. was bad, he wasn't a patch on the next egotist, of which more anon. Like UCD, Pats beat the drop too.

The Munster derby, saw a full house between Waterford and Cork at the running track. Cork did some running too, chasing the ref. inside a minute, following a very harsh penalty award for Waterford, which was duly converted. Cork equalised early in the second half, only to fall behind again. They did equalise again later on, but against 10 men, when Waterford had a player sent off, Cork will have been looking for more than another draw against their neighbours. Waterford are the only side to be unbeaten against Cork this year, but they still have plenty of work to do, to ensure another local derby against their rivals next season. All that meant Derry went to the top of the table.

WEEK 29/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. 3-2 BOHEMIANS
SH.ROVERS 0-2 CORK CITY

Bohs travelled up to Drogheda with both sides still chasing 4th spot. Drogheda took the lead through Lynch after 40' with a penalty. Bohs threw the kitchen sink at the home side at the beginning of the second half, equalising through Kelly on 54', and going ahead 2 minutes later when O'Keeffe scored. Drogheda replied 4 minutes later, from Whelan. Bohs won 3-2 against Drogheda in injury time at Dalyer in July, but this time the roles were reversed, when Whelan scored the winner for Drogheda in injury time, to claim their second win over Bohs this season. Drogheda head for 4th, while Bohs head for a cold winter.

"Summer football" in November can only mean wind and rain, and that was what we got at Dalymount where Rovers met Cork. With the 70kph winds, the ref's red card must have been threatening to blow out of his back pocket, as he loved fiddling with it so much! As for the game, it was a contest, until O'Donovan stole a yard on the Rovers defence to poke home after 40', a game which Rovers had completely dominated until that point. Junior football defending from Foley, who headed the ball straight to the opposition, enabled Gamble to score against us again this season on 53'. The game later descended into farce, after two Rovers players were dismissed for non-bookable offences. Cork win 2-0, and regain top spot, while Rovers head for Friday's game against Waterford. The consequences of defeat don't bear thinking about.

[bigmac]

Kenny of Rovers was booked for dissent, after ref. Kelly broke his own rules, by not sending Maguire off for the offence. Instead of being down to 10, Pats went on to double their lead soon afterwards. The ball was then camped in the Rovers half for the next 20 minutes, until Rutherford scored Rovers first goal since September with 2 minutes left. 2 minutes later, McDonnell shoved his opponent in the box off the ball, and Pats got their penalty to make it 3-1, as McDonnell walked. If we thought the ref. was bad, he wasn't a patch on the next egotist, of which more anon.

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