Premier Review

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 23/33:
BOHEMIANS 2-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
BRAY WDS. 2-3 SHELBOURNE
CORK CITY V-V HOME FARM
DERRY CITY 0-0 UCD
LONGFORD TOWN 0-2 SLIGO ROVERS
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 WATERFORD UTD.

With the league's olé, olé brigade amused in Germany, Week 23 of the top division saw the push for home begin as Shels took advantage of Derry's shock home draw to go one point clear at the top. Hell froze over as Waterford finally won a game, and one of the maddest goals was ever "scored" at Dalymount in front of the watching tv audience. 12 goals were scored from the 5 games played, as a bout of homesickness led to 3 away wins, and 2 draws this week.

Drogheda headed to Dalymount looking for their third win there this season, and the treble over Bohs. They took the lead midway through the second half when Stephen O'Brien fouled Declan O'Brien in the area, and Damien Lynch scored the penalty. 5 minutes later, Declan O'Brien fired a shot at Stephen O' Brien, who in butterfinger fashion let the ball go loose. A goal was given by ref. Anthony Buttimer on the advice of his linesman, even though the ball ended up 3 yards out. Set up for their treble, Drogheda lost their advantage when Fergal Harkin pulled one back for Farrelly-less Bohs, and Aidan O' Keeffe scored the equaliser for them 2 minutes from time. But there was only one talking point about this fixture, and once again in the NL, it was about officiating. Alan Kelly got a month-long ban following his decision not to give Bohs a goal in Bray, so what will happen to the referee and linesman who gave Drogheda a bonus goal here?

Shels have stuttered around this season, and looked set to lose more title-chasing points at Bray, when first Colm Tresson, and Lee Roche scored on 33', and 36' to give the struggling home side a 2 goal lead. Then half time arrived and Pat Fenlon got to work on his players. The rescue mission got underway 3 minutes into the second period, when Greg O'Halloran headed home Ndo's corner. Bobby Ryan equalised 20 minutes later, and Glen Crowe scored the winner 3 minutes into injury time. Their extra two points, send Shels back to the top of the league.

UCD went on their Sunday outing up to the North Pole, and nobody expected much from them at a side with a 100% home record this year. They were camped in their own half for most of the 90 minutes, and when Derry won a penalty 2 minutes into the second half, a home win seemed likely, only for O'Flynn's penalty to be saved by Quigley, who looked to have moved well off his line before saving it. 2 vital points dropped by Derry, but they have a chance to make up for it, when the two sides meet there again in the next round of the cup.

Longford faced Sligo, on the back of 6 games unbeaten, but another one of Sligo's foreign legion broke that record. Harpal Singh scored the opener for the visitors after 18', direct from a free-kick, and added his second after half time, with a half volley over the Longford keeper. Sligo do the double over Longford who head off to face Shels, by slipping to third from the bottom.

Waterford went to Pats in March and claimed a point, and looked set to scrap their way through the season. Instead, their season was taken for scrap, and still winless 22 weeks later, they returned to Inchicore more in hope than expectation of getting a result. However, Gary Cronin is overseeing a mini-revival on Suirside lately, and even though they still lose, they drew with Cork and Longford recently, and came back from 2 down to Drogheda, only to lose late on. Waterford have taken the lead early on several occasions this year, only to inevitably lose it later, so despite Alan Cawley's opener after 45'', Pats had plenty of time to recover, and retaliate. It never happened however, as Waterford won their first league game for almost 10 months, and bring them to within 3 points of Bray, and the two meet next week at the RSC.

WEEK 19/33:
CORK CITY 0-0 ST. PATS. ATH.

Having had a few extra days off, Cork took on Pats at the South Pole looking to gain revenge for their defeat in the last fixture there in October. Despite having many chances, it never happened, and 4 draws from their last 4 games, means that Cork like many sides before them, will fail to retain their title. Meanwhile, Pats get a point at Cork, and lose to Waterford, which sums up their season in a nutshell.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

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

Week 24 was not a great week for travelling. Cork's 12-hour round trip brought no goals, Bray, Bohs, and Longford faced long journeys home after their away defeats, while Pats scraped a point in the Dublin derby. 6 goals were scored this week from 3 home wins, and 2 predictable goalless draws.

The first of them was at Drogheda where they faced Cork in a fixture notorious for few goals scored. With Cork still on a post-European hangover, Drogheda dominated it this time, but their second goalless draw this season with Cork, means that 6 goals were scored in their 6 meetings this year in all competitions. Not a fixture to enjoy for neutrals.

Rumours swept through Tolka before ko, that Shelbourne would lose their boss to Boh$. It would be the bigggest danger they would face all evening from a toothless Longford who were disposed of easily by their hosts. Goal No. 1 came after 6 minutes from Gary O'Neill who lobbed the visiting keeper. Shels only managed to score one by the break, and 3 missed chances later, added their second on 65' when O'Neill's cross was fired home by Glen Crowe. One expects Longford to put up stiffer opposition when the two sides eventually meet later in Longford.

Bossless Bohs went on their long trek to Sligo where the home side relished easy pickings with their fine home record. It took a long time for them to break the visitors down, but the goal finally came on 85' when Singh fired a shot which O'Brien parried out to Adam Hughes to tap home from 2 yards to give Sligo the win, and their treble over Bohs this season.

The other predictable goalless draw of the weekend came at Belfield, where the home side's return to playing their games on Friday nights, couldn't inspire them to break the stalemate as both sides have failed to score in their last 3 games, and in their last two meetings against each other. So the bookies couldn't offer odds on a high scoring draw. They were right as it finished inevitably 0-0.

A few weeks ago, Waterford couldn't win a game of cluedo, never mind football, but since the change of coach, their fortunes have revived, and Bray were the latest to feel the effects of the Suir Revolution. Alan Cawley opened the scoring for the home side after 36 minutes, which before was just a sweetener before everyone else scored. Now they're not just conceding goals, but scoring them too. The second arrived 36 minutes later, from Robert Brosnan, and the third was added by Daryl Kavanagh in injury time. Waterford's season has finally begun 20 games late, while it's now Bray who are suffering from second season syndrome, and can't win a thing as the Seagulls have now only claimed 1 point from the last 30 available.

WEEK 18/33:
SLIGO ROVERS 0-3 CORK CITY

Back in July, Sligo fans here wanted Cork to lose in Limassol, so that this fixture would go ahead as scheduled. Cork then punished them twice, by progressing in the CL, and then here again, as their Euro-hangover came to an end with an impressive victory at a place where only UCD had won earlier this season. Roy O'Donovan set the ball rolling after 9 minutes from Fenn's cross via Woods' flick. They then soaked up home pressure for 30 second half minutes to score the second when John O'Flynn returned from injury to score on the counter. Neale Fenn added No. 3 in injury time to allow Cork to leapfrog over Sligo in the table, and claim the double over them this season.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 25/33:
BRAY WDS. 0-2 LONGFORD TOWN
CORK CITY 1-0 BOHEMIANS
DERRY CITY - SLIGO ROVERS
HOME FARM V-V DROGHEDA UTD.
ST. PATS. ATH. 1-3 SHELBOURNE
WATERFORD UTD. 0-0 UCD

Week 25 saw 4 games played on time, as another fixture postponed adds to Derry's fixture pile-up. There was late action in the televised Dublin derby, and finally a change at the bottom of the table. 7 goals were scored this week from 1 draw, 1 home win, and 2 away wins.

The change happened at the seaside where morale-starved Bray tried to recover some of their lost ground at home to enigmatic Longford. But they lost further ground when the visitors went in front after 2 minutes when Alan Kirby fired home from the edge of the box. They went on to add number 2 when Dave Mooney scored on the hour. Bray's defeat coupled with the earlier result from Waterford, mean that they replace Waterford at the foot of the league.

Bohs went down to the other side of the country this week, where as expected Cork, bouyed by their win in midweek, dominated and peppered O'Brien's goal. The goal finally came halfway through the first half when Billy Woods headed home from a corner. Cork's double over Bohs this year, and their double in the week, comes a little too late to re-start a title charge.

Pat Fenlon wisely stayed at Shels, and his side looked to continue their title challenge across the Liffey at Pats. Pats' goals have dried up over the last few weeks but they went ahead after 7 minutes from Keith Fahey's free-kick. Shels equalised when Glen Crowe beat two defenders to cross for Gary O' Neill to make it 1-1 at half time, and until the 84th minute, when second-half sub Jamie Harris flicked on a corner for Crowe to put Shels in front. Harris sealed the win for the visitors racing on to an attempted back pass to add the third in injury time. Shels' second late late show in 3 weeks allows them to claim their double over Pats this season, and leave Derry with plenty of work to do when they eventually get round to playing their outstanding games.

Like Pats', UCD's strikers have had a summer break lately, with just one goal scored in their last 7 games, including 3 straight 0-0's. They were not going to get much out of a new improved Waterford side either, but their bulletproof defence collected another clean sheet this week. The result and the one up the coast at Bray, finally moves Waterford off the bottom.


Downstairs, where most games have been played, the third round of games were completed this week. Since the last update, Limerick have plummetted down the league, Galway sniff around at the top of the table, but Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are contesting the leadership at the moment. Following Dundalk's 1-1 draw with Finn Harps this week, Rovers went back to the top by making it 9 wins from 13 league games at Tolka Park with a late winner to beat Cobh Ramblers. The top two meet again to commence the final round of games in the division this year in Dundalk next week.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 26/33:
BOHEMIANS 3-1 WATERFORD UTD.
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-1 BRAY WDS.
LONGFORD TOWN V-V HOME FARM
SHELBOURNE 2-2 DERRY CITY
SLIGO ROVERS 3-2 ST. PATS. ATH.
UCD 1-1 CORK CITY

Week 26 saw Waterford's mini-revival stalling, Pats collapse in the West, Drogheda and Cork lose further ground on the leading pair, who themselves fought out a draw in front of the tv audience. No goalless draws this week, with 17 scored from 3 draws, and 2 home wins.

Waterford travelled up to North Dublin, looking to avoid a treble defeat to the Dalymount side this season. They scored after a minute on their last visit, but waited a while longer this time before Ger McCarthy scored to give them a half time lead. When Bohs equalised after 47' when Aidan O'Keeffe had the freedom of Dublin 7 to run through and score from a suspiciously offside position, all hell broke loose, and Waterford had 2 players sent off for their protests. The roof fell in after that, as John Paul Kelly put the home side in front on 54', and O'Keeffe scored again to ensure Waterford suffered their treble defeat. Bohs would later go on to suffer a 3-point deduction from the league, for Jason McGuinness playing while under suspension against Shelbourne on Week 22. The result of that game stands.

Bray travelled up north to Drogheda looking to avoid a treble defeat this season themselves. It didn't look likely when Declan O'Brien scored for the home side after 62', but with time running out, bad defending meant that Jason Gavin scored an own goal from Kieran O'Brien's cross to make it 1-1, and allow Bray to collect their first point in two months.

Derry retained their League Cup title against Shels earlier in the week, and travelled down to close the ground in the title chase to their rivals, live on the box. They raced into an early 25-minute lead through goals from Pat McCourt, and a 40-yard lob from Kevin Deery. But Jason Byrne ran through on goal just before the break, and was taken down by Derry's reserve goalkeeper Pat Jennings, who replaced David Forde when he was sent off in the League Cup Final. Jennings was sent off, and with no reserve goalkeeper available on the night, Deery went into goal. 10 minutes into the second half, he picked the ball out of his own net when Owen Heary began the Shels' fightback, which was complete on 76' following Cahill's cross, and Glen Crowe's headed equaliser. The status quo remains at the top of the table.

There was drama at the Showgrounds in Week 4, when two injury time goals cancelled each other out, and Pats and Sligo had to settle for a point. It looked the best that Sligo could settle for was another point, when goals on 20', and 40 minutes from Colm Foley and Dave Mulcahy put Pats two up before the break. Sligo started to play after the break when Matt Judge finished off Kudozevic's cross a minute after the break. Pats had the chances afterwards, but Sligo took them, as Darren Mansaram fired home on 87' to equalise. After he was fouled by Foley in the box a minute later, Chris Turner scored from the spot for Sligo. This time, they held onto their lead, and won 3-2.

The 0-0 draw specialists UCD, faced Cork at Belfield, where once again, they set out to frustrate Cork and did so again here. It was predictably 0-0 for a long time until midway through the second half, when finally they scored, through Conor Sammon's drive past Devine. Draw specialists don't lead for long usually, and 4 minutes later, the visitors equalised through Dan Murray's own long-range drive. The point does little for either side. For Cork, things can only get better.

WEEK 17/33:
CORK CITY 6-0 BRAY WDS.

Bray, bouyed by their point last time out at Drogheda, set out for the trek to Cork looking to build on it. They may have with Pat Devlin in charge. Without him, they fell apart. 4-down at the break, it was a damage limitation exercise from there on in, after Roy O'Donovan, Billy Woods and Dan Murray with two, helped themselves. Cork didn't ease up, and O' Donovan knocked in two more after the break to complete the rout. Bray go back to the bottom, and still have to play Cork at the Carlisle Grounds in 2 weeks time.

[Raheny Red]

Derry retained their League Cup title against Shels earlier in the week, and travelled down to close the ground in the title chase to their rivals, live on the box. They raced into an early 25-minute lead through goals from Pat McCourt, and a 40-yard lob from Kevin Deery. But Jason Byrne ran through on goal just before the break, and was taken down by Derry's reserve goalkeeper Pat Jennings, who replaced David Forde when he was sent off in the League Cup Final. Jennings was sent off, and with no reserve goalkeeper available on the night, Deery went into goal. 10 minutes into the second half, he picked the ball out of his own net when Owen Heary began the Shels' fightback, which was complete on 76' following Cahill's cross, and Glen Crowe's headed equaliser. The status quo remains at the top of the table.

Stephen O'Flynn was in goal for the second half.

[pineapple stu]

Deery was in nets for about two minutes to half time. But then facts aren't very important to mypost...

[mypost]

Stephen O'Flynn was in goal for the second half.

Yeah, so what??

It's amazing the amount of posters scanning the review every week looking for minor errors.

[pineapple stu]

Actually, nobody's posted in this thread bar you since July. I very much doubt that's because of the accuracy or objectivity of it either.

So there's another mistake...

[mypost]

Actually, nobody's posted in this thread bar you since July.

Should they?

[Raheny Red]

Yeah, so what??

It's amazing the amount of posters scanning the review every week looking for minor errors.

I was stating it, so you could correct your little mistake. Just think if you didn't know about your mistakes!

[John83]

I was stating it, so you could correct your little mistake. Just think if you didn't know about your mistakes!

Yeah, he wouldn't have to post to dismiss them.

[pineapple stu]

Should they?

You tell me. You're the one claiming people are scouring the thread for mistakes. Yet the fact that no-one has posted in two months seems to point otherwise, seeing as we've already ruled out the theory that there aren't any mistakes to find.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 27/33:
CORK CITY 1-1 LONGFORD TOWN
DERRY CITY 1-1 BOHEMIANS
HOME FARM V-V SLIGO ROVERS
ST. PATS. ATH 3-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
UCD 4-0 BRAY WDS.
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 SHELBOURNE

Week 27 saw Shels increase their lead, Derry's title challenge fall away, and Drogheda falling apart. 12 goals were scored from 5 games, 1 away win, 2 draws, and 2 away wins.

TG4 subjected the nation to watching Longford play, down in Cork. Despite Cork's big win last week, they found Longford's defence harder to break down, which became harder again when Longford took a shock lead, before Cork eventually equalised late on. The result doesn't do much for either side.

A home banker looked on the cards for Derry, against a Bohs side whose season is over. It was the visitors though who took the lead, before Derry equalised in the second half, a result which has seen them drop 6 points from 3 games.

Drogheda travelled to Inchicore looking to do the treble over Pats this season, but they came up against a Pats side looking for their first home win in a long time. Pats dominated, and went in at half time 1-0 ahead. They added 2 more in the second half to wrap up a surprisingly comfortable win over a side that don't concede many. Drogheda's title hopes vanish completely following this defeat.

UCD scored 4 goals in their last derby with Bray at home, and helped by charitable visitors, helped themselves to 4 more here. Gary Dicker gave them the lead early on, and they went 2 up through Alan McNally after 36'. The third arrived after 57', when Dicker ended the game as a contest. The end of the goals came following UCD's fourth, scored by Derek Doyle with 20 minutes to go. 10 goals conceded on Bray's travels in a week.

Shels came back to rescue a point against Derry last week, and were up against a Waterford side trying to pick up the pieces again after losing last week. Against the other North Dublin side though, it was the same outcome for them, as Stuart Byrne's winner on the hour allowed Shels to pull further clear at the top of the table.

WEEK 7/33:
DERRY CITY 1-2 DROGHEDA UTD.

Derry and Drogheda met on the first day last season, but had to wait until October to meet for the first time this season. After their slip-ups at the weekend, they needed to get a win under their belts. Drogheda set their stall out early on, frustrated the home side in the first half, and took the lead after 48' when Paul Keegan's corner, was met by Peter Hutton's head, o.g. The goal temporarily woke Derry up, and 90 seconds later Ciarán Martyn equalised. However, they couldn't push on from there, and Gavin Whelan looked to have secured a shock away win, but his goal was ruled out. However, Drogheda did win the game with 8 minutes left, when Sami Ristila fired home to further dent Derry's title challenge, and end their 22-game unbeaten record at home.

WEEK 13/33:
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 SHELBOURNE

On the same night further South, Longford eventually played their home game with Shels. Longford put up more resistance than their last encounter at Tolka, but the result was the same as their first at Tolka, 0-0. Shels won't be too upset, as the point stretches their lead again at the top.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 28/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-1 ST. PATS. ATH.
BRAY WDS. 2-1 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-0 UCD
LONGFORD TOWN 0-2 DERRY CITY
SHELBOURNE V-V HOME FARM
SLIGO ROVERS 0-0 WATERFORD UTD.

Week 28 saw 7 goals scored from 5 games. Derry were in a hurry against Longford, while Cork never got out of the slow lane in front of the Irish speaking audience in Bray.

Pats won at Bohs in the Dublin derby. The only goal came with 10 minutes to go, a fine run and shot from Mulcahy, allowing Pats win their third game in a row.

Cork were on the tele again, and travelled to the side they hammered 2 weeks ago, Bray. If Bray caught the flu down at the South Pole, Cork caught a cold at the seaside, as they were 2-0 down by half time to Andrei Georgescu. Dan Murray pulled one back, but Bray win their first game for 4 months.

Drogheda took on UCD on Saturday evening on Boyneside, and were out of the traps early, scoring through Declan O'Brien after 4 minutes, and despite both sides having good opportunities after that, Drogheda held on to finally win at home.

Mark Farren arrived in the Midlands, and his angry Derry side hit Longford with the backlash, for their recent disappointing results. Farren scored after 29 seconds and 29 minutes later, past a feeble home side who offered little, and got nothing, as Derry won 2-0.

Sligo went into their game with Waterford looking to complete the treble over the Suirside. Waterford have improved lately, and were able to claim a goalless point here, as Sligo show a sudden inability to score goals, before their games against Derry and Cork.

WEEK 25/33:
DERRY CITY 4-0 SLIGO ROVERS

0-0 draws with Killester and Waterford don't tend to inspire confidence in many sides, even derbies, and Sligo didn't carry much threat at the North Pole either. The game was a contest for 18 minutes, until Derry scored 3 times in 12 minutes. Mark Farren was busy scoring again, and as Derry added the fourth goal after the break, Sligo could pack up and head for Cork early. Derry win, but their recent results mean their win comes too late to stop Shels winning the title.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 29/33:
CORK CITY 2-0 SLIGO ROVERS
DERRY CITY 0-0 DROGHEDA UTD.
HOME FARM V-V BOHEMIANS
ST. PATS. ATH. 5-1 BRAY WDS.
UCD 0-2 SHELBOURNE
WATERFORD UTD. 1-2 LONGFORD TOWN

Week 29 saw Derry on the box again, and lose more points to Shels. There were 2 home and away wins this week, and 1 draw, with 13 goals scored.

After losing at Derry, things didn't get easier for the Sligo defence at Cork. The 11-man mobile wall kept the home side out until the 70th minute, when Billy Woods broke them down. Ray O'Donovan added Cork's second to ensure their treble over Sligo this season.

Derry and Drogheda slugged it out for the national audience on tv. Derry dominated, but after Kevin McHugh was sent off with 15 minutes to go, Drogheda had chances to sneak another away win at the North pole this season. The 0-0 draw, sees 2 more points slip away for Derry, while Drogheda achieve the rare distinction of avoiding defeat from two games at the Brandywell during a season.

After last week's shock win over Cork, Bray came back down to earth with a crashing thud at Pats. Anthony Murphy struck first for the home side on 18', while Trevor Molloy added the second 10 minutes later. Andrei Georgescu's reply briefly threatened a revival, until Murphy added his second from Stephen Quigley's cross. Quigley himself added number 4, on 76', and Michael Roche completed the rout by scoring an own goal. Bray have been very charitable to Pats this year, conceding 9 at Richmond this season.

Shels brushed aside the challenge of UCD at Belfield, as Jason Byrne scored his first goal for 2 months to put them ahead midway through the first half. Just after half time, Richie Baker nodded in the 10th, and last goal for his team against UCD this season, from Ndo's corner. With Derry slipping up again, Shels extend their lead to 6 points over the Northern Ireland side.

Waterford brought home a point from Sligo last week, only to find themselves bottom of the heap again. Ger McCarthy put them in front at home to Longford after 25 minutes from the spot. But Longford equalised on the hour, through Davy Byrne, their first goal at Waterford this season in three attempts. Alan Kirby scored the winner, on the rebound after Mooney's shot was saved by Spicer. Waterford achieve another landmark this week, their first defeat at home to longford this season, and not even the old Waterford managed to do that.

WEEK 15/33:
DERRY CITY 2-0 SHELBOURNE

Derry finally got to play Shels at home, knowing that to stay in the title race, they needed to win it at all costs. 52 minutes of pressure brought no reward until Ciaran Martyn found the net. Pat McCourt's run and shot made it 2-0 soon afterwards, and Derry won Round 6 of the saga this season between the clubs, to cut Shels lead to 3 points. Shels lose for the third straight game at the Brandywell, and have only won once against Derry in 3 years.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 30/33:
BOHEMIANS 0-1 UCD
BRAY WDS. V-V HOME FARM
DROGHEDA UTD. 2-0 LONGFORD TOWN
ST. PATS. ATH. - CORK CITY
SLIGO ROVERS - SHELBOURNE
WATERFORD UTD - DERRY CITY

A new low this week, with only 2 of the week's programme played as scheduled, due to cup commitments of others. 3 goals were scored, from a home and away win apiece.

UCD travelled to the ground at the other end of the No. 10 bus for the third time this season, looking to avoid a third successive defeat at the venue. And they avoided it as Patrick Kavanagh scored the winner for them on 56'. Bohs remain third from bottom.

The other game of the weekend, saw Longford head East to Drogheda, where Stephen Paisley scored again, only in his own net this time to give the home side a 25th minute lead. The rousing team talk at half time didn't work obviously, as a minute of the restart, as Gavin Whelan scored Drogheda's second to seal up their home win. Back to the drawing board for Longford, while Drogheda are finishing their season well, and still have to play Derry at home.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 31/33:
CORK CITY 4-1 WATERFORD UTD.
DERRY CITY 0-0 BRAY WDS.
HOME FARM V-V ST. PATS. ATH.
LONGFORD TOWN 3-0 BOHEMIANS
SHELBOURNE 2-2 DROGHEDA UTD.
UCD 1-0 SLIGO ROVERS

The Munster Derby was played out on Week 31, while the league-chasing sides dropped vital points at home, while Shels got preference over Derry on tv, for a change. No away wins this week, while 13 goals went in, from the 5 games.

Cork have recovered from their European hangover by now, but Waterford is the place where it began, when they dropped 2 vital points in August. Waterford made it difficult for a while in Cork also, but Cork gradually took over, and ended up winning comfortably, by 4 goals to 1.

Bray went up to Derry and got a draw last season, but at the time, they were better placed in the table, and weren't expected to trouble the hosts this time. They didn't either, as Derry created chance after chance, and missed chance after chance. Derry drop 2 vital points to Shels in the title race, while Bray regain some pride, following their drubbing at Pats last time out.

Longford went for the treble this season at home to Bohs. The visitors were willing to oblige. 2 goals in 2 minutes from Dessie Baker, and a Heary og, gave Longford a 2-goal advantage at half time. Baker rubbed it in as Longford scored their 7th goal against Bohs this season in injury time, allowing them to gain a rare treble success this season.

On tv, the cameras came back to Tolka, as they did when Shels and Drogheda last met there. Drogheda's unbeaten record went that night, and Shels went for their own treble over the Boynesiders this season here. However, Drogheda were fast out of the blocks to go 1 up after a minute from Jason Gavin, a lead they held until half time. Shels, playing up their favourite end in the second half, the Ballybough end struck twice through Greg O'Halloran after 52', and 57', but Gavin Whelan burst their bubble equalising inside a minute. The visitors avoid defeat this time, while Shels and Derry go neck and neck at the top of the table.

Sligo travelled to UCD, with their boss who had resigned the night before the game. Still, he was on the bench, but his players failed to give him a happy send-off, losing 1-0 to Patrick Kavanagh's last minute winner for the Belfield side. Sligo's season is warming down.

WEEK 18/33:
DROGHEDA UTD. 3-1 DERRY CITY

After losing ground last weekend at the Brandywell, Derry faced a rare away trip recently, and fell apart completely to their bogey side Drogheda. Shane Barrett was on scoring form, as he found the net twice in the first half-hour. Kevin Deery threatened a Derry fight-back with a goal after 46', but Barrett wrapped up the win for Drogheda on 87, to seriously dent Derry's title charge, and continue Drogheda's recent good run.

WEEK 30/33:
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 CORK CITY
SLIGO ROVERS 0-2 SHELBOURNE

Cork continued their good form, with their first win against Pats this season in Inchicore. Roy O'Donovan scored the winner after 26 minutes to secure the points, while Pats have one eye on their Cup Final appearance at the end of the season.

The news in Drogheda allowed Shels to take full advantage in Sligo. 2 goals from Stuart Byrne after 27', and a Hughes og after 68', gave Shels provisionally one hand on the trophy.

[mypost]

Premier Division Results:

WEEK 32/33:
BOHEMIANS 1-1 BRAY WANDERERS
CORK CITY 1-0 SHELBOURNE
SLIGO ROVERS 2-3 DROGHEDA UTD.
ST. PATS. ATH. 0-1 DERRY CITY
UCD 3-1 LONGFORD TOWN
WATERFORD UTD. V-V HOME FARM

Shels went to Cork knowing they could win the title if Derry slipped up. Instead it was they who slipped up on tv. UCD finished their season with a home win, which was one of only the two during the weekend. There were 2 away wins and a draw in the other games, which produced 12 goals.

The only draw was at Dalymount, where Bohs and Bray fought it out again. Aidan O'Keeffe gave the home side the lead after minutes, but Paul O'Reilly equalised for Bray after the break. Both players would be later sent off, as the game petered out into a 1-1 draw.

Both Cork and Shels faced each other in fine form, but the title race took another twist, when Cork scored the winner from Roy O'Donovan just before the hour. Shels lose for the 4th straight game in Cork, but the home side's late rally isn't enough to look for the title on the last day.

Pats had an early penalty at home to Derry, but David Forde saved Michael Foley's penalty. The winner arrived on the hour as Mark Farren slotted home. Derry move to within 3 points of Shels after the weekend's results, but is it too little, too late?

Drama at Sligo, where the home side took an early lead, only for Drogheda to cancel it out through Shane Barrett, and have the lead from a Coleman og before half time. Even though Sligo equalised, Drogheda would win it with 12 minutes left, when Jason Gavin headed home.

Longford continued their scoring spree from last week, as Dessie Baker put them in front after a minute. They scored again within a quarter of an hour, only for O'Connor to put the ball in his own net, to hand UCD an equaliser. Conor Sammon scored two more for the home side after half time, as UCD become the first side to finish their season early since Waterford Utd. in 2002, with a 3-1 victory.

WEEK 30/33:
WATERFORD UTD. 0-1 DERRY CITY

Mark Farren turned from villain to hero, as he first missed a penalty at Waterford, and as the title was heading to Tolka, he intervened to score the winner 3 minutes into injury time. It was a cruel way for Waterford's home season to finish, but the three points for Derry gives them a decent chance of winning their second trophy of the season.

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Premier Division Results:

WEEK 33/33:
BRAY WDS. 1-1 SLIGO ROVERS
DERRY CITY 1-0 CORK CITY
DROGHEDA UTD. 1-0 WATERFORD UTD.
HOME FARM V-V UCD
LONGFORD TOWN 0-0 ST. PATS. ATH.
SHELBOURNE 2-1 BOHEMIANS

Week 33, saw all the teams finish their by now, 30-game league programme, after 3 games were wiped out. Shels were on tele again against Bohs, while Derry gave chase, Pats prepared for the cup final, and Cork miss out on Europe. 7 goals were scored from the games, with a total of 2 draws, and 3 home wins.

At Bray, Sligo were reduced to 10 men when Choice Aisien was sent off after 38 minutes. Bray were already in front by then, as Andrei Georgescu struck again, until Sligo equalised early in the second half through Liam Burns. Bray finish the season with 3 draws, while Sligo's season fell away in the final third of the season.

Derry faced Cork at home on the last day this time, and went ahead after 12 minutes through Mark Farren. It was enough to win the game, but not enough to win the league, as points dropped recently turned out to prevent them from winning the title. Cork's mid-season slump, ultimately ruined their season too, as they finish in 4th spot.

After the excitement of scoring 10 goals in their last 4 games, Drogheda faced bottom side Waterford, and sauntered to a 1-0 win. Declan O'Brien scored the winner just before the hour, and they held out comfortably to qualify for Europe in third spot. Waterford lose their last 4 games, and are condemned to a meaningless play-off game to see out their season.

Longford and Pats played out the dullest game of the weekend, even if both sides finished the game with 10 men, as Baker, and Maguire were lucky to leave the game early. Both sides finish in mid-table.

Shels knew that a win over Bohs, would see them crowned champions once again. They wobbled early on, as Steve Williams fumbled the ball into his own net, to give Bohs the lead. Before long however, Shels had equalised through a penalty from Stuart Byrne. Glen Crowe made it 2-1 to Shels just before half time, and despite Alan Kelly finding his red card again, this time to send off Richie Baker, Shels held out to clinch the title once again on goal difference from Derry.

After 30 games, played over 33 weeks, the table at the end of the season reads:

Shelbourne 30 62
Derry City 30 62
Drogheda Utd 30 58
Cork City 30 56
Sligo Rovers 30 40
UCD 30 38
St Patricks Ath 30 37
Longford Town 30 34
Bohemians 30 29
Bray Wanderers 30 17
Waterford Utd 30 12

In the First Division, Shamrock Rovers win the title by 1 point, as the point gained by a late equaliser in Cobh on the last day, prevents the league being decided on goal difference. Dundalk finish in second spot, a win at Finn Harps, guarantees them a place in the end of season play-off. Galway valiantly, finish third.

Next up, comes the play-off and the cup final, but with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers as league champions this year, Tolka Park can be renamed "Championsville". Congratulations to both.

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2006 League Play-Off:

DUNDALK 1-1 WATERFORD UTD.
WATERFORD UTD. 1-2 DUNDALK
(Dundalk win 3-2 on agg.)

The final 2 games of the league season, were played the following week, when a struggling Waterford headed North to face Dundalk in sheeting rain. The Premier Division side took an early lead, but Trevor Vaughan equalised with a penalty in injury time, to leave it level going into the second leg at Waterford. Once again, Waterford went in front, when Daryl Kavanagh pounced on 69 minutes. Then Dundalk stepped it up a gear, and 7 minutes later, Vaughan scored from another penalty to make it 2-2. Vaughan struck ran onto a through ball, to strike again, and give Dundalk a 3-2 agg. win, which in most seasons, would see them promoted to the Premier Division. The final whistle left both teams stewing over their borderline Premier Division status for 2 more weeks, in which time, Derry won the FAI Cup, coming three times from behind to defeat Pats 4-3 aet.

Dundalk and Waterford will get to know each other a bit more next season, following Waterford's relegation from the Premier Division, by the IAG. Dundalk remain in the First Division with them, as the teams immediately above and below them in the division, Shamrock Rovers and Galway United, were awarded promotion to the Premier Division, which re-starts on March 9th 2007. Who said there was no promotion or relegation this year?