Games Weekend Friday 26th March

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 10:45 AM

Premier Division

Friday 26th
Dundalk v Finn Harps 17:45
Waterford v Sligo 19:45

Saturday 27th
St Pats v Drogheda 16:00
Bohemians v Longford 16:00
Derry v SRFC (postponed)
First Division

Friday 26th (all 19:45)
Wexford v Cabinteely
Cork City v Cobh
UCD v Athlone
Galway v Shelbourne

Sunday 28th (15:00)
Bray v Treaty United

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 10:55 AM

First weekend of the season could be summed up as we have a title race on our hands with nobody looking like runaway winners and the likes of Sligo and Pats looking way stronger than last season.
Longfords and Droghedas opening day wins at home to Derry and Waterford will be tested for how good they were with tough away matches against Bohs and Pats.
Anything less than wins for Dundalk and Bohs will start to put the pressure on early , Harps deserved their win against Bohs so it wont be easy.

Galway Shels as an opener in Division one is an early chance to lay a marker down for two teams expected to be chasing automatic promotion.
Still cant get used to Cork being in Division 1 and no real idea how they will do.
Great to have so many matches to discuss / Watch.
Shame about Derry canceling the Rovers match, is the reserve keeper that bad? they have ensured a 3 games in 9 days gig with the reschedule,

**DCWA** · 22/03/2021, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Shame about Derry canceling the Rovers match, is the reserve keeper that bad? they have ensured a 3 games in 9 days gig with the reschedule,

18 year old who has never played a senior game. It’s simply not worth the risk.

**lofty9** · 22/03/2021, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Shame about Derry canceling the Rovers match, is the reserve keeper that bad? they have ensured a 3 games in 9 days gig with the reschedule,

Jack has just signed a pro contract and is 20. I think the problem is that there isn't proper back up to him. Although it would have been a great test for him if they'd have played and put Gartside under pressure for his place. If I was manager I'd have sent the team out with the young keeper, they are expected to lose anyhow, might as well get the kid experience. Shows a lack of balls from Devine. Not as if Rovers didnt do it with Bazuna.

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by lofty9

Jack has just signed a pro contract and is 20. I think the problem is that there isn't proper back up to him. Although it would have been a great test for him if they'd have played and put Gartside under pressure for his place. If I was manager I'd have sent the team out with the young keeper, they are expected to lose anyhow, might as well get the kid experience. Shows a lack of balls from Devine. Not as if Rovers didnt do it with Bazuna.

Bradser played Bazunu in 4 league games and two euros before letting Manus take the number 1 jersey, Manus from memory was there for at least 3 of the games but Bradser stuck with Bazunu as he was excellent.

**Nesta99** · 22/03/2021, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

First weekend of the season could be summed up as we have a title race on our hands with nobody looking like runaway winners and the likes of Sligo and Pats looking way stronger than last season.
Longfords and Droghedas opening day wins at home to Derry and Waterford will be tested for how good they were with tough away matches against Bohs and Pats.
Anything less than wins for Dundalk and Bohs will start to put the pressure on early , Harps deserved their win against Bohs so it wont be easy.

Galway Shels as an opener in Division one is an early chance to lay a marker down for two teams expected to be chasing automatic promotion.
Still cant get used to Cork being in Division 1 and no real idea how they will do.
Great to have so many matches to discuss / Watch.
Shame about Derry canceling the Rovers match, is the reserve keeper that bad? they have ensured a 3 games in 9 days gig with the reschedule,

Dundalk have to target 3 points on Friday, especially considering the 2 games after. If we do, it ramps up the pressure on Rovers for Friday week. It will be a must not lose game for Rovers which in itself has its pressures. Of course that is completely flipped if Dundalk fail to beat Harps. It's a bit early for make or break games but putting down an early marker is important. If we end up with 1 or 2 points from the fist 4 games considering the opposition, its heading badly in the wrong direction for Keegan.

**2 Year Contract** · 22/03/2021, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Dundalk have to target 3 points on Friday, especially considering the 2 games after. If we do, it ramps up the pressure on Rovers for Friday week. It will be a must not lose game for Rovers which in itself has its pressures. Of course that is completely flipped if Dundalk fail to beat Harps. It's a bit early for make or break games but putting down an early marker is important. If we end up with 1 or 2 points from the fist 4 games considering the opposition, its heading badly in the wrong direction for Keegan.

Bit of a contradiction there but the second point is correct. No league on the planet has a club that will have a 'must not lose game' in their second game of the season. It’s a big game yes but even if rovers were to lose it I’m sure they could close the gap from the remaining 102 points up for grabs

**placid casual** · 22/03/2021, 3:53 PM

Deary me Nesta, that pressure windup looks like it came from the pat hoban school of windups. As has been said,its far too early to be making games make or break. Paining the a€€é that Rovers won't play this weekend, but the presidents Cup game was recent enough for the emotional muscle memory to kick in when Rovers take on dundalk the week after. Hopefully Pico makes it back from his camel trek in time.

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 3:56 PM

Momentum and confidence is everything in Sport, i always felt when DFC were at their best teams turned up expecting to lose.
Establishing a "presence" this year with all the new players is important and that only comes from winning.
While i would agree Rovers Dundalk is not a must not lose game for Rovers it is a chance particularly if DFC drop points to Harps to stop Dundalk establishing a fear factor, losing would be a million miles from fatal to our chances of winning the league but it is a huge opportunity to put a marker down just like early last year.
A draw which will probably leave us both in bottom half after 3 games (depending on Harps results) will just emphasize how open the league is this year.

**Nesta99** · 22/03/2021, 4:00 PM

Ok it will feel like a must not lose game. Going on some previous recent seasons some clubs have been pretty relentless, eg Rovers last year albeit in a shortened season. I would not be ok with Dundalk potentially being 6 pints adrift of Rovers after 4 games no matter what. As has been acknowledged generally, there are a lot of unknowns this season so imo early form and results will be key definers of the season as much from a psychological angle. Whomever builds up a bit of momentum first (nether Dundalk, Rovers, Bohs look like clicking in to that winning habit yet) will be hard to overhaul. If Dundalk have 10 points by game 4 id be worried if a Rovers fan and yet it early season. On Wk 1 performances Harps should be made favourites - though if Ollie was standing with the league trophy he would still talk about avoiding relegation.

**2 Year Contract** · 22/03/2021, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

Hopefully Pico makes it back from his camel trek in time.

Will he not have to self isolate (for whatever amount of days it is now), upon his return?

**Nesta99** · 22/03/2021, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

Deary me Nesta, that pressure windup looks like it came from the pat hoban school of windups. As has been said,its far too early to be making games make or break. Paining the a€€é that Rovers won't play this weekend, but the presidents Cup game was recent enough for the emotional muscle memory to kick in when Rovers take on dundalk the week after. Hopefully Pico makes it back from his camel trek in time.

Pressure windup? I was replying to Sbgawa who I think makes a valid point on early pressure, but conversely can be flipped. If people think early season results do not involve 'pressure' or do not count in some way as gaps can be overturned later in the season then so be it - I hope such levels of confidence lead to complacency. If I was from the Pat Hoban school of wind-ups i'd just dismiss things wind-ups and maybe follow up with 2020 not being a real league season (but then there wouldnt have been a proper cup competition either by such logic).

**sadloserkid** · 22/03/2021, 4:19 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

that pressure windup looks like it came from the pat hoban school of windups.

This amused me waaaaaay more than it should have.

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 4:45 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Will he not have to self isolate (for whatever amount of days it is now), upon his return?

Nope Elite athletes are exempt unlike bogball players

**sbgawa** · 22/03/2021, 4:47 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Ok it will feel like a must not lose game. Going on some previous recent seasons some clubs have been pretty relentless, eg Rovers last year albeit in a shortened season. I would not be ok with Dundalk potentially being 6 pints adrift of Rovers after 4 games no matter what. As has been acknowledged generally, there are a lot of unknowns this season so imo early form and results will be key definers of the season as much from a psychological angle. Whomever builds up a bit of momentum first (nether Dundalk, Rovers, Bohs look like clicking in to that winning habit yet) will be hard to overhaul. If Dundalk have 10 points by game 4 id be worried if a Rovers fan and yet it early season. On Wk 1 performances Harps should be made favourites - though if Ollie was standing with the league trophy he would still talk about avoiding relegation.

Id probably be happy enough taking another draw now and then just get on with the season.
The head to heads wont matter as much this season i think as it looks like a few teams have a bit about them this season

**SeanDrog** · 22/03/2021, 5:29 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

First weekend of the season could be summed up as we have a title race on our hands with nobody looking like runaway winners and the likes of Sligo and Pats looking way stronger than last season.
Longfords and Droghedas opening day wins at home to Derry and Waterford will be tested for how good they were with tough away matches against Bohs and Pats.
Anything less than wins for Dundalk and Bohs will start to put the pressure on early , Harps deserved their win against Bohs so it wont be easy.

Galway Shels as an opener in Division one is an early chance to lay a marker down for two teams expected to be chasing automatic promotion.
Still cant get used to Cork being in Division 1 and no real idea how they will do.
Great to have so many matches to discuss / Watch.
Shame about Derry canceling the Rovers match, is the reserve keeper that bad? they have ensured a 3 games in 9 days gig with the reschedule,

Summed up nicely - looking sooooo forward to it.

**Nesta99** · 22/03/2021, 5:29 PM

I would agree with that and week 1 is an early if limited indication.

**El-Pietro** · 23/03/2021, 11:01 AM

First Cork derby since 2008 and no one can go. Gutting.

**Martinho II** · 23/03/2021, 8:27 PM

Originally Posted by El-Pietro

First Cork derby since 2008 and no one can go. Gutting.

Jaysus is that long? That was in the top flight if I am correct!

**TonyD** · 23/03/2021, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by SeanDrog

Summed up nicely - looking sooooo forward to it.

Will be quite a telling game for Pats too. We did well in games against Rovers and Dundalk last season, only to come unstuck against perceived “lesser” teams. If we can beat Drogheda, and particularly if we could score some goals, it will be a sign of progress.