Games weekend Thursday 7th to Friday 8th July

[sbgawa]

Thursday 7th

UCD v Bohemians 19:45


Friday 8th

Shelbourne v Finn Harps 19:45
Drogheda v Dundalk 19:45

First Division

Friday 8th (all 19:45)

Waterford v Wexford
Athlone v Bray
Galway v Cobh
Treaty v Longford

[sbgawa]

Bohs need 3 points against UCD they are 9 points off 4th (with 2 games in hand) and 6 points off 5th (with 1 game in hand) they need 3 points against UCD or they run the risk of being out of running for Europe even via the back door of 4th place.
Shels will be looking to not allow Harps beat them for the third time this season but are already safe and probably dreaming of a shot at a back door to Europe (they are 1 point behind Bohs so the maths are basically the same)
Can Drogs do us a favour and dent the Dundalk title ambitions, they would surely love to.

Treaty and Longford the pick of the first division.

[D24Saint]

Why is UCD v Bohs on a Thursday night.

[joey B]

Why is UCD v Bohs on a Thursday night.

Is it because of their game in Berlin maybe?

[El-Pietro]

Pretty boring weekend in the first division. No league game for us, and Waterford Galway have pretty straightforward games. Treaty Longford probably the most interesting game.

[joey B]

Hopefully our record against Shels this season can continue but I’d be pessimistic enough,think they’re a better side than the one we’ve played in both games already this season….

[Nesta99]

Bohs need 3 points against UCD they are 9 points off 4th (with 2 games in hand) and 6 points off 5th (with 1 game in hand) they need 3 points against UCD or they run the risk of being out of running for Europe even via the back door of 4th place.
Shels will be looking to not allow Harps beat them for the third time this season but are already safe and probably dreaming of a shot at a back door to Europe (they are 1 point behind Bohs so the maths are basically the same)
Can Drogs do us a favour and dent the Dundalk title ambitions, they would surely love to.

Treaty and Longford the pick of the first division.

Hate games in hand as it gives a false sense comfort. I am more positive playing in Drogheda as one if the games in hand. It was a chastening performance last time out so lessons learned I think, We need to make these games count even jut to give a hint of a title challenge.

[Kiki Balboa]

Drogheda away is a very sticky game for anyone. Hopefully Dundalk can get an early goal and try to make Drogheda come out of their own half.

Big game for Shels too. They are only 3 points ahead of Drogheda. If Drogheda some how overtakes them, that is a pretty terrible look for Duff. Would guess that would put him under huge pressure. In saying that, more than likely, they will be 6 points ahead come the end of the weekend.

[Nesta99]

There seems to be incremental improvements with Shels as the season has progressed. They do need to keep clear of play-offs but staying up and a sense of a team being built should keep Duff safe. He is more likely to leave due to a refereeing decision, just storming off never to return.

Its never easy on the tight Drogheda pitch, so yeah its spot on that an early goal for Dundalk is key but sure an injury time peno to win will do too, though by that stage im likely to have left or switched off.

[Peaky Blinder]

Hate games in hand as it gives a false sense comfort. I am more positive playing in Drogheda as one if the games in hand. It was a chastening performance last time out so lessons learned I think, We need to make these games count even jut to give a hint of a title challenge.

Win the 2 games in hand (which you should do to be fair) there'll be 4 points between the top 2 with plenty of games to go & Dundalk to still play Rovers in Tallaght, like it or not, despite your attempts to deflect, Dundalk are in the title race. Nonsense to suggest otherwise.

[pineapple stu]

There seems to be incremental improvements with Shels as the season has progressed. They do need to keep clear of play-offs .

Shels are in no danger of falling into the playoffs

[Jd2793]

"keep duff safe" what does that even mean? shels havent been in danger of going down at any point this season. duff has done a great job imo, its been clear from the start of the season what hes trying to implement. its always gonna take time. compare and contrast with pats etc

[sadloserkid]

There seems to be a real hunger among some people for Duff to fail (not specifically in this thread but in general). I find it a bit weird.

[sbgawa]

There seems to be a real hunger among some people for Duff to fail (not specifically in this thread but in general). I find it a bit weird.

He doesn't do himself any favours with his grumpy old man act but i also find it hard to understand the anti Duff sentiment that is fairly wide, he is undoubtedly good for the league for all that i might slag Shels a bit with the whole "Damien Duffs Shelbourne" thing

[RealJohn91]

He was a bit of an embarrassment against Bohs a few weeks ago. Jumping around his technical area and throwing temper tantrums most of the game.

[sadloserkid]

He was a bit of an embarrassment against Bohs a few weeks ago. Jumping around his technical area and throwing temper tantrums most of the game.

Could be any League of Ireland manager tbf.

[joey B]

It’s not limited to the LOI either,Conte,Klopp and PEP are pretty embarrassing at times aswell…

[wonder88]

I also find it strange the 'hoping Duff will fail' attitude amongst league of Ireland fans. I have only seen them in a pre-season friendly in Galway and one game on telly, but even from that you could see that Shelbourne had a bit of structure to them. Good to have him working in Irish soccer.

[PartySaint]

I also find it strange the 'hoping Duff will fail' attitude amongst league of Ireland fans. .

Do all fans not want managers of other clubs to fail?

[The Bowler]

UCD really need to get something tonight. Another week of player turmoil in the college is what I'm hearing. How Myler is still in his job is anyone's guess. Cmon the students, Harps are muck, the play off spot is defo up for grabs