Games weekend 25th to 28th August

**sbgawa** · 21/08/2023, 2:28 PM

Premier Division (all 19:45)

Friday 25th

Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk
UCD v St Pats
Bohemians v Derry
Drogheda v Cork

Saturday 26th
Sligo v Shelbourne

First Division (19:45 unless stated)

Friday 25th

Athlone v Wexford
Bray v Waterford
Galway v Cobh
Treaty v Kerry
Finn Harps v Longford (20:00)

Monday 28th

Treaty v Waterford

**sbgawa** · 21/08/2023, 2:33 PM

Rovers really need to beat Dundalk after letting another match slip away agaisnt Shels.
Assuming Derry beat UCD with their game in hand we are only 2 points clear and the way we are playing i cant see us staying ahead.

If we do manage to get a win against Dundalk the fact that Derry are plahying bohs means one of them has to drop points.
Pats are obviously still right in it but Derry have hit form at the right time and were unlucky to lose two penelty shoot outs in a week which while they are no doubt dissapointed probably will mean they go on and win the league.

As ever im praying for a return to form....lets see.

**Another Bohemia** · 22/08/2023, 7:19 AM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Rovers really need to beat Dundalk after letting another match slip away agaisnt Shels.
Assuming Derry beat UCD with their game in hand we are only 2 points clear and the way we are playing i cant see us staying ahead.

If we do manage to get a win against Dundalk the fact that Derry are plahying bohs means one of them has to drop points.
Pats are obviously still right in it but Derry have hit form at the right time and were unlucky to lose two penelty shoot outs in a week which while they are no doubt dissapointed probably will mean they go on and win the league.

As ever im praying for a return to form....lets see.

Derry have hit form by being eliminated from two competitions on penalties.Games where they played well but lacked a lethal finishing touch you would see from champions. There's a strong smell of bottlers coming from the brandywell and I fear an inevitable injury to Duffy or McEleney or both will completely derail any title push they could have. They're still in it for the moment and have no other "distractions" but neither do Rovers so no real advantage there. It seems to me whoever wins the league will do so in spite of themselves because no one can seem to grab the league by the throat and go on a significant run of positive results.

**sbgawa** · 22/08/2023, 8:03 AM

Rovers next three games are Dundalk , Bohs , Derry. if any of Derry , Pats , Bohs or however unlikely it seems at the moment Rovers can win 3 games in a row they willl be top and heading for the title

**culloty82** · 22/08/2023, 9:33 AM

Now that the final quarter of the First Division season has begun, Kerry really have to start converting their recent "moral victories" into points on the board - there hasn't been much between ourselves and Treaty apart from the first trip to Markets Field, so a draw should be the target on Friday.

**DCSIL** · 22/08/2023, 9:51 AM

Used to have a great record in Dalymount, can't see us winning unfortunately.

**Jack B** · 22/08/2023, 11:22 AM

It's a big few weeks ahead for us. All of Rovers, Derry, Bohs and Dundalk are playing each other in different combinations while we've UCD, Shels and Drogs. More so nervous that we don't make the most of putting some ground between us and a few teams than I am expectant that we will.

**Stuttgart88** · 22/08/2023, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Rovers really need to beat Dundalk after letting another match slip away agaisnt Shels.
Assuming Derry beat UCD with their game in hand we are only 2 points clear and the way we are playing i cant see us staying ahead.

If we do manage to get a win against Dundalk the fact that Derry are plahying bohs means one of them has to drop points.
Pats are obviously still right in it but Derry have hit form at the right time and were unlucky to lose two penelty shoot outs in a week which while they are no doubt dissapointed probably will mean they go on and win the league.

As ever im praying for a return to form....lets see.

I was quite anxious this time last year too even if the final table showed a comfortable win, but there were times (the game with the Gaffney late winner v Shels, going behind early v Pats and even at 3-1 up giving away a penalty...) even in the last few games I felt it was dangerously tight.

Huge 3 games coming up alright. Win, win, draw would be great. I've no idea what to expect. The Tolka game has changed the dynamic hugely imho.

**legendz** · 22/08/2023, 5:22 PM

9 rounds remaining in the First Division. Kerry will have to pick up more points than they have so far for a reasonable total. Anything less than 18 points is a poor return despite learning on the job etc.

**TonyD** · 22/08/2023, 8:24 PM

Originally Posted by Jack B

It's a big few weeks ahead for us. All of Rovers, Derry, Bohs and Dundalk are playing each other in different combinations while we've UCD, Shels and Drogs. More so nervous that we don't make the most of putting some ground between us and a few teams than I am expectant that we will.

Really don’t expect us to win the title, but they are three winnable games coming up, so we could be in a very good position. Having said that, Drogheda beat us last time out, and we’ve squeezed past Shels the last couple of times, so taking nothing for granted.

**Jack B** · 22/08/2023, 8:25 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Really don’t expect us to win the title, but they are three winnable games coming up, so we could be in a very good position. Having said that, Drogheda beat us last time out, and we’ve squeezed past Shels the last couple of times, so taking nothing for granted.

Never mind the title, I just meant getting into Europe!

(Just wanted to avoid relegation really)

**TonyD** · 22/08/2023, 8:30 PM

Yeah, Europe and the cup would do me !

**ger121** · 22/08/2023, 11:12 PM

This could come back to bite me in the ass but I think it is a good time to play Derry. Two tough fixtures in the preceding week that went the distance, both of which they lost. Has to have an impact on you physically and mentally. If they do get a win on Friday though, then Derry will have bounced back nicely. So many big games now down the home straight.

**Nesta99** · 23/08/2023, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by TonyD

Yeah, Europe and the cup would do me !

Oh for the days that mention of the Cup had St Pats fas have an emotional breakdown lol. Just greedy now lads!

**brendy_éire** · 24/08/2023, 1:26 PM

Originally Posted by ger121

This could come back to bite me in the ass but I think it is a good time to play Derry. Two tough fixtures in the preceding week that went the distance, both of which they lost. Has to have an impact on you physically and mentally. If they do get a win on Friday though, then Derry will have bounced back nicely. So many big games now down the home straight.

Hard to know what to make of tomorrow's game.
I don't think we'll have too much of an issue physically. Mentally, maybe a different story. Bohs are on a decent run, and I think Decky has out-thought Higgins this year.
To look at the positives, we've conceded one in the last four games. We have a bizarrely great record in Dalymount over recent years, better than anywhere else (Brandywell included). We'll likely have most of the possession, but will we actually be able to create and take chances? Not sure at all.

**JC_GUFC** · 24/08/2023, 1:34 PM

Originally Posted by brendy_éire

Hard to know what to make of tomorrow's game.
I don't think we'll have too much of an issue physically. Mentally, maybe a different story. Bohs are on a decent run, and I think Decky has out-thought Higgins this year.
To look at the positives, we've conceded one in the last four games. We have a bizarrely great record in Dalymount over recent years, better than anywhere else (Brandywell included). We'll likely have most of the possession, but will we actually be able to create and take chances? Not sure at all.

I think McMullan looks to be a very good signing, obviously came with a decent reputation but he gives a lot more balance to the team with him on the right and Duffy on the left.

Goalscoring is the concern if McGonigle could get any sort of confidence back like at the start of last season I'd fancy Derry to go on and win the league. The other lad from Scotland looks useless so far and Cian Kavanagh I guess works in certain situations with his physical presence - hopefully for Derry that miss against Tobol doesn't haunt him for the rest of the season.

**lofty9** · 24/08/2023, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

I think McMullan looks to be a very good signing, obviously came with a decent reputation but he gives a lot more balance to the team with him on the right and Duffy on the left.

Goalscoring is the concern if McGonigle could get any sort of confidence back like at the start of last season I'd fancy Derry to go on and win the league. The other lad from Scotland looks useless so far and Cian Kavanagh I guess works in certain situations with his physical presence - hopefully for Derry that miss against Tobol doesn't haunt him for the rest of the season.

The other lad has looked sharp in his last couple of cameos, not match fit, but clear as day he's not a centre forward.

**TonyD** · 24/08/2023, 7:18 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Oh for the days that mention of the Cup had St Pats fas have an emotional breakdown lol. Just greedy now lads!

You can build up quite a thirst after 50 odd years

**nigel-harps1954** · 24/08/2023, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by TonyD

You can build up quite a thirst after 50 odd years

50 years next year since Harps only cup win.

I would like to see at least one win in my lifetime

**TonyD** · 24/08/2023, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

50 years next year since Harps only cup win.

I would like to see at least one win in my lifetime

Yeah, know the feeling. Ironically that last win for Harps was against Pats. Wasn’t at the game but remember being vaguely aware of it as a child. (Aging myself big time now

) Wasn’t at Waterford in 1980 either. Only started going regularly to Pats in 94, so I was at the finals in 96, 2003, 2006 and 2012. Was beginning to think I’d never see a win. I remember the Harps/Bray games (99 I think ?). Two very good games.