A lot of it is perception over the years but UCD and to a lesser extenr Drogheda have always seemed to pinch results agaisnt better Dundalk sides. Of course this season every side is a bogey side for us. Some Rovers fans believe that all teams raise their games just against them over 50 odd years - curretly they are the team to beat so sides will treat games against champions like cup games. For a significant spell Bohs had the Dublin Derby bragging rights but over its total history Id say Rovers have had the better results. St Pats and any side in the cup until a few years ago, was always a banana skin. Harps was never fun to go to, though no matter how poor Derry were they generally managed to beat Harps against the run of play or form guide. Waterford v Dundalk in play-offs even with FAI CEOs sticking their oar in. Gortakeegan was a graveyard for Dundalk sides of varying standards too. There were more than usual league titles settled in Oriel even when Dundalk were not in a title race, against the favourites, during the 90's so it wasnt a venue that any club were that happy about needing to go to and win on the last day.
But as said the actual stats probably dont really match up with who are percieved as bogey sides and visa versa
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