Recorded the Derry-Shels game and watched it this morning, great scenes for them at the end, and congrats on the title win.
Don’t get the problem with the trophy presentation - what has annoyed people? Trophy is there, Mark Coyle gets the nod to take it over to the players and raise it with them, no League ‘suits’ gurning for the presentation photo. Job done and done well
I dont think Rovers season as a failure really, I do think that they underachieved in terms of the league and rode some luck 1st game in Europe. I have questioned the barometer of where some Rovers see where success lay as you say. I think Dundalk threw away a chance to dominate for longer for whatever reason and If I were a Rovers fans i'd look at this season as a missed opportunity for 5 titles and expected plenty more in seasons to come which might be the case of course. The 2017 season was poor by the then Dundalk standards and a missed chance for what would have been 5 in a row, will always be a what might have been thing. In Europe, chatting to some Rovers fans, not just on here and early on were worried by under performance but they saved their European season so credit where its due there.Originally Posted by placid casual
From the outside, its been suggested above, there is a sense of things getting a bit stale at Rovers. Its not a criticism, it happens when multiple titles back to back are won. It wouldnt be good for the league but if it were Dundalk Id never be satisfied, winning leagues never gets old and Id expect the club to evolve year on year to keep hungry. Similarly Rovers could have done a Celtic type thing considering the lack of an outstanding rivals of real quality though the league dynamic is changing. I do get why Rovers fans are giving a pass to this season based on the last 4. Im not in to managers 'deserving' contract extensions eg based on previous seasons if change is needed and thats a big if with Bradley when purely looking at his trophy haul.
Dundalk deserve where we are at on so many levels. Its hard when you know what was possible if it wasnt for bad decisions over and over. It is very much a situtation where we need to take our medicine without complaint bar with our own club issues. I dont intend to go missing - it'd actually be easier to make observations on the Premier Division next season when not in it with vested interest. With some luck, hard work and passing a right test of endurance I'll hopefully be well in the mix next season and back enjoying the wind ups, slagging and discussion with Dundalk back in the Premier Division in 2026 or whenever.
Last edited by Nesta99; 02/11/2024 at 2:06 PM.
Im absolutely delighted for Shels that they finally won the title. They have had a very tough close to two decades long struggle. I know with my club that I could identify with Shels struggles. DD is a breath of fresh air to LOI. It sums up the loi with Shels fans bus going on fire! Glad everyone got out safely.
Gary Cronin is he the right man to manage Longford Town?
Bloody FAI not carrying out proper NCT's on all vehicles bringing someone to an LOI game
Paaatrick's Agletic
Athlone 2 up on Bray in 21 mins. It’ll be a tough ask from here for Bray
Paaatrick's Agletic
2-2 ! In extra time now
And Bray win on penalties! Great turnaround after what looked like a ropey start
Paaatrick's Agletic
Bray really not fancied by anyone to even make it past UCD are now one game away from the Premier. I think it could be a very interesting game. They’ll be wishing the match was in a few days time and not 2 weeks.
Bray are the first 5th placed team to win the First Division playoff.
While Cork were runaway First Division winners, First Division clubs have done ok in the cup over recent years. Galway last year. Treaty before making a cup semi-final. Athlone beat Waterford this year, UCD beat Sligo and Kerry took Bohs to penalties.
Drogheda will be raging hot favourites. Just as Derry could repeat their cup final win from a few years back, Drogheda could claim a similar devastating win in the promotion/relegation playoff. It is a one off cup final though. Bray will be there to try and pull off a shock.
I can see Drogs bullying them tbh, but you never know in a 1 off game.
Bray have flourished since Ian Ryan left…just shows
Might have been alright, but Shels should probably have had a penalty shortly before, so maybe it evens out.
Beyond embarrassing at this point, it's numbing.
Fair play to Shels. Had Rovers down to win it all year, but Shels got it over the line with the last few results.
It's strange, because in a head to head, we're better than Shels, Rovers are better than us, but its grinding out results against other teams wins you the league. And Shels have done it with a lot less money than us/Rovers. It's a great achievement.
Had a bit of craic with some Shels fans out in town after too, who mostly seemed to be in a state of disbelief that they won it. A few thought Duff could be away to Britain in the off-season. Can see why he'd attractive, but at the same time, he has a young enough family, and probably doesn't need the money. Hard to know.
First Division clubs are to get around €45,000 each in UEFA solidarity payments. Premier Division clubs are to get around €355,000.
There is expected to be a €700,000 windfall in 2025. Dundalk are supposed to benefit from that as Cork will only graduate to the upper payment when the 2025/26 dividends are sent out. Drogheda seem guaranteed that €700,000 next year as well.
The promotion/relegation playoff will be a €355,000 playoff at least. Potentially more depending on the success of LoI clubs in Europe.
Somebody of the no pyro no party thinkers start a few KM too early on the trip home? Seriously though that looked a pretty serious incident so we can all be very grateful that nobody was hurt!!
The last expensive, talented and arguably strongest team not to win the league was 05 and 06 Drogheda, but did have the Cup and Setanta Cups over the same spell which was an upward trend for them until the did eventually win their maiden league 07, and some damn good European performances over that times that helped initially not getting their league win sooner for the massive investment to do so. Competition for the league was probably stronger than what Derry have had the last 2 years based not so much on others' potential but some sketchy form that Derry could and imo should have capitalised on. The cup is important but it feels a bit like a consolation prize, a season saving chance rather than the pure out and out joy and fun of being in the cup final (and winning it). It wont be devalued, just bitter sweet I think. Any other particular sides that really should have won a league that just didnt show up?
I did double check the year the Drogs won the league and saw that in 08, according to wiki, they went in to examineship after failing to pay back a '500k loan' to the Revenue? Is that some sort of typo or have I missed something in the taxman giving loans? Structured repayments maybe so is this info a misinterpretation of this? Not that it matters, just out of interest tbh.
Some header to make it 2-2 tonight and rescue things for Bray. As 92nd minute equalisers go that's right up there. Still and all would be quite surprised to see them get the better of Drogs, who despite their possibly disappointing last few weeks of the league season are generally much improved and you'd imagine would have too much quality.
Bray wont beat Drogheda but it could potentially be one of the most amusing moments of the GLITW if they did!! As cup winners of course.
Amusing for Dundalk supporters I suppose!
It'll add extra spice to the First Division if there's a Dundalk - Drogheda battle for the title. 2023 had two box office opponents in Galway and Waterford. Only Cork this year.
Just realised Seán Gannon was with Shels this year
Means he's now won 11 Premier Division titles with five different clubs
The latter must be a record surely?
But is that not very much up to the Premier clubs?, from what I have read and heard the Premier clubs cam take all the money if they so wish
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