QuoteThey could do with a 2nd.
Very poor alright. Even taking the physical aspect out of it with them being in pre-season, their technical ability on the ball looks levels below a shels side that are currently only the fifth best in the country. I think shels will put a few past them on the bigger pitch next weekOriginally Posted by sbgawa
Paaatrick's Agletic
They could do with a 2nd.
https://x.com/steobohs/status/1943030233155727666?s=46
Good lord that’s an entire other level of embarrassing stuff
Paaatrick's Agletic
Terrible standard in the last half hour. Shels are a very uncreative team and Linfield are technically poor.
Agreed.
Shels are the better side by a distance. Maybe I'm being harsh, but that feels like a poor result for them. Linfield we're knackered in the second half, and Shels just weren't able to take real advantage of it.
I still think they'll go through, but Linfield will be happy enough to be heading back up the road with that result.
I'm aware that I have made a few negative posts in succession, so here is a positive one - Sean Boyd makes the most of everything he has. Did so well for the goal.
What am I missing? Watching the superior physical strength of Shels tonight, compared to Linfield, reminded me of how Dundalk sides looked against better European opposition. Pre season or not, Linfield should be stronger on the ball. Even Dickie looks like he has some substance and bulk to him. Shels were great bar in the final third for a lot of proper build up play. That second goal would have been nice.https://x.com/steobohs/status/1943030233155727666?s=46
Good lord that’s an entire other level of embarrassing stuff
Grown men in the shels end wearing Shels-Linfield half and half scarves
https://x.com/smiledogg88/status/194...834055590?s=46
https://x.com/steobohs/status/1943008134034759691?s=46
Paaatrick's Agletic
To be fair to Shels, I think they had more chances then people are making out, it actually could have been 3/4 on another evening. They hit the post and the keeper made a wonder save in the first 10 mins.
Boyd nearly finished off would would have been savage goal at the front post after a class first touch and arrowed cross from Wilson.
Shels are the better team and if they show up next week they should go through.
I know Linfield are pre-season but that has to be one of the most limited Linfield sides I can remember seeing.
They lost Cooper to Coleraine at the end of the season so they seem to not have the same spending power or pull they’ve had in the past.
If Shels start with Boyd next week they’ll finish off the job with another win.
No question Shels left goal or two on the table tonight, I hope it doesn't bite us this time next week but if you have watched us all season the final third was typical of us all a bit two dimensional at times while not being particularly good on set pieces either. Two and half weeks ago with the turmoil of Duff's departure I would have taken for us to be unbeaten in the next four games winning 2 drawing 2 under O'Brien including winning this 1st leg 1-0
The game felt reminiscent of our Conference League home game against St. Joseph's a year ago where we were considerably the better side until tailing off towards the end only taking a goal advantage into the 2nd leg. Linfield looked about the same standard as St. Joseph's most of their players technically limited while also looking exactly like a side in pre-season missing half a yard of pace, I expect Linfield to be sharper next week but for Shels we don't have to worry about 30 degree humid heat like Gibraltar last year and the larger Windsor Park pitch may suit us
Last edited by total hoofball; 09/07/2025 at 10:43 PM.
The Leinster Senior League needs a strong Bohemians
Did Shels narrow the pitch width last. Anyone know the reason for that?
To comply with UEFA regulations for distance between pitch and hoardings I think.
Fair play to Shels for getting a winner. Could have been one of those frustrating nights.
Thought there was a huge amount of emotions that carried them for the opening 20 min or so, that gave the players energy to really attack Linfield. It looked like it could be a cricket score at that point. Feel they nearly got a penalty for that reason, but VAR seen sense.
Once that Adrenaline Rush ended, Shels became pretty stale until Boyd came on. Gave them a physical presence and a link to Mipo.
So many times Linfield would have seven or eight players crowding out the center of the box, with only one Shels player there. Shels play the ball too often to feet in front of that bank of blue players, with players happy enough not to try and penetrate, and ask questions. Its just way too 'safe' football.
The tie is wide open for the second leg, both teams have so much room to improve.
Yes Rules state it must be 3m from boundary hoardings UEFA insist for player welfare but same rule applies to our leagues but FAI &Refs overlook this it’s player safety issue surprised PFAI aren’t insisting it’s done here
How are you surprised? It would make places like Richmond Park and United Park unviable. 3m is overkill anyway, dont think any player has ever been injured in Tolka or Richmond by the pitch boundary. More likely to get hit by bottles or flares, id say theyre the bigger risk!
Gerard Doherty knocked himself out after his head hit the wall at Richmond.How are you surprised? It would make places like Richmond Park and United Park unviable. 3m is overkill anyway, dont think any player has ever been injured in Tolka or Richmond by the pitch boundary. More likely to get hit by bottles or flares, id say theyre the bigger risk!
I think the UEFA regulation is fair enough, and won't affect most clubs.
Should have been done years ago, I remember Paul O'Connor almost killing himself off the wall up there for Longford years ago, missed a series amount of games with concussion after it
A deserved punishment for having done it in the process of conceding a goal from the halfway line
Paaatrick's Agletic
The dimesnions of the pitch area in Oriel hae to be adjusted when the new pitch is laid for this reason. think its behind one of the goals that is the issue. Floodlights in United Park are inside the pitch area and were a bit scary for years until they ut padding around them ala rugby goalposts. Even with the 3 metres you do see the occasional collision by players on TV if not domestically, more a good luck thing, but it is important. I think it has as much to do with where he sdeline grass area stops, if its narrow and players run on to a tarmac or concrete area then thay are like bambi and end on their ass or in the hoarding.
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