taken from http://myirishfootballblog.blogspot.com/index.html
Another weekend with some big Eircom League games is upon us and heres a quick preview of Fridays games. There are also some four other games on Saturday and Sunday and I will have some previews up of them later today or tomorrow
Drogheda v Derry
Two Title contenders go head to head in this game which is live on Setanta Sports. Defeats to Drogheda cost Derry dear last season and this probably will again be a close encounter. Drogheda will be without a host of players through injury and suspension while Derry have a full squad more or less to choose from. Stadium problems mean that capacity for this game will be limited to 1500.
Drogheda have won their last four games after a slow start to the season while Derry have been blowing hot and cold since Pat Fenlon took over - see here. With St Pats off to a flyer both these teams will be eager to not lose any more ground. I give Derry a slight edge in this game - at times versus Linfield things really clicked for them, Drogheda have a few big players missing and Derry will be motivated for revenge after last seasons defeats. Price wise Derry are available at evens on level ball or draw no bet option
Cork v Longford
Cork are the favourites for this one and rightly so. They will welcome back Kearney, Kelly, and OBrien and may have Farrelly and Healy cleared by Fifa in time for kick off. John OFlynn and Roy ODonovan are starting to hit things off up front and goal scoring has not been a problem
Longford have played three and lost three and although they have a lot of fight in the team they have really struggled so far - see here. They will be missing Deegan and Baker and may have to rely on a makeshift defence again
A cork win is available at odds of about 1.50 - you could take a higher price and look for them to beat a goal or goal and a half handicap but games between these two teams have been close enough over the last few years and personally I would be happy with a straight win at 1.50
St Pats v Bray
Both these teams have surprised me with their respective starts to the season. St Pats have got a 100% record and top the table whereas Bray have two wins from three after beating Bohs and snatching a win in Waterford.
Pats may start with new signing Stephen Paisley and both ONeill and Fahey may also return. Bray are also at full strength and welcome back big defender Clive Delaney
If you think Pats great start to the season is not a flash in the pan then odds of 1.57 are available for them to continue their winning ways - that price is probably just about fair.
Shamrock Rovers v Galway
Rovers didn't play last week as their game with Bohs was moved to this Tuesday and Galway lost out deep in injury time to a late Drogheda winner at Terryland. With four points from their first two games Rovers manager Pat Scully will be happy with their start and will be looking to keep another clean sheet against the divisions other new boys. Cassidy and Ferguson are suspended but Ger O'Brien, Eric and Dave McGill, Tadhg Purcell, Ger Rowe, Aiden Price and Danny O'Connor should all be fit for selection after recent injuries
Galway have a full squad to choose from and it will be interesting to see if Manager Cousins has settled on his first choice eleven and formation.
I will be looking for another Rovers win in this one and will be taking them at even money to continue their good start to the season
Waterford v Bohemians
Waterford started their season with a shock win over Munster rivals Cork City but then went and lost their next two games to St Pats and Bray. Bohemians haven't started as well as many would have expected and have just 1 point from their first two games - more worryingly they have yet to get on the score sheet
Bohs will be without Heary and Singh but should welcome back Neale Fenn to the starting line up to partner Glen Crowe up front. As I have said before with Crowe and Fenn upfront and Hunt and Kelly in midfield this team has goals in it and I expect them to become free scoring once they get their act together
Ray Scully has been cleared by Fifa for Waterford but McCarthy, Keely and Brown will miss out through injury and suspension.
Waterford will need their home form to be in good shape this season if they hope to finish above the bottom few places whereas Bohs will need to be winning these type of games if they are serious about finishing in the top three or four. I wont be betting on this one myself but for those of you that are nice odds are available if you can pick the correct outcome
Finn Harps v Monaghan
Harps (and their fans) would have been expecting to have more than just one win from their opening three games but having said that a trip to Cobh is always difficult considering the distance and their is no shame in losing to Dundalk. Their manager will be missing from the touchline as he starts a two game ban but Holmes should have his first game of the season after being cleared by Fifa to play.
Monaghan are probably a little lucky to have the two points that they do - they threw away a two goal lead on the opening day of the season and somehow managed to get a draw in Kildare in their second game. They would have been hoping to get something from their game last weekend at home to Kilkenny but ended up losing that one also. Striker William Doyle is available for the first time this season but Barry Burke is still serving out his suspension
If Harps are serious about finishing near the top of the division they must be winning home games like this one. Monaghan will be looking for a point but unless they raise their game substantially they will be going home pointless. Its a local derby so anything is possible! I will have a small bet on a straight Finn Harps win and odds of 1.65 are available for that
Kilkenny v Shelbourne
Premier League Champions to the bottom team in Division 1 hasn't taken Shels long. However they are starting to look a bit fitter and will be very close to full strength tonight after Leech and Brophy were cleared to play. Crawford and Collins may also return from injury.
Kilkenny got their first win in 26 attempts last week away up north in Monaghan but I will be very surprised if they make it two wins out of two. Shels will be looking at this game as a real chance to get their first win of the season and if they can get rid of the basic defending errors that cost them last week they should come away with three points
All three of my bets this season in the games involving Shels have won but I think it may be time to back them instead of laying them so I will take the 2.50 available for an away win and hope that the Premier League Champions can get their first win in division one!
http://myirishfootballblog.blogspot.com/index.html
For anyone weighing up these things for betting purposes or whatever (or Monday's game for that matter), I don't think Keely and Browne are banned for this match, though Kenny Browne is injured anyway so that doesn't matter. Reading walk the chalk's suspensions list, it seems it's Monday's League Cup game they are suspended for.Originally Posted by DRDoc
Keely picked up a knock last weekend though, don't think it's that serious, he's listed only as a slight concern on the Blues website.
Last edited by stann; 30/03/2007 at 10:56 AM.
more bass
Anything on Sundays Wexford and Limerick
"You'll not see nothing like the Shelbourne team"
Have to say that Longford looked better tonight than they have in previous years. Played some nice football and some players look very handy at times. City were sloppy enough and didn't pass it aswell as they could have, and might have been alot better for it if it had been the case. Longfords keeper pulled one or two top drawer saves out of the bag, looks fairly handy.
While City were alot better tonight that other games i think we have a good bit more in the tank if things go alright as regards injuries and suspensions etc.
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
Ive only seen City once this season but Im from cork and have been in touch with the lads about the performances this season
I m getting the feeling that as long they dont get any major injury problems, can keep Donovan til at least August and can keep OFlynn on the field that the may just surprise a few people this season
The defence is looking solid enough again this season and with a midfield of Gamble, woods and Kearney - plus healy and farrelly to come in - they look fairly strong on paper at least
A lot of city fans seem to be excited about Farrelly and Healy - Healy Im not too sure about but Ive seen a lot of Farrelly over last 2 seasons and if City think they are getting a top player they are most certainly wrong - thats my opinion on him anyway - he is no better than whats already there and for me would only be a squad player
A quick exit from other competitions could be a blessing in disguise as the squad isnt the biggest and Im pretty certain the euro exploits last season had a huge adverse knock on effect on their league form
Darragh Ryan has had a great start and is looking like the very promising player he was before injury and from problems last season - looks like a great signing
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