League within a League?

**MyTown** · 15/05/2007, 1:33 PM

Last night's win for Derry means there are now 5 points separating 8th and 9th in the Table, with the last of the first series of games scheduled for this weekend.

Is there already, as many of you predicted at the start of the season, a League within a League with the top 8 considerably stronger than the bottom 4? Or do any of you hold out any hope for those of us still praying for a first home win?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/soccer_tables_index.html

**dcfcsteve** · 15/05/2007, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by MyTown

Last night's win for Derry means there are now 5 points separating 8th and 9th in the Table, with the last of the first series of games scheduled for this weekend.

Is there already, as many of you predicted at the start of the season, a League within a League with the top 8 considerably stronger than the bottom 4? Or do any of you hold out any hope for those of us still praying for a first home win?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/soccer_tables_index.html

It's been a funny start for the league this year, as a bigger than usual gap has appeared at the top quite early on (even though the games just gone have closed the gap in the top half).

Uusally there's one absolute stinker of a team at the bottom who get cut adrift early on, but Longford and Waterford seem determined not to fulfill that role this time.

I guess it makes it more exciting overall to have effectively 2 mini leagues there. The alternative is drama at the very top, drama at the very bottom, and a whole lot of going through the motions in the middle.

**bigmac** · 15/05/2007, 2:28 PM

Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

going through the motions in the middle.

mid-table mediocrity - if only

**Soper** · 15/05/2007, 2:46 PM

The gap is only 2 points if Bray were to win their game in hand

**Ceirtlis** · 15/05/2007, 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by MyTown

Last night's win for Derry means there are now 5 points separating 8th and 9th in the Table, with the last of the first series of games scheduled for this weekend.

Is there already, as many of you predicted at the start of the season, a League within a League with the top 8 considerably stronger than the bottom 4? Or do any of you hold out any hope for those of us still praying for a first home win?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/soccer_tables_index.html

Well the gap between the premier and the first is getting bigger every year so when you consider under normal circumstances(had Dublin City not defuncted and there was no league restucturing) 2 possibly 3 of the bottom 4 would be in the first added to Longford hitting severe financial difficulties it is not surprising at all. Dont worry though we should be able to finish 9th or 10th.

**Lim till i die** · 15/05/2007, 3:23 PM

Originally Posted by Ceirtlis

Well the gap between the premier and the first is getting bigger every year

Dundalk are no worse than Galway, Bray, Waterford or Longford

As for the league within a league the Premier Division is obviously divided into three different tiers standards wise

**gustavo** · 15/05/2007, 3:25 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

The gap is only 2 points if Bray were to win their game in hand

Also if Bray beat us Friday , which is definitely possible they would be 2 points behind still with a game in hand

**Ceirtlis** · 15/05/2007, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

Dundalk are no worse than Galway, Bray, Waterford or Longford

As for the league within a league the Premier Division is obviously divided into three different tiers standards wise

Is this some sort of sly dig by any chance?

**Lim till i die** · 15/05/2007, 3:40 PM

Originally Posted by Ceirtlis

Is this some sort of sly dig by any chance?

Eh, No

**MyTown** · 15/05/2007, 3:58 PM

Originally Posted by Soper

The gap is only 2 points if Bray were to win their game in hand

Originally Posted by gustavo

Also if Bray beat us Friday , which is definitely possible they would be 2 points behind still with a game in hand

I thought from the Table I attached that Brays game in hand is against Drogheda, and on current form, and with all respects to Bray, I didn't think the gap would close following that match.

**jebus** · 15/05/2007, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Ceirtlis

Well the gap between the premier and the first is getting bigger every year so when you consider under normal circumstances(had Dublin City not defuncted and there was no league restucturing) 2 possibly 3 of the bottom 4 would be in the first added to Longford hitting severe financial difficulties it is not surprising at all. Dont worry though we should be able to finish 9th or 10th.

And I don't want this to turn into another Limerick-Galway thing, but facts are that Galway came third in the 1st Division last year, and have been able to hold their own on the pitch in the Premier this year (even if ye aren't getting the results) so I don't see how you can say the gap is getting bigger every year

**Poor Student** · 15/05/2007, 4:19 PM

Funnily, 5th to 8th are playing 9th to 12th this weekend. Victories for the favourites would open a clear division alright.

**Ceirtlis** · 15/05/2007, 4:26 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

And I don't want this to turn into another Limerick-Galway thing, but facts are that Galway came third in the 1st Division last year, and have been able to hold their own on the pitch in the Premier this year (even if ye aren't getting the results) so I don't see how you can say the gap is getting bigger every year

We havent really held our own though, we only have 7 points from 10 games, thats a fairly pish record in any league.

**Dodge** · 15/05/2007, 4:30 PM

Isn't there always 3 leagues though.

Those pushing for honours, those fighting for relegation and those in the middle.

**Gaillimh Al** · 15/05/2007, 4:35 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

And I don't want this to turn into another Limerick-Galway thing, but facts are that Galway came third in the 1st Division last year, and have been able to hold their own on the pitch in the Premier this year (even if ye aren't getting the results) so I don't see how you can say the gap is getting bigger every year

I think the gap at the end of last years First Division shows there is a gap. Rovers, Dundalk and Galway are all Premier divison standard but then there was an 11 point gap to fourth and another 11 points to fifth.

**BohsPartisan** · 15/05/2007, 4:38 PM

After seeing Longford last Friday I'd have to agree with the tone of this post.

**Da Real Rover** · 15/05/2007, 4:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Isn't there always 3 leagues though.

Those pushing for honours, those fighting for relegation and those in the middle.

Yes. pointless thread.

**Bald Student** · 15/05/2007, 4:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Isn't there always 3 leagues though.

Those pushing for honours, those fighting for relegation and those in the middle.

I don't agree. UCD were only safe from relegation a few weeks before the end of last season and ended up finishing above Pats, who were challenging for honours at the start of the league.

I think there's a definate gap between teams which are dross and not dross this season, Bray are the only team half bridging what is otherwise a fairly clear divide.

**passerrby** · 15/05/2007, 4:59 PM

Originally Posted by Gaillimh Al

I think the gap at the end of last years First Division shows there is a gap. Rovers, Dundalk and Galway are all Premier divison standard but then there was an 11 point gap to fourth and another 11 points to fifth.

last season we beat dundalk and drew with galway and rovers twice and we finished bottom so dont see the gap been that massive