1st Divison run in!

**Conor H** · 19/09/2006, 2:12 PM

It's going to be a close race in the premier division for the title but it will be just as eagerly contested in the 1st Divison.
Utd,Rovers and Dundalk are the 3 most likely teams to take the title but Cobh and Lims will think they still have an outside chance.
It's really hard to call but me been biased i think GUFC might have the best run in.
Dundalk,Rovers and Cobh all have to come to Terryland and we only have 3 away games left.
Rovers have away games to Galway,Dundalk and Cobh.Not too sure how Dundalk fare out but they do have to come to Terryland and Ballybofey which is never easy.
Galway
Positive-6 out of 9 home games-Always good towards the end.
Negative-Too many draws could prove costly!
Rovers-
Positive-Only conceeded 9 goals and lost twice-Always tough to beat home or away
Negative-Like UTD alot of draws may prove fatal!
Dundalk
Positive-On a very good run of form of late and are scoring goals.
Negative-8 defeats will be an awful lot if they were to loose one or two games in the final run.

Going to be close.
Prediction
1-GUFC
2 Rovers
3 Dundalk.

**hoops1** · 19/09/2006, 2:21 PM

If we beat Dundalk thursday I think its over

**Terry** · 19/09/2006, 3:10 PM

We have 4 away games left, Limerick, Harps, Athlone and the last game of the season down in Kilkenny

**gufct** · 19/09/2006, 3:29 PM

Originally Posted by hoops1

If we beat Dundalk thursday I think its over

With 8 games to go I dont think so ye still have to travel to galway and Limerick twice plus your back games are going to mean you could have a backlog to clear in the last few weeks.

**Conor H** · 19/09/2006, 3:36 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

We have 4 away games left, Limerick, Harps, Athlone and the last game of the season down in Kilkenny

Forgot about Kilkenny but it's a great away game to have last.3 points guaranteed down there if needs be.

**hoops1** · 19/09/2006, 3:41 PM

If we beat dundalk I think with a game in hand
it should be enough
We have Kildare(h),Athlone(h)Kilkenny(a)Monaghan(h) in a four week
period. 12 pts? You put 12 points together at this stage of the season
and the others are going to find it tough

**Up The Town** · 19/09/2006, 4:22 PM

If Dundalk Beat Rovers On Thursday Night We Will Be Well On Our Ways To Winning It Only Obstacle Is Galway I Think Always Tough In Terryland.

Actually Cant Wait Till Thursday Now Should Be Good Crowd And Athmosphere. Title Winning Game.

**jebus** · 19/09/2006, 4:36 PM

It would come down to the 4 teams I would least want in the shake up to be there at the end wouldn't it? Although saying Cobh are in with a shout is a slight over-estimation on my behalf I suppose. But anyway on to the subject on who wil win the 1st division this year, I'll have to go with Dundalk. From what i've seen of them this year they are a far better side than worthy also rans Galway, and look that bit stronger than Rovers.

Case in point, Dundalk recently beat us 2-1 down here in Limerick when the very most they deserved is a point, but still they walked away with all three. Rovers stil have to visit us, and since we're their 'bogey' club I doubt they'll be able to take anything away from Hogan Park, and even though I may be tempting the fates with this, I don't see Galway taking anything either (although honestly I give Galway as much of a chance as Cobh of finishing top of the pile this year). What with LFC still to visit Dundalk near the end of the season we could turn out to still be an influence on this years title

**Lim till i die** · 19/09/2006, 4:36 PM

Originally Posted by Terry

We have 4 away games left, Limerick, Harps, Athlone

Limerick, Harps and Athlone will all be potentially tricky games for you lot

Plus we still have to travel to Dundalk and give them their traditional three points

Not to worry though, you'll get into the Premier either way

**holidaysong** · 19/09/2006, 4:56 PM

On a related note there was a good piece by Emmet Malone on Dundalk FC today in the Irish Times today...

In my opinion, the winner in Oriel on Thursday will win the division.

**hoopy** · 19/09/2006, 5:19 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

On a related note there was a good piece by Emmet Malone on Dundalk FC today in the Irish Times today...

In my opinion, the winner in Oriel on Thursday will win the division.

Yeah, good read. The crowd on Thursday'll be bigger than most, if not all, games this weekend

**sligoman** · 19/09/2006, 6:58 PM

Prediction:

1. Dundalk
2. Shams
3. Cobh

**Conor H** · 19/09/2006, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by sligoman

Prediction:

1. Dundalk
2. Shams
3. Cobh

Sligoman you really are hillarious.I can see why Ny Hoop has you on his ignore list.

**Dave drummerboy** · 19/09/2006, 11:57 PM

We have the following teams left to play at home .
rovers athlone , kilkenny and limerick
Away we have cobh kildare galway mons harp .

If we get result against rovers , we should beat athlone kilkenny and limerick , cobh will be tough and galway , kildare mons we should win and harps is hard to decide .

**mypost** · 20/09/2006, 1:18 AM

We were top after Week 9, Week 18, Week 27, and we will be top after Week 36.

**Dave drummerboy** · 20/09/2006, 2:27 AM

We shall see

**seand** · 20/09/2006, 7:29 AM

Thursday is a big game. After droppnig pts at home to Harps last week it puts the onus on Dundalk to come out and beat Rovers, which we haven't managed yet. With Rovers having a game in hand and we can't rule out them getting those 3 docked points back they are certainly in pole position.

Dundalk are very strong on the road, best away record in the division by a long way, and are in great form. 13 or 14 unbeaten. Would have to worry about a 2 or 3 game poor patch somewhere along the way costing us though. Rovers are super organised, they won't lose many, if any, and will grind out enough 1-0s. They have a lot of games to squeeze in, and I'd expect them to get at least a replay v Athlone in the cup. Galway haven't impressed me the 3 or 4 times I've seen them, but they've kept themselves in contention. In fact the best team I've seen in the division is Harps!

This is the First Division remember, so I wouldn't rule out Cobh Limerick or even Harps just yet!!

**harpskid** · 20/09/2006, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by seand

This is the First Division remember, so I wouldn't rule out Cobh Limerick or even Harps just yet!!

I would rule out all three. My predictions:

1 - Dundalk
2 - Rovers
3 - Galway
4 - Cobh
5 - Harps
6 - Limerick

**Lim till i die** · 20/09/2006, 10:51 AM

1. Dundalk
2. Galway
3. Rovers
BIG GAP
4. Limerick
5. Cobh
6. Harps

Dundalk are probably the best equipped to win from what I've seen this season, they've developed the handy habit of playing poorly and still winning. It's an incredible turnaround, almost the opposite to the way our season has gone. I saw Dundalk play in St. Mels earlier on in the season and to call them a shambles would have been an understatement

**Lim till i die** · 20/09/2006, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

Keep dreaming.

Shur all I dream about is Shamrock Rovers demise

I was giving my opinion based on what I've seen this season:

Against Dundalk: p. 3 w. 0 d. 0 l. 3 gf. 4 ga. 8

Against Yourselves: p. 3 w. 2 d. 1 l. 0 gf. 3 ga. 1