What a Kerry On! League of Ireland 2023

[elguapo4]

[elguapo4]

Matchday 17

As the top two are on their travels, while third to sixth places face off for the second week in succession.

Bohemians v Shelbourne

It's another Dublin derby in Dalymount Park, live on RTE.

Bohs come into this in third, having been long time leaders before falling to successive defeats to Shamrock Rovers and Derry City. However, they know a win tonight could push them back in the mix, with the top two facing potentially tricky away games.

Shels will be no pushover though, having lost their own nine game unbeaten run last week against St Patrick's Athletic, they come into this game having won the last two fixtures between the pair. I think this one will be tight, so I'll say a Draw

Cork City v Shamrock Rovers

Not for the first time this season, Rovers have hit the buffers just when it looked like they were going to be unstoppable. Last weeks defeat to Drogheda was a wake up call, and tonight they have to visit another traditional bogey side.

Cork City haven't yet had the new manager bounce following the departure of Colin Healy, partially because they still don't have a new manager. Tonight they have a chance to raise their game against Rovers, with the memory of the 4.4 draw earlier this season in Tallaght to spur them on. If Rovers are as poor again I'd give them the chance of a point, though in truth it has to be an Away Win

Drogheda United v UCD

Two of the bottom three clash as the home side hope to extend the gap away from the Students, following last week's amazing win away to Shamrock Rovers. They'll have to do so without skipper Gary Deegan, who is suspended, as well as missing five first team players with injury, although top scorer Michael Leddy returns. UCD's brief revival seems to have run out of steam, with four defeats in a row. I'll give Drogheda the Elguapo4 kiss of death by going for a Home Win

St Patrick's Athletic v Dundalk

I was speaking of new manager bounces earlier, and St Pats have certainly been one to benefit from Jon Daly's appointment, which was made permanent this week. The ex Dundee United and Rangers man has galvanised a talented but unperforming side, including the " next Evan Ferguson " , 15 year old Dylan Melia.

Dundalk have been bubbling under the top three all season, but they come into the one struggling with several injuries, which I think could be the difference Home Win

Sligo Rovers v Derry City ( Saturday)

On paper, this should prove to be a nailed on away win. Derry City have the leagues best away record, with six wins and two draws in eight games, and are going for a fifth straight win, while Sligo have lost three in a row without scoring. One chink of light for the home side is the return of top scorer, New Zealander Max Mata from injury, but I'll go with the bookies for an Away Win

[RobW]

There's a new league leader, the third in seven days. Derry City go top thanks to a 4.1 victory over UCD, while Drogheda United produced a smash and grab, admittedly with two excellent goals, in a 2.1 win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght. Bohs came back from 2.0 down late on against Dundalk to draw 2.2, while St Pats won derby bragging rights following a 1.0 win away to Shelbourne. Finally, Cork City put distance between themselves and UCD in the relegation position after a 1.0 home win against luckless Sligo Rovers who now must be worried about dropping into the playoff position themselves.

Don't forget that you can watch highlights of all games on YouTube the following day.

Quality goal from Freddie Draper against Shamrock. Delighted for him. Might try and get over to Dublin in August for Bohs v Drogheda.

[elguapo4]

Quality goal from Freddie Draper against Shamrock. Delighted for him. Might try and get over to Dublin in August for Bohs v Drogheda.

[elguapo4]

Tickets tend to sell out quickly, but Drogheda should be ok. If there's going to be a few of you coming over,it might be a good idea to email the club, they usually look after tickets for visitors, so long as they're given enough time.

[elguapo4]

Shamrock Rovers poor form continues as they lose 1.0 to Cork City, with three Rovers players sent off. The referee has taken charge of two Rovers games this season, and sent off five players!

Cork's joy was marred by the an incident after the game. Every crowd has their own c*nts,but there's a extra strong level of c*ntitude running through some of Cork's support. While Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was giving his post match interview, a group of Cork fans started singing a song mocking his 9 year old son, who is having treatment for leukemia. A police investigation has started over the incident.

Elsewhere, St Pats strong recent form continues with a 2.1 win over Dundalk , Bohs long run without a 0.0 ends at 104 games following a snorefest against Shelbourne, and Drogheda go ahead of Sligo Rovers into 7th place after beating UCD 3.1.

[elguapo4]

Nobody seems to want to win the Premier division in the League of Ireland. Following Rovers defeat and Bohs draw on Friday, Derry City travelled on Saturday to out of form Sligo Rovers with a great chance of putting Daylight between them and the rest, and were beaten 1.0. Current standings are;

Derry City, played 18 points 34

Shamrock Rovers, played 18 points 33

Bohemians ,played 17 points 30

St Patrick's Athletic, played 18 points 29

[elguapo4]

I haven't really being posting much about the First Division because it's becoming a parade to the title for Galway United. On Friday they beat Athlone Town 3.1, their 15th win from 16 games. They currently have a 12 point lead from second place Waterford, with Bray Wanderers a further 9 points adrift in 3rd. After their first victory in league football, this weeks 0.6 defeat to Wexford FC has been a disappointing result for Kerry FC.

[Discordant Resonance]

About the best that can be said about the last game is that Kerry have at least replaced the drone cameras supplied by the FAI for the transmission of matches with their own in-house stream, which proved far more satisfactory in quality.