Mayo FC have announced they will enter underage leagues next season, and plan to be playing senior LoI soccer by 2026.
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For once RTE picked a cracking game to show, Bohs coming back from 2.0 down to draw 2.2 with Shamrock Rovers.
Derry City, St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk all made ground with narrow wins over Cork City, Shelbourne and Drogheda United respectively. Sligo Rovers woes continue, as they lose 2.1 to UCD, the Students second win of the seasonComment
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Lincoln have recalled both Draper and Ahui from their loan at Drogheda, which is a shame, as I was hoping they'd still be playing in August.Comment
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That's definitely not good news for Drogheda.Comment
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Kerry announce they've been accepted into the U17 Women's League, so evidently the long-term aim is to have senior teams of both genders.Comment
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The four European qualified teams play each other again tonight. Derry City travel to Tallaght to play Shamrock Rovers for the third time in four this season, they really need a win to keep the pressure on the Hoops. Dundalk host St Patrick's Athletic, hoping to jump above the Saints into third.Comment
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Matchday 22
Monday's games brought more good news for Shamrock Rovers, with their 1.0 victory over Derry City, and St Patrick's Athletic drawing with Dundalk 1.1 leaving Rovers a comfortable 7 points clear with 13 games to play. The other beneficiaries were Bohemians, who can move into second place if they win their two games in hand.
Cork City v Drogheda United
As we head towards the the last round of games, those teams hovering near the drop zone are running out of winnable games. This is a case in point.
Two weeks ago, Cork City we're in a confident mood having won 5 league games in a row. However, back to back defeats have dropped them back in trouble.
Drogheda United have been doing better than expected, thanks in main to the goals of Lincoln City loanee Freddy Draper. Unfortunately for them, Draper has now returned to Sincil Bank, so they could find the rest of the season a struggle. Drogheda have proved me wrong previously, but I'd confidently say Home Win
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers
A dress rehearsal for the first round cup tie later in August, in what has been a graveyard fixture for the Hoops in the past. Dundalk have been in good form recently, and might have enough in them to take something here. I predict a Draw
Shelbourne v Derry City
Recent results, including last week's fractious defeat to St Pats. Haven't been kind to Shels, and they've dropped away from the leading group. Derry's recent form has been wretched, and they badly need a boost, though Shels won't make it easy for them another Draw
Sligo Rovers v Bohemians
Sligo are yet another team looking over their shoulders towards the playoff spot, and manager John Russell must surely be hearing the bacon slicer being given a test run. Having not drawn in the first 11 games, Bohs have drawn 5 in the last 10, however the last two were against Derry City and Shamrock Rovers . I fancy us to go one better tonight Away Win
St Patrick's Athletic v UCD
Last week the Students got their second win of the season against Sligo. Pat's are probably going strongest of anyone apart from Shamrock Rovers, so anything other than a comfortable win for them would be a major shock Home Win
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Huge turnaround last night, as Dundalk beat Shamrock Rovers 2.0, which combined with St Patrick's Athletic's 7.0 thumping of UCD, cuts the gap at the top to four points. Derry City and Bohemians lose ground with a 1.1 draw with Shelbourne and a 3.1 defeat to Sligo Rovers respectively, while Cork City and Drogheda United drew 1.1.
In the first division Galway United continue their amazing season with a home win over Kerry FC, but only by a 1.0 margin, which is a great, and also frustrating, result for the side from the Kingdom.Comment
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TheRovers Bohs result should be on the wtf threadComment
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RobW tickets for Bohemians v Drogheda on August 4th have just gone on sale this morning at www.bohemians.ieComment
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Bought my ticket for Bohs v Drogheda next month. My second visit to Dalymount Park, and have strange feeling that I saw Drogheda last time too...Comment
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Haha, cross post. Yeah thanks, had it my diary and got a pair.Originally posted by elguapo4 View PostComment
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Waterford issue a " nothing to see here " statement with regards to owner Andy Pelley's prison sentence, it's got to affect them in a big way.Comment
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Is it more or less the same "nothing to see here" that Fleetwood have put out?Comment
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" Waterford wish to acknowledge the conviction of owner Andy Pilley.
They would wish to reiterate that the convictions are against an individual, and not Waterford fc, or any businesses associated with them, and Waterford fc will continue to operate as usual.
Waterford will be making no further comments at this time " .Comment
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The transfer window is open, and several clubs have made signings.
St Patrick's Athletic have signed midfielder Cian Leavy from Reading via Shelbourne. Shels had him on loan, but when his contract with Reading ended, St Pats swooped. Damien Duff is unimpressed, with a pithy comment " we're disappointed, but we wish Cian all the best with his recovery from injury "
Shels first crumbs from the ( relatively) rich man's table comes with the signings of Hull City loanees, midfielder Harry Wood and goalkeeper Harry Fisk.
Derry City have signed Scottish forwards Paul Mc Mullen and Danny Mullin.
Dundalk have signed another Scot,defender Darren Brownlie, while Bohemians have signed a Polish right back, and are talking to a compatriot, a striker.Comment
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Grant Horton's loan spell with Bohs ends and they sign a Polish player Bartlomiej Kukulowicz. I believe that Horton's contract with Cheltenham is. not being renewed.
Slightly bemused by Irish cluns making signings like this. Nothing wrong with it, but how does it all pan out like this. Is it someone from Poland who wants to move to Ireland and a club opportunistically signs them? I'm sure no Irish club has scouts in Eastern Europe assessing and recommending transfer targets.Comment
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Generally, agents will set up connections with LoI clubs, there was a vogue 12 months ago for Estonians because a rep who knew about the area was based in Dublin.Comment
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I can't speak for other clubs, but in Bohs case we got in touch with the first two players, Kaspers Radkowski and Kristian Nowak through an agent, and signed them because they were a lot cheaper than Irish lads coming home having been released by UK clubs. Kukulowicz came through youth ranks with Radkowski, who recommended him. An offer of a contract was made to Horton, I can only assume he reckons he can do better elsewhere.Comment
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Matchday 23
As the top three all face relegation battlers, while 4th play 5th in a vital game.
Bohemians v Dundalk
And we'll go to that vital game first, as in form Dundalk travel to labouring Bohemians, with the one time league leaders in need of a win to avoid the rest of the season becoming an irrelevance. Stephen O'Donnell has definitely turned Dundalk around, with a draw against St Patrick's Athletic, followed by a victory against Shamrock Rovers ,they'll approach Dalymount scenting blood in the water. Bohs have struggled for goals and points in the second third of the season, and injuries and loan departures won't help their cause. I have to go with an Away Win and hope I'm wrong.
Derry City v Sligo Rovers
In a slightly better position than Bohs, but still not comfortable , Derry welcome Sligo to the Brandywell. Sligo will be buoyed by their first win in 8,a victory that owed as much to Bohemians incompetence as any sudden upturn in form. They'll attempt to do the same tonight, can't see it happening Home Win
Drogheda United v Shamrock Rovers
Amazingly, struggling Drogheda go into tonight's game unbeaten against Shamrock Rovers this season. Rovers will want to forget the previous fixture here, which they ended with 8 players . Assuming that they keep everyone on the pitch, they shouldn't have too much trouble. Away Win
St Patrick's Athletic v Cork City
St Pats, as well as being on form, are also in a run of games against struggling sides, that they should win. Cork have improved recently, but I can't see them stopping the Saints Home Win
UCD v Shelbourne
ZZZZZZZ. Honestly , who knows or cares. I know I'm being unprofessional, but the dullest team in the league against the already doomed. It will probably end up as a six goal thriller, but more likely a 1.0 Away Win
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Great game in Dalymount that has the potential to be a turning point in the season. 2-1 heading into the last 10 minutes with a quiet and possibly sullen crowd. 2 goals in 5 minutes and the place is rocking. Plus Dundalk miss an amazing opportunity to equalise at the death - I was right behind the goal and not sure how they didn't manage to score. Win the 2 games in hand (which on paper are winnable - UCD and Shels) and then they are up to second and in the hunt for Europe. However, this is just post match euphoria and i know that I will wake up to reality - it's nice to bask in it for the moment.
Pats missed a massive opportunity to put some real pressure on Rovers at the top, by conceding a stoppage time equaliser to Cork. Had they won that, the gap would have been 2 points (where it was a 7 point gap last week). Rovers' draw with Drogheda is going unpunishedComment
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As said above, Drogheda United keep up their unbeaten run against Shamrock Rovers by drawing 0.0. St Pats will be kicking themselves at not closing the gap to two points, a 94th minute equaliser earning Cork City a much needed point. Derry City join them on 43 points, coming back from 0.1 down in the last 10 minutes to beat Sligo Rovers 2.1. And Shelbourne beat an increasingly hapless UCD 4.0.
In the First Division, Galway United drop points for only the second time this season, Cobh Ramblers gaining a 1.1 draw. Kerry fc score in the first and last minute, but still lose 3.2 against Treaty United, Waterford draw with Longford and Athlone Town beat Wexford FC 4.1. And Finn Harps v Bray Wanderers finishes scoreless.Comment
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elguapo4 - what do you make of Danny Grant. Talk of Pat's trying to blow Bohs out of the water financially might just be that - talk. However, will it cause wage inflation come contact renewals with higher profile players. Is it worth it for Grant, who had been injury prone.
Am I just looking for the dark cloud?Comment
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I heard before the Dundalk game that Grant had turned down an offer, and that looked to be that, then this week rumours were that he was due to sign.Originally posted by fospheny View Post
Players who we want keep are going to ask for more money anyway, of the current squad I think only Coote, Afolabi, Clarke and Mc Daid are likely to be out of contract, with Radkowski at the end of his loan period.
Danny Grant's injury problems are a concern of course, but he's worth the risk to get him back to his previous form.Comment
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Matchday 24
With the top sides in Europe, there's only three games in the Premier division, but all are vital to the teams involved
Shelbourne v Bohemians
Games in hand can be a double edged sword, win and you're in a great position, but lose and your league season is as good as over. This is the dilemma facing these two sides, with the added spice of a FAI Cup game between them next Friday.
So what to do, you've got to win them both, but that runs the risk of injuries. I have a feeling that Shels will be concentrating more on the cup game, which may give Bohs the edge,and after last week's morale boosting win over Dundalk, I'll say Away Win
UCD v Drogheda United
There's no easy way to say it, UCD are f*cked. All they can hope for is little victories to drag someone else down with them. Drogheda are probably the most likely, but with the Students centre back Sam Todd departing to Derry City this week, I think that will give the nod to the visitors Away Win
Sligo Rovers v Cork City ( Saturday )
The home side looked like they had turned a corner when they impressively beat Bohs 3.1 two weeks ago, but then fell down to earth last week with defeat to Derry City. Cork City have been seeing false dawns all season, and I'll give this one a DrawComment
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