Anyone interested in taking over at Bray?
CURRENT BRAY WANDERERS caretaker boss Harry Kenny would be the natural selection to fill the position at the Carlisle Grounds on a permanent basis.
The former Shamrock Rovers defender admits he has always wanted to try his hand at management but he would have to quit his full-time job with the FAI — not a decision that will be taken lightly.
But of the other managers being mentioned, why would they want to take it? Sure, there are many talented players amongst the squad and they are underperforming but the new man, whoever he may be, will be the fourth permanent manager since 2015.
That must be something that intimidates any future appointment. But with Bray currently four points adrift of tenth spot, a change is needed quickly.
- Dan Gorman
Harps handed record home defeat
Friday night was a sobering experience for those who follow the fortunes of Finn Harps. Their 7-0 drubbing against Dundalk was their heaviest defeat at Finn Park since joining to senior ranks back in 1969. Paddy Barrett’s injury-time goal confirmed a greater loss than the 7-1 reversal against Drogheda United in 1977.
Although Dundalk were playing football on a different level, there was a flatness about the home side that hasn’t been seen this season. A rearranged fixture at St Patrick’s Athletic on Tuesday will offer Ollie Horgan’s team the chance to put some of the wrongs right.
Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk have now won seven on the hop on their travels and on Friday they were majestic. They’ll have tougher test this season but the way that the likes of Robbie Benson played, it will give the Dundalk manager some good selection headaches as his squad continues to strengthen.
- Alan Foley
Saints frailties at home exposed again
St Patrick’s Athletic’s inconsistency at home has been their downfall this season as they were once again frustrated by bottom of the table Longford.
The men from the midlands should have recorded their first win since the opening day of the season but couldn’t hold out despite taking the lead for a third time in the closing minutes.
Pat’s appeared to have turned the corner after convincingly disposing of Galway on Tuesday but their woes on home turf continued.
Teams travelling to Richmond Park have identified the rearguard weaknesses of the Inchicore side and soak up pressure before pouncing on the counter-attack.
Liam Buckley will be disappointed though by the needless errors from his defence which have contributed to them taking only eight points from a possible 21 at home this term and ruled them out of the title race by mid-May.
- Sean O’Neill
Bohemians struggling to score
Have Bohs lost their scoring boots? With 13 league games played so far, the Gypsies have scored a mere eight goals, while they have also conceded 17. At this stage last season, they had found the back of the net 20 times.
On Saturday night, they were without the suspended Mark Quigley, but still boasted the goalscoring prowess of Ismahil Akinade who had a sublime season last year. But again, he seems to have gone off the boil somewhat.
Just what has gone wrong for Keith Long’s side? If they continue to struggle with goals, they will remain in the bottom half of the table.
- Jessica Farry
Turning the table on clean sheets
Shamrock Rovers came to Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night with eight clean sheets from their 12 Premier Division matches this season. But it was the home side who shocked the 900-plus crowd on Friday night. A well-organised, youthful defence outshone the visiting Shamrock Rovers defence, who looked to have an off day, and kept only their second clean sheet of the 2016 season in Ferrycarrig Park.
- Brendan White
Leesiders leave it late
Late goals have often been a feature of Cork City-Derry City games, so much so that Paul Dollery, compiling a Snapchat story for The42 on the night, predicted their occurrence beforehand. Going forward, snatching victory in such a manner is sure to give important belief to Cork City as they continue to challenge Dundalk.
- Denis Hurley
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