1. Zayed lets his football do the talking
LAST WEEK’S ‘RACISM’ row haven’t seemed to affect Eamon Zayed’s performance, as he struck another two goals to move further ahead at the top of the goalscorers’ chart, while also giving Derry City an important three points at home to Bohemians.
Zayed pounced on 44 and 80 minutes respectively, after Gareth McGlynn had given the Candystripes the lead on the half hour mark, sending Bohs back to Dublin with their tails between their legs.
It was a result the Gypsies desperately needed to avoid, as results elsewhere meant they finished the night 12 points off Shamrock Rovers at the top.
2. Waterlogged – in June?
Summer football, eh? Some Dundalk fans had already departed for Bray on Friday evening when the news filtered through that their game with the Seagulls was called off because of a waterlogged pitch.
You’d be forgiven for thinking it was January rather than June as last week’s deluge led to a soggy surface at the Carlisle Grounds. Maybe the Lilywhites’ plastic pitch does have more benefits than you’d imagine.
The FAI has said a new date for the postponed fixture will be announced in due course.
3. Four-midable Rovers and Pat’s defeat bottom two
Unsurprisingly, both Galway and Drogheda slumped to heavy defeats against the current top two, with Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic hitting the net four times apiece.
Stephen Rice, Gary McCabe, Gary Twigg and the impressive Billy Dennehy were all on target for the Hoops as they battered Galway at Tallaght in a clash between top and bottom.
Class also prevailed at Hunky Dorys Park, where Drogheda, despite a recent improvement, fell to the wayside against a St Pat’s side that are continuing to motor along at a noteworthy rate.
Goals in the last 20 minutes from Anto Murphy, Derek Doyle and Ian Daly helped Pat’s to a comprehensive win against Drogs, who had equalised through Dinny Corcoran after Daryl Kavanagh had broken the deadlock for Pat’s early in the second half.
4. Behan and Gamble set to sign for Limerick?
Word on Shannonside is that Limerick will host a press conference later this week at Thomond Park to announce the signings of former Cork City duo Denis Behan and Joe Gamble.
Both were released by Hartlepool United at the end of the season cross-channel, and after speaking to a couple of other clubs, including Cork, both have been given handsome offers to play with Limerick and look set to confirm their moves, with a press conference planned for Thursday.
While the transfer window for the LoI isn’t open until July, teams are allowed to deal with cross-channel sides and free agents at present.
5. Shels in pole position for promotion
If they do sign, both Behan and Gamble will need to make an immediate impact to keep in the promotion hunt after Shelbourne hammered Limerick 3-0 at Jackman Park on Friday to move four points clear of Cork City and Monaghan, with a game in hand on the former.
Monaghan and City could only draw at Gortakeegan, and there is now clear daylight between Shels and the rest. Still, the season still hasn’t reached the midway point for some teams and there will be plenty of twists and turns to come.
On current form, though, Alan Mathews’ men look like bankers for promotion and with such proven goalscorers as Conan Byrne, a player who should be playing for one of the top teams in the premier division, and Philly Hughes, they’re not going to hit a disastrous slump to scupper their chances.
