1. Turner receives three-game ban
THE FAI’S INDEPENDENT Disciplinary Committee released their findings on Saturday morning following an investigation into allegations of racist behaviour directed at Derry City striker Eamon Zayed.
The investigation surrounded comments made by Shamrock Rovers midfielder Chris Turner to Zayed in the 1-1 draw between the Hoops and the Candystripes on 13 June.
Turner received a three game ban for “offensive behaviour,” with the Tallaght club welcoming the fact that the committee had not found their player’s comment to be racist in nature.
Rovers were also cleared of a separate allegation as the committee ruled that there was no evidence to corroborate complaints made about the behaviour of a small section of their support during the same game.
St Patrick’s Athletic, however, have been fined €200 for the actions of a minority after abuse was directed towards Zayed at Richmond Park three days previous to the Rovers incident.
The committee commended Pat’s on how they dealt with the situation afterwards and that seems to be a reason for the leniency of the fine they received.
2. Mannus’s mistake costs Rovers
Incidentally, Derry and Rovers met in the Brandywell 24 hours previous to that announcment and the Candystripes, with a little bit of fortune, took three points off the champions to move a point behind them in the table.
For once, it wasn’t Eamon Zayed on the scoresheet for City though, as Daniel Lafferty’s 52nd minute free-kick – which was indirect – was palmed into the net by Alan Mannus.
In the end, that mistake from the usually ultra-consistent keeper was costly as the Hoops suffered their fourth defeat of the season. It was also their third league game against Derry that they’ve failed to win after the previous two encounters finished level.
3. Sligo move to the summit
The Hoops stayed on top after Friday night’s games but they were overtaken by Sligo Rovers 24 hours later thanks to the Bit O’Red’s 2-0 win over Drogheda United at The Showgrounds.
Second-half strikes from Matthew Blinkhorn and Eoin Doyle gave them their 13th win of the season and move them top of the table by a single point.
They should pick up another three points in next Friday’s Connacht derby away to Galway United – who fell 2-0 to Bohemians this weekend – and with Pat’s, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers all in European action (see below), they will remain on top.
For Drogheda, while another defeat was picked up, they’re starting to perform a bit better during games and they don’t look culpable to an unmerciful hammering every week anymore. Certainly, they’ll stay above a continuingly rudderless Galway.
4. Doyle’s brace earns Pat’s a point
St Pat’s could have taken back over at the top yesterday when they welcomed Dundalk to Richmond Park, but in the end they had to come from behind to get a share of the spoils.
After Derek Doyle gave the Saints an early lead, goals from Mark Griffin and Keith Ward in the 33rd and 50th minute respectively had the Lilywhites in front.
Doyle scored his second and the game’s fourth to level on the hour mark though, as Pat’s dropped league points once again after a European game.
It wasn’t a case of it being a hangover from their excursions on Thursday though, because Dundalk produced a very energetic performance from start to finish and deserved their point.
5. Big week for the league in Europe
Pete Mahon’s men will now make the trip to Kazakhstan on Thursday for their Europa League second round qualifier first leg against Shakhter Karagandy.*
At least their league game scheduled for next weekend against Bohemians has been postponed after the clubs came to a mutual agreement.
The Gypsies are also in action on Thursday when they head to Slovenia to face NK Olimpija Ljubljana.
First up though is Shamrock Rovers’ opening game in the Champions League when they welcome Estonian side Flora Tallin to Tallaght on Tuesday – they’re favourites for that one.
Best of luck to all three of the League of Ireland sides in European action this week.
* Correction: In last Friday’s piece, there was a mistake saying that Shakhter never won a game in Europe – with a Freudian slip, I meant to write they did not win a game on the continent before this year.
