Breathing space for Sligo
COULD SATURDAY NIGHT’S showdown in the Showgrounds turn out to be a decisive one in the Premier Division title race? Not only did Sligo Rovers comfortably take all three points to open up some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the chasing pack but worryingly for their would-be pursuers, they looked to be returning to their best in a 4-1 win against Drogheda.
It was the Bit O’Red’s first league outing since Danny North’s season-ending injury. Few sides are capable of absorbing the loss of a striker who has already scored 14 goals this season but Sligo showed that there are plenty of alternative resources that can be called upon. Three of the four goals came from midfielders — Conneely, Boco and Ndo – while the fourth came from a resurgent Mark Quigley, his fourth in the last three games.
Drogs bounce back
It would be a shame to see Drogheda United’s high-flying season punctured by a pretty bad pasting. Mick Cooke’s men are still very much in the hunt, just four points off Sligo having played a game more, but they have a tricky few weeks coming up with Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City all on the cards in the near future.
The gods of the fixture list (also known as the league’s schedulers) gave them a quick opportunity to shrug off Saturday night’s pain when Sligo visited Hunky Dory Park for the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup on Monday afternoon. Goals from Gavin Brennan and Tiernan Mulvenna gave Drogs a 2-1 win and a place in a first league cup final for 28 years. With an FAI Cup tie against Wexford Youths still to come, it’s a mark of their success that last season’s strugglers are still in with a chance of silverware on three fronts.
Rovers return?
It’s far too early to start shouting from the rooftops about Shamrock Rovers turning their season around but the last few weeks have brought a few badly needed rays of sunshine for those who worship round Tallaght way. Friday night’s 2-0 win away to UCD was only their fourth on the road and, remarkably, the first time since March that the champions have recorded back-to-back wins in the league this season.
With the exception of bottom trio Bray, Dundalk and UCD, no side has conceded more goals this season than the Hoops and so it will encourage Stephen Kenny that his side have now kept two clean sheets on the bounce. Next Monday’s meeting with Sligo Rovers will be crucial if Rovers are to rekindle those faint hopes of mounting a late title challenge.
Another Cork draw
A Cork City draw has practically become the banker on any League of Ireland betting slip and Tommy Dunne’s men again rewarded stats lovers with a 1-1 draw against Dundalk. Ten of City’s 19 games have ended in stalemate and although they are unbeaten in their last 12 league matches, they have only won four.
Although it’s only their first season back in the top flight, there was plenty of optimism among players and fans that they could finish the second half of the season with a bit of a flourish and convert some of those one-point results into three. Europe looks to be out of reach now though and Cork will need to pick up a few more wins if they are to come out on top in the battle for fifth against Bohs, Shels and Derry.
Limerick keep their distance
It’s not often that Barstooler turns its gaze towards the lower division but with first playing second in Jackman Park on Friday night, the race for automatic promotion was brought into focus. An entertaining 0-0 draw means that it’s still advantage Lims with a three-point lead at the top but Longford will be happy that their own promotion credentials stand up to scrutiny after a hard-won point.
