1. Rovers triumph in Setanta final
SHAMROCK ROVERS PICKED up this season’s first major piece of silverware as they triumphed over Dundalk thanks to goals from Gary O’Neill and Billy Dennehy in the Setanta Sports Cup final at Tallaght on Saturday night.
The message afterwards from the Hoops camp is that the rest of the league should get used to the idea of them picking up trophies because with this big squad of players, they intend to be on top of the domestic pyramid for a long while to come.
Rovers boss Michael O’Neill had been dealt criticism in recent weeks from some quarters for playing direct football, but there was no such route-one tactics on show in what was a decent footballing encounter in front of a packed house, though that was due to the fact that Dundalk also tried to play football and didn’t pack the midfield.
2. Another example that the LoI is stronger than the Irish League
While Rovers became the fifth team to win the Setanta Sports Cup, this season’s competition has only strengthened the fact that the league south of the border is currently far stronger than that up north.
Out of the nine teams to make it to the final of the cross-border competition since its inception in 2005, just two have come from north of the border, Linfield and Glentoran, while the former won the tournament in its opening year.
Since then it has all been about the LoI though, and the ease in which Dundalk defeated a trio of Irish League teams, with Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville all falling to the Lilywhites proves there is a certain gulf in class at present.
3. Can Dundalk now improve their league standing?
It was St Valentine’s Day when Dundalk got their 2011 season off the ground, starting with a trip away to Linfield in Windsor Park. They have already played 21 games to date, more than any other side, but their league form hasn’t been great despite a string of decent performances in the Setanta Cup.
Just five wins from 12 games sees Ian Foster’s men currently lying in seventh place in the Premier Division, though they are only six points off the lead. It must always be difficult to pick players up after a cup final defeat, but with such experience and talent going forward, if they can get a run going then they certainly have the potential to get a European spot, or at most put some pressure on the champions.
4. Philip Greene, RIP
On a sad note, the passing of former RTÉ football correspondent Philip Greene was announced by the FAI yesterday evening. Greene, whose first commentary was in the Republic of Ireland’s defeat against Argentina at Dalymount Park in 1951, was a prominent ambassador for Irish football throughout four decades with the national broadcaster.
FAI chief executive, John Delaney said: “I was very sad to learn of Philip Greene’s passing today. Philip was a gentleman and true professional and he will be missed by everyone in the football family. Irish football fans will remember him fondly as the medium for international matches on Wednesday afternoons and for League of Ireland matches on Sundays.”
5. Cork City remain unbeaten, but Shels still on top in the First Division
The big First Division clash on Friday night ended level as Shelbourne came from behind to remain in top spot after Graham Cummins gave Cork City a first half lead.
If nothing else, this game proved that both sides are massive favourites to be automatically promoted and as the second tier is now one-third of the way through, it seems that unless there is a major collapse, or one of the other sides go on a miraculous run, then both Shels and Cork should return to the big time.
