1. Chance of more silverware for Hoops, or cup success for the Lilywhites?
THE DESTINATION OF the first piece of silverware for 2011 will be decided on Saturday night as Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk face each other in the Setanta Cup final at Tallaght.
The wise-heads behind the competition have decided to give Dundalk home advantage in the Hoops’ own backyard, while the timing of the game must also be questioned, considering it’ll kick-off just after the end of the FA Cup final.
Nonetheless, it should be quite a good game.
Rovers are top of the league table, and while Dundalk didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, their performance in the cross-border competition has been very impressive: defeating Linfield, Glentoran and Cliftonville on the way to the final.
The Hoops have only played two sides, Lisburn and Sligo Rovers, but emerged pretty much unscathed – winning 7-2 and 4-1 on aggregate respectively – to reach the final. Regardless of who wins, there will be a new name on the trophy and a fascinating encounter awaits.
It should be a cracker.
2. Hoops will still be top and with a game in hand
Although they won’t be playing a league game this weekend due to tomorrow’s final, Rovers will still be top at the end of the weekend despite the postponement of their planned fixture against Derry City.
Sligo can, however, close the gap to two points with a win away to bottom of the table Drogheda United. It has been a strange season so far for Paul Cook’s men. He cleverly plays down their lofty pre-season expectancies at every opportunity and despite finding themselves in third spot, haven’t really performed to the level they’re capable of.
Elsewhere, the only other possible big move would be if Bray beat UCD at home. Three points could see the Seagulls move from seventh up to third depending on other results. As it stands, they deserve to be a lot higher than fourth from bottom, but it must be stressed that going into this weekend there are just two points separating Wanderers from Sligo.
3. Students on the ascendancy
UCD are, pardon the pun, beginning to learn how to turn their football into results. While it is exam season in colleges across Ireland at the moment, the Students have been a big test for every team they’ve faced in recent games – apart from THAT game against Derry last weekend.
They are now nine points ahead of the bottom two after three wins in their last four, and although UCD shipped seven against the Candystripes, Martin Russell’s team have recorded some decent wins against Drogheda, Galway and most notably Sligo Rovers in recent weeks.
4. Fenlon rumours disappear like thin air
While it would be very easy for me to whine until the cows come home about Drogheda United at the bottom of the table yet again this week, I think I’ll refrain and briefly highlight the complete evaporation of any mention about Pat Fenlon leaving Dalymount Park instead.
Not too long ago there were rumours on an almost daily basis about one of the greatest managers in recent times to grace the league. Will he leave Bohemians? Will he go to Scotland? In the end, both questions were quietly answered behind the scenes with a big No.
And on the field a youthful Bohs are all the better for it. They, too, could finish up the weekend as far high as third with a win against Galway, though the likelihood of that happening with Sligo facing Drogheda (sorry, I couldn’t help but name them again) is slim.
5. Top two face off in First Division
The most intriguing game tonight will actually come in the First Division and at Tolka Park, where first face second as the opening series of games come to a close.
Cork City remain the only unbeaten team in the country, but they face their most difficult test to date against a thoroughly impressive Shelbourne outfit that currently top the table.
While City haven’t lost a game yet, they have had several below-par draws and Shels have certainly been more consistent. Two teams will be automatically promoted this season, and while both of these sides are the clear favourites to move back into the Premier Division, they will no doubt want to go up as champions and tonight’s battle is likely to tell a lot about both.
