UNUSUALLY WE HAD a programme of matches last night because of international considerations, before we head into another weekend. Alan Smith identifies the headlines.
1. Awful attendances
I’m looking forward to seeing a bumper attendance at the Aviva tonight for the meaningless game between Wales and Northern Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup.
After all, it must happen considering all of tonight’s League of Ireland programme was moved to yesterday.
You could knock at least 50% off most attendances last night due to the inconvenient timing of the games and to think the FAI often question why the league isn’t more popular.
Irony must not be their forté.
2. Shock defeats for top three
In those games, there were several shocks and no shortage of entertainment as Bray Wanderers managed to beat Shamrock Rovers again. The Hoops’ only defeat leading into this clash came at Tallaght against the Seagulls. Pat Devlin’s men again showed the Midas touch to defeat the champions at the Carlisle Grounds, the scene where Michael O’Neill’s side won the league in 2010.
Jake Kelly’s goal midway through the second half was enough to give Wanderers another impressive three points.
Elsewhere, the other two sides that made up the top three were defeated; Dundalk edging out high-flying Derry City by a single goal at Oriel Park and St Patrick’s Athletic coming out of their tussle with Sligo Rovers with all three points.
3. Stop press! Drogheda actually win
Yes folks, the side I bemoan week-in, week-out finally picked up their first win of the season away to fellow relegation strugglers Galway United. The win even sees Drogs move off the foot of the table for the first time this season, and it will prove to be a very important three points for Mick Cooke’s men.
They had fallen behind, through a Mikey Gilmore goal on 23 minutes, but Drogs fought back and Darragh Hanaphy’s equaliser after 64 was followed up three minutes later by Mark O’Brien to give Drogs what now appears to be legitimate reason to believe they can survive the drop – despite being helped considerably by the change to the relegation/promotion system.
On a good night for other lowly sides, Finn Harps picked up a welcome three points near the end of the First Division.
4. City looking good for promotion
Cork City moved back to the top of the First Division with an incredibly comfortable win over Mervue United at home last night. With Shelbourne on their bye weekend, City made no mistake in hammering a depleted Mervue 3-0; first-half goals from Graham Cummins, Gearóid Morrissey and Vinny Sullivan getting them off to a great start.
However, without trying to harp back towards the earlier point about Thursday night football, the away team were missing half a dozen players including goalkeeper Ger Hanley. Replacement stopper Eoin Martin, who had not played since last 2009 when he broke his arm against Wexford Youths, had a shocker for the away side, and I’m sure Johnny Glynn will be cursing the timing of the game, especially since he was sent to the stands near the end.
5. They’re coming thick and fast
There are a full set of games down for decision again on Monday and Tuesday night in both divisions, and after last night’s strange results nobody knows what to exactly expect. On Monday, Drogheda look set to get back to losing-ways against Bray Wanderers, Sligo will hope to get their hands on three points against an unpredictable Dundalk at The Showgrounds, while UCD welcome St Pat’s to Belfield.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Derry host a Galway team that are in desperate need of at least a single point, while the real pick of the games is the second massive derby of the season when Shamrock Rovers welcome Bohemians to Tallaght – more on that one Monday.
