Airtricity League Round Up Week #2

If the first week in this seasons Airtricity League was fairly quiet, this week it exploded into action in both the Premier and First Division. Goals galore and splendid action saw supporters returning home with great memories of there night out. One such spectator was the President of the Republic of Ireland Mr Micheal D Higgins who had come out to see his beloved Galway play Bohemians in the home of football in Dalymount Park. The president is a great supporter of the Airtricity League and will always try and get to see his club play if his busy schedule allows. There are not to many leagues in the world where a president attends matches on a regular basis. The fans on the night on both sides gave the man a standing ovation as we stood for the countries national anthem. Alas he was to go home a defeated man as Bohemians came out two nil winners. Two goals from centre half Anto Murphy saw the Dublin side continue on an undefeated run, in fairness they played some splendid one touch football and also at a very high pace. Things are going well for manager Keith Long and he is getting the results by all the hard work put in by himself and his players. They will be well worth watching over the coming weeks to see if they can sustain this early form.

Elsewhere around the country in the Premier League there were wins for, Shamrock Rovers away at Longford, Dundalk did a real smash and grab by winning one nil in Derry, Saint Patrick's Athletic steamed rolled over Bray running out easy three nil winners. Cork City thrashed Limerick five nil and as I said last week they will go very close to winning the league this season. Match of the week though was in Drogheda were the home team came from been twice behind to beat Sligo Rovers three two.Goalscorers on the night for the Drogs were,Kavanagh,Brady and Yadolani.So at this early stage of the season a lot of teams are putting down their marker and it all is set up for a great season.In fairness it is what the league requires this season,a few teams chasing for the title in a tight race.

In Division One, there were wins for Finn Harps,Waterford, Athlone and Shelbourne.The Shelbourne side were the most impressive with their victory away to UCD.A goal from Sean Heaney on 76 minutes sealed the points and what is more satisfying is the fact that they managed to beat one of their rivals for promotion. It is to early to start looking at league tables at the moment but when we are five games in we will look at it then. Results this early in the season can build confidence and help you build momentum.

There are some exciting games coming up this weekend and I for one will be in attendance in the Tallaght stadium where Cork are the visitors to play Shamrock Rovers in what will be the game of the week. If this weekend is half as good as last week we are in for a post Saint Patricks Day festival of football. So let the games begin and may the better team get the result they deserved.Until next week,Good Luck