Airtricity League Round Up Week #1

All over the country last weekend supporters flocked to see their favourite teams as the Airtricity League for 2015 kicked off. It seemed to be a long time coming and the close season dragged on, but we are up and running now. According to all reports it was a good start and controversy was absent at the games. All in all it was nice steady start. I am sure things will change over the coming months when the pressure is on to win trophies and the European campaigns start. It will be a great pleasure on my part to bring you weekly bulletins and as the league goes on I hope to have exclusive interviews from within the league.

This week in the Premier league, the game of the week was the Dublin Derby between Shamrock Rovers and Saint Patrick,s Athletic. These derby games are always feisty affairs and this game was shown live on TV in Ireland on Friday night. Unfortunately the game was ruined by what can only be described as a hurricane size wind blowing directly from one goal right down the centre of the pitch. It was extremely hard to get the ball down and play, no matter what level you are at. In the end a Danny North goal settled it in favour of Rovers and it was a great start for North, who was making his debut. In other premier league games over the weekend their were wins for champions Dundalk who managed a one nil win at home to Longford Town. Derry, Drogheda, Bohemians also managed to bag three points each and I must say I was very impressed with Bohemians win in Limerick by three goals to nil. In the remaining game of the weekend Sligo and Cork played out a one all draw. These two teams will be up there when the medals are been handed out at the end of the season and it was no surprise to me that this one ended up in a draw.

I myself headed to Tolka Park on Friday night to see the game of the weekend in Division One. Shelbourne were taking on Finn Harps. Now these two are been widely tipped for promotion but I myself am not so sure. Shels have brought in quite a few players in the close season and have also appointed a new manager in Kevin Doherty. As it happened it turned about to be a real struggle of a game for both sides. Shelbourne should have won it and striker Phil Hughes must still be kicking himself for missing three golden opportunities in the first half. This was another game that suffered from the high winds and I thought Finn Harps were the better side as they showed some nice touches throughout the ninety minutes, but a nil all draw saw both sets of supporters go home happy. Nothing lost nothing gained is always a good way to start a league campaign. In the other games around the Division One their were wins for Cabinteely and UCD and in the remaining match Waterford and Athlone shared the points in a one all draw.

So we are up and running and the games will come tick and fast as we move along. One other interesting piece of news that has broke over the past couple of days is that former Republic Of Ireland international Damien Duff has announced he is hoping to finish his career at home and all the Airtricity League teams will be battling it out to get his signature on a contract, so watch this space. It may not be Champions League but is our League and I for one am delighted it is back. Good Luck.