Airtricity League Round Up Week #5

Unlike across the water in England where titles are won around the Easter time, in the SSE Airtricity League the first tables are forming after the first six games. It is when the shape of both leagues really starts to bed itself in and we can see who will be up for the challenge. So as we went into the weekend’s games I was focusing on whether Dundalk could keep their marvellous start going, could Cork keep up the challenge and what response were we going to get from all the other clubs who have failed to ignite their season just yet. It is also a time when clubs realise that managers may not be able to cut the mustard and rather than let it drag on into problems later on, they change the man at the top. We have had two managerial changes already with one in each league and I will cover that later in this blog in greater detail. So stick with me and let me below unravel all the ups and downs of week 5 in this seasons SSE Airtricity League.

Dundalk travelled to Limerick and having started so extremely well this season, were expecting to take all three points. It was a game Stephen Kenny’s men controlled from the start and looked odds on to take all three points until the 89th minute when Limericks Paul O Connor scored an equaliser. It truly was a disappointment for the many travelling Dundalk fans. The result ended Dundalk’s 100% start to the season and they also conceded their first goal. Limerick were delighted with the result and they hope it can kick start their season. 

The shock of the weekend or any weekend came at the showground, the home of Sligo Rovers. The home side were hammered by Bray Wanderers who if you can remember lost their manager Alan Matthews last week, after himself and his whole coaching staff resigned. It really left Bray in the lurch and their response was amazing. A hat trick from club captain David Cassidy saw off a home side, who were shocked by a defeat that nobody saw coming. This game had to be a coupon buster last weekend, it has now given Bray Wanderers something to build on and the only way for them is up. In other games in this division, Cork kept up the challenge and won three nil at home to Derry City. Bohemians had a great win away to Drogheda United and that puts them back in the race as well. 

Shamrock Rovers won three nil at home to Galway United and yes the President of the Republic of Ireland was in attendance once again to watch his beloved Galway. He was to return to the Presidential Palace an unhappy man though as goals from Drennan ( 2 ),and Miele saw off the away side. Elsewhere Longford Town and Saint Patricks Athletic drew two all and I have been hearing reports that overall it was a fair result.



In Division One there was also a managerial change over the weekend and I have to say I was delighted to hear the news that Cobh Ramblers had appointed Stephen Henderson as their new manager after Martin Cambridge resigned. Stephen is one of the nice guys of our football over here and I know if he reads this he will get my meaning. I want to wish him the best and I feel Cobh will be in safe hands with him at the helm. On the field Shelbourne travelled the long windy road to Waterford and came away with a two all draw, a result manager Kevin Doherty had to have been happy with. 

The Waterford trip over the years has seen many teams fail but on the night Shels deserved the point. Elsewhere there were wins for Cobh and Wexford Youths, in Belfield in Dublin UCD and Finn Harps shared the points in a two all draw. So in this league results are also shaping a league table which I have added below. This Friday night I shall be heading to Tolka Park to see Shels play Wexford Youths and it is a game I am looking forward to so much. I shall be back on the airwaves next Monday night with the boys from Pitch Talk so tune in and listen to my weekend report. See you there.

Airtricity League Round Up Week #4

It is amazing to think we are four weeks into the SSE Airtricity League already. It really is now starting to take shape in both the Premier and First Divisions. Over the past week we have had two rounds of games in the Premier League. These games have helped make some shape on the league table and we are really starting to find out the teams who are in Championship form. As we know Division One is a smaller league so it only had one round of games but these also turned out to be very interesting as results came in over the couple of days when the games were played. The results over the period has had supporters from all over the country talking on social media about everything and anything that is SSE Airtricity League. The buzz is all around the league and things can only be on the up. Below, I will lay out who were the winners and losers of week four.

In the Premier League, the first round of games were played midweek and I have to admit it was great to get out and see a game. I packed my laptop and headed to Dalymount Park for the clash of the night between Bohemians and champions Dundalk. It was the meeting of the two unbeaten sides in the league and something had to give. It was a chance for me to run the eye over the reigning champions as they came to Dublin to play Bohemians. I was tuned into listening to a lot of Bohemians fans as I walked up towards the ground and was intrigued to listen to their optimism for the game ahead, after all they were playing the champions. What was to unfold over the ninety minutes was incredible. Dundalk, came they saw and they blew the Bohemians team away with a three nil win. Goals from McMillan,Kelly and Meenan won the game for the team from Louth.After this result it was clear for everyone to see Dundalk are not going to give up their title to easy. Elsewhere their were wins for Saint Pats,Shamrock Rovers, Longford Town and Cork City. The only draw of the night was in Drogheda, between the hosts and Limerick.

So as we headed into the weekends fixtures, all eyes were turning to Oriel Park, the home of champions Dundalk. They welcomed Sligo Rovers to their home, a game that was to be televised live across the country. It was a game that did not fail to show us, that if you want Dundalk's title, you are going to have to have a good plan to beat them. In fairness Sligo never stood a chance they were hammered three nil. They were outplayed all over the park by Stephen Kenny's men. Dundalk have now played five games and have not conceded a goal and scored eleven, this has been an amazing start to the defence of their title. Elsewhere around the league there were wins for Derry City over Drogheda, Longford away to Galway, Cork City away to Bray and Saint Patricks Athletic away at Limerick. The table is taking shape and next week I will publish the full table so as to give you an idea.


In Division One the game of the week was between Shelbourne and Athlone Town in Tolka Park. I like most people were expecting a tight game but the away side took all three points by winning three goals to one. It brought an end to Shelbourne's unbeaten start to the season and over all Athlone deserved their victory.Other results over the weekend in Division One were Cabinteely's win over Waterford, Finn Harps win over Cobh Ramblers and Wexford Youths one nil victory over UCD. I feel this league is going be topsy turvy and like the Premier I will put a table up in my round up next week.

One bit of news I have to bring to you, which only broke yesterday was that in the Premier League, Bray Wanderers manager Alan Matthews and his coaching staff all stood down after what can only be described as an horrific start to the season. The management team released a statement claiming they have had a huge difference of opinion with the board and lately have gone unpaid. I myself am unsure as to their motives, the words rats leaving a ship come to mind.Anyway I better head off now to check out this weekends fixtures and decide where I am heading too. So if your out and about this weekend watching a game,enjoy yourself. I will be back next week to bring you more SSE Airtricity League news for the lads at Pitch Talk.Until then Cheers.

Who Next I Wonder ?

Like most football fans I remember growing up and looking forward with great anticipation to every weekend when the football season was on. The week would build slowly and by Thursday the real run in to your clubs game would be well under way. Team news would be coming out, and managers would be giving their weekly press conferences, I would read every paragraph of the newspapers and would always hope my club Leeds United would be mentioned. As I grew up I became a successful referee and had a career that brought me such satisfaction and I made so many good friends. I became over the years a member of the third team on the park and what fun times we had. As you all know from my previous blogs I am very outspoken when it comes to all things refereeing, and this season I have seen things go from bad to worse. I have got to the point now, where every week I am taking phone calls and texts from people who always want my views. Refereeing decisions in the Barclays Premier League this season have been horrendous, and I am now getting to the point at the weekend where I am behind the couch, having a sly look out at the TV to see who is going to mess up next and there has been no shortage of takers. It has got so bad, I am struggling to comprehend how these mistakes are been made. The spotlight this week falls on Neil Swarbrick and Keith Stroud. When looking back just before the international break both referees put on horror shows no matter how they try and look at it.

Neil Swarbrick was only one minute into his game between Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion and his disaster struck. Craig Dawson took down Bony and he was adjudged by the referee to have stopped a clear goal scoring opportunity. Well the easiest thing in the world to do was to dismiss the West Brom player and he did, but unfortunately he made a complete hash of things and sent off the wrong player. He dismissed Gareth McAuley who must have been as shocked to receive it as I was to see him getting it. I cannot figure out what he was even thinking. I have to also say I agree with former Leeds United player Danny Mills that it was 50/50 whether or not it was actually red. I thought he would have got away with just giving the free and a possible yellow, a lot of pundits were calling for technology again to be introduced again to help solve these issues, but in my opinion this is basic refereeing and these things should not happen. Neil should be given a few weeks off to reflect and when he returns hopefully it will be as a better referee.

The incident which I have just written about happened in the second live televised match of the weekend. The next incident I want to look at is the one that happened in the Wolves v Derby game which was shown live on TV on Friday night. Actually that is a point not missed on me when a good friend of mine in Dublin Bill Brady, posted on Facebook on Saturday morning that we were only two games in to the weekend and already there had been monumental errors. If I may return to the incident in the Wolves game which had a normally very laid back Steve McClaren up in arms. In what was an obvious goal scoring opportunity referee Stroud blew for a free kick when a Wolves player took out Darren Bent of Derby, but what beggars belief, is the fact he did not send off the Wolves defender. Clear goal scoring chance, not nearly clear but 100% clear. I have to say he totally bottled the big decision and in an indirect way effected the result of the game, something a referee should never do once he applies the letter of the law.

So before I go this week let me assure you that there are referees up and down the country who are doing a terrific job but unfortunately it is the boys on the main stage who are making a mess of things. So as we enter the final few games of the season I do hope none of these bad refereeing decisions will affect your team, but I cannot promise anything. Until next time enjoy your football.