Premier Division Round Up: Series 10
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1. Bohemians
Bohs’ remained top of the table with a 5-0 demolition of Dundalk at home last weekend. Jason Byrne was the star for the Gypsies, scoring a penalty as well as another three from play. Glen Crowe also netted with the opening goal on the half hour mark. The Phibsboro outfit already have a goal difference of +15 with just the two goals conceded. Their toughest test since the Cork City defeat will come on Friday night though, when Pat Fenlon will take his charges to the Brandywell. With a trip to Turner’s Cross coming up later on in the month, May could go a long way to cementing their place at the summit.
2. Cork City
The Leesiders stayed in second place with a narrow 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross last weekend. It was ex-Sligo striker, Faz Kuduzovic who scored the winning goal midway through the second period to keep the pressure on leaders Bohemians. The Rebels were dealt a blow, though, when star player Billy Dennehy pulled up with a hamstring injury after 25 minutes. Paul Doolin’s injury list is now growing but they can still get a result against St Pat’s in the live game at Richmond Park on Saturday night.
3 Derry City
Mark Farren was the star for the Candystripes, bagging a hat-trick away to a woeful Drogheda United. All of the strikers goals were scored in the second period as the Candystripes stayed in third place. City welcome the champions to the Brandywell on Friday week, where a result is a must if they’re to stay in touch with the leaders. A win will leave them just two points behind. However, a loss will leave them eight behind less than a third of the way through the season.
4. Shamrock Rovers
The Hoops suffered their second loss at the Tallaght stadium last Friday night with a 1-0 loss against Bray Wanderers. Dane Massey scored for the Seagulls ten minutes into the second half to defeat Rovers, although they still remain in fourth place. They did get back to winning ways on Monday though, albeit in the EA Sports Cup, with a 1-0 win over Dublin rivals St. Pat’s thanks to a Padraig Amond strike. It will be a battle of the Rovers this weekend, as they travel to the Showgrounds in Sligo.
5. Galway United
The Tribesmen got their first win at home since the middle of March with a 2-1 victory over St. Pat’s last weekend. An early goal by Garry Breen was cancelled out by the Inchicore side, although Jay O’Shea stepped up to the plate for the Tribesmen to give them the win with an early second half goal. Having followed up with a single goal victory over cup EA Sports Cup specialists Derry City at home on Monday night, Ian Foster’s men now go to struggling Dundalk in confident mood.
6. St Patrick’s Athletic
Jeff Kenna’s return to Terryland Park ended in defeat, although it wasn’t as much of a hammering as on the opening day. From the ten games played, Pats have lost 6 and the pressure is already on Jeff Kenna. His woes weren’t eased either when the Inchicore outfit lost to Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup by a goal to nil. They may have luck on their side as Cork come to Inchicore with a weakened side. The absence of Billy Dennehy in particular will be a big help to Pats, who will need a win to stop themselves from being dragged into the relegation scrap- depending on other results, they could end the weekend in 9th position.
7. Bray Wanderers
Having drawn over half of their games before making the short trip to the Tallaght stadium, the Seagulls got their second win of the campaign thanks to Dane Massey’s strike in the 55th minute. The Seagulls really are the league’s draw specialists at present although a win will be expected at home to the basement club on Friday night.
8. Sligo Rovers
Paul Cook must feel hard done by. Playing against the league’s in form side on their own patch is never easy, but doing so with a host of players missing makes it so much worse. They done well against Cork and it took the Leesiders 65 minutes to break the deadlock. Brian Cash and Romauld Boco had decent opportunities for the Bit O’Red too. They face Shamrock Rovers at home this weekend and the youthful side will need to keep Gary Twigg quiet if they’re to get anything from the game.
9. Dundalk
A drubbing for Sean Connor’s team last weekend against Bohs’ will surely be a serious knock to confidence. The Lilywhites really are going to struggle if they continue to perform as poorly as they have been recently. The win at Derry may have been just luck and the awful defending will need to stop sooner rather than later if they want to stay up in the Premier Division. Face Galway at Oriel Park on Friday night.
10. Drogheda United
What is there to say about Drogs’ other than that they’re truly awful. Having lost 3-0 against Derry they now face a trip to Bray. It’s games like this that they will need to win if they are to keep their slim chances of keeping afloat alive.
Bohs’ remained top of the table with a 5-0 demolition of Dundalk at home last weekend. Jason Byrne was the star for the Gypsies, scoring a penalty as well as another three from play. Glen Crowe also netted with the opening goal on the half hour mark. The Phibsboro outfit already have a goal difference of +15 with just the two goals conceded. Their toughest test since the Cork City defeat will come on Friday night though, when Pat Fenlon will take his charges to the Brandywell. With a trip to Turner’s Cross coming up later on in the month, May could go a long way to cementing their place at the summit.
2. Cork City
The Leesiders stayed in second place with a narrow 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross last weekend. It was ex-Sligo striker, Faz Kuduzovic who scored the winning goal midway through the second period to keep the pressure on leaders Bohemians. The Rebels were dealt a blow, though, when star player Billy Dennehy pulled up with a hamstring injury after 25 minutes. Paul Doolin’s injury list is now growing but they can still get a result against St Pat’s in the live game at Richmond Park on Saturday night.
3 Derry City
Mark Farren was the star for the Candystripes, bagging a hat-trick away to a woeful Drogheda United. All of the strikers goals were scored in the second period as the Candystripes stayed in third place. City welcome the champions to the Brandywell on Friday week, where a result is a must if they’re to stay in touch with the leaders. A win will leave them just two points behind. However, a loss will leave them eight behind less than a third of the way through the season.
4. Shamrock Rovers
The Hoops suffered their second loss at the Tallaght stadium last Friday night with a 1-0 loss against Bray Wanderers. Dane Massey scored for the Seagulls ten minutes into the second half to defeat Rovers, although they still remain in fourth place. They did get back to winning ways on Monday though, albeit in the EA Sports Cup, with a 1-0 win over Dublin rivals St. Pat’s thanks to a Padraig Amond strike. It will be a battle of the Rovers this weekend, as they travel to the Showgrounds in Sligo.
5. Galway United
The Tribesmen got their first win at home since the middle of March with a 2-1 victory over St. Pat’s last weekend. An early goal by Garry Breen was cancelled out by the Inchicore side, although Jay O’Shea stepped up to the plate for the Tribesmen to give them the win with an early second half goal. Having followed up with a single goal victory over cup EA Sports Cup specialists Derry City at home on Monday night, Ian Foster’s men now go to struggling Dundalk in confident mood.
6. St Patrick’s Athletic
Jeff Kenna’s return to Terryland Park ended in defeat, although it wasn’t as much of a hammering as on the opening day. From the ten games played, Pats have lost 6 and the pressure is already on Jeff Kenna. His woes weren’t eased either when the Inchicore outfit lost to Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup by a goal to nil. They may have luck on their side as Cork come to Inchicore with a weakened side. The absence of Billy Dennehy in particular will be a big help to Pats, who will need a win to stop themselves from being dragged into the relegation scrap- depending on other results, they could end the weekend in 9th position.
7. Bray Wanderers
Having drawn over half of their games before making the short trip to the Tallaght stadium, the Seagulls got their second win of the campaign thanks to Dane Massey’s strike in the 55th minute. The Seagulls really are the league’s draw specialists at present although a win will be expected at home to the basement club on Friday night.
8. Sligo Rovers
Paul Cook must feel hard done by. Playing against the league’s in form side on their own patch is never easy, but doing so with a host of players missing makes it so much worse. They done well against Cork and it took the Leesiders 65 minutes to break the deadlock. Brian Cash and Romauld Boco had decent opportunities for the Bit O’Red too. They face Shamrock Rovers at home this weekend and the youthful side will need to keep Gary Twigg quiet if they’re to get anything from the game.
9. Dundalk
A drubbing for Sean Connor’s team last weekend against Bohs’ will surely be a serious knock to confidence. The Lilywhites really are going to struggle if they continue to perform as poorly as they have been recently. The win at Derry may have been just luck and the awful defending will need to stop sooner rather than later if they want to stay up in the Premier Division. Face Galway at Oriel Park on Friday night.
10. Drogheda United
What is there to say about Drogs’ other than that they’re truly awful. Having lost 3-0 against Derry they now face a trip to Bray. It’s games like this that they will need to win if they are to keep their slim chances of keeping afloat alive.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile