The extratime Voice Notes Podcast - Season 2 - Episode 35
Voice Notes with Oisin Langan Credit: None
It has been a busy week of football action, and Friday night saw a number of interesting ties in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division as well as a full round of fixtures in the First Division. Meanwhile, in Norwich, the Republic of Ireland Women’s Team faced England in a Euro 2025 qualifier.
The latest episode of the Extratime.com Voice Notes podcast, hosted by Oisín Langan, provides a round-up of all of Friday night’s action and reflections from reporters at some of the games.
With three Irish teams in midweek European action, there was a reduced number of matches in the Men’s Premier Division, but fewer games certainly did not mean less drama, and there were plenty of moments of magic across the evening.
In Dalymount Park, with newly appointed Republic of Ireland Men’s Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson as an interested spectator, Sligo Rovers (playing with 10 men for almost an hour after Stephen Mallon was shown a second yellow card) claimed a 2-0 victory over Bohemians courtesy of Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman.
The second goal for the Bit o' Red was a memorable one and sealed a third win on the bounce for John Russell’s side, following recent victories over defending champions Shamrock Rovers and second-place Derry City. Extratime.com’s Patrick O’Connor was reporting from Phibsboro, and he spoke to Oisín on the podcast.
Meanwhile, Paul Corcoran joined Oisín from Eamon Deacy Park in Galway, where there was joy too for the other team in the West as John Caulfield’s Galway United defeated an in-form Waterford side by one goal to nil.
The Blues had started well since the mid-season break with two victories and two clean sheets against Dundalk and St. Pat’s, but a 24th-minute goal from Patrick Hickey - his first of the season - was the difference between the sides in Galway. Both teams have impressed in their first season back in the top flight, and as it stands, Waterford occupy third spot in the league table with Galway United in fifth (although The Tribesmen do have a game in hand).
It proved to be a great night for those in maroon and white as Galway FC women’s star Julie-Ann Russell scored Ireland’s only goal at Carrow Road - one that will be important for the team’s seeding for the playoffs.
Elsewhere, the night’s only other Premier Division clash saw the league’s bottom two sides meet in what was billed as one of the biggest-ever Louth Derbies.
Both Dundalk and Drogheda United are battling to avoid relegation, and this match took on huge significance with both teams seeking to secure a valuable three points. Dundalk, having succumbed to two successive defeats, knew that a win would extend the gap between themselves and their neighbours to five points, whilst for Kevin Doherty’s side, a win would see them leapfrog the Lilywhites.
The game produced six goals, and former Dundalk captain John Flanagan, who was on co-commentary duty for LOI TV, gives us his thoughts on the game in this week’s Voice Notes podcast.
Oisín also caught up with Extratime.com’s Ronan MacNamara, who was in Tolka Park on Thursday night as Shelbourne made a long-awaited return to European action.
After 18 years without a game in a European Competition, the Reds hosted St. Joseph’s of Gibraltar. Damien Duff’s side emerged victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, with goals from Mark Coyle and Will Jarvis. The Reds got off to a dream start with Coyle’s goal coming after just 27 seconds.
Having conceded a corner approaching the end of the first half, the sides were level at the break, but a Will Jarvis spot-kick in the 57th minute earned The Reds an important win. This result came shortly after a disappointing display from Derry City against other Gibraltarian opposition, Bruno’s Magpies. As they say, it’s still only half time in those fixtures, so there’s still plenty to play for!
Make sure to listen to the Voice Notes podcast to hear all of this content and ensure you are up-to-date on all of this week’s League of Ireland action.
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