The Business End of the 2010 League Season
Credit:
The 2010 Airtricity Premier Division League Season has been one of the most thrilling seasons in the last couple of years. Despite the financial problems off the pitch that we hear about all too often and that continue to threaten the league’s future; on the pitch, matters have been far from boring and anyone who has came and supported their local club would have been treated to their fair share of excitement.
I wrote an article mid-way through the season and if I recall correctly, St.Pats led the league with Shamrock Rovers in 4th place and Bohemians a couple of places further back. During that period, Dundalk were also flying high and so called ‘shock’ results were plentiful; Galway going up to Dalymount and beating them emphatically stuck out in my head.
One thing that I distinctly noted in that article was that the second half of the season, particularly the last series of games which I deemed the business end of the season, would be the most important part of the season with consistency and experience being the two vitally decisive factors that will determine the 2010 winners.
With six games remaining, the league table has taken a slightly but predictably different shape from the one that we looked at in the summer during the mid-point of the season. The two teams with the most experience, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians have inevitably taken their place at the top of the table.
Over the last month or so, Shamrock Rovers have displayed signs of experience that were perhaps not there last season and their consistent results, some grinded out, others with consummate ease, suggests that they have both the physical and mental state of champions.
However, Monday night’s results have thrown a spanner in the works as Shamrock Rover s aim to seize the title off current champs Bohemians. After the results on Monday night which saw Shamrock Rovers well and truly beaten by Dundalk, it would take a brave person to rule out Bohemians.
Prior to Monday night, most people whom I had chatted to pronounced that the league was basically done and dusted and the title was destined to be heading to Tallaght come the 29th of October, 2010. However, I would not be so sure.
I think a lot of people wrote Bohemians off at some point during the season, particularly after their embarrassing European exit. As I already said, at the mid-way point they were lying in 5th or 6th place and results and performances were not going their way.
Add in the fact that Bohemians were also hitting the back pages of the paper for off the field matters in terms of financial problems and maybe some people had acceptable reasons for thinking that the title would be leaving Dalymount without a significant fight.
That was, however, never my belief and I even stated in that mid season review article that Bohemians were my favourites for the league title. With six games remaining, I am 50/50 on who I believe will win the league. Obviously Shamrock Rovers are in pole position bit they still have very difficult games remaining.
With only four points the difference, they still have to play us (Sporting Fingal) in Tallaght, Bohemians away in Dalymount and tricky games away to U.C.D and the newly transformed Bray Wanderers on the last day of the season. I cannot see Bohemians dropping too many points, if any.
They have a wealth of experience and they know exactly what it takes to win the league when under pressure. I cannot stress enough the importance of experience around this time of the season and it could be the defining factor.
Other major issues that are yet to be settled are both the race for third spot in the league and also, the relegation battle between two of my old teams, Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers. On both counts, your guess is as good as mine.
Form will tell you that Sligo Rovers are favourites to clinch third spot and Bray will get the relegation play-off place. However, if ourselves and Drogheda have anything to say about that, that will not be the case.
Six games remain in the race for the 2010 Airtricity Premier League Title. There can be only one winner and it looks like that winner will be either Shamrock Rovers or Bohemians, everybody’s initial two favourites for the league title at the start of the season. The race for the final European spot is also heating up and the business end of the season will no doubt provide more twists and turns of thrilling excitement.
I wrote an article mid-way through the season and if I recall correctly, St.Pats led the league with Shamrock Rovers in 4th place and Bohemians a couple of places further back. During that period, Dundalk were also flying high and so called ‘shock’ results were plentiful; Galway going up to Dalymount and beating them emphatically stuck out in my head.
One thing that I distinctly noted in that article was that the second half of the season, particularly the last series of games which I deemed the business end of the season, would be the most important part of the season with consistency and experience being the two vitally decisive factors that will determine the 2010 winners.
With six games remaining, the league table has taken a slightly but predictably different shape from the one that we looked at in the summer during the mid-point of the season. The two teams with the most experience, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians have inevitably taken their place at the top of the table.
Over the last month or so, Shamrock Rovers have displayed signs of experience that were perhaps not there last season and their consistent results, some grinded out, others with consummate ease, suggests that they have both the physical and mental state of champions.
However, Monday night’s results have thrown a spanner in the works as Shamrock Rover s aim to seize the title off current champs Bohemians. After the results on Monday night which saw Shamrock Rovers well and truly beaten by Dundalk, it would take a brave person to rule out Bohemians.
Prior to Monday night, most people whom I had chatted to pronounced that the league was basically done and dusted and the title was destined to be heading to Tallaght come the 29th of October, 2010. However, I would not be so sure.
I think a lot of people wrote Bohemians off at some point during the season, particularly after their embarrassing European exit. As I already said, at the mid-way point they were lying in 5th or 6th place and results and performances were not going their way.
Add in the fact that Bohemians were also hitting the back pages of the paper for off the field matters in terms of financial problems and maybe some people had acceptable reasons for thinking that the title would be leaving Dalymount without a significant fight.
That was, however, never my belief and I even stated in that mid season review article that Bohemians were my favourites for the league title. With six games remaining, I am 50/50 on who I believe will win the league. Obviously Shamrock Rovers are in pole position bit they still have very difficult games remaining.
With only four points the difference, they still have to play us (Sporting Fingal) in Tallaght, Bohemians away in Dalymount and tricky games away to U.C.D and the newly transformed Bray Wanderers on the last day of the season. I cannot see Bohemians dropping too many points, if any.
They have a wealth of experience and they know exactly what it takes to win the league when under pressure. I cannot stress enough the importance of experience around this time of the season and it could be the defining factor.
Other major issues that are yet to be settled are both the race for third spot in the league and also, the relegation battle between two of my old teams, Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers. On both counts, your guess is as good as mine.
Form will tell you that Sligo Rovers are favourites to clinch third spot and Bray will get the relegation play-off place. However, if ourselves and Drogheda have anything to say about that, that will not be the case.
Six games remain in the race for the 2010 Airtricity Premier League Title. There can be only one winner and it looks like that winner will be either Shamrock Rovers or Bohemians, everybody’s initial two favourites for the league title at the start of the season. The race for the final European spot is also heating up and the business end of the season will no doubt provide more twists and turns of thrilling excitement.
