Eircom First Division's latest twists

Another day, another poor result for Shelbourne. Looking to bounce back from three poor league results on the trot, Shels’ welcomed Limerick 37, a side healthily beat by Shels’ not so long ago, to Tolka Park on Friday. With Dundalk, Waterford United and Sporting Fingal all facing away fixtures, this tie was one which Shels’ should have been thankful for.

Lets not kid ourselves, Limerick are no great shakes, however with a noisy travelling support who out sang anyone in red throughout the ninety minutes, Shels’ proceeded to further dent their own promotion hopes.

Despite Shels’ apparent league superiority, it was their two errors which decided the game, not Limerick’s two similarly big errors: Damien Brennan’s needless foul in a dangerous position and Dean Delaney’s careless control of a simple back pass cost Shels’ goals. Wayne Colbert’s early red card for the visitors and Brendan Daly’s concession of a penalty with plenty of time still to play didn’t.

Gary Sheehan struck twice, earning Limerick to a 2-0 win, leaving Shels’ in second and Limerick in fifth.

Dundalk followed last weeks fortuitous win against Athlone with another victory against Kildare as they retook the top spot which they had held for a large part of the season before Shels’ winning run took shape earlier in the summer.

A convincing display at Station Road saw Dundalk return to early season form, and but for a blip in that of Colin Murray’s response for a ten man Kildare side, already two down, Dundalk should really have won by more. Jamie Duffy and Paul Crowley scored Dundalk’s two in the second half, divided by Paul Donnelly’s straight red card for lowly Kildare.

Kildare are bottom of the table and at the halfway stage, few are punting that they’ll finish any higher.

Unfortunately for the league leaders, Robbie Martin and Aidan Lynch both left the field injured in the first half. However with Ben Whelehan soon to be over his bout of flu, and Simon Kelly soon to be legitimised as a Dundalk player, these blows are slightly softened for the side who have now led the table at the end of series one and two.

Waterford’s recent form had closed the gap right up on the top two; however they too dropped points over the weekend in their scoreless draw away to Monaghan. Monaghan were awful last week away at Sporting Fingal however their performance against Waterford was very impressive. But for David Scully’s profligacy in the opening stages, Waterford may well have found themselves several down and most likely out of this contest.

But the draw keeps them well in the race, just two points off Dundalk, Monaghan’s draw sees them rise to sixth in the table on goal difference after Longford lost away at Athlone.

Athlone won a tight game thanks to substitute Noel McGee’s second half strike, despite Longford’s impressive first half showing. The injuries sustained by Ronan Frawley, Alan O'Riordan and Darren McKenna scuppered the visitor’s chances in this one and McGee pounced from three yards with fifteen minutes to go as a result of Athlone’s first corner of the game; Longford drop to seventh, with Athlone eighth.

Then there was Sporting Fingal. As previously reported, Sporting should be nowhere near the top of the table. A lack of consistency was costing them dearly in the first dozen or more games however a recent return to form has seen them entertain the neutral with a four horse race for the league.

They return to the scene of the embarrassing start to their football career this Friday, having been hilariously destroyed by Longford 5-1 at the beginning of the season. However now, with a solid team and a run of form, they will be looking for three points to close ever more on the sides above them. Last Friday Peter Hynes scored the only goal away against Wexford Youths and Liam Buckley’s men are looking a good outside bet to sneak the sole promotional spot at the end of the season.

With Shels’ welcoming Dundalk to Tolka Park this Friday, it is the Lilywhites who are in form, looking to go one better than the 0-0 draw on the opening game of the season in North Dublin. A win could give Dundalk a five point lead at the top, so the pressure is on Shels’, Waterford and Sporting to keep up…

This weeks games:
Wexford Youths v Waterford United
Shelbourne v Dundalk
Monaghan United v Limerick 37
Longford Town v Sporting Fingal
Athlone Town v Kildare County