Airtricity Premier Division Stats Part 2
Credit:
We are pretty much two thirds of the way through the 2011 Airtricity Premier Division season, and the 120 matches played to date have produced 304 goals scored at an average of 2.53 goals per game, markedly up on recent seasons where the average hovered around the two goal mark. 96 different players have found the net thus far.
Golden Boot
Eamon Zayed of league leaders Derry City has moved clear of Sligo Rovers Eoin Doyle thanks to his first half brace in Terryland Park last night. Zayed has found the target in eleven different fixtures, with Doyle bagging in nine ties. Gary Twigg will need a sustained run of goals to have a chance of holding on to his crown, but with Rovers still having two games to fulfil against a Galway United side that is breaking unenviable records as it heads towards the wooden spoon, Twigg may yet close the gap.
The second table below shows how the goalscoring chart would look if goals scored against The Tribesmen were taken out of the equation.
Clarke keeping things clean
Potential league leaders Sligo Rovers are striving to win their first title since 1977, and with a defensive record that amounts to 17 clean sheets from 24 outings (70.8%), who is to say they will not be partying hard at the Showgrounds come the end of October.
Currently on a streak in which they have not conceded a goal in 9 league games, Rovers must surely be close to a league record for consecutive minutes without conceding, although Paul Cook's men face a tricky tie on the astroturf with Dundalk on Sunday. Somewhat surprisingly, Drogheda United are bottom of the table below with only one shutout to their name, which came in their recent tie with Galway United, who themselves kept consecutive clean sheets in Round 3 and 4 before heading into freefall.
Home or Away
Only two outcomes have yet to occur so far - Galway United have not won a game at home, while Drogheda United are yet to draw an away fixture. A 1-0 away win has been the most frequent scoreline, happening 15 times, while Derry City have not let in a goal before the hour mark at the Brandywell.
Comeback Kings
Fans at Richmond Park still have valid hopes their side will top the table comes the season's finale, and while they currently lie in fourth place, St. Pat's lead the field when it comes to gaining points from a losing position, a trait which may serve them well in the coming months.
Pete Mahon's side have gone behind on eight occasions this season in the league, and in five of those games they still managed to emerge with points. Twice they have come from behind to overturn Dundalk, while Galway United flew into a two-goal lead at Richmond Park in May but ended up on the end of a 5-2 hammering. One wonders whether the collective spirit will be as strong though after the much publicised money issues that beset the club last week.
In stark contrast, Galway United have been waving the white flag once the ball hits their own net first, falling behind in 21 games and managing to recover a single point, a 1-1 draw at United Park when Sean Kelly equalised against Drogheda United.
Golden Boot
Eamon Zayed of league leaders Derry City has moved clear of Sligo Rovers Eoin Doyle thanks to his first half brace in Terryland Park last night. Zayed has found the target in eleven different fixtures, with Doyle bagging in nine ties. Gary Twigg will need a sustained run of goals to have a chance of holding on to his crown, but with Rovers still having two games to fulfil against a Galway United side that is breaking unenviable records as it heads towards the wooden spoon, Twigg may yet close the gap.
The second table below shows how the goalscoring chart would look if goals scored against The Tribesmen were taken out of the equation.
| Goalscorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Eamon Zayed | 19 |
| Eoin Doyle | 15 |
| Gary Twigg | 11 |
| Danny North | 11 |
| Mark Quigley | 8 |
| Gareth McGlynn | 8 |
| Mark Griffin | 7 |
| Anto Flood | 7 |
| Matthew Blinkhorn | 7 |
| Christy Fagan | 7 |
| James McClean | 7 |
| Goalscorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Eamon Zayed | 12 (-7) |
| Eoin Doyle | 11 (-4) |
| Gary Twigg | 10 (-1) |
| Danny North | 9 (-2) |
Clarke keeping things clean
Potential league leaders Sligo Rovers are striving to win their first title since 1977, and with a defensive record that amounts to 17 clean sheets from 24 outings (70.8%), who is to say they will not be partying hard at the Showgrounds come the end of October.
Currently on a streak in which they have not conceded a goal in 9 league games, Rovers must surely be close to a league record for consecutive minutes without conceding, although Paul Cook's men face a tricky tie on the astroturf with Dundalk on Sunday. Somewhat surprisingly, Drogheda United are bottom of the table below with only one shutout to their name, which came in their recent tie with Galway United, who themselves kept consecutive clean sheets in Round 3 and 4 before heading into freefall.
| Sligo Rovers | 17 |
| Derry City | 13 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 13 |
| Bohemians | 10 |
| St. Pat's | 9 |
| Dundalk | 8 |
| Bray Wanderers | 8 |
| UCD | 3 |
| Galway Utd | 2 |
| Drogheda United | 1 |
Home or Away
Only two outcomes have yet to occur so far - Galway United have not won a game at home, while Drogheda United are yet to draw an away fixture. A 1-0 away win has been the most frequent scoreline, happening 15 times, while Derry City have not let in a goal before the hour mark at the Brandywell.
| Home Wins | 46 |
| Draws | 25 |
| Away Wins | 49 |
Comeback Kings
Fans at Richmond Park still have valid hopes their side will top the table comes the season's finale, and while they currently lie in fourth place, St. Pat's lead the field when it comes to gaining points from a losing position, a trait which may serve them well in the coming months.
Pete Mahon's side have gone behind on eight occasions this season in the league, and in five of those games they still managed to emerge with points. Twice they have come from behind to overturn Dundalk, while Galway United flew into a two-goal lead at Richmond Park in May but ended up on the end of a 5-2 hammering. One wonders whether the collective spirit will be as strong though after the much publicised money issues that beset the club last week.
In stark contrast, Galway United have been waving the white flag once the ball hits their own net first, falling behind in 21 games and managing to recover a single point, a 1-1 draw at United Park when Sean Kelly equalised against Drogheda United.
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile