The Week in Review

Dundalk took a major step closer to the First Division title over the weekend with their away win at Waterford United. Rightly billed as a must win game for both sides, fans of the Lilywhites were delighted with Paul Smyth’s late winner at the Regional Sports Centre. Waterford are essentially out of the race now, despite gaining the impressed adulations from extratime.ie, trailing the top by seven points.

“I’m not going to get too hysterical when we win games or lose them […] I said at the start of the season that 72 points will be there or thereabouts and it looks like that’s going to be the way it is,” said John Gill following the bad tempered victory. Joined at 65 points with Shelbourne, with just three games remaining, Gill may well prove to be quite the fortune teller come November 15.

Shelbourne’s response was delayed until Monday night, following Allah’s decision to pour rain down the throat of Flancare Park. Longford Town enjoyed a solid start and made a mockery of Dermot Keely’s decision to deploy Anto Flood on the wing, taking a one nil lead into half time thanks to Daire Doyle. However a bit of readjustment gave Shels’ an immediate response through Flood and then a winner from their most consistent player this season, David Freeman.

Shels’ thus went top, one goal better off than Dundalk in what looks like a fine end of season for the neutral.

Sporting Fingal, still harbouring ambitions of gaining promotion despite their eight point deficit along with a game in hand, welcomed Kildare County to Morton Stadium. I was at this one and Sporting absolutely killed Kildare, who are rooted to the bottom of the table. One of the easiest 2-0 wins this season, with goals coming from Dinny Corcoran and Colm James.

Limerick 37 played out a scoreless draw with Athlone Town at Jackman Park, giving the visitors that little bit more of a gap over bottom placed Kildare: Limerick stay mid-table.

In the other game Wexford Youths were beaten on home turf 3-1 by Monaghan United. Keith Kearney had drawn Youths level following Ian Malone’s opener. However Cathal O’Connor and Andy Haran won the tie for Mon’s who are now sixth, Youths eighth.

This weeks fixtures:
Tue 19:45 Athlone Town v Sporting Fingal Lissywoolen
Thu 19:45 Dundalk v Limerick 37 Oriel Park
Fri 19:45 Kildare County v Waterford United Station Road
Fri 20:00 Monaghan United v Longford Town Kingspan Century Park
Fri 20:00 Shelbourne v Sporting Fingal Tolka Park
Sat 19:00 Athlone Town v Wexford Youths Lissywoolen