THE MAN IN the middle, Padraigh Sutton, was the man in the spotlight come full time at Oriel Park on Friday night. The official from Clare sent off two players — Chris Shields and Conor McCormack for Dundalk and Derry City respectively — and had to deal with post-match accusations of ‘playing to the TV cameras’.
It isn’t a new charge levelled at a League of Ireland official. In total, Sutton showed 10 yellow cards, and two reds on top for good measure. Even by this league’s standards, that’s a high number and when some were as seemingly unjust as both Shields’ and McCormack’s second fouls, the referee will come under intense scrutiny.
Derek Pender and Lorcan Fitzgerald were particularly impressive as they epitomised the Gypsies’ all-round performance with solid defending and effective penetration, as Pender got forward for an assist and Fitzgerald’s set pieces were a constant threat.
The Dublin-based side will hope the impressive showing from their backline will lay the foundations for them to go on and replicate their home form away from Dalymount Park.
All Bohs’ points have come in Phibsborough but the controlled defensive display against Longford will make them believe they can secure results on the road to challenge higher up the table.
- Sean O’Neill
Sligo holding Cork shows how unpredictable this league can be
We always say this league is an unpredictable one, and results this season have been wonderfully strange at times.
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Sligo’s 4-0 defeat to Bray Wanderers last week would have taught players a few lessons, and they certainly learned from that as they were strong, and defensively sound against Cork City on Saturday night.
Few would have predicted that the Bit o’Red would hold John Caulfield’s side to a 0-0 draw, but it was no more than they deserved. Fans have been angered by how results have gone so far this season, but this display will cheer them up a bit, at least for another week.
It always takes time to blend a new squad together, and fans will have to be patient as Robertson searches for his best 11. Cork, on the other hand, were poor against the Bit o’Red, and you’d put your mortgage on Maguire scoring a penalty against his former club — but maybe not in the so-called ‘greatest league in the world’.
- Jessica Farry
Water water everywhere in Wexford….
An image of a water-logged Ferrycarrig Park last Friday.
With the pitch passing a late inspection, many were surprised to see the game still going ahead as the surrounding area of the ground remained submerged.
Wexford Youths’ staff were working hard in the minutes before kick-off, sweeping water from the pitch in attempts to ensure the match was played, after referee Anthony Buttimer had decided against bringing proceedings to a halt.
The driving wind and non-stop rain didn’t ruin the game as a spectacle nor stop the home side registering their first win of the season, but the increasingly poor state of the ground at Ferrycarrig Park could lead to further problems over the coming weeks.
- Brendan White
Galway can take positives from Rovers defeat
The opening 10 minutes on Friday night were probably the best Shamrock Rovers have played at home this season.
With Danny North ruled out through injury, Pat Fenlon chose Mikey Drennan to lead the line, and with Brandon Miele in behind, they moved the ball with intent and pace, unlike in previous games.
However, after the goal, the hosts seemed to lose some of their early fizz, and although they eventually bagged a second, they could have been pegged back by then had Galway taken one of their chances.
The visitors, meanwhile, looked solid, organised and confident, and Tommy Dunne will surely be happy with the majority of what he saw on Friday. Gary Shanahan was excellent on the right, as was Kevin Devaney on the left, and on another night, they could easily have taken something away from the game.
In midfield, Galway also looked to have plenty of control thanks to John Sullivan and Ryan Connolly, who broke up the Rovers flow whenever it got going.
Dunne’s side will consequently take their fair share of points on the road this season if they play as well as they did in Tallaght.
- Simon Walsh
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Referee controversy in Dundalk-Derry and more League of Ireland talking points
Referee controversy in Dundalk-Derry
THE MAN IN the middle, Padraigh Sutton, was the man in the spotlight come full time at Oriel Park on Friday night. The official from Clare sent off two players — Chris Shields and Conor McCormack for Dundalk and Derry City respectively — and had to deal with post-match accusations of ‘playing to the TV cameras’.
It isn’t a new charge levelled at a League of Ireland official. In total, Sutton showed 10 yellow cards, and two reds on top for good measure. Even by this league’s standards, that’s a high number and when some were as seemingly unjust as both Shields’ and McCormack’s second fouls, the referee will come under intense scrutiny.
- Barry Landy
Improvement at the back the key to Bohs’ success
After the concession of nine goals in their opening five games and just one clean sheet, Bohemians improved at the back immeasurably to secure a confidence-boosting three points against Longford.
Derek Pender and Lorcan Fitzgerald were particularly impressive as they epitomised the Gypsies’ all-round performance with solid defending and effective penetration, as Pender got forward for an assist and Fitzgerald’s set pieces were a constant threat.
The Dublin-based side will hope the impressive showing from their backline will lay the foundations for them to go on and replicate their home form away from Dalymount Park.
All Bohs’ points have come in Phibsborough but the controlled defensive display against Longford will make them believe they can secure results on the road to challenge higher up the table.
- Sean O’Neill
Sligo holding Cork shows how unpredictable this league can be
We always say this league is an unpredictable one, and results this season have been wonderfully strange at times.
Sligo’s 4-0 defeat to Bray Wanderers last week would have taught players a few lessons, and they certainly learned from that as they were strong, and defensively sound against Cork City on Saturday night.
Few would have predicted that the Bit o’Red would hold John Caulfield’s side to a 0-0 draw, but it was no more than they deserved. Fans have been angered by how results have gone so far this season, but this display will cheer them up a bit, at least for another week.
It always takes time to blend a new squad together, and fans will have to be patient as Robertson searches for his best 11. Cork, on the other hand, were poor against the Bit o’Red, and you’d put your mortgage on Maguire scoring a penalty against his former club — but maybe not in the so-called ‘greatest league in the world’.
- Jessica Farry
Water water everywhere in Wexford….
Wind and rain were the topic on everybody’s lips in Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.
With the pitch passing a late inspection, many were surprised to see the game still going ahead as the surrounding area of the ground remained submerged.
Wexford Youths’ staff were working hard in the minutes before kick-off, sweeping water from the pitch in attempts to ensure the match was played, after referee Anthony Buttimer had decided against bringing proceedings to a halt.
The driving wind and non-stop rain didn’t ruin the game as a spectacle nor stop the home side registering their first win of the season, but the increasingly poor state of the ground at Ferrycarrig Park could lead to further problems over the coming weeks.
- Brendan White
Galway can take positives from Rovers defeat
The opening 10 minutes on Friday night were probably the best Shamrock Rovers have played at home this season.
With Danny North ruled out through injury, Pat Fenlon chose Mikey Drennan to lead the line, and with Brandon Miele in behind, they moved the ball with intent and pace, unlike in previous games.
However, after the goal, the hosts seemed to lose some of their early fizz, and although they eventually bagged a second, they could have been pegged back by then had Galway taken one of their chances.
The visitors, meanwhile, looked solid, organised and confident, and Tommy Dunne will surely be happy with the majority of what he saw on Friday. Gary Shanahan was excellent on the right, as was Kevin Devaney on the left, and on another night, they could easily have taken something away from the game.
In midfield, Galway also looked to have plenty of control thanks to John Sullivan and Ryan Connolly, who broke up the Rovers flow whenever it got going.
Dunne’s side will consequently take their fair share of points on the road this season if they play as well as they did in Tallaght.
- Simon Walsh
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