AS MUCH AS Galway were unlucky on the opening night of the new season, Tommy Dunne’s side looked horribly out of their depth at Dalymount Park.
Bohs didn’t need to get out of second gear and even still were able to operate in cruise control on what was a comfortable evening for the Gypsies. Right from the off the visitors were off the pace and, on this evidence, look shorn of quality at one end and devoid of leadership at the other.
To be fair, it’s still early days and United are finding their feet back in the top flight but as Athlone found out last season, trying to play catch-up after a slow and unproductive start will leave you with an uphill struggle.
Galway will be desperate to get on the board sooner rather than later, but it could be a long season for them.
Five goals, a clean sheet and a dominant performance, but Cork City manager John Caulfield will have learned very little about his team from their demolition of Limerick. In our estimation, Shane Duggan’s first-half red card was harsh on the visitors, but the home side were already 2-0 up and cruising by then.
Although there’s plenty of time for Martin Russell’s young side to find their feet, what they’ve shown so far won’t be good enough to keep them in the division. City never had to go close to fifth gear and could have won by any number of goals. Friday’s visit to Tallaght will offer a clearer indication of where they stand.
Had to be the penalty in the fourth minute, and not because it was a contentious decision, but because it won over the home crowd immediately after last week’s loss to Shamrock Rovers. Bolger took a chance when the space opened up for him and his driving run gave Gallagher no choice but to tackle from an awkward position.
Second to that was the chance Lyons had 60 seconds after the home side made it 2-0. Had that shot went the other side of the post, perhaps Bray could have had more say in the final result.
For all of the changes Owen Heary has made at Sligo Rovers, three of the back four deployed at United Park have been mainstays over the past few seasons — Alan Keane and Gavin Peers especially. But Drogheda scored two headed goals on Friday night with the first coming from the diminutive Daryl Kavanagh, who bullied the far more imposing figures of Peers and Stephen Folan all night.
That’s two games now where Sligo have let leads slip. It’s not a habit they’ll want to continue. Otherwise, all the pressure will be on an altogether new attack to score the goals.
Despite being rated doubtful for the match due to a troublesome hip injury, Derry City goalkeeper, Ger Doherty passed a pre-match fitness test and came to his side’s rescue on several occasions against the champions.
Doherty might not have known too much about his first save from a McMillan shot at point blank range. However, he kept his side in the game with a brave block from outside his area with his shins when McMillan was clean through and again in the second half when he tipped Ronan Finn’s goalbound strike over the crossbar. He might not have been fully fit, but he proved his worth to Peter Hutton once again.
5 thoughts from the latest round of SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games
Bohs v Galway
AS MUCH AS Galway were unlucky on the opening night of the new season, Tommy Dunne’s side looked horribly out of their depth at Dalymount Park.
Bohs didn’t need to get out of second gear and even still were able to operate in cruise control on what was a comfortable evening for the Gypsies. Right from the off the visitors were off the pace and, on this evidence, look shorn of quality at one end and devoid of leadership at the other.
To be fair, it’s still early days and United are finding their feet back in the top flight but as Athlone found out last season, trying to play catch-up after a slow and unproductive start will leave you with an uphill struggle.
Galway will be desperate to get on the board sooner rather than later, but it could be a long season for them.
- Ryan Bailey
Cork v Limerick
Five goals, a clean sheet and a dominant performance, but Cork City manager John Caulfield will have learned very little about his team from their demolition of Limerick. In our estimation, Shane Duggan’s first-half red card was harsh on the visitors, but the home side were already 2-0 up and cruising by then.
Although there’s plenty of time for Martin Russell’s young side to find their feet, what they’ve shown so far won’t be good enough to keep them in the division. City never had to go close to fifth gear and could have won by any number of goals. Friday’s visit to Tallaght will offer a clearer indication of where they stand.
- Paul Dollery
Pat’s v Bray
Had to be the penalty in the fourth minute, and not because it was a contentious decision, but because it won over the home crowd immediately after last week’s loss to Shamrock Rovers. Bolger took a chance when the space opened up for him and his driving run gave Gallagher no choice but to tackle from an awkward position.
Second to that was the chance Lyons had 60 seconds after the home side made it 2-0. Had that shot went the other side of the post, perhaps Bray could have had more say in the final result.
- Simon Walsh
Drogs v Sligo
For all of the changes Owen Heary has made at Sligo Rovers, three of the back four deployed at United Park have been mainstays over the past few seasons — Alan Keane and Gavin Peers especially. But Drogheda scored two headed goals on Friday night with the first coming from the diminutive Daryl Kavanagh, who bullied the far more imposing figures of Peers and Stephen Folan all night.
That’s two games now where Sligo have let leads slip. It’s not a habit they’ll want to continue. Otherwise, all the pressure will be on an altogether new attack to score the goals.
- Barry Landy
Derry v Dundalk
Despite being rated doubtful for the match due to a troublesome hip injury, Derry City goalkeeper, Ger Doherty passed a pre-match fitness test and came to his side’s rescue on several occasions against the champions.
Doherty might not have known too much about his first save from a McMillan shot at point blank range. However, he kept his side in the game with a brave block from outside his area with his shins when McMillan was clean through and again in the second half when he tipped Ronan Finn’s goalbound strike over the crossbar. He might not have been fully fit, but he proved his worth to Peter Hutton once again.
- Simon Collins
– First published 21.21, 15 March
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Analysis Editor's picks League of Ireland LOI Bohemians Cork City Derry City Dundalk Galway Limerick