First Division Round-up: Series 16
Credit:
The stand-out scores last weekend were Shelbourne’s seven goal haul against Mervue United and Finn Harps’ excellent victory against Sporting Fingal. Elsewhere Monaghan United, Wexford Youths, UCD and Waterford United each enjoyed wins.
1st Shelbourne:
Having lost the impressive Paddy Madden, who has returned to Bohemians following a very successful loan spell at Tolka Park, the pressure is on Dermot Keely’s men to start finding the net more often. Last Friday they did just that – David McGill, Mark O’Brien, David McAllister (2), David Cassidy, Robbie Hedderman and Ritchie Baker the scorers.
Top of the table, with a game in hand and finally a good goal difference, things are looking good for Shels. Should be an interesting game this week when they travel to UCD, after that they host Sporting Fingal.
2nd UCD:
Chris Mulhall snatched a late winner at Station Road on Saturday against bottom side Kildare County. Nine points from the last six games is a poor return, but their early season excellence sees them right on Shels’ tail.
Hosting the league leaders next.
3rd Waterford United:
Waterford’s win in Longford, courtesy of Graham Cummins (2) and Willie John Kiely strikes, leaves them two points off the pace with five games in a row against sides below the top five to come.
All five games are winnable and should they get off to a good start next week, hosting Finn Harps, then Waterford could well find themselves nearer the top by the time UCD and Sporting Fingal visit at the end of August.
4th Sporting Fingal:
Fingal struggled in Ballybofey, with Conan Byrne and Dinny Corcoran’s efforts not enough to grab anything from the game. The result sees Fingal drop to fourth. With Monaghan United up next, its very important Liam Buckley’s men get three points before they travel to Tolka Park in two weeks.
5th Wexford Youths:
Jimmy Keohane’s strike saw off Athlone on Friday, and leaves Wexford just five points behind Sporting Fingal.
The Youths’ next six fixtures read: Limerick (a), UCD (h), Finn Harps (a), Kildare County (h), Monaghan United (h), Mervue United (a). Mick Wallace will surely be looking for 14/15 points from those games. If achieved, it would see Wexford close right up on the top four. However, it is a big ‘If’.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan United’s impressive run, following a miserable start to the season, has continued with victory over Limerick thanks to David Freeman’s goal. The win sees Mons leapfrog Pat Scully’s men into 6th.
Nineteen points from the last nine games is a great return, with the only losses coming against Shels and UCD, however, with Sporting and Waterford up next Mons may well struggle again.
7th Limerick:
Losing to Monaghan was a tough result for Limerick, and is their second on the spin. Games against Shels and Wexford means things will only get more tough.
8th Finn Harps:
Packie Mailey, Fintan Bonner and Sean Houston each netted against Sporting on Saturday in what has been Finn Harps’ best result, and performance, to date. Harps controlled the game and “dictated play from the off” according to our own Alan Foley – very impressive against a side with Premier Division aspirations.
Unbeaten in five now, including two games against promotion contenders, Waterford will not expect an easy game when Harps visit this weekend.
9th Athlone Town:
Athlone’s loss against Wexford Youths is their third on the spin in the First Division and leaves them 9th. Hosting Longford next, though, Brendan Place will be confident his side can turn things around.
10th Mervue United:
Mervue had their pants pulled down by a rampant Shelbourne side. Shels were big favourites ahead of the game, but Mervue are the only side (apart from Kildare) that Dermot Keely’s men have scored more than two against.
The result was absolute, and will be difficult to recover from. Fourteen goals conceded in their last three games, a clean sheet against Kildare isn’t as definite as it should be…
11th Longford Town:
Well beaten by Waterford, Longford visit a similarly lowly Athlone next. Difficult game to call, it will probably see a few goals though.
12th Kildare County:
Kildare have lost fifteen games since their opening day draw with Finn Harps. However, surprisingly, their last five losses have all been by a single goal. Considering their resemblance to a doormat for the previous nine games, the score lines, rather than results, should not be sniffed at. Another unlucky draw, following UCD’s late winner, will be annoying, however at this stage should almost be greeted with glee. Considering how poor Mervue have been of late, Kildare should have a bit of buzz about them travelling to Galway this week.
1st Shelbourne:
Having lost the impressive Paddy Madden, who has returned to Bohemians following a very successful loan spell at Tolka Park, the pressure is on Dermot Keely’s men to start finding the net more often. Last Friday they did just that – David McGill, Mark O’Brien, David McAllister (2), David Cassidy, Robbie Hedderman and Ritchie Baker the scorers.
Top of the table, with a game in hand and finally a good goal difference, things are looking good for Shels. Should be an interesting game this week when they travel to UCD, after that they host Sporting Fingal.
2nd UCD:
Chris Mulhall snatched a late winner at Station Road on Saturday against bottom side Kildare County. Nine points from the last six games is a poor return, but their early season excellence sees them right on Shels’ tail.
Hosting the league leaders next.
3rd Waterford United:
Waterford’s win in Longford, courtesy of Graham Cummins (2) and Willie John Kiely strikes, leaves them two points off the pace with five games in a row against sides below the top five to come.
All five games are winnable and should they get off to a good start next week, hosting Finn Harps, then Waterford could well find themselves nearer the top by the time UCD and Sporting Fingal visit at the end of August.
4th Sporting Fingal:
Fingal struggled in Ballybofey, with Conan Byrne and Dinny Corcoran’s efforts not enough to grab anything from the game. The result sees Fingal drop to fourth. With Monaghan United up next, its very important Liam Buckley’s men get three points before they travel to Tolka Park in two weeks.
5th Wexford Youths:
Jimmy Keohane’s strike saw off Athlone on Friday, and leaves Wexford just five points behind Sporting Fingal.
The Youths’ next six fixtures read: Limerick (a), UCD (h), Finn Harps (a), Kildare County (h), Monaghan United (h), Mervue United (a). Mick Wallace will surely be looking for 14/15 points from those games. If achieved, it would see Wexford close right up on the top four. However, it is a big ‘If’.
6th Monaghan United:
Monaghan United’s impressive run, following a miserable start to the season, has continued with victory over Limerick thanks to David Freeman’s goal. The win sees Mons leapfrog Pat Scully’s men into 6th.
Nineteen points from the last nine games is a great return, with the only losses coming against Shels and UCD, however, with Sporting and Waterford up next Mons may well struggle again.
7th Limerick:
Losing to Monaghan was a tough result for Limerick, and is their second on the spin. Games against Shels and Wexford means things will only get more tough.
8th Finn Harps:
Packie Mailey, Fintan Bonner and Sean Houston each netted against Sporting on Saturday in what has been Finn Harps’ best result, and performance, to date. Harps controlled the game and “dictated play from the off” according to our own Alan Foley – very impressive against a side with Premier Division aspirations.
Unbeaten in five now, including two games against promotion contenders, Waterford will not expect an easy game when Harps visit this weekend.
9th Athlone Town:
Athlone’s loss against Wexford Youths is their third on the spin in the First Division and leaves them 9th. Hosting Longford next, though, Brendan Place will be confident his side can turn things around.
10th Mervue United:
Mervue had their pants pulled down by a rampant Shelbourne side. Shels were big favourites ahead of the game, but Mervue are the only side (apart from Kildare) that Dermot Keely’s men have scored more than two against.
The result was absolute, and will be difficult to recover from. Fourteen goals conceded in their last three games, a clean sheet against Kildare isn’t as definite as it should be…
11th Longford Town:
Well beaten by Waterford, Longford visit a similarly lowly Athlone next. Difficult game to call, it will probably see a few goals though.
12th Kildare County:
Kildare have lost fifteen games since their opening day draw with Finn Harps. However, surprisingly, their last five losses have all been by a single goal. Considering their resemblance to a doormat for the previous nine games, the score lines, rather than results, should not be sniffed at. Another unlucky draw, following UCD’s late winner, will be annoying, however at this stage should almost be greeted with glee. Considering how poor Mervue have been of late, Kildare should have a bit of buzz about them travelling to Galway this week.
About Gordon Hunt
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