LOI100: Weeks 8 & 9 - Rough days in Donnybrook and Rovers pitch invasions

A modern aerial photograph of Shelbourne Park

A modern aerial photograph of Shelbourne Park Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)

Dateline Dublin 13 November 1921

While the Sinn Féin delegation in London has indicated its willingness to move from the position of holding out for a republic, Lloyd George has continued to threaten the Irish people and indulge Ulster Unionism. Meanwhile in Dublin, little change can be discerned at the top of the League of Ireland either. 

With eight teams in the one-division competition, the round of fixtures played on the 5th of November was a repeat of the opening day. Traditional powerhouses Bohemians and Shelbourne, and league leaders St James’s Gate all repeated the victories they notched up earlier in the season.

The Brewerymen were one of two teams to have a tumultuous visit to Dublin United’s ground at Donnybrook in the last fortnight. The home team defeated Frankfort 6-0 after putting up a fight against the league leaders the week before. Games between United and the Gate are never short of needle and both sides finished with ten men. 

Since the Brewerymen ran out 2-0 victors they must surely have banished the ghosts of last season’s Leinster Senior Cup Final. The Gate have also maintained their all-conquering march through the League of Ireland with another 2-0 win over YMCA thanks to two late goals this week.

The Young Men had a need to feel down after conceding another five goals at home to Bohs in a downpour the previous Saturday, although, unlike on the opening day, Bohs did not concede. The Gypsies are in good form and followed up this win with a dominant display against Jacobs. The final score was 2-0 but only for the brilliance of Kennedy between the stick, the Biscuitmakers would have crumbled altogether. 

Shelbourne indifferent form has continued. The Reds were deserving 3-1 winners over Frankfort at home having fallen a goal behind in a rain-sodden first half, they were level at the interval after Foley pounced on an error by Frankfort’s centre-half, Giles and late goals from Reid and Reilly secured the points. 

However, Shelbourne’s failure to back this result up is perhaps less than we might expect from the reigning Leinster Senior League champions and a 1-1 draw with Olympia this week will no doubt have cause much frustration in Ringsend. 

By contrast, the boys from Bellevue Lodge will be pleased to have gained a point having gone down 2-1 to the Biscuitmakers at Rutland Avenue last week. Although their cause in the earlier fixture was not helped by Murray arriving twenty-five minutes late for the game.

It been goals galore in the Leinster Senior League in recent weeks as Midland Athletic won 8-0 away to Merrion at Angelsea Road and 5-0 away to Glasnevin, St James’s Gate II won 8-1 at home to Richmond Asylum, Shamrock Rovers won 4-2 away to CYMS at Richmond Hill and even the LSL 2nd Division has got in on the act as Strandville defeated Frankfort II 8-3. 



Shamrock Rovers suffered their first defeat of the campaign this week going down 1-0 at home to Shelbourne United. The Stripes were pressing for an equaliser when the match was brought to a premature conclusion by the referee who was concerned about spectators encroaching on the field of play. Rovers remain top of the LSL owing to Bohs B’s inconsistent form.

Excitement is building for the upcoming FAI Cup. In stark contrast to the old system, qualifiers are scheduled to take place throughout the island, and will involve teams from Tipperary, the midlands, Dublin, and Belfast. The League of Ireland clubs will join once these qualifiers are complete.

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