Fern Mc Costigan: September 2019

Monday, September 23, 2019

Congratulations Dundalk FC, League of Ireland 2019 champions

Monday night game scheduled in Oriel Park with Dundalk hosting to a full house the likes of Shamrock Rovers coming to town and looking to derail the celebrations for the Town looking for a win to claim another league shield.

With a very contested match and the home side of the Town playing a great game in despite the home side slowing down in the sometime in the match, still these persevered to the persistent push of the Dublin side.

However, the Lilywhites never gave up on their quest of delivering another satisfaction to its followers that went to Oriel and never stop in supporting the champions, after all this unit is one mean fighting machine.

So far, the Town has been crowned in six seasons for the fifth time and counting, although they had a bad run in Champions League qualifiers, this is not the end and a start of several amazing things to come.

For such an achievement today against the Shamrock Rovers a team they spar all season long after the Hoops had their share of occupancy in the league top and later succumbed to the push from these hardened Town.

As the Vinnie Perth era once doubted to see a following of what Stephen Kenny winning legacy and that amazing run in Europe back in 2016, maybe we can see a repeat of such a feat again in the future.

Still today’s match was not easy for the Town as these Hoops came ready to be the spoilers and this was evidently shown in the final and very tight score by the minimum difference of one goal.

An image is a thousand words, with Sean Hoare leaping after scoring his side first goal in the 28’ minute to put the home ahead and going into halftime break with a one goal lead.

Everyone knew of what the second half was going to bring and the contest both sides were to put in the field by both sides, as one looking to lift the shield in a consecutive way the other was to be the party spoiler.

The Town, with the league shield adds a second trophy to its halls after winning the EA Sports Cup, and currently to play in the semifinals of the FAI Cup, the Town can celebrate this season with a treble.

With Robbie Benson scoring via a Patrick McEleney cross in the 47’ the whole of Oriel Park became a madhouse, still there was a lot of minutes to be played and the Hoops were to stage a rally.

As a couple of second half goals, the Hoops almost deliver a spoil when Aaron Greene in the 54’ and Aaron McEnneff in the 63’ to come close but in the 58’ the Lilywhites via Michael Duffy sealed the deal.

Congratulations flamboyant League of Ireland Champions Dundalk FC for another amazing season.

Reality stinks for Ole Gunner with another Manu loss

Before the start of this campaign the front men in Old Trafford spent an insurmountable amount of monies to reinforce the squad that Ole Gunner Solksjaer was planning to see as an all-around contender.

However, so far, the club has fallen in disappointment and with a few important players out with injuries, the Red Devils are calling for a break in what seems to be a very long season ahead of them.

With an upset in London Stadium against West Ham United, no reason to be alarmed but for sure to be extremely attentive of what’s to come ahead for the Trafford Boys if these continue with these performances.

As this manager business is somehow becoming incessantly annoying after last season sacking of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar one of Manu greats had to come in relief as a caretaker and after a positive turnaround.

The club decided to award Ole Gunnar the reins managerial reins in a long term.

Reality is crude when you have o face off a season with oddities in your roster plagued with injuries after an annoying series of international breaks that several of its players call ups have become a burden.

The club had to make some moves in the transfers market by reinforcing its defense and betting on its future with a youthful addition from Swansea City Daniel James costing £15 million accompanied by Aaron Wan- Bissaka £50 million and Harry Maguire £85 million.

A not so cheap price tag of £150 million pounds did not come cheap for the Red Devils to see result like this discredit its most expensive signings with a cean sheet and losing their marksman Marcus Rashford to injury.

As the question arises if the departures of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan as well Alexis Sanchez on loan to Italian Calcio, somehow raises red flags of why the departure of these prodigious strikers in a club lacking an offensive attack.

Maybe, the purchases of Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic from Juventus could make a world of difference for the Red Devils, possibly their arrivals in these stages could uplifted tis team out of its misery.

The need of taking advantage of a pool of talented players from the academy and recently promoted is a must to develop for this club getting a bit tight in the transfers market expenditures.

For Ole Gunnar Solksjaer is elemental to use his mentor teachings in these stages and see a miraculous turnaround in the end of this season maybe salvaging his side a with At least a European spot or with a trophy from EPL competitions.

Its not that easy to take over a job of that caliber in a club with such winning history that since Fergie’s retirement the club has struggle to return to its old winning ways and parades of shields making it into its halls.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2019

An upset over the league leaders in a recap of the NIFL

With a nice executed win over the league leaders Crusaders, the Bannsiders of Coleraine won in a stunning fashion as well seeing the defending champions getting back in their winning ways.

For Institute and Warrenpoint Town losing their respective matches, the Danske Banc competition is raining its levels and for several teams aiming to the top as well a spot for Europe.

In the Showgrounds at Coleraine, the local Bannsiders got a valuable win over league leaders Crusaders and cutting the gap between them and the Hatchetmen to just three points.

With scores from Ben Doherty 10’, Eion Bradley 50’ and Jamie Glackin 59’ and OG from Crues Jordan Owens 29’, for the Crues Jamie McGonagle 3’ and Chris Hegarty 70’.

Coleraine 4-2 Crusaders

The Reds are looking forward to a stellar and shield filled season and with a valuable win over a tough and hardened Institute, these got a valuable win by the minimum difference of one goal.

Still a goal by Rory Donelly 42’ before the break was enough for the local Reds to get the best out of Stute resilience to go down more in the table and be prone candidate for relegation.

Cliftonville 1-0 Institute

At Mourneview Stadium the local Lurgan Blues took their condition of locals favorably after a raucous win over the Sky Blues of Ballymena United and net a valuable win at home.

For the Mourneview Aces scorers were Rhys Marshall 28’ and Jordan Jenkins 90’ as well getting an OG from Sky Blues Stephen McCullough 57’, for the visitors Cathair Freil opened the scores in the 11’.

Glenavon 3-1 Ballymena United

In the Belfast Oval the local Glens got a valuable win over relegation prone Point and with a fierce opposition from Warrenpoint, in the end these succumbed to the push of the locals.

This win keeps Glentoran on the chase for the top, with scores from Hrvoje Plum 5’ and Patrick McClean 90’ and for the Town side Alan O’ Sullivan 68’ made it interesting but a rally that fell short.

Glentoran 2-1 Warrenpoint Town

In Inver Park the local Larne side could no capitalize playing as local and failed to find the net in match that ended in a share of spoils for both Larne and Dunganon Swifts.

Larne 0-0 Dungannon Swifts

Friday night lights and the defending champions Linfield got a valuable win over Carrick Rangers in Longshore Hotel Arena as the local Amber Army could not stop the momentum of the Blues.

For the visitors getting an important win and making their way up the table with scores from Niall Quinn 45+1’, Mark Stafford 76’ and OG play by the local Gers Reece Neale 63’ were enough for the win.

Carrick Rangers 0-3 Linfield