Fern Mc Costigan: March 2020

Monday, March 9, 2020

The Hoops sealing their stay in the top with a win in this week recap in the LOI

For the Shamrock Rovers win over the weekend in the Showgrounds over a troubled Bit O’ Red not seeing clearly for its manager getting into relegation problems, for the Lilywhites, win in Ballybofey and the Bohs winning on the Dublin Derby.

In RSC the Blues are back in the positive with a valuable win over Derry as the Pats are in the positive too with a clean sheet triumph over Cork City bringing relegation worries to its manager Neale Fenn.

So far, in the overall table, the Shamrock Rovers lead the pack with fifteen points followed closely by the defending champions Dundalk with twelve points and up-close Bohemians with nine after their weekend win.

Let me start with a match scheduled in Finn Park in Donnegal County where the local Blue and White Army of Ollie Horgan could stop the offensive mayhem the Town side brought to Ballybofey colossus.

With a brace from the Lilywhites top scorer Patrick Hoban delivering a brace and opening the scoreboard in the 3’ and 51’, adding scores from Michael Duffy 31’ and Greg Sloggett 82’.

Finn Harps 0-4 Dundalk

In Phibsborough pride Dalymont Park the local Bohs raise to the occasion and keep tabs with league leader Hoops and Lilywhites with a valuable win over the recently promoted Shels in the Dublin Derby.

With another clean sheet in this week activity in the League of Ireland, the Gypsies scores came from Andre Wright 53’ and Daniel Mandriou 62’ both scores coming in the second half for the locals win.

Bohemians 2-0 Shelbourne

In the RSC for Alan Reynolds and his Blues opportune win lifts this side momentum, after an early Candystripes goal in the 32’ by Stephen Mallon to see Waterford rally back for the win.

AS Sam Bone leveled the score in the 44’ and both sides going at halftime with the score tied at one goal, later it was the heroics of Waterford Shane Griffin scoring the game-winner in the 90’.

Waterford 2-1 Derry City

in the West side of Dublin Town in Inchicore the local Pats got three valuable points out of a decimated Cork City seeing its troubles mount for manager Neale Fenn looking for salvation.

Still the local Pats with alone score and raising to the occasion the side of manager Stephen O’ Donnell got a win that uplifts his side to the fourth spot with a lone score by Billy King 56‘.

Saint Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Cork City

In the Showgrounds the local Rovers are starting to become worrisome as well for manager Liam Buckley not leveling this side rocky season with another loss and occupying the league cellar.

With a goal-fest, the Sligo side almost pulled the upset over the Dublin Rovers with scores from Ronan Coughlan 41’ and Neil Morahan 90’ but the rally fell short a little late when the Hoops scoring via Jack Byrne 23’, Aaron McEneff 76’ and Aaron Greene 81’ for the win.

Sligo Rovers 2-3 Shamrock Rovers

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Recap of week two in the League of Ireland with the Hoops leading the way

The League of Ireland entering in its second week headlining the Derby between the Shamrock Rovers and the defending champions Dundalk FC became the league game of the week with a win by the Dublin side.

Something tells me about a contested season between these two sides, despite the Lilywhites being overall favorites to win the league, don’t count the Hoops out of it as these delivered their second Derby win of this 2020.

With Shelbourne winning its first game of the season over the Pats, Derry City getting a win and a clean sheet over the visiting Bohemians, as well Cork City getting a valuable win over the Finn Harps.

While in the Showgrounds the match between Sligo and Waterford has been suspended for health and safety after bad weather from a storm became the culprit.

With the main event and somehow considered this match as a Derby between the visiting defending champions the Boys of Dundalk or the Town were to pay a visit to the Shamrock Rovers.

As the local Hoops were to open the scoreboard with an early goal from Dylan Watts in the 20’, followed by Town Jordan Flores 22’, in the second Patrick Hoban scored the go-ahead for the Town in the 63’ for a 2-1 lead by the visitors.

Little this lead was to hold on for the Champions when the Rovers via Roberto Lopes in the 71’ even the score and despite the visitor’s persistence the last goal from the Hoops Talisman Jack Byrne 83’.

Shamrock Rovers 3-2 Dundalk

In their first Dublin Derby, the Shelbourne Reds delivered a valuable win and their first in the Premier Division after beating the visiting Saint Patrick’s Athletic Boys in what became a yellow card fest for both sides.

As the Pats losing a player in the second half with a flagrant red to Rory Feely this side became a 10-man team and for the local’s lonely goal via Jaze Kabia in the 23’ this was enough for the Shels win.

Shelbourne 1-0 Saint Patrick’s Athletic

Back in Derry City, the local Candystripes delivered their first, win of the season at Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium against a dangerous and hard fighting Bohemians coming for the win.

However, with a couple of goals one from Stephen Mallon in the 63’ and later by Walter Figueira in the 90’ these two were enough for the Derry side to raise to a valuable win over the Gypsies.

Derry City 2-0 Bohemians

In Turner’s Cross, the local Leesiders finally delivered a win and their first three points of the season after a great defensive performance to raise to a valuable win over a hardened Finn Harps.

With a lone goal from Alec Byrne in the 55’ was enough for the local Rebel Army to earn a valuable win that for sure can uplift this team momentum and maintain themselves in the top division.

Cork City 1-0 Finn Harps