Fern Mc Costigan: April 2018

Monday, April 30, 2018

The Hoops back in the plus after delivering it to the league champions

Monday night football in the League of Ireland saw how the Shamrock Rovers return to their winning ways with a notable win over a momentum-ridden Cork City. With a 3-0 rout over the defending champions that in the weekend deliver a one of a kind win over Dundalk in the League of Ireland Derby.

This time the Hoops delivered a valuable win and an upset over the Rebel Army looking like it was getting back to its invincible form until they found a squad hungry for positive results and three points of gold.

For the Rovers manager Stephen Bradley after the match we can state that he was a very happy man that finally, the big one came in and against who one of the league top rated squads and considered by many as unbeatable.

Not today as the whole of Tallaght and the followers of the Hoops seeing how several matches drop by their Rovers 11 were today astonished of how their Boys sealed the deal and now are starting a fight in the overall league table.

Two points in five games was the outcome recently for the Hoops falling in the overall table, leapfrogged by Derry City fourth place, and now trailing them by five points with 21 in total.

Before coming to this match John Caulfield and his Rebel Army came labeled as all around favorites to net an easy win after the Rovers modest football display in their last five matches and not so impressive start of the campaign.

All of a sudden the local Hoops via Graham Burke was the responsible of putting the first score of the match with a spectacular shoot thirty yards away and beating the Leesiders goalkeeper, opening the doors to a grand win. As the score 1-0 in favor of the Hoops was delivered in minute three to all the frenzy of the locals followers.

After twenty-one minutes passed by once again the locals showed off how they were mastering the game over and the defending champions not showing any control or organization to start displaying their game.

Ethan Boyle scored the second goal of the match in the 24 minute taking with him a crowd in front of the posts and City goalkeeper little could he do to stop the locals momentum shifting to their advantage all of a sudden.

As the match went into halftime many thought of seeing a revival from the visiting Leesiders but little these di to try to incommode the likes of the Hoops goalkeeper Kevin Horgan who with his defensive armada deliver mayhem to one of the league hottest of attacks.

With eight shoot at goal the Shamrock Rovers even in the stats they edge the visiting defending champions Cork City with these just showing a lone shoot at goal in the course of ninety minutes.

Still we were to see the likes of the locals defender Roberto Lopes putting the last score in the board in the 61 minute and from there, the match belonged to the Shamrock Rovers until the final whistle of the match for the scandalous win.

Now this win readies Bradley and company for their Friday match against the Saint Patrick Boys in another edition of the Dublin Derby scheduled at Inchicore colossus of Richmond Park.

Cork City claims the top spot in the League of Ireland recap

Exciting is the ideal word to the turn of events that happen in this weekend in the League of Ireland suddenly witnessing a heated race to the top between two of its most protagonist squads. With last edition, defending champions Cork City and previous versions Dundalk FC.

We will have a one of a kind con test between these two squads in the remainder of the campaign as the Rebel Army looking forward to a repeat as for Dundalk FC trying to return to the league top after its streak coming to a halt in 2017.

It happened in Turners Cross were the Leesiders are becoming a tough to beat squad and with the Derby played between them and the visiting De Town Boys, at the end this became the game of the week for its contest between these two titans.

By a break in the visiting Lilywhites defense, City Gearoid Morrisey lone goal in the 59 minute that allowed game only score and delivering a total shootout, allowing the home side to City to its return to first place.

Cork City 1, Dundalk FC 0

In Carlisle Ground at Bray, the local Seagulls once again showing off their mediocre football fell to an inspired Limerick to a lone score from its Captain Shane Duggan in the 50^th minute for the clean sheet and breaking a slump for the Super Blues.

Bray Wanderers 0, Limerick 1

In Brandywell colossus in Derry City, the local Candystripes hosted the visiting Shamrock Rovers to a scoreless affair at zero goals and the share of points between these two squads always fighting for third place finish.

Derry City 0, Shamrock Rovers 0

Back in Inchicore at Richmond Park the local Pats and cross town foes Bohemians staged a contested Derby with a stalemate at two goals each and a late score by the visiting Gypsies for both squads to take a point each.

In this edition of the Dublin Derby for the Saints Jake Keegan delivered with a double in the 3 and 48 minute as for the visiting Bohs Daniel Corcoran 72 and Kevin Devaney spoiler in the 90.

Saint Patrick Athletic 2, Bohemians 2

In the Regional Sports Centre, the invincible Waterford Boys looking for an easy win at the end these tied in the end to a goal each and each taking a point each.

With an early own goal score from Sligo Patrick McClean in the 9 minute and later rescuing the cause in the 45 minute by Raffaelle Cretaro to end this match even at one goal apiece.

Waterford 1, Sligo Rovers 0

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Fellaini late heroics deliver a notable win for Manu at home

For Manchester United facing an old foe today in Old Trafford against the London Boys of Arsenal and seeing their last time in their helm the likes of Arsene Wegner. Today was all smiles between the Frenchman and the Portuguese considered in league circle as bitter enemies.

The likes of Si Alex Ferguson being present and writing a eulogy in Manu game program honoring Wegner as well for Jose Mourinho wishing his rival the best of lucks, this farewell match for Wegner in Trafford had some importance.

As United looking forward to assure their place among the top four in this edition of Premiership, for the Gunners this was another league compromise of great importance ahead of their upcoming Europa League match against Atletico Madrid in semis.

Still this was a match considered of the week whenever as these two titans meet and the display of fireworks is unlimited and today this was the case for both squads looking forward to a positive finish.

For Jose Mourinho sending a very offensive minded 4-3-3 formation with three forwards in Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez, the Portuguese wanted to drive the Gunners defense in a state of madness.

In the case of a more conservative 4-2-3-1 formation sent Arsene Wegner with Pierre Emerick- Aubameyang and Reiss Nelson in the Gunner attack, we were brace for a thriller and a show of offensive force from the visitors.

With the locals taking charge in the first half when Alexis Sanchez taking a shoot to goa and in the rebound landing in the feet of a well-placed and opportune Paul Pogba who push the ball and score on minute 16 of the first half.

As the local Red Devils going into intermission with the lead, the second half was to show off a more contested affair as the Londoners were poised to start causing havoc on the posts defended by David De Gea.

However, the response by the Gunners came in the 51 minute when Granit Xhaka passed to Henrikh Mkhitaryan who did not hesitated to take the shoot and score the equalizer to a stunned Theater of Dreams not believing the visitors rally.

With the score tied at one, the time for both managers of making their substitutions was imperative if there was to be a winner in the end and looking forward to deliver in the clutch the opportune score that would enable the winner of this match.

After a Marcus Rashford offside, the time came for Marouanne Fellaini to score the game winner on injury time in the 92 minute to give the locals the win and three golden points in the end assuring their lead over Liverpool in second place.

This win delivers not only three points for Manchester United and a five point’s lead over the Reds who are just drawing saving their energies towards their Champions League compromise and the Red Devils being in total control in the top four.

Congratulations Wolverhampton Championship promotion and shield

Welcome back to the ranks of Premiership Wolverhampton, as these after securing their promotion, now they secured Sky Bet Championship shield with a rout over Bolton Wanderers and a draw against Sheffield Wednesday. The Wanderers sealed the deal at home with a share of points against the Owls to crown a picture perfect campaign.

For the Wolves manager Nuno Espiritu Santo all around work throughout a contested edition of the Sky Bet Championship, he can proudly state mission accomplish and now for his next challenge in Premiership.

Everything started when the Wolves played against troublesome and League One prone Bolton Wanderers in a match celebrated in Macron Stadium as these coming as visitors delivering mayhem.

After a one of a kind feat playing as a visitor and with a goal rout over the local Wanderers, with scores from Barry Douglas, Benik Afobe, Diogo Jota and Captain Connor Coady, the Wolves assured their hard work with an all-around feat.

By securing their promotion after sealing it with a notable, win.

A week passed by when the lads of Nuno Espiritu Santo needed just a lone point to secure the league shield that celebrated them as champions as these did it with a tie match at zero goals and lift the trophy that proclaimed them this edition champions.

As many questions arise after this moment of who will stay and how much this club will ownership will spend ahead of a new challenge that promises to be a much contested and laborious one come next campaign in the big circuit.

Of the current squad roster what players will leave and who will stay put into their new adventure in Premiership were it promises to be a total magical tour of pure and genuine top class football.

Still this club is up and readies for its new round of challenges in netting new players to reinforce the team of who will stay or who will leave, as the club will not be in need of their services any more, for now nothing to worry.

As the ownership of this club will be celebrating for now and as summer approaches, their scouts will be hard at work in looking for manager Espiritu Santo areas of much need to face a contested campaign with success.

For manager Nuno Espiritu Santo his first remarks were of praising his club and surroundings in Molineux as a fantastic day as well paying tribute to his players and this club followers as well as a well-deserved championship.

After these amassed a whopping 99 points with 30 wins, 9 draws and 6 losses, these reigned above the competition and finally claimed their rightful place in the pantheon of long time winners of this association past champions.

Hail to this edition champions Wolverhampton Wanderers and for its manager Nuno Espiritu Santo all around achievement to retuning the Wolves to the action of the English Premier League, congratulations.