Fern Mc Costigan: May 2019

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Sheffield United back to new challenges in Premiership

Twelve long years since the Blades been absent from the ranks of Premiership and in what beter time to celebrate their direct promotion to England's top tier considered the one of the world best of leagues.

The past is long buried and this team we can state you come a long way baby!

After its relegation into Championship and a long stay in League One for six seasons and on their return to Championship voila the Blades did the unthinkable of netting the ultimate of feats.

As Bramall Lane will live again the excitement of Premiership, but for the Blades manager Chris Wilder to not only perform but deliver a magnificent campaign and seek their permanency for a long time.

As Sheffield United along with Aston Villa and Championship Winners Norwich City are proud class of 2018-19, as the questions raises to who will be the squad to stay in the top and who will comeback to Championship.

In spite of the achievement of the Blades, in the end their perseverance shown in that glorious match against Ipswich Town that gave them 88 points and a five point lead over favorite Leeds United.

That penultimate week of action, for Leeds netting a hurtful tie against Aston Villa, that in the end gave them that desired pass and closing a grand campaign that deliver them the glory of promotion.

Now that the celebrations are over as manager Chris Wilder and the club directives will embark on the arduous task of building contender but the question is of the monies and budget available.

As many state that money talk in Premiership and for sides like Sheffield United with a revenue not as extensive as many of the league elite squads to aspire for the top will be somehow a tough but not impossible dream.

Anything can happen in the case of the Blades is to perform and see a continuance of their great game that put them in the top circuit, the number of challenges will be a handful for this Yorkshire based club.

As the monies out there in prizes for Sheffield United and league winner Norwich City will be one amazing boost for these entities but in the end the challenge will be for their long permanency.

The question is of what players are to make a return and what players will come to reinforce this squad ahead of their new adventure in Premiership and look forward to a series of notable performances that will earn them a permanent stay.

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Congratulations Norwich City EFL Championship Champions

The Canaries played like defies and brought them the ultimate of Championship glories with their shield as its overall winner by earning a promotion to play in the best association in the world.

For second year manager Daniel Farke, aware of the numerous challenges his side is to encounter- come August he and his Yellows are to face off the best of the best.

Still the way this club perseverance and going against all odds reminds us of how this squad made it into an all fighting run to deliver many upsets in the way and leaving many squads eating their dust.

As the fabulous threesome to play in Premiership in the 2019-20 edition, Norwich City is accompanied by Sheffield United and Aston Villa.

Forget that season when manager Farke arrived and the team had a mediocre 14th place finish.

Still the start of the Canaries season was marred by financial oddities and selling two of their important players in James Madison and Josh Murphy to raise some needed funds as well seeing the arrival of many unknowns.

No wonder this club loyal fan base had its doubts early in the season.

One heck of a challenge for the Canaries German skipper with the task of turning this club as a winner from paper to reality alongside of seeing a number of challenges meet with success in the end.

The need to improve required somehow patience and excellent scouting became in the end what this squad needed to have a dream of a campaign with results speaking aloud.

In spite of the sale that brought the team 30 million Euros, in the end the recommendations of Farke to his directives in getting Emi Buendia, Onel Hernandez, Tom Trybull and Teemu Pukki.

These additions and the faith deposited in these players towards the principles and philosophies delivered by their manager worked as expected by netting excellent results.

As that promising season with its many challenges turned out for the better.

A fighter of a team in the season that delivered them rewards and now to see a continuance of their spirit and winning momentum that they would like to extend in their new challenge in the ranks of Premiership.

The work for manager Daniel Farke and Norwich City directives will be on the task of netting a number of players to front a contested EPL and set their sights in a long permanency in the big top.

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Monday, May 27, 2019

Welcome back Aston Villa to Premiership

Aston Villa 2-1 Derby

Finally a three year wait came to an end for Aston Villa, as manager manager Dean Smith and his Villains delivered a valuable win and promotion over a tough foe in Frank Lampard's Derby County.

In a match of tactics and strategies between both sides managers, Dean Smith sent very offensive prone 4-3-3 formation contrary to a more conservative 4-2-3-1 sent by Rams manager Frank Lampard.

As the Cathedral of Football the majesty of Wembley Stadium showing a grand attendance adn cover with both Villa and Derby colors in every confine of this colossus.

Still the match belonged to an inspired and amazingly managed Villa side coming from the get go to the win and join a distinguished elite that earns its right to be among the squads that will joing the ranks of Premiership.

As every time a squad that nets its promotion via the playoff and nets its rightful place in the end its a merit to the achievement and effort displayed by this squads that earn that right to face the best of the best.

In a match that both side really struggled to get the best of one another, in the end we had a successful winner in the Lions that never gave their desire of ending their three year absence from the ranks of Premiership.

With the early score from Villa Anwar El Ghazi in the 44' minute putting the Villains on the scoreboard and with the lead on the break and with a high momentum for the second half.

In spite of teh elad and a disputed second half both sides performed, once again the Villains were on target and sentencing this match in spite of the Rams defensive block on the Villains advances.

In the 59' came the game winner for the Claret and Blue Army with a shocker of a goal John McGinn scores the go ahead and game winning goal.

Amazing was the words to describe a very even match were two sides went at it and disputing every ball and moment to seize the opportunity and beat each others goals.

Do not call the Rams of County quitters as they did staged a comeback when Martin Waghorn left the Villa defense astonished with a shoot in the 81 minute to make it interesting till the end.

However the Villains maintained their cool and persevere for the win and netting their promotion in what was a match filled with a number of celebrities among them the Duke of Cambridge a fervent Villa fan.

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Sunday, May 26, 2019

A recap of a disputed contest in the League of Ireland

Both Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are staging a contested race in this edition of the league of Ireland with none of these squads are not surrendering any space.

Still this week saw a brilliant Derry City moving up the table as well coming within one point of third place Bohemians that fell at home against a Rovers side along the Blues on the plus.

In Tallaght Stadium the local Hoops raised to a valuable win over Cork City netting a clean sheet and scoring both of their goals in the second half in a match that exposed City deficiencies.

In addition of seeing a struggling Rebel Army, they had a number of yellow cards, contrary to the Hoops these with Jack O'Brien 51' and later Roberto Lopes 61' to seal the deal.

Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Cork City

In the Regional Sports Centre, Waterford hosted a struggling UCD and with all the elements of being labeled as favorites and looking forward to a win in spite of the foe, nothing is easy.

As the squad managed by Neill Farrugia came decided to be a spoiler and playing a game looking forward to an upset but until the Blues lone goal by Zak Elbouzedi in the 36'.

Waterford 1-0 UCD

A late goal the local Lilywhites of Dundalk came on the clutch to rescue a win and stay on the league top tied with another resurgent Shamrock Rovers, still a win is a win for the Town.

With the drama of the competition, the local Town side came through on a late score via Sean Hoare in the 90' minute and saving a possible disaster for the defending champions.

Dundalk 1-0 Saint Patrick's Athletic

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium became a goal fest for the local Candystripes over a decimated Finn Harps not looking at any break or light in the end of the tunnel.

As Junior Ogedi Uzkewi opening the scoreboard in the 32' minute, followed by a treble by Derry' Ciaron Harkin in the 44', 67' and 90' to seal the deal and rout a decimated Harps side.

Derry City 4-0 Finn Harps

In Dalymont Park the local Bohs could not take advantage of their condition of locals and seeing their efforts go down by a strong Sligo Rovers game that in the end benefited them.

With the Bit O' Red Romeo Parkes on the double and opening the score in the 48' minute but later a comeback from Bohs Conor Levingston 53' but Parkes had the last laugh in the 88'.

Bohemians 1-2 Sligo Rovers 2

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Dundalk late goal notches a valuable win

Dundalk 2, Bohemians 1

A late goal via a penalty kick from the Lilywhites striker Patrick Hoban maintained the defending champions in the top tied with the Shamrock Rovers.

So far for Vinnie Perth and company playing at home was one immense advantage.

To face off a hardened Bohemians playing a good game of football and so far situated in third place but withing ten points away from the top, but this squad is not walk in the park.

So far in the opening minutes of the game with just two minutes on the clock the Lilywhites defense saw how the Gypsies Danny Grant scored the first goal to the dismay of the attendees.

By the way the visitors put on a good fight and displaying a good game, in the end the share of spoils would been justified between both sides.

One thing these Dundalk squad never seems to miss in every match is its fight and todays they overcome a very difficult Bohemian squad looking at any cost for the upset and three points.

Not today's as the locals manager Vinnie Perth did play his cards right and using his boldness on his initial eleven that in the end deliver in the clutch.

As the Freshman manager moves became the right ones in the end when he made a couple of notable substitutions with Georgie Kelly for Daniel Kelly and Sean Murray for Jordan Flores.

The arrival of Georgie Kelly became providential in the 56 minute of his incorporation when ten minutes passed by when he scored the equalizer in the 66' minute to the joy of the Town fans.

Paving the way for the game changer on injury time in the 94 minute when Dundalk Dean Jarvis was taken down in the area, leaving the stage for Patrick Hoban to score his 10 goal for the win.

Goals
Danny Grant 2' BOH, Georgie Kelly 66' DFC, (P) Patrick Hoban 94' DFC

HIghlights

Vinnie Perth right moves, exposing his rapid adaptation in the helm of the Town.
Geogie Kelly ambition that deliver the equalizer.
Patrick Hoban this time he did not miss and scoring his tenth goal of the season and sixth PK.

Man of the Match

Georgie Kelly coming as a substitute delivering the equalizer.

Next Matches

Dundalk vs Saint Patrick's Athletic at Oriel Park, Dundalk Friday May 24
Bohemians vs Sligo Rovers at Dalymont Stadium, Dublin Friday May 24

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Hoops and Town headline the top in the SSE in its recap

A grand win for Ollie Horgan lads at Finn Park back in Ballybofey, by stunning the visiting Waterford side, a couple of draws from a fighting Bohemians and at Sligo a share of spoils.

Still the way the league being in its third month of activities, the way the race for the league shield between a resurgent and surprising Shamrock Rovers and a revived Dundalk.

Going to Ballybofey grounds in Finn Park at Donegal County, the local Harps host he likes of Alan Reynolds Waterford Blues, as the visitors came labeled as heavy favorites, in the end nothing is written.

With a double from the Blue and White Army Micheal Place scoring in the 24' and 38' and with a late additon by Sean Boyd 90' as for the Blues Aaron Drinan 4' and Damien Delaney 89'.

Finn Harps 3- 2 Waterford

In Dublin Town the local Derby between the Pats and Bohs in the end came to a share of spoils between both sides with a late goal and reaction by the visiting Gypsies looking to continue on the plus side.

A first goal by Saint Patricks Athletic Darragh Markley in the 40' of the first half looked like the local Saints were cruising for the win until that spoiler goal in the 78' by Bohs Daniel Mandriou.

Saint Patrick's Athletic 1- 1 Bohemians

In another parts of Dublin another Derby was taking place and with the Shamrock Rovers playign a visit in the Bowl at UCD and playing the local UCD AFC.

In spite of the early goal by the visiting Hoops, this win became vital for the Rovers in their current race to the league top, just a lone goal in the 21' by Dan Carr but it was not easy.

UCD AFC 0-1 Shamrock Rovers

In Turner's Cross the local Cork City side was ready to see a continuance of their winning streak with a derby against the visiting Dundalk side all of a sudden playing the game these are known.

In spite of the early dominance and amazing football displayed by the Rebel Army initial eleven in the end they saw reality with scores from Dean Jarvis 9' and John Mountney 50'.

Cork City 0- 2 Dundalk

On the league only game scheduled on Saturday in the Showgrounds Sligo Rovers and Derry City held to a scoreless draw and got each one their share of the points.

Sligo Rovers 0-0 Derry City

Friday, May 17, 2019

The Rebel Army momentun stopped by Dundalk

Cork City 0, Dundalk 2

The Leesiders postive run suddenly hit a snag against a dominating Lilywhites squad.

With a promising start for the locals, many in the colossus of Cork Turner's Cross though of a sure win over the defending champions that in no moment broke down to their pressure.

A this win puts the Town side tie with the Shamrock Rovers in the top, in spite of the Dubliners odd streak momentarily, in the end the race to the top is becoming a red hot ticket.

However for Vinnie Perth and company coming to Turner's Cross in a place seen in the past for the Lilywhites as their house of horrors, today showed off their dominance with a clean sheet.

For John Cotter currently in an interim position in City's helm, he saw the harsh reality of how football can be cruel in spite of his side tough stance against the league champions.

in the early part of the game seeing how City game was somehow succesful it was on the plus with loads of pressure until an opportune the Town Dean Jarvis scoring the game first goal.

With just ten minute in the game clock the Lilywhites went the scorebaord in a lead they never surrendered and stoping the locals sudden momentum cold and later add another score.

The visitors in the second half, in a combination of Patrick McEleney to Sean Gannon this finding a wide open John Mountney scoring the cushion goal for the Town in the 50' minute.

Still I give the City side some credit for putting some offenive efforts towards the visitors dominance with a couple of arrivals from Graham Cummins but fell short of their objective.

In spite of the Town seeing one of his player sent off by accumulation of two yellow cards on John Mountney, in the end with ten men in the field these raised to the ocassion.

Goals
Dean Jarvis 10' DFC, John Mountney 50' DFC

Highlight
Dean Jarvis and John Mountney raising to the ocassion with goals
Teamwork wins games and so far these Lilywhites are displaying a champions form.
The Town defensive game being too the highlight for todays win in Turner's Cross.

Man of the Match
Dundalk's Dean Jarvis and John Mountney