Fern Mc Costigan

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Recap of the League of Ireland on its Monday edition

The matches scheduled for this Monday in the League of Ireland and with a couple of upsets and a couple of squads looking forward to next week after suffering back-to-back losses.

With the Waterford Boys knowing the reality losing and now posting to losses consecutively, for manager Alan Reynolds looking forward to his squad next week compromise against the Bray Wanderers to see if they can get back in the plus.

On the case of the Shamrock Rovers after a humiliating defeat in the Dublin Derby against the Bohs, they encounter another loss with an upset at Carlisle Grounds over the last place Gulls. So far, this loss in a consecutive way and odd results are putting manager Stephen Bradley job on peril and in the need of positive results.

Talking about losses, in Inchicore colossus Richmond Park the local Pats delivered a one of a kind win over a high-flying Waterford giving them their fourth loss of the campaign delivering it with a clean sheet and a lone goal difference.

With a lone goal in the early minutes in the 15 minute by Ryan Brennan that became the only score of the match and seeing Alan Reynolds side being neutralized by a defensive backfield and Barry murphy netting a clean sheet.

Saint Patrick’s Athletic 1, Waterford 0

In the coastal city of Bray its side Bray Wanderers being on the relegation spot in last place no wins this campaign, today they delivered another loss to the visiting Shamrock Rovers, coming from a Derby upset at home.

With a lone goal by Ronan Coughlan in the 52-minute and a clean sheet for their goalkeeper Aaron Dillon, the local Seagulls have the taste of victory and on top adding three points in their favor.

Bray Wanderers 1, Shamrock Rovers 0

In Brandywell the local Candystripes are becoming a force not to be mess with, by winning their seventh match in a row and moving up in the league overall table to third place surpassing Waterford.

The Derry Boys beat the visiting Gypsies to the score of 3-1 with goals from Aaron McEnnef 20, Rory Patterson 58 and Nicky Low 90 and for the visitors Dylan Watts 27 were enough for the win. The Bohs after a brilliant win on the Derby on Friday today they saw their luck going down.

Derry City 3, Bohemians 1

Monday, April 16, 2018

City and The Town wins feature the League of Ireland recap

Thank God for Friday night football, as the League of Ireland resume its activities with its two-headliner squads winning and making it interesting in the race to the top. With league leaders, Dundalk passes a tough test against Bray Wanderers and Cork City doing the same at home against the Pats.

So far, the race to the top has become interesting between the Town and the City lads, with the Lilywhites holding a mere two-point lead with 24 versus the Leesiders 22 points.

Still the marquee match was the battle for Dublin between two of tis squads in the Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians staging another epic battle whwenver these two sqauds face off and the Bohs having the upper edge.

As the always celebrated Dublin Derby, this time the Gypsies of Keith Long delivered with his Boys another upset at home over the Hoops, with the locals opening the score in the 28 via Daniel Carr. The second half was to be al Gypsy with two goals from Daniel Byrne 70 and a late one by Darragh Leahy in the 90.

Shamrock Rovers 2, Bohemians FC 2

In Brandywell the local CandyStripes deliver their sixth consecutive win and an upset stopping the hot streaked Waterford Boys cold in a defensive gem of a match and a lone goal delivered by Jack Doyle in the 54 minute.

Derry City 1, Waterford FC 0

In Turners Cross the local Rebel Army return to the positive with a win over the visiting Saint Patrick’s Athletic, side with a lone goal in the 50minute by Graham Cummins to give three golden points to the defending champions.

Cork City 1, Saint Patrick Athletic 0

Not even in Carlisle Grounds the local Bray Wanderers could not play the role of spoilers an succumb to a hot streaked Dundalk FC, with a goal from Patrick Hoban 26 and later John Mountney 90, Stephen Kenny and company delivered an important win.

Bray Wanderers 0, Dundalk FC 2

In Markets Field the local Limerick Boys looking for a win, in what seemed an even matchup between the Blues and the Bit O’ Red Sligo Rovers, the visiting side came away with an important victory as for the locals this loss puts them in the danger zone.

With the Rovers scored from Rhys McCabe in the 59 and Gregory Moorhouse 82 and for Limerick starting a comeback in vain with a lone score from Daniel Kearns 89.

Limerick FC 1, Sligo Rovers 2

Sunday, April 15, 2018

One amazing homecoming for the Portland Timbers

Portland Timbers 3, Minnesota United 2

Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

With all the comforts of home, the Portland Timbers playing in front of their public finally delivered that elusive first win of the campaign. As a sold out Providence Park, the Mighty PTFC delivered a one of a kind win but with a near scare in the end.

After a lengthy start of the campaign on the road playing five matches, finally the time came for the mighty PTFC homecoming and shine on in front of their one of a kind public, considered the tops in all of Major League Soccer.

As the road woes continue in this campaign by just earning two points out of fifteen in play, the three points delivered today not made a difference in the overall table as the Portland bunch tied with five points with Houston and San Jose.

Still the road to the promise land of the postseason is excessively early to call it out and time by now is on the Rose City squad looking forward to afternoons that are more memorable as they had this past Saturday night.

For the Portland, side after an early Minnesota intends to dominate all of a sudden the initiative was suddenly taken by the Timbers initial eleven taking charge of the whole first half being in total control for the home side.

Many times the Portland offense started making arrivals and making it a bit tense for the Loons defense and goalkeeper but the problem that there was no final change from the home side after seeing a series of near shoots shaving the visitor’s posts.

The game going on, all of a sudden on the nineteen-minute a pass from Larry Mabialas to Alva’s Powell coming out of his defensive position and from midfield staging a charge towards the Minnesota side and with such mastery doing a solo counter.

In this play the former forward converted defender, he started remembering his days as a striker and voila making a mockery of Minnesota defenders totaling two, Powell shoot hit gold and the Portland Boys were on the scoreboard in the 23 minute.

Not even three minutes passed by when a play started in the left side by a pass from Zarek Valentin to a well placed in the middle Cristhian Paredes that passing to a persistent Alvas Powell on the right side sending the ball on the center to a leaping Diego Valeri. The Argentinian just deflected the ball for the Timbers second score in the 26 minute.

In the case of the Loons give them an A for trying and putting an all-around fight after the Timbers second goal a counter attack started by the Loons pressure paid off with a Miguel Ibarra goal but annulated after a careful review on VAR.

So far, in the campaign, the Portland Timbers have the upper hand in the first halves of their matches but in this case, like in the Orlando game they had the lead going into halftime.

With the actions starting in the second half once again, it looked like Portland had the upper hand and total control of this half until some close encounters started by the United Boys with another Ibarra shoot saved by Jake Gleeson.

However until the 64 minute when the Minnesota side came alive with a nice solo play by their DP Darwin Quintero making his debut and taking with him the likes Diego Chara’s after a spun on his compatriot and taking Zarek Valentin for the Loons and Colombian first goal.

In the minute 74 came the Portland response with Sebastian Blanco staring his play in the left of the field passing a well-placed Diego Valeri who headed the ball to Cristhian Paredes who shoot directly and Adi push the ball for the Timbers third goal. After another play, the Timbers almost netted their fourth goal via Adi but call back on VAR by the game official.

In the 81, the Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma score on his own goal, showing off the pressure started by the Minnesotans that the local Portland squad held its ground and at the end persevere for their first win of the campaign.

Still a win is a win but exposing many things to correct for Portland in the pressure their foes put on and as well learning to close games, but at the end what a relief, it is earning your first win of the campaign, there is no place like home.

Photos Credit and Property of Craig Mitchelldyer 2018

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Derry City delivered over a hot Waterford an outstanding win

Derry City 1, Waterford 0

Brandywell Stadium, Derry City

For the visiting Waterford Blues coming to Brandywell they encounter a brick wall of a defensive Candystripes backfield. With the minimum score of one goal the local Derry squad, deliver a total upset over the newly promoted league sensation Waterford.

A lone score by Jack Doyle in the 54 minute that delivered the lone score and the locals showing off a ferrous defensive game over the Blues missing a couple of its top players suspended over last weekend red cards.

For the locals entering their fifth consecutive win over the league sensation and seen as undefeated Waterford coming from a streak of three games won in a consecutive way and today this loss they are leap over by the Leesiders in second place.

Today in Derry the locals stop cold in their feet a high flying Blues squad missing some of its notable players and for manager Alan Reynolds to take other measures in seeing in his players to hold of their tempers or else.

Still the local Derry Boys had the total control of the game and with an inspired Ronan Hale; almost coming near the posts defended by Lawrence Vigoroux the visitor’s goalkeeper prevailed in two incidents during the match and survive the locals push.

As near play in the 74 minute a close play by Hale after Aaron McEneff pass that the midfielder could not convert within two yards and Vigoroux saving the day, the other came on injury time when his shoot was well save by the Blues keeper.

Despite the six shots attempted by the visitors at the end, prevail the dominance and total control of the Candystripes that mange nine shoots that became that lone goal in the 54 minute and became the game winner.

At the end for Waterford manager Alan Reynolds not having in his initial eleven Bastien Hery and Stanley Aborah, at the end these certainly were missed in the Blues all around attack hat did not generated any serious threats to Derry’s Gerard Doherty.

In the case of the local Derry City squad with a determined Jack Doyle the Blackburn Rovers defender on loan to this Northern club, he really delivers on the clutch and becoming the game hero for his amazing heroics.

Still the likes of Ronan Hale, Ronan Curtis and Jack Doyle, making all sorts of efforts to extend the lead of City but with no luck but at the end these persevered for the win and see their winning streak alive.