It's a Monday, so LOI fans have only one thing on their minds. So here it is; our wrap-up of the important bits from week 4 of the SSE Airtricity League.
1) Sligo Rovers' league challenge is already slipping away
We know there's only 4 games into the season but Sligo Rovers fans can't be happy with their opening results. Sligo started last year with 8 straight wins while eventual champions lost 2 of their first 4 games but the margins for error are pretty tight now. Last year Pats only lost 3 in total before clinching the title and when Sligo won in 2012, they only lost 1 before doing likewise. On Friday night manager Ian Baraclough felt they did enough to get something from Tallaght but they're left with 3 defeats from 4 games and travel to Derry next Friday.
2) Friday Night in Cork will be huge
Shamrock Rovers win over Sligo kept the hoops on top of the early standings on goals scored. They're joined on 10 points by Cork City who easily dispatched Athlone Town to set up the game of the season so far in Cork. Turners Cross is the best stadium in the League and may well sell out on Friday as no club can get their town behind them as well as Cork City can. Ex-hoop Billy Dennehy scored for the second week in a row and would dearly love to continue that after being released by Trevor Croly in the off-season.
3) Pats continue to unimpress
Yes we know it's not a word but it should be. The champions remain unbeaten but managed their 3rd draw in 4 games in Derry on Friday. Liam Buckley must have been happy with the first clean sheet of the season but he'll know that Pats drew too many in 2012 and won't want a repeat. Pats did have more clear cut chances than Derry who have yet to score at home this season. Ken Oman joined the Saints long injury list this season and with 6 games in 3 weeks coming up, they'll need to get people back soon.
4) UCD keep up the entertainment
New manager this season but the same old UCD. Last year there were 119 goals scored in UCD games (that's 20 more than the next highest), giving an average of 3.61. That's nearly a full goal above the 2013 league average of 2.65. This year they've only played 4 games but there's been 19 goals scored, 8 of which came on Friday night. They eventually beat Bray Wanderers 5-3 after the teams had swapped leads and it needed 2 goals in injury time to secure all 3 points. As with last season, they mightn't know how to defend but scoring probably won't be an issue.
5) Limerick's on field performances can't match their off field developments
Last week was a good week for Limerick. They got a decent point away to Pats on Saturday and in midweek announced plans for a new training/business complex in Bruff. Exciting times off the field but they remain winless on the field. On Friday they lost 1-0 to Drogheda United leaving them with 2 points so far. Like Derry, they've yet to score at home this season and the Bruff project won't help increase crowds in the short term like goals would. Lucily for them they travel to the generous UCD team on Friday.
No midweek fixtures this week but then we're into that crazy time of the year with 2 games a week for most clubs.
