No Premier Division action this week, no problem. We’ve still a bit to talk about for fans of League of Ireland clubs and other discerning football supporters who’ve stumbled across this. It’s our Week 6 wrap up.
Cork City clinched promotion
Incredible once again 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼#CCFC84 | #WeAreCity pic.twitter.com/nxt1k6pQPp
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) March 25, 2022
Okay, so they’re only three points ahead of a Galway United side who’ve already beat them and have a game in hand, but Friday couldn’t have gone better for City. A big 4-1 win at home to Athlone was bolstered by defeats to both Galway (away to Longford) and Waterford (away to Treaty). City getting more at their game than the rest of the division combined this week probably shows why they’re hot favourites to win promotion back to the top tier.
The Own Goal of the Season award was clinched too.
🗣️ "𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙚"
Longford Town with a mix up at the back to hand Galway United the lead 😱@LongfordTownFC 0-1 @GalwayUnitedFC
Sign up 📺 | https://t.co/7rzXOfm8p9#LOI | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/w34FrSOJoO— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) March 25, 2022
Michael McDonnell’s calm finish into his own net on Friday may have raised a few more questions than it did had Longford Town not come back to win against Galway. Thankfully the majesty of his own goal is unsullied.
The top 3 continue to dominate in the Women’s LOI
An easy 7—0 win for Shelbourne over Cork while Ellen Molloy again starred for Wexford Youths as they beat Treaty United at home. Leaders Peamount United were the only one of the top 3 to be put under any pressure as they nearly let a 3 goal cushion slip against DLR Waves before seeing It out to keep their 100% record intact. Bohs and Athlone recorded their first wins of the season to leave only Cork and Treaty without a point this year. The pick of the games this weekend is undoubtably Peamount hosting Wexford on Saturday evening. At least one 100% record will be gone.
GOAL ⚽️ | Peamount United 3-0 DLR Waves
Lauren Kelly finishes off a well-worked move for Peamount's second.
Watch it LIVE 👉 https://t.co/oFF4Y65caN pic.twitter.com/rskx59j6aa— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) March 26, 2022
The senior international team and its LOI links
20 October 2017; Chiedozie Ogbene of Limerick FC celebrates after the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match between Limerick FC and Galway United at Market's Field in Limerick. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
The men’s senior international team hasn’t been as closely aligned to the LOI in decades. Manager Stephen Kenny, and most of his backroom team, made their name here obviously but both goalscorers in Saturday’s draw with Belgium came through the academy ranks of Cork City with Chiedozie Ogbene playing for Cork and Limerick before making his name in England. Six of the team who played against Belgium played some of their developing years with LOI clubs.
An update on the underage internationals
Nathan Shepperd, Dan Williams & Joe Adams 🏴
Cwrdd â'r tri Cymro ifanc sy'n chwarae eu pêl-droed yn Dundalk.@DundalkFC | @Cymru pic.twitter.com/pNUUhbPkz1— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) March 25, 2022
We went into details last week about the number of underage internationals currently playing in the league. Welsh channel’s S4C sent out a team to talk about Dundalk and their trio of players. All three would play in a 5-1 defeat away to Switzerland, with Joe Adams getting the goal. Shelbourne’s Lewis Webb and Drogheda United’s Sam Long didn’t make the matchday squad. The Ireland under 17s and under 19s suffered 2 disappointing defeats in their Elite qualifiers. Nice moment for St Pats James Abankwah scoring against England though.
Ireland will face Portugal on Saturday & Armenia on Tuesday, both in St George's Park#StPatsFC #InternationalSaints 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/nfEXp31Q7p
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) March 24, 2022
We’re back to a full programme at the weekend and managers will hope their players come back unscathed from the international endeavours. There isn’t a stand-out tie in the Premier Division with perhaps Bohemians hosting Derry City being the pick of the bunch. We spoke last time about how Keith Long may be under pressure and he has a busy weekend as the following Tuesday, Bohs travel to Sligo Rovers.
SEE ALSO: Welcome To The First Ever International Break for the League of Ireland
