You know what we did this weekend? We learned 5 things from week 6 of the SSE Airtricity League, that's what we did. So here they are for your infotainment;
1) Cork City won't run away with the league
They had all the momentum in the world and the backing of, seemingly, every person on Leeside but Cork City dropped from the top spot with a 1-1 draw at home to Sligo Rovers. There was plenty of late drama in Turner's Cross with Kieran Djilali putting the visitors ahead in the 89th minute only for Billy Dennehy's injury time penalty maintain Cork's unbeaten run at home. Most commentators praised Sligo's much improved performance but they've still only scored 4 goals and currently sit second bottom of the league.
2) Dundalk can't stop scoring goals
Dundalk's 4-1 victory away to UCD on Friday night brought their 8 day total to 11 goals. They've had 8 different scorers in those 3 games with the much talked about Pat Hoban scoring twice on Friday. This week is a pretty big week for them as they host Shamrock Rovers twice in 4 days. Tomorrow (Tuesday) they bring a 2-1 lead into the Setanta Cup semi final 2nd leg and on Friday the Tallaght side visit in the League. A top of the table Dundalk side hosting Shamrock Rovers is always going to be special for Oriel Park regulars.
3) Not a week goes by without some ref grabbing the headlines
On Friday night in Inchicore referee David McKeon didn't have the best of games. St Pats fumed when they weren't awarded a penalty for a shove on Christy Fagan and that Stephen McPhail hadn't received a second yellow card after successive heavy fouls. That was until just before half time when a "foul" on Conan Byrne led to them being awarded a penalty and Luke Byrne being sent off. Pretty much everybody in the ground agreed it was a ridiculous decision and it ended up being the difference between the sides as Killian Brennan's strike was the only goal of the game. Pats have had more reason than most to complain about refs this season and felt they were owed but another big game ended with more talk of the referee than about the game.
4) Owen Heary's honeymoon period is well over.
4 mins additional time...DO SOMETHING!!!
— Bohemian FC (@bfcdublin) April 11, 2014
We've just had the most entertaining moment of the first half as a ball boy had to retrieve the match ball from a bin.
— Bohemian FC (@bfcdublin) April 11, 2014
The Bohemians twitter account tells you how frustrated Bohs fans are feeling at the moment. Until Friday night Limerick hadn't won all season. Their 1-0 win may only have been Bohs 2nd defeat of the season but they free scoring start to the season is quickly fading from memory. Bohs play Pats, Sligo and Cork in their next 3 games and could easily find themselves back amongst the strugglers if they don't manage to up their performance levels
5) At least one Shamrock Rovers side can win
Shamrock Rovers B side picked up their first ever win yesterday, beating pre-season First Division favourites Longford Town 2-1 thanks to Daniel Purdy's 93rd minute winner. Purdy, who impressed with Longford Town last season, has scored 4 of Rovers B's 6 goals this season and may be pushing into the Premier Division side soon. It was a disappointing day for 2 ex-hoops at Tallaght with Pat Sullivan playing his part in the winner and Pat Flynn being sent off at the full time whistle for dissent.
Tonight St Patrick's Athletic try to overhaul a 2 goal deficit at home to Sligo Rovers in the Setanta Cup semi final 2nd leg. Tomorrow night Dundalk defend a 2-1 lead over Shamrock Rovers in their 2nd leg tie. Both games live on Setanta Sports with 8pm kick offs.
