Two Dublin derbies: one decided by brilliance, the other by farce

Two Dublin Derbies across two different divisions in two days. One decided by brilliance, the other by farce.

For Extratime.ie: Sean Boyd on celebration: "I'd do it again."

Sean Boyd celebrated in front of Bohemians fans after netting the all-important third goal in Shamrock Rovers' 3-1 win at Tallaght Stadium, enraging the travelling Gypsies support – and then said after the game, “I'd do it again.”

For Extratime.ie: Flabbergasted Keegan rues Cherrie save

Wexford Youths boss Shane Keegan admitted he was “flabbergasted” to see his side lose 3-0 to Bray Wanderers – and he was left ruing an incredible Peter Cherrie save which took place 60 seconds before the Seagulls netted their third. 

For Extratime.ie: Buckley believes league form is irrelevant to Europa League tie

St. Patrick's Athletic boss Liam Buckley doesn't believe his side's inconsistent form in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division will have any bearing on their Europa League first qualifying round tie with Jeunesse Esch. 

CorkCityFC.ie: Saints secure late win at Richmond Park

This match report was written for CorkCityFC.ie and was published 27/07/2013.

St. Patrick's Athletic   2          Cork City   1

Cork City were seconds away from securing the unlikeliest of points at Richmond Park but an eventful second half ended in heartbreak for the travelling Leesiders as a late Killian Brennan penalty secured a 2-1 win for league leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic.

CorkCityFC.ie: Shels edge tense Tolka Park battle

This match report was written for CorkCityFC.ie and was published 12/07/2013.

Shelbourne   2                        Cork City   1

Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty said before the game that failure to get a result in Tolka Park would render last week’s victory over champions Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross meaningless – and sadly for him and the travelling Rebel Army, he was unable to prevent Johnny McDonnell’s Reds from edging a scrappy game.

CorkCityFC.ie: City beaten at the Belfield Bowl

This match report was written for CorkCityFC.ie and was published 28/06/2013: it can be viewed in its original form here.

UCD    3                      Cork City         0

Tommy Dunne said before the game that Cork City would need some luck to get a result in the UCD Bowl – but sadly for the Leesiders they didn’t get an ounce of it as they were put to the sword by the Students.

Shels' fightback begins as ten man Bohs capitulate

Bohemians   0     Shelbourne   3

The Shelbourne renaissance under Johnny McDonnell began in earnest at Dalymount Park as the Reds comfortably despatched ten man Bohemians, securing their first league win since early May, with Dean Kelly becoming the first Shels player to score more than once in a league game this season.

Mathews gone but not forgotten

The fans sang throughout that, with Alan Mathews gone, "things will only get better." Yet after the manner of their 3-0 home reverse to St. Patrick's Athletic last night it is clear that you can take the manager from the club but not the team that he assembled - and that things will most likely need to get worse before they get better.

Paisley's enforced departure highlights home truths

The first memory that comes to mind when I hear the name Stephan Paisley isn't even football related. It was New Year's Eve, 2011. I was in the Grand Social on Lower Liffey Street with friends and 2012 had long been rung in by the time I decided to pick up my jacket and head home. As I was leaving, I spotted a familiar face.

No surface worries for Sligo as they make it five from five

Bohemians   0     Sligo Rovers   3

The much maligned Dalymount Park surface didn't stop the Sligo machine from churning out another victory as Ian Baraclough's men made it five wins from five Premier Division games with a 3-0 victory over Bohemians, providing RTÉ with live League of Ireland goals for the first time in four attempts in the process.

Shels Byrned by former striker as Crowley sees red on début

BRAY WANDERERS   1     SHELBOURNE   0

The countdown to 200 is on for Jason Byrne as the Bray striker's second-half goal proved to be the difference between the Seasiders and ten man Shelbourne at the Carlisle Grounds.

Fingal Independent: Byrne "gutted" at the manner of the defeat

Conan Byrne admitted he was "gutted" with the manner in which Sporting Fingal let three points slip from their grasp against UCD at Morton Stadium.

Fingal Independent: Sporting let the points slip through their fingers

SPORTING FINAL   1     UCD   2

Sporting Fingal were hit by an Evan McMillan sucker-punch in the 87th minute as UCD snatched all three points to dent the Ravens' title hopes.

Fingal Independent: Clarke calls for Fingal title push

Sporting Fingal goalkeeper Brendan Clarke is pleased with the Ravens' position going into the mid-season break and sees no reason why the club cannot push on to win the Airtricity League title.

Fingal Independent: Fingal step up title chase

SPORTING FINAL   2     GALWAY UNITED   0

Goals from Ronan Finn and substitute Eamon Zayed at Morton Stadium moved Sporting Fingal to within three points of the Airtricity League summit with a game in hand last Saturday.