This week, Dessie looks back on a weekend of many split decisions, how the results have blown the league wide open but why he’s still banking on Shamrock Rovers to do the business.
I thought Rovers were lucky to get the point on Friday night but, to be fair to them, they showed great character, especially when going down to 10 men with Gary McCabe being sent off near the end.
I don’t think Michael O’Neill would have been too happy with that situation. Michael is strict on indiscipline at the club so he won’t be impressed at all. I didn’t hear what McCabe said to the linesman but it must have been bad enough for him to get his marching orders.
To be fair to Bohs they were more than decent for a young side and they look organised, as you’d expect from Pat Fenlon going up against a Rovers side of this stature. It was good to see Rovers get the point in the end though, because it does show character when you get back into a game late on like that.
Derry delight
Derry will be delighted with a win at Terryland Park. It’s so hard to go there and get a result. Derry are looking solid over the last few weeks following the draw with Rovers and two wins on the trot now. It puts them up there at the top with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers, and they can’t seem to put a foot wrong at the minute.
I don’t think Derry would have thought they’d be in this position after seven games but they’ve got players scoring goals with James McClean and Eamon Zayed. Both are in terrific form and put in super shifts against Galway.
Salvaging
It’s unfortunate that Sligo didn’t get the three points but I always felt it was going to be a draw for them with Dundalk – two teams that are playing reasonably well in the last few weeks. Bringing back a point from there is no easy task, though, after Jason Byrne scored early doors they did tremendously well to salvage something.
Sligo Rovers’ John Russell celebrates Gavin Peers’ (left) goal
I think Pats would be more disappointed with the result than UCD were with the claiming the point in a 1-1 draw. Pats were in control for most of the game but they couldn’t push home. It’s so important to pick up points at home if you’re going for titles and if Pats continue to let in sloppy goals like that one in the 90th minute, then they won’t be competing for silverware.
If Bray keep picking up these points they should be okay and, who knows, they could find themselves in a handy position when it gets to the business end.
Bray gets dizzy
Bray’s win at home to Drogheda on Saturday was just rewards for hard work. It was nice to see Danny O’Connor scoring again, I think he’s scored in the last three games and this result comes off the back of a super win against Shamrock Rovers.
Bray were two up early on and it was very difficult for Drogheda to come back from that. It was a real six-pointer as the two of them were near the bottom but now Bray find themselves in dizzy territory. If Bray keep picking up these points they should be okay and, who knows, they could find themselves in a handy position when it gets to the business end.
I think there’s just two points in the difference between the five or six teams at the top now so it’s good for the league and crowds could get bigger over the enxt few months as a result. Rovers aren’t walking away with it now so it’s encouraging for everyone.
You have to expect Rovers kicking on again though, they’ll get another run together. It’s all about whether the others can match that. But I don’t know if they have the squads to stay with them as teams pick up injuries as the season progresses.
For the time being it’s good for the likes of Derry and Sligo. Nobody would have put Bray in top five at this stage before the seaosn started, so it does make it interesting. Howver, I fully expect Rovers to get back into full swing very soon.
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