Green Shoots

Ireland has been in the news this week, primarily because of the Six Nations result. I have to admit that did please me, but the game of rugby union appears to have gone the way of limited overs cricket where all that matters is high scores and not tactics. It’s getting like basketball isn’t it? Mind, I did note in the pub on Saturday that West Ham’s late winner got a far louder chant than any England try.  

Anyway, turning our back on the 15 man code revenge for Skibbereen, we had St. Patrick’s Day this week. I celebrated it by skirting by seemingly deserted Hebburn Orange Lodge, attached to the Protestant Conservative Club, and heading to see Hebburn Town thump Birtley Town 4-1. On the way back, it occurred to me that the 2015 League of Ireland season has started and I’ve not written anything about it. Well, let’s put that right shall we?

My lack of engagement with the real Friday night football has partly been on account of the delay and possible cancellation of the curtain-raising, cross-border Setanta Cup, won in 2014 by Sligo Rovers over Dundalk in a monsoon at the Halting Site in Tallaght. Without the fanfare this competition occasions, how was I to know the hostilities had begun in earnest? This year, the current status of the competition is undecided, but it’s rumoured that cup and league champions of each football association play off against each other, to ensure a South v North final, probably in November after the Airtricity campaign finishes.  A glorified friendly in the middle of winter; that’ll see the fans flock to attend.

So, to recap on 2014; Dundalk were the Champions and EA (League) Cup winners, St Patrick’s Athletic won the FAI Cup, Athlone, who are rumoured to be in financial trouble, and UCD were relegated, Galway and Longford were promoted and Shamrock Rovers Reserves resigned from the First Division after 2 inglorious campaigns. With the second flight now only having 7 teams, another volunteer was sought; up stepped Cabinteely from the moneyed pastures of south Dublin. They’ll play their games at Blackrock rugby club in Stradbrook, basically because their home ground is a public park and no other teams were interested in filling the vacancy.  

Cabinteely have started off reasonably well; a 1-0 win over Wexford Youths in their first game was followed by a first round EA Cup win over local rivals UCD (all Garda Síochána leave south of Merrion Square cancelled that night) that has set them up facing Shamrock Rovers in round 2. Other EA Cup giant killers include University College Cork who won 2-1 away in Wexford and now face basement side, managerless Cobh Ramblers, as well as Crumlin United who saw off Bray Wanderers 4-2, though the Mayo League lost 8-0 to Sligo. Cockhill Celtic from Buncrana in Donegal got a bye to round 2, which is the last 16, and are drawn away to Galway. Ties take place on Easter Monday.

Returning to the league, after 3 games Athlone lead the First Division on goal difference from Finn Harps and Shelbourne, with all 3 teams having 7 points so far. In the top flight, Bohemians proudly stand on top of the table with maximum points, on goal difference from Dundalk. Bray are bottom, having lost every game, while Limerick and Longford are only a point better off. It’s early days of course…

I’m hoping, if my health is up to it, to get over in June; on Friday 12^th, Cabinteely host Athlone and Drogheda United play Derry City. I’ve not been to either of those grounds. Hopefully I’ll also get to see some GAA, though I’m a bit disappointed with Cork throwing away a 12 point lead over Tipp today in the hurling. The league’s don’t matter to most GAA fans, or so I’m lead to believe.

Anyway, more news on the League of Ireland and GAA as it occurs to me….