Week two was a big one in the League of Ireland. 10 games in the top tier and three more in the First Division. We had our first look at five teams.
Derry City are legit
The pre-season buzz was backed up with a thrilling win over champions Shamrock Rovers in front of a packed Ryan McBride Brandywell on Friday night.
Jamie McGonigle continues to impress leading the line and the finish for his winner in injury time, assisted by a rare Pico Lopes mistake, highlighted how confidently he’s playing at the moment.
They followed that up with a scoreless draw at home to Sligo which may seem like a disappointment, but manager Ruadhri Higgins was glowing in his praise of the performance.
Absolute magic. Jamie McGonigle's last-minute winner for Derry against Shamrock Rovers. #TheGreatestLeagueInTheWorldpic.twitter.com/JuUg8fwhTZ
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 25, 2022
Sligo Rovers look legit too
Two big away games in four days and four points brought home after their delayed start to the season.
The 0-0 in the Brandywell was hard fought and if we expect Derry to be challenging for a title, then any point won there will be well-earned.
On Friday night they went to Inchicore and deservedly beat St Pats with Aidan Keena giving a masterclass on working centre backs as the lone striker. Rovers rode their luck a little at the end but the excellent Ed McGinty will earn them a lot of points this year.
Pats are in trouble
28 February 2022; St Patrick's Athletic players appeal to referee Neil Doyle during the League of Ireland Premier Division match between Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Not relegation trouble, but Tim Clancy’s side look miles off the contenders some pundits were predicting in pre-season.
They only started playing after 80 minutes or so in Friday’s loss to Sligo, and on Monday never really got going in Dalymount against Bohs.
They still have fine attacking players but have given up a lot of chances in their opening three games with the new, young back four struggling to gel.
They play champions Shamrock Rovers at home on Friday and a loss would see a return from their opening four league games.
Something's happening with League of Ireland crowds
We're starting to see regular sell outs in the League of Ireland. Sure, some of it is down to low capacity in some stadiums but these capacities have existed in previous years and we very rarely saw sell-outs.
Shamrock Rovers lead the way with nearly 3,500 season tickets sold. Bohs and Damien Duff’s Shelbourne both reported record pre-season ticket sales while Pats have sold out away allocations for their three games so far.
The Derry buzz is well documented, and they may sell out every game this year if they’re challenging. However, the most impressive crowd in week two was the 4,984 who turned up in Turners Cross to see Cork City’s home opener against Galway United. Incredible turn out.
Tonight’s official attendance is 4,984!
Absolutely incredible support 👏🏼👏🏼
🟢 0-1 🟣#CCFC84 | 🚗 - https://t.co/92U3RskdQb
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) February 25, 2022
John Caulfield isn’t finished yet
Last week the Irish Independent’s Dan McDonnell looked at how Cork City fell from Champions to the First Division in record time.
The inspiration may have been John Caulfield’s recent memoir where he lay the blame at City’s new, younger board of management. That didn’t go down well on Leeside and they countered that Caulfield’s wayward spending contributed massively to their financial issues that ultimately led to a restrictive playing budget.
It’s fair to say that Caulfield struggled with that budget, but he showed on Friday that he can still manage. His Galway United side got their first win in Cork since 1993 with a typically Caulfieldian hard-working display.
They’ve only played one game but it’s a great marker to set for the season.
UCD aren’t going to be pushovers
After an opening night three-goal defeat in Tallaght, UCD have followed it up with successive goalless draws at home to Finn Harps and Damien Duff’s Shelbourne.
They still haven’t scored a goal yet but keeping clean sheets is a great base on which to build on. They’ve relaxed their student only policy and the experience of alumni Evan Osam will certainly help at the back.
28 February 2022; Stephen Mallon of Bohemians celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the League of Ireland Premier Division match between Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Bohs and their wingers are back
When Bohs were at their best under Keith Long, it was because of flying wingers and this year, they’re back. Last year Ali Coote and Liam Burt were fine attackers, but they didn’t quite have the pace and directness of Stephen Mallon and Kris Twardek.
Mallon missed most of 2021 through injury but he’s already shown that he’ll be one of the most exciting players in the league if he stays fit.
Several teams in the division have moved towards a narrower attacking formation but Bohs seem committed to wide men and have two of the league’s best.
28 February 2022; Tony Sheridan of the UCD groundstaff attempts to stop a sprinkler with a wheelbarrow during the League of Ireland Premier Division match between UCD and Shelbourne at UCD Bowl in Belfield, Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
The League remains the undefeated #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld
Where else will sprinklers go off mid-game with only a man and a wheelbarrow to stop them?
Highlights in https://t.co/50T7mh9HBt pic.twitter.com/oRncHdktJa
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) February 28, 2022
See Also: Jurgen Klopp Explains Plan For Ireland's Caoimhín Kelleher Future
