Dundalk looking like Champions and Bray back to being thrashed. Here's the state of the League of Ireland after week 8.
The Big Story
Dundalk are starting to look a class above the rest of the league. After this weekend (when they should beat struggling Bray Wanderers), the league will be one-third finished.
Dundalk have played the teams in 2nd, 3rd and 4th away, winning 2 and drawing the other. That draw was after letting slip a 2 goal lead when their goalkeeper was sent off in Tallaght. They've won every home game and they're now 5 points clear of the chasing pack. It's an astonishingly strong start.
The Team Of The Week
Galway United lost their first four away games of the season without scoring a goal and conceding 10. To be fair to the Westerners those games were against the League's top 4 clubs at the moment, but even still, nobody expected Galway to score 5 away to Bray Wanderers on Saturday.
Former Salthill, Athlone and Derry striker Enda Curran is still a young man and his hat trick at the weekend brings his season tally to 6. No striker has scored more. They play host to St Pats this Friday and a win there would be a huge boost for the club as they look to establish themselves in the Premier Division following promotion last year.
The GIF of the Week
Yes it deserved its own post but Kealan Dillon's goal for Bohs away to Derry is so good we had to include it here too. Can't wait to see what mediocrity Soccer Republic viewers vote in ahead of it for April's Goal of the Month.
The Sportsfile Picture of the Week
Your Greatest League In The World™ Pic of the Week
Ah lads across the road from us they have a Big Dundalk FC bouncy castle ???????? Love this town pic.twitter.com/LG2nGOet8C — Francie Reilly (@francie_mcfc) April 25, 2015
Your Greatest League In The World™ Club Tweet of the Week
38: Highlight of the first half since the goal has been the Youths goalkeeper coach being knocked over by a stray ball
— Wexford Youths FC (@WexfordYouthsFC) April 24, 2015
Your Greatest League In The World™ Player Tweet of the Week
Can learn alot from this book My fav was saving earths entire species on a boat Shame there's no fashion advice in it pic.twitter.com/znvDvfzO5v — Richard Brush (@richbrush) April 26, 2015
Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush is one of the most interesting players in the league, not least because he may have more medals than games played with his various spells at Sligo and Shamrock Rovers.
Stat of the Week
@WexfordYouthsFC @danny_furlong is the fourth player in the modern era to score 5 or more goals in one League game pic.twitter.com/m91ZEfKuGe
— Karl Reilly (@HistoryLOI) April 26, 2015
Wexford Youths 7-0 win over Cabinteely was also a club record win. Their previous best was 6-0 over local rivals Waterford United in 2012.
Next Week
An odd weekend awaits the SSE Airtricity League with only one series being played but games spread out over 4 days. Friday night will see Shamrock Rovers host Drogheda United and St Pats travel to Galway. If either wants to win a league, they'll need to win games like this.
Longford play Derry and Sligo host bottom side Limerick on Saturday. If Sligo don't win, it's hard to see Owen Heary staying much longer. Bank Holiday Monday sees Setanta Ireland broadcast a live double header.
Dundalk host Bray Wanderers and if last weekend's form holds true for both teams, Dundalk may win by 20*. After that Bohemians and Cork City face off in another big test for both clubs. Neither of whom have managed to beat any of the other top 5 contenders yet this season.
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*Dundalk probably won't win 20-0. We can't accept responsibility for any gambling losses based on information in this column.
