Greatest League in the World 2026 [LOI Thread]

Dunmoreroader · 04-05-2026 08:18PM

What a mad game at the RSC - could have finished 6-6! Dundalk could have been 4-1 up at half-time and coasting but once the Blues scored it was like a light switch was flicked and they tore into it. Dundalk had the worst miss I've ever seen just before they went back in front but the Blues never gave up as they looked like scoring everytime they went forward ( hit the woodwork 3 times during the game).

Unfortunately only a point, the wait for a win goes on, the gap to Sligo stays unshrunk but the feeling at the end was positive and defiant. Who knows, there's life in the corpse yet!

NIMAN · 04-05-2026 09:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124443620#Comment_124443620

We were absolutely brutal again.

Lynch needs to go soon.

ben.schlomo · 04-05-2026 09:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124443982#Comment_124443982

Ya ye were relatively easy to contain for most of the game. Bar Clarke's strike in the first half ye didn't create anything apart from the equaliser. Seemed ye were praying for a Duffy show again.

trashcan · 04-05-2026 11:52PM

Disappointing from Pats to drop a lead again in Sligo. Thought we were comfortably the better team in the first half, and a lovely goal from Kian Leavy. Thought the penalty was harsh and then in the second half we just didn't do enough. Four points would have been ok from these two games, two feels like an opportunity lost, especially when we were leading in both games, and we've gone from being a point ahead of Rovers to three behind.

rolling boh · 05-05-2026 05:17AM

Even at this stage it looks fairly ominous regarding the outcome even if it was expected .

Patrick2010 · 05-05-2026 09:33AM

Rovers won at a stroll without Burke,Watts, Mandriou,Noonan,Brennan, Lopes, Gaffney. At this stage you'd have to say only Pats can catch them, the rest look too far back.

Dogsdodogsstuff · 05-05-2026 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124444664#Comment_124444664

Shame really as there are so many good games , lots of goals and there’s relatively little seperating alot of the teams. Vanilla Bradley and rovers walking the league isn’t ideal to keep building on all the great work done during Duff’s reign.

ollaetta · 05-05-2026 10:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124444873#Comment_124444873

I'm a lifelong pessimist so I wouldn't be counting my chickens yet. It was a good win but from 2-0 at half time it was only a mad deflection away from being 2-2 within ten minutes of the second half. They'd put the heart crossways in you sometimes with all the dinky passing in the penalty area. Very pleased to see the goals not coming from the usual sources and to see another 17 year old Ben Mahon making his debut albeit briefly. Any one have any word on Danny Grant? Hasn't played since the Bohs game.

NIMAN · 05-05-2026 10:26AM

Rovers will canter to this league title.

artanevilla · 05-05-2026 10:44AM

So they should, and if they split into two teams they'd finish 1st and 2nd. Resources way beyond anyone else.

Patrick2010 · 05-05-2026 10:49AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124444945#Comment_124444945

Actually I forgot Danny Grant when listing missing players, assume hes injured. Yes, that passing around the back is very risky, great when it comes off and you find a midfielder in space but a few times it broke down. I actually didn't think it was a great Rovers performance yesterday, lots of possession but sloppy final balls.

ollaetta · 05-05-2026 11:13AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124445036#Comment_124445036

No, it wasn't. Shades of the Friday performance against Waterford for a long time before the first goal.

ShagNastii · 05-05-2026 11:25AM

I can't imagine what Shels points tally would be if silly/soft goals didn't count. Bohs walked in their equalizer.

There is absolutely no urgency once a team makes it into our final third. It's like they're petrified to make a tackle anywhere within the penalty box.

Dogsdodogsstuff · 05-05-2026 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124445112#Comment_124445112

Also struggle maintaining momentum. When we score we tend to drop off for Some reason. Noticed bit more game management in last two games (players sh*thousing wasting time or breaking up play).

Hope to see more of Freitas, he seems to always at least win dangerous frees or a peno. Also comfortable driving at defenders, want to see him through one on one as most defenders will struggle to keep up with him.

ShagNastii · 05-05-2026 11:57AM

Freitas and Lungdren are very zippy, tricky players. It's an awful pity they both lack real physicality.

John Martin is having a solid enough season. He has taken his goals well.

trashcan · 05-05-2026 01:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124444873#Comment_124444873

They are obviously clear favourites, but, it's still only May, so a lot of football to be played yet. I think Pats needed minimum 4 points from this weekend, so I'm not sure how near we are to challenging. If we can keep Palmers and Keena fit we might possibly be in with a shout. Its definitely worrying for everyone else though.

Dogsdodogsstuff · 05-05-2026 03:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124445212#Comment_124445212

Yeh Martins been excellent,

Maybe Freitas and Lungdren can grow into the league, easy to forget they’ve only a few months under their belt and it’s not like the team has settled into a good run “yet”. Feels like our season hasn’t really gotten going.

Ohmeha · 05-05-2026 07:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124445112#Comment_124445112

The eye test and the stats don't lie Shels at 24 goals conceded in 14 games so far this season are now only 3 goals away from their entire total of 27 goals conceded in 36 games in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. If Shels keep up this concession rate it will be 61 goals conceded for this season, in LOI history the highest amount of goals conceded to finish 3rd was 42 goals on three occasions, 4th was 44 goals on two occasions though maybe some records can be broken but I strongly doubt it

tayto lover · 05-05-2026 10:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124443813#Comment_124443813

A mad game indeed. Dundalk could have been out of sight in the first half but the young lads looked very nervy after Waterford scored. I was happy enough to get the point in the end. It's another point towards safety. Best of lock to Waterford for rest of league.

PGE1970 · 06-05-2026 12:27PM

New man in at Waterford

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0506/1571966-coughlan-takes-over-at-bottom-side-waterford-fc/

trashcan · 06-05-2026 12:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124447828#Comment_124447828

Someone put up an old quote from him where he was complaining about LOI clubs being too greedy and not selling their players to the UK on the cheap. Wonder will he change his tune now ?

artanevilla · 06-05-2026 02:00PM

Paper doesn't refuse ink lads.

Dunmoreroader · 06-05-2026 09:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124447857#Comment_124447857

Doesn't inspire confidence from a Waterford point of view.

Oat23 · 06-05-2026 11:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124449195#Comment_124449195

What he did at Boston is exactly what Waterford need actually. For my own side's sake I hope it doesn't work out obviously, but he has a history of taking over sides dead & buried only to turn it around.

Dogsdodogsstuff · 07-05-2026 09:59AM

Mbeng, , Casey , Norris , Rossi all injured with Barret only back after decent layoff, that’s an entire defensive line missing for months.

That doesn’t include Mipo who was our starting striker before injury. Some of them due back in training in next week or so.

Easy to forget Shels have been dogged by injury’s , will be interesting to see if we improve when we finally have fully fit squad. Certainly should on paper be shipping less goals and we could start hitting some memontum like last season and finish strong. Just need to keep in it for the moment, I’d take any win at home against Sligo, if nothing else to sort out the home form.

legendary.xix · 08-05-2026 05:52PM

PD

Drogs v Derry

Dundalk v Bohs

Galway v Shams

Shels v Sligo

Pat's v Waterford

FD

Athlone v Treaty

Bray v Cobh

Cork v UCD

Harps v Kerry

Wexford v Longford

Top of the table clash in Turners Cross. UCD currently top the table. Bray - Cobh is a playoff 6 pointer of 5th v 6th. Kerry have a long journey to Donegal. Looking to back up an impressive win over Cork on Monday.

tayto lover · 08-05-2026 05:57PM

I'd be happy with a point at home to Bohs tonight. I saw some of their game at Rovers and they were very unlucky not to win that. Dundalk not playing particularly well but their energy is keeping them in games. Threw away a two goal lead in Waterford and then a goal lead near the end. Our defence has been poor enough and we're suspect to the high crosses.

DireD · 08-05-2026 06:15PM

end of robson tonight without a win against ucd.

Barnaboy · 08-05-2026 06:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453731#Comment_124453731

I'm visiting Oriel tonight for first time in many years. Hopeful of a win, but that's all. Zero expectation. Our fortunes have to change soon, surely?

artanevilla · 08-05-2026 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124453842#Comment_124453842

Nah.

Greatest League in the World 2026 [LOI Thread]

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