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Cork City's Garry Buckley. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

5 reasons to watch the League of Ireland this weekend

After another midweek of European fixtures, it’s back to domestic football for all 12 Premier Division clubs.

1. Rebels at Dalyer

IN ONE OF of two Premier Division matches on Friday night, Cork City travel to Dublin after their recent 2-1 win over UCD at Turner’s Cross.

Neck-and-neck with Dundalk at the top of the table, John Caulfield’s men have claimed four victories and one draw from their last five league games.

Bohemians were one of the six clubs who didn’t play last weekend but are unbeaten in four and did claim a 1-1 draw when the teams met at Turner’s Cross earlier in the season.

2. Hoops host Drogs

With just a single point separating themselves and the drop zone, Drogheda United head to Tallaght Stadium eager to add three more to their tally.

In the absence of league action, the Drogs picked up two friendlies wins against MK Dons and Warrenpoint and caretaker Darius Kierans has expressed his satisfaction with the performances.

It will be his fourth match in charge since Robbie Horgan’s departure but, worryingly, the Louth outfit have lost out to the Hoops in the league and cup already in 2014. Third-placed Rovers are without Stephen McPhail, seeing out the final game of his suspension, while goalkeeper Barry Murphy is doubtful.

3. Saints look to put Europe behind them

St Patrick’s Athletic will be aiming to end a disappointing week, which had promised so much, on a high on Saturday evening.

After their 1-1 first leg draw with Legia Warsaw in the Champions League, there was premature talk of a high profile tie against Celtic in the next round. However, the Saints were brought right back down to earth with a 5-0 hammering at Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday night.

The reigning champions are in Lissywollen tomorrow to take on an Athlone side who went down 2-0 to Dundalk last Sunday.

4. Candystripes at the Bowl

UCD will be without Robbie Creevy and Hugh Douglas when Derry City arrive at the Belfield Bowl on Sunday. Creevy, who was on target in the 2-1 defeat to Cork last time out, is out for four week with a thigh problem while Douglas was sent off in that game meaning he is suspended.

Derry will this morning be on their way home from Belarus, where they lost to Shakhter Soligorsk in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round last night.

The Candystripes’ last involvement in the league produced a 5-0 drubbing of Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell and manager Peter Hutton will be hoping for more of the same as they look to break back into the top five.

5. Seagulls travel to Louth

Bray Wanderers were 1-0 winners over a Manchester United Reserve XI during a friendly at the Carlisle Grounds earlier in the week and the Seagulls meet QPR in the final game of their summer series a day before their clash with league leaders Dundalk.

Alan Mathews’ men were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Shamrock Rovers at home last Friday night and will have it all do against a Lilywhites team beaten just twice all season in the league.

Premier Division 

Friday (8pm)

  • Bohemians v Cork City
  • Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United

Saturday (7.45pm)

  • Athlone Town v St Patrick’s Athletic 

Sunday (7pm unless stated otherwise)

  • UCD v Derry City (5pm)
  • Dundalk v Bray 
  • Sligo Rovers v Limerick 

First Division

Friday (8pm unless stated otherwise)

  • Galway v Cobh Ramblers (7.45pm)
  • Shelbourne v Finn Harps
  • Wexford Youths v Shamrock Rovers

Saturday (7.30pm)

  • Longford Town v Waterford United

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14 Comments
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
    Favourite Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:10 AM

    I could give you 50 reasons why not to watch it

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:44 AM

    Go on Chris, I’m waiting.

    53
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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:34 AM

    Reason no 50; 50 that’s the amount of people who turn up and pay to watch this drivel

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    Mute Cillian Mc Phillips
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    Jul 25th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Cork city have had 5000+ at games this year

    47
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    Mute Cian O'Connor
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:53 AM

    Go on Chris rundown your own county again. You really don’t have a clue how important a domestic league is to a country and how it influences the nation teams performance do you??

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 25th 2014, 12:21 PM

    One down Chris, 49 to go

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    Mute Ger O'Brien
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    Jul 25th 2014, 4:37 PM

    I think Chris is just jealous that nowhere near 50 people went to see him win that tin pot cup in his picture.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jul 25th 2014, 4:46 PM

    Cian if the organisation that run the league pay their head man more than the president of the USA while most grounds don’t have basic facilities they don’t need me to run them down.

    Reason no 49 I was going to see at pats play Celtic but I can’t seem to find tickets anywhere, so I gave up trying
    I read comments last week that

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Jul 25th 2014, 6:34 PM

    Rather pathetic attempt Chris.

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    Mute Kevin Cronin
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    Jul 25th 2014, 8:15 AM

    Cork city played ucd in turners cross last weekend

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    Mute Michael Gill
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    Jul 25th 2014, 11:47 AM

    Chris u are a Muppet if more people when to watch it than armchair supporter they would be better off than running down the league ltfc fan

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    Mute Richie Sheridan
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    Jul 25th 2014, 2:59 PM

    Cork are a good side to watch. Liam Kearney, Billy Dennehey, Colin Healy, good flair players. John O Flynn now back with them too, like the side they had 5/6 years ago with O Callaghan and Gamble, Neale Fenn.

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    Mute Ian O'lone
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    Jul 25th 2014, 3:23 PM

    Should be a cracker at dalymount tonight, why not come along Chris after you extract your head from your arse and you may even enjoy yourself.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Jul 25th 2014, 4:50 PM

    No 48 if the amount of people that call other armchair fans or abuse others for supporting English teams actually turn up to L of I game all the games would be sold out. But then again internet talk is easy getting off your arse isn’t

    6
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