It was a weekend of high drama in domestic football with a first time Champion named in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division , more twists and turns in the race for the Men’s title and the two finalists determined in the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup, all of it played out live on free to air television.
Goals from Madison Gibson and Kellie Brennan helped Athlone Town beat Bohemians 2-0 in Athlone Town Stadium, live on TG4, to secure a first ever League Title with one match still to play. They will also face Shelbourne, their nearest challengers in the Sports Direct Women’s FAI FA Cup Final at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday, October 20th.
The two Semi Finals in the Sports Direct Mens FAI Cup were played out live on RTÉ2 and in front of sold out stadia on Friday Night at Dalymount and on Sunday afternoon at Weavers Park in Drogheda.
Derry City overcame Bohemians in the first and Drogheda United came from 1-0 down at half time to beat Wexford and get to the Aviva Stadium for only the third time in their history and the first since 2013 when they lost to Sligo Rovers.
Then on Sunday afternoon Shamrock Rovers moved to second place in the Men’s Premier Division with a 2-0 win over Shelbourne, again televise live and played in front of a large live attendance.
Derry City will have played both their games in hand on Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers by the time of the next full round of fixtures. Two home wins against Bohemians and Sligo Rovers would put them two clear of Shelbourne and four of Rivers with each side then having three games left to play.
Rovers have away trips to Drogheda and Dundalk before finishing at home to Waterford. Shelbourne are home to Waterford and Drogheda before heading to fce Derry City in the Brandywell on the last night of the season, Friday 1st November. Derry’s two other games before that are away to Dundalk and St Patrick’s Athletic, who themselves could get to 59 points if they win their last four games, as could Galway United, currently in fourth and Sligo Rovers currently in 6th.
How many other European Leagues could have six teams still in contention with three weeks left to play?
And away from the brighter lights, the second LOI Down Syndrome Futsal Festival took place with 9 League of Ireland clubs taking part and Finn Harps taking home the trophy.
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