Navan 2 (Ruairi Clarke, Francis Houlihan) Skerries 1 (Ali McMahon)
Navan produced the shock of division two thus far to break their duck for the season against the league leaders, Skerries. The visitors had the majority of the play in the first half, scoring through Ali McMahon in the 30th minute from a corner.
The Badgers, though, stuck to their game plan and held firm in the face of more Skerries' attacks. Ruairi Clarke got them back on terms 15 minutes into the second half and with time running out, Francis Houlihan netted from a corner for a famous win. The corner was won by 16-year-old Simon McKeever on his senior debut with an impressive run into the circle.
Weston 2 (Karl Matthews, Barry Hyland) Bray 3 (Stephen Jones 2, Simon Cox)
Bray salvaged all three points with a hotly disputed late goal in Griffeen Valley Park, recovering to win despite trailing on two occasions against Weston. The Lucan-side took the lead before half-time when Karl Matthews scored but Bray were back on terms thanks to Stephen Jones scrappy effort soon after half-time.
The Wicklow-men had the majority of play, hitting the post and going close a couple of time while player-coach Paul Kennedy and Shane O'Hare defended well deep in their own half. Barry Hyland restored the lead, rounding Greg Keeley brilliantly for 2-1 but a Simon Cox goal and Jones' second ended hopes of a second win this term. Bray, meanwhile, stay in touch with Clontarf in the title chase.
Suttonians 2 (Mukhtar Ahmed, V Singh) Clontarf 4 (Andrew Poynter 2, Ross McMullen 2)
Clontarf produced a sensational second half fightback to beat Suttonians on their own patch. Suttonians held a 2-0 advantage thanks to Singh and Ahmed but found the game turned on its head with two goals apiece from Irish cricket international Andrew Poynter and Ross McMullen.
All the goals came in a ten minute burst at the start of the second half. The golden patch began in the 38th when McMullen was left all alone on the back post to tap in. Poynter added two tidy deflections from corners before the scoring was completed in the 45th minute.
The bad news for Clontarf was Rob Abbott's red card. He received a deserved yellow for a bodycheck and picked up a second late on in the game.
Avoca Naas - postponed
Interpro heroics mask structural deficiencies
7 years ago
53 comments:
Anyone hear the result from Naas v Avoca yet?
great result for navan,
simon mckeever is 15...
Is the Broadband out in Skerries?
Avoca Naas was not postponed. Naas did not show up!
go on the badgers!!!!!
Ruairi Clarke got the first goal for Navan. Badgers Bite Back!
No the Broadband is working in skerries. We are just taking the defeat on the chin. Bad loss for us but will just have to get back to winning ways.
So that's pretty much Suttonians season over then isn't it? 3 losses in the first 5 games. What's happened them? I thought they'd big potential after last season?
I wouldnt count sutton out yet. They are a very good side. Other teams are going to drop more points and we have only played 4-5 games.
but dropping 9 points in 5 games when the whole seaon is only 48 points? It'll take a hell of a mess up by Skerries/Clontarf/Bray to let Suttonians back in. Did Clontarf deserve the win on Saturday?
Well done to Navan on Saturday and good to see so many young guys playing for them, Broadband aint down in Skerries we,ll be back still possible to collect 6 points b4 xmas and sit on top on GD over xmas, although i am sure Weston and Bray will have something to add to that.
Clontarf absolutely deserved to win. We were lucky to be 2-0 up at the break but we couldn't string 2 passes together. We will need some run to get us back up there but we're up for it. Richie.
How long will Abbo be out for with that Red card?
what did he get red for?
If Sutts are to get back into it i think they are gonna have to win all remaining games and still then i think 2nd place is the best they can hope for..
Clontarf are looking very strong at the moment,but there is a long way to go. Not much on this site about Bray? are they going about there business quietly without thumping some of the low teams in league.
I Heard Abbo got a yellow for a bad tackle but not sure what the red card was for.
I wonder if he will get banned by the branch?
Suttonians had lost 3 matches this time last year and then went on to win 10 games on the trot! Wouldn't count them out just yet but they can't afford anymore mistakes.
here's a debate for all you Div 2 boys. How would you do against the Div 3 teams?
Div 2 V Div 3
No contest here - Most Div 3 teams would be far superior - lets be honest Pemb/TRR/Glen 3rds would even beat most Div 2 Teams
Bray were lucky to get the win on Saturday. Had their chances early on to take a lead and didn't take them. Weston hit them on the break and took 2 out of 4 chances. Bray got the winner in the last 3 minutes after an umpires decision went against Weston.
On the Div 2 versus Div 3 I think the Div 2 teams wouldn't win the league but would be more competitive than people think. Weston 2nds are playing the big clubs 3rd teams every week and when they have a full team are competing. The big difference is not the skill levels of players but the fitness and time on the ball during matches.
I would love top see Div 3 teams in Div 2 infact i think a restructure of the leagues should be undertaking this year, bring top 2 up from div 3 and 1 from Div 5 no relegation this year after that follow last automatic relegation to div 5 and 2nd last plays top of div 3 for a position in div 2 that would leave us with 12 teams in the league and playing against the likes of Pem,Glennane etc will only raise the standard of the league. Earlo
That league structure could not work!
What if Rovers 2nds were playing in that leage against Div 2 teams?
Imagine then if Rovers 1sts got relegated, you would have 2 teams from the same club in the same league? Unless Ive missed something?
Also wasnt picking on Rovers, jsut first team that popped into my head. Its an unlikely scenario.
In general I think the standard of Div 2 is improving each year. Still, there are a lot of very strong 2nds teams out there (Pembroke, Monkstown, TRR) all of whome are capable of beating most Div 2 teams
I don't think div 3 would do as well as people think against div 2. If you look at trinity there a decent team in div two and this year there seconds are doing quite well in div 3, theyve already beaten railway, ucd, monkstown and they only just lost against trr and pembroke
they beat what was essentially a monkstown 3rd's due to injuries and IHL. I'd say Monkstown, Pembroke, TRR, Corinthians, YMCA, Glens 2nds would beat every team in Div 2.
What is a Div 3 team only a reserve team for a div 1 team, These 2nd teams are up and down each week depending on which of thair 1st team squad members are available to them, one week they could wipe the floor with most div 2 teams and the next they could be struggling for the 11, I have played for both a div 3 team and presently for a div 2 team, i think Div 2 matches are a more interesting contest because you are playing the best team that your opposing club can possibly field on that day and I think that it makes for a more interesting league to play in!
Stephen
Any chance you can get confirm whats happening re the Avoca Naas game? Naas did not show up! Is there to be a refix or how does it work?
Sorry sutton but it does look like things will be though this season
2006/2007 Season
Winners Kilkenny dropped 7 pts all season.
Second place UCD dropped 11 points all season
Last Season
Winners Railway dropped 7 points all season
Second place Sutton dropped 12 points all season.
Both seasons being 54 pointers
There is a pattern all the way back in last 5 years winners have never dropped more than 8 points and runner up never more than 12.
its going to be a long hard season you still have to entertain Skerries, DU, Avoca & away matches to Clontarf, Bray, DU & Avoca.
If you where to take all 21 points on offer there well then you deserve second place and a play off against YMCA, Kilkenny or UCD.
And trust me Weston Navan & Naas will upset some teams this year and with especially Westons pedigree they certainly will not be bullied in Griffen Pk.
Good luck winter is all of a sudden looking colder on the Howth Penninsula.
WOW! That is some analysis! Stephen, it looks like you have a major Statto on your hands, maybe you should sign this guy up as a regular contributor!
Looks like Suttonians will be hard placed to get anywhere in the league based on his analysis though!
Trinity went up a couple of years ago with 11 pts dropped (out of 54 admittedly) - four draws and a loss... second that year was Naas who were quite far back with less than 40pts,
I like the div 2 vs 3 debate, Ive always thought there should be a cup competition between the two. Would be a great way of answering this debate without a complete league restructure.
And seen as Clontarf this season have beaten UCD 1sts, YMCA 1sts and lost to Glens and Fingal only 3-2(both with reasonable squads),I would say the top div 2 teams might be slightly better.
trinity 1sts: played 3, 3 points(point a game)
trinity 2nds: played 5, 9 points(nearly 2 points a game)
how can div 3 be much better if a significantly worse team are doing much better in it than there 1sts are in div 2???
Funny how everyone still seems to be mentioning us - Sutton. Last season was the same - terrible start but then spanking everyone in the league (Railway 6-2 included) followed. I'm not taking anything away from Clontarf as they did deserve to win but this season there's definitely no one as strong as Railway were. There is still a good chance for Sutton to get back into it. It's time to turn it on but we know that. Agreed, we didn't play great on Saturday but we still had more than 10 corners and missed a lot of guilt edged chances. Clontarf have quite a small squad and any injuries/suspensions could prove costly. Speaking of which, I wonder how many games Rob Abbot will get.
Clontarf small squad??? All first team squad members from last few of seasons still playing, approx 17/18 players,(finished 3rd each season)and 6 new first team players this year.
Don't know where your getting your info but the club is going out with 16 in all 3 teams most weekends.
The seconds are in their highest league postion in over ten years, with a squad which includes 6 u-16 players.
speaking of suspensions, didnt a Suttonians player get sent off after the final whistle against Skerries? Did Sutton suspend him internally or are they waiting for the branch outcome? Surely with a straight red he has to get a 3 match ban? Has anyone heard anything about this?
Anyone hear the score of the Weston v Trinity match that was due to be played last tuesday night?
The game between Weston and Trinity did not go ahead and now looks likely to be played next week.
80% of players in Div 2 would struggle to get their games for the 3rd teams of the bigger clubs.
A cup competition between div 2 & 3 & 4 would be a great idea - would help improve standards for sure -
Weston member
Weston member,
I think youd find that at least 90%of the Clontarf, Avoca, Skerries, Suttonians, Bray and Trinity teams would get their game on ANY Div 3 team. Fair enough the numbers would be less for Nass, Weston and Navan but I'd like to see how many of UCD 2s, Fingal 2s, YM 2s, Railway 2s, Trinity 2s, Corinthain 2s and this season Pembroke and Glenanne 2s would get into a top division 2 team? I'd say not many.
Theres a reason that those players are playing in Div 3 and not Div 1. 5 years ago you may have been right but the gap between the top of Div 2 and the bottom 6 in Div 1 is not all that big now. I would love a cup competition to see if I'm right.
Mr 90%. No chance. Top 4 in Div 3 would easily beat any team in Div 2.
Sutton player didn't get a red card at the end of the Skerries game.....one player got a yellow and the other was warned that he could get a red.
Also red card does not automatically mean a 3 match ban depends on umpires post match report and what the discipline committee decide.
In response to theres no one as strong as railway in division 2 this year, clontarf are playing railway in the cup in a few weeks and after that game you might think differently. If anything Railway have to be stronger this year, and I know for a fact that game will be very close. Toms right the gap between the top of division 2 an bottom half of division 1 is much less than what it was
The comment about most top 3rd teams would beat teams in d2. Clontarf 2's so would than beat Clontarf 1's!!!! As they are playing and beating alot of the big clubs 3rds teams in the league. People need to think about what they say before they say it!
Mr 90%
Div 2 standard is poor - are you telling us that Navan are a good team - Navan would be lucky to beat Pembroke 4ths - Only the Top two could possibly compete with the big clubs 2nd teams -
The reason players are playing div 3 is because they want to play with proper hockey clubs and compete for Irish Cups
Mr 90%
I think youll find that Corinthain 2s Pembroke 2nds and Glenanne 2s would beat any of the Div 2 teams -
I think you would find that most div 2 players ( not all) would struggle to get their games with Corinthian, Trr, Pembroke & Glens 3rds Teams - Yes Third teams
Pwm
if you look around division 2 teams (exclude the likes of Navan, Naas and Weston), a lot of players have experience of playing in division 1. Clontarf were in div 1 a few years back and despite only picking up a few points they didn't disgrace themselves. A few of the Sutton lads have played for Railway over the years and did pretty well too. As far as i know Reuben and Jamie were involved with a side that came 5th in div 1 - Railway's best finish in the league in the last 10 years. Obviously the Pakistani guys would get their games for most teams in div 1. Nasir scored the winning goal in the ISC final a few years ago. Then there is the likes of the McMahons at Skerries - both Leinster underage players. Trinity also always have a few good players. I don't have a clue about the Bray lads as i'm yet to see them play but i'm sure they have a few players still capable of doing a job. Certainly at div 3 level. I think you'll find that Kilkenny won div 3 a few years back. Sutton knocked them out of the Neville Cup this year and Sutton have lost 3 of 5 league games...div. 2 is stronger than you think 90%.
Apart from Clontarf who have beaten div 1 opposition all of the other div 2 teams are really poor and would be beaten by most teams in Div 3 who were actually cared.
Clontarf - look like a good team this year but would be even with a lot of 2nd teams.
Suttonians - universally recognised that without their bought in imports they would be nowhere. Talk a good game!
Skerries - always play in fits and starts..but only have one or two players of real quality
Trinty - in vicious cycle of not being able to attract quality hockey players. Have one or two again but even these players cannot be relied upon and are fragile
Naas - cant field a team and even if they do hardly a player would feature in a Div 3 team.
Navan - have more potential than Naas with youths coming through. Lack of quality at the moment.
Weston - some old fogies holding the thing together and still very few who could make a Div 3 team.
Avoca - should be doing better, they have a good coach. Some youth coming through but not good enough.
Bray - most div 3 teams would have beaten Bray last year. Shipped 100+ goals.
There are also a lot of the better players in Div 2 who are afraid to go to the premier clubs for fear of playing twos hockey and want to say they play firsts for the above!
Bray have a fair few ex-div 1 players in there too. Greg Keely was in nets for YM before Walker came along and a Leinster U-18 (possibly U-21). Simon Cox scored a decent amount for Monkstown, Mark Brooks played Rovers' firsts, Stephen Jones played Railway 1sts, some decent ability in there, weston though should have got a point or two off them, unlucky with late goal
monkstown 2nd's beat bray twice in pre season this year fairly easily too....kilkenny won div 3 (just) and then won div 2 straight away (easily). Pembroke 2nds beat suttonians in pre season as well i'm fairly sure....
Some good comments there, but please have the courage to put your name to them. Only names i see on the site are Richie from Sutton who are taking a fair amount of flack at the moment, Tom & Del from Clontarf.
Well done lads.
There is a break over the christmas maybe division 2 teams can organise "friendlies" against division 3.
I will organise for Skerries to maybe play Glennane seconds. Tom, Richie ill leave the rest to you.
Earlo
Suttonians have beaten div 1 opposition this season along with Clontarf. Kilkenny in the Neville Cup and that was before Brian Gray left them and before the Pakistanis were back in the country. Clontarf also beat UCD. Sutton were also very unfortunate to lose to Railway 4-3 in the following round of the cup. We didn't play against Pembroke seconds this season. There are 2 imports - look around and you'll see that most clubs are the same. Perhaps we've taken our foot off the gas now that the boys have arrived but when we're back on form we'll be spanking everyone in the league like we were last season. Clontarf 5-1 away ring a bell?
"when we're back on form we'll be spanking everyone in the league" - talking a good game! Too many Walter Mittys out on the peninsula!
Thought there were more than two imports but as you've implicitly stated in your post you do rely on them. Taken the foot of the gas of a Souped-Up Fait Uno :-)
Living off last years results is never a good thing. 5 - 1 against Clontarf is a great result though, its just a pity you couldnt even get a point from Bray, Skerries or Tarf this year.
I saw you play last Saturday and there was a minimum of 4 players on the team who didnt grow up in Sutton! It was obvious last Saturday that as soon as Clontarf started coming back the 'pay to play' players lost interest. Its a real shame because there is a good group of talented players in the squad. There's no need to rely on people who really dont care if they win or lose. Surely you all realise that it isn't healthy for your club? Just look at how paid players make a mess of Bray last year!
Some amount of omments on this yoke.
Did anyone see Navans match report?? Apparently they have their own journalist???? What an impressive bunch of Badgers they are.
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