March Madness

Well the new Eircom League kicks off tonight with Bray Wanderers coming to The Brandywell. This is our first game in March and kicks off a period of 3 weeks in which we play 7 games, 4 League games and 3 Setanta Cup games which will take up up till the end of March. So it looks like we'll be starting the new league campaign the way we ended last years campaign, playing 2 games a week. So, a quick run down of the March Madness

Friday 9th March - Bray Wanderers @ The Brandywell (League)
The last time Bray visited The Brandywell, was near the end of last season, in what looked like a home win for the team, but what turned out to be a very frustrating 0-0 draw. In the other games last season, we played Bray at home early on and won 3-0, great result considering I had €10 on the scoreline and then we won 3-2 down at the Carlisle Grounds, was close this time with €10 on a 3-1 win.

Tonight I'm going for a 2-0 win to kick start our league campaign, of course any win would do, but with €10 on 2-0 at 9/2, it would be nice, with Kevin McHugh and Darren Kelly getting on the score sheet.

Monday 12th March - Drogheda United @ The Brandywell (Setanta Cup)
Now this will definitely be a tricky one in my opinion. The Drogs had the better over us in the 4 meetings we had last year, we beat them comfortably in the League Cup, but in the League they took 4 points off us in The Brandywell and beat us in United Park as well, although all the league games were at the end of a long season and the Drogs were on form.

In the Setanta Cup, they have already lost to Linfield in the first Group match, and I do think we can inflict their second defeat, I'm going for a 1-0 win myself, but that guess may change after the first league match results. As I can't make it to the Brandywell for the Bray game, I'll watch the Bohs v Drogs match on RTE.

Saturday 17th March - Sligo Rovers @ The Showgrounds (League)
What a day for a game of footie, St Patrick's day, and a Saturday afternoon kick off, we won't have many of them this year. Sligo will be out for revenge after their 5-0 drubbing in the FAI Cup semi-final replay last year. Last year in the league they did beat us 3-1 at the Showgrounds, so it will be interesting to see how this season goes fort them. I'll going to chicken out at this early stage in making a prediction for this game until next week.

Tuesday 20th March - Linfield @ Windsor Park (Setanta Cup)
In last years Setanta Cup Group Stages the honours were shared between the 2 teams with a 1-1 draw at Windsor Park and another frustrating 0-0 draw at The Brandywell. Linfield have currently played 2, won 1 and drawn 1 and top the group with 4pts, although we have a game in hand over them. I'm going to stick with my Setanta Cup predictions on this one and go for a very open and entertaining 2-2 draw.

Friday 23rd March - St Patrick's Athletic @ The Brandywell (League)
St Pat's are another team after revenge with us beat them in the FAI Cup Final 3-2 in extra time in what was a memorable match. Not to sure on St Pat's strength and squad depth, but I think they'll be in the running this year, but they'll come away from this match with nothing, but it will definitely be a tough battle for the Candystripes.

Monday 26th March - Linfield @ The Brandywell (Setanta Cup)
The home tie with Linfield and I think we'll run out 2-1 winners on this for revenge on last years 0-0 draw, and this result will keep us at the top of the Group 1 table. I'll go with Farren and McHugh to score in this one, if they both start.

Friday 30th March - Drogheda United @ United Park (League)
This will be a tough game, the Drogs did the best against us in the league last year, and our last game against them we lost 3-1 and it's also the day we lost Kenny. I don't think the result here will have any impact on where the league ends up, but I'd say the Drogs will be up there with us this season challenging for the title, I'd be happy with a draw here, and bloody delirious with a win.