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Eircom League:
archived stories 2001
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Eircom League:
archived stories 2000
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eircom league stories - March 15, 2001
Eircom players hail new era - March 15, 2001
The PFAI and the Eircom League had an historic first meeting yesterday to discuss issues affecting players - and now the players are hailing a new era of co-operation.
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FAI Cup: At last! The May 24 show! - March 14, 2001
The latest suspected case of foot and mouth in Northern Ireland has been given an initial negative test - and that should clear the way for a resumption of soccer in the Republic the weekend after next.
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Summer soccer on the way- March 13, 2001
The Eircom League clubs agreed in principal last night to switch the Irish soccer season to the summer. The details will be worked out later, but it was agreed to play from March to November with a mid-season break in June.
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Shelbourne interest in Southend's Fitz - March 13, 2001
Former Irish underage international Trevor Fitzpatrick has impressed during a week's trial at Tolka Park and could be a Shelbourne player for next season.
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Dublin City bunglers, says Dolan - March 13, 2001
St. Patrick's Athletic manager Pat Dolan has accused Home Farm of bungling their big image change.
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Games cancelled again - March 13, 2001
The FAI yesterday cancelled all Eircom League and FAI Cup fixtures, along with junior and schoolboy matches, for the third consecutive week, in response to the FMD crisis.
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O'Byrne survives League bid - March 13, 2001
Under-fire FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne has survived the first bid to oust him. Last night's meeting of the 22 Eircom League clubs debated a motion calling for O'Byrne's resignation, but no vote was taken.
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Irish players agree to pay freeze - March 12, 2001
The PFAI, the Eircom League players' union, met in Dublin yesterday and agreed to a pay freeze - but only for part-timers.
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McAreavey in line for Robins debut start - March 9, 2001
It's an ill wind that blows no good: Kilkenny City midfielder Paul McAreavey - forced back to Britain by the foot and mouth crisis - is set to make his full debut for Swindon Town tomorrow!
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League clubs meet tonight on Stadium - March 8, 2001
The 22 Eircom League clubs meet tonight to decide their strategy for tomorrow's crucial FAI Board of Management and National Council meetings - and if it comes to an either-or decision between Eircom Park and Stadium Ireland, the League's nine delegates are almost certain to plump for the latter.
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PFAI meets again Sunday - March 8, 2001
The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland - the Eircom League players' union - has called an urgent meeting of its members for this Sunday to discuss matters arising out of yesterday's meeting with Eircom League officials.
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Irish players in crisis meeting - March 7, 2001
The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland - the Eircom League players' union - meets National League officers today to discuss the foot-and-mouth disease crisis and its affect on their livelihood.
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Domestic games cancelled again - March 6, 2001
The FAI has followed the example of other sporting bodies by cancelling this week's programme of Eircom League, FAI Cup, junior and underage fixtures because of the foot-and-mouth disease scare.
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O'Byrne admits credit card 'error' - March 5, 2001
FAI chief executive Bernard O'Byrne has vigorously denied a story in an Irish newspaper yesterday which accused him of impropriety in the management of his expense account.
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Eircom League wipeout: the next step - March 5, 2001
The FAI will meet today or tomorrow with Department of Agriculture officials to decide the next step in its response to the foot-and-mouth disease scare.
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Brennan's Cup worry - March 2, 2001
Foot and mouth disease might rule Kilkenny City's Damien Brennan out of a glamour FAI Cup quarter-final against Bohemians at Buckley Park!
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Irish clubs face financial crisis - March 2, 2001
The cancellation of all Eircom League games this week because of the threat of foot and mouth disease has set alarm bells ringing in Ireland's 22 professional clubs.
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Disease: All games off - March 1, 2001
As expected, all FAI Cup and Eircom League games scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled in response to the foot and mouth disease crisis.
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Soccer under disease threat - March 1, 2001
Foot and mouth disease, the dreaded agricultural plague which hit England last week, has been confirmed in Northern Ireland and is expected to be confirmed in the Republic of Ireland today, with suspected outbreaks in four counties.
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Cats cut to the Marrow! - March 1, 2001
Kilkenny City 0 Finn Harps 1
Finn Harps dug one foot out of the Eircom premier relegation mire with a crucial victory at Buckley Park on Tuesday night - James Morrow grabbing the only goal of the game with just four minutes left on the clock.
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Harps claw towards safety - February 27, 2001
Kilkenny City v Finn Harps 19:45
The churches in Ballybofey are packed this afternoon as Finn Harps pray that their Eircom premier game against Kilkenny City tonight can go ahead! The game couldn't have come at a better time for Harps, who are on the verge of an unlikely Houdini act.
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Cup games, u21 match off! - February 27, 2001
This afternoon's u21 international friendly between Ireland and Denmark has fallen victim to the weather.
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Cup night: Longford go for glory - February 27, 2001
St. Pat's v Longford 19:45
Premier new boys Longford Town and St. Pat's meet head-on tonight off the back of excellent weekend wins. The Saints had that amazing 4-1 destruction of leaders Shelbourne, while Longford rediscovered their winning form with a 2-0 victory over UCD.
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Ryan the hero as Dundalk go four clear - February 26, 2001
Dundalk went four points clear at the top of the Eircom League first division yesterday after a 1-1 draw with St. Francis. Sure, it could have been better - but it could have been worse too, as Dundalk had to play half the game with ten men!
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Bohemians lose further ground - February 26, 2001
Bohemians 0 Cork City 1
Bohemians yesterday missed the chance to capitalise on Shelbourne's 4-1 defeat on Friday by losing at home to Cork City. The defeat sees the Gypsies slip to third place in the Eircom League premier table, a point behind St. Patrick's Athletic and eight points behind the leaders.
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Longford back to wining ways - February 26, 2001
Longford Town 2 UCD 0
Longford Town arrested their new-year slump with a comfortable win over UCD at Flancare Park - but for the Students there was no relief from their nightmare.
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Harps close gap on UCD - February 26, 2001
Finn Harps 2 Shamrock Rovers 2
Finn Harps haven't given up hope of avoiding automatic relegation. They notched their fifth league draw on the trot against Rovers and clawed back another point on third-from-bottom UCD. The gap is only six points now and Harps have a game in hand.
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Derry take the Candy - February 26, 2001
Kilkenny City 0 Derry City 1
Kilkenny have resigned themselves to life in division one next year and have their sights set firmly on their FAI Cup quarter-final against Bohemians next weekend - but with a bit of luck they could still have nicked a point at freezing Buckley Park.
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Bray start well and hang on! - February 24, 2001
Bray Wanderers 2 Galway Utd 1
Bray Wanderers got off to a dream start against Galway United at the Carlisle Grounds - but by the end they were hanging on for dear life as the Tribesmen mounted a determined fightback.
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Shels lose it big time! - February 24, 2001
St Patrick's Ath 4 Shelbourne 1
Shels lost the plot big time halfway through this televised game. Question is: temporary blip or turning point of the season?
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Bray want to get back to winning ways - February 23, 2001
Bray Wanderers v Galway United 19:45
Bray Wanderers, shocked by Cork City last week, need to get back to wining ways at the Carlisle Grounds if they are to maintain their challenge for a place in Europe.
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Jordanstown meet DIT in Collingwood final - February 23, 2001
University of Ulster Jordanstown and Dublin Institute of Technology will meet this afternoon with the 81st Collingwood Cup at stake.
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Saints chance to reel in Shels - February 23, 2001
St. Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne 19:30
Bohs tried in midweek and failed to make significant inroads: now it's St. Pats' turn to try to reel in runaway leaders Shelbourne in tonight's televised six-pointer.
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Two-match ban for Molloy - February 22, 2001
Bohemians' Trevor Molloy will miss two games in March - including the top-of-the-table clash against Shelbourne - after being handed a suspension by the Eircom's League disciplinary committee yesterday.
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Bohs let points slip - February 22, 2001
Finn Harps 1 Bohemians 1
We sure called this one right: Finn Harps made it four straight draws on the trot in the Eircom League and, in doing so, probably wrecked Bohemians' hopes of catching leaders Shelbourne.
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Gypsies can close gap - February 21, 2001
Finn Harps v Bohemians 19:45
Bohemians - nine points behind but with two games in hand - can narrow the gap on Eircom Premier leaders Shelbourne tonight when they take on Finn Harps. But they won't find Finn Park an easy place to pick up points - just ask Shels!
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UUJ new favourites as UCD stumble - February 21, 2001
Pre-tournament favourites UCD slid to a 1-1 draw with Maynooth in the Collingwood Cup - Ireland's varisty soccer championship - yesterday.
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Penalty thriller as Blues march on - February 21, 2001
Waterford 0 UCD 0 (7-6 on pens)
UCD lost their last hope of joy in what is fast becoming their worst season ever when they crashed out of the FAI Cup at the third-round stage last night.
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Favourites ease through - February 20, 2001
Favourites University College, Dublin yesterday eased themselves through their first game in this year's Collingwood Cup varsity championship - but holders University College, Cork left themselves with a lot to do after losing their first group game.
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Galway players' plan to save club - February 20, 2001
Galway United players have already taken significant pay-cuts to help get the club on a financial even keel - and now they are planning their own fund-raising event to boost the Terryland coffers!
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Summer soccer: decision postponed - February 20, 2001
Eircom league bosses met last night with summer soccer at the top of the agenda - but they deferred a decision until a special summit meeting on March 5.
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More Blues for Students? - February 20, 2001
Waterford v UCD, FAI Cup, RSC 19:45
First division Waterford United hope Brendan Rea will be their secret weapon when they entertain premier side UCD at the Regional Sports Centre tonight.
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Rover and out for Shels pair and Evans? - February 20, 2001
Shelbourne duo Richie Foran and Richie Baker return to Dublin today after a three-day trial at Bristol Rovers - and now they must wait to hear whether the Nationwide second-division club will make a bid for their services.
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City secure precious points - February 19, 2001
Cork City 1 Bray Wanderers 0
The ghost of relegation, which began to haunt Turners Cross in the last days of the Mountfield regime, has been busted. Who you gonna call? Liam Murphy!
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Hoops stay in touch - February 19, 2001
Shamrock Rovers 3 Longford 1
Shamrock Rovers stayed very much in touch in the race for a Euro place with an ultimately comfortable win over Longford Town. Rovers now lie fourth, level on points with St. Pat's and just a point behind second-placed Bohs.
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Students left counting Crowe's! - February 19, 2001
UCD 3 Bohemians 4
UCD were left counting Crowe's goals yesterday - and it was definitely a case of three for sorrow! The Bohs striker opened and finished the scoring in the first and last minutes and had one in between for good measure!
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Saints miss chance - February 18, 2001
Derry City 1 St. Patrick's Athletic 1
St. Pat's watched leaders Shelbourne held to a draw by north-east opposition on Friday night - but instead of taking advantage on Saturday, they succumbed to the same fate.
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No red faces at Terryland - February 17, 2001
Galway United 2 Kilkenny City 0
Galway United, the only Premier club to lose to Kilkenny City at home this season, made sure they didn't suffer that humiliation for the third time on the trot when they ground out a competent win over the Cats.
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Harps hold Shels - February 17, 2001
Shelbourne 0 Finn Harps 0
It was a tale of missed chances for leaders Shelbourne at Tolka as the reigning champions squandered part of their eleven-point cushion.
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Can Cats make it three? - February 16, 2001
Galway United v Kilkenny City 19:45
Kilkenny City have won just twice on the road all season - and both wins, one in the league and one in the FAI cup, came in Terryland Park against Galway United.
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Shels wary of hopeful Harps - February 16, 2001
Shelbourne v Finn Harps 19:45
Just as Galway's bogey team is Kilkenny, so Shelbourne will be wary of Finn Harps tonight. The Donegal sides have fared even worse than the Cats on their travels, winning only once - but that win came at Tolka Park against the reigning champions and Harps are well up for another crack at the Reds.
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Dundalk leapfrog Athlone - February 16, 2001
Dundalk 0 Limerick 0
The Eircom League first division leadership changed hands again last night - for the third time this week - after Dundalk and Limerick played out a dreary scoreless draw at Oriel.
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Doolin (37) is Player of the Month! - February 16, 2001
Shelbourne's Paul Doolin has been announced as the Eircom Soccer Writers' Player of the Month for January - a month which saw the reigning champions pick up seven points out of twelve to consolidate their grip on the league title.
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Portmarnock appeal upheld - February 15, 2001
Portmarnock's appeal against the refixture of their postponed FAI Cup third-round match against Dundalk has been upheld.
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Bohs sign Kee man! - February 15, 2001
Paul Kee, the former Oxford United and Northern Ireland international goalkeeper, has joined Bohemians as a coaching advisor.
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Gormley banned for two - February 15, 2001
Bohemians and Bray have been hit hard by the Eircom League's disciplinary committee following their grudge FAI Cup match a fortnight ago.
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Dundalk can return to top - February 15, 2001
Dundalk v Limerick 19:45 BST
Having knocked Athlone Town off the top of the Eircom League first division last weekend, Dundalk can do it again tonight!
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Kilkenny squeak through in Cup - February 14, 2001
Kilkenny City 1 Cherry Orchard 0 (after extra time)
Kilkenny march on to an FAI quarter-final meeting with Bohemians - by the skin of their teeth. New Zealand international centre back Gavin Wilkinson struck for his first goal for Kilkenny in the 120th minute of the match!
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Athlone back on top - February 14, 2001
Waterford United 0 Athlone Town 0
Athlone squeezed back to the top of the Eircom League division on after a disappointing draw against Waterford United at the RSC last night.
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UCD boss considers quitting - February 14, 2001
UCD manager Martin Moran has admitted that he considered quitting at the weekend - and hinted that this season may be his last in management.
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Students battle hard but its Pats' cup - February 13, 2001
UCD 2 St. Patrick's Athletic 2 (Agg: 3-5)
UCD put up a brave battle in last night's League Cup final second leg in Belfield - but the first silverware of the season is safely on display in Richmond Park this morning.
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Minnows believe they can win - February 13, 2001
Kilkenny City v Cherry Orchard 19:30
Intermediate minnows Cherry Orchard are on the trail of FAI Cup history tonight when they visit Buckley Park. The task is to beat Kilkenny City in this third-round replay and reach the quarter-finals for the first time ever.
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Fame! Shels launch new academy - February 13, 2001
Eircom League champions Shelbourne have linked up with a Dublin school to give youngsters a chance at a soccer career while keeping up their education.
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Saints unbackable for League Cup tonight - February 12, 2001
UCD v St. Patrick's Atheltic, League Cup final 19:45
St. Patrick's Athletic are now unbackable favourites for tonight's League Cup final second leg against UCD at Belfield.
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Nothing goes right for Kilkenny - February 12, 2001
Kilkenny City 0 Shamrock Rovers 4
When you are down on your luck, nothing goes right. That's the way things are just now with Kilkenny City, who should have been 3-1 up against Rovers before half time!
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Business as usual for Shels - February 11, 2001
Longford Town 0 Shelbourne 1
It was one of those nights for Shelbourne - another early strike and another tenacious grapple as the champions slipped into their 'what-we-have-we-hold' mode.
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Mooney back to save Cork - February 11, 2001
Finn Harps 1 Cork City 1
Harps will look on this as another two points that slipped away - and they can lay most of the blame on Cork 'keeper Noel Mooney, who frustrated them with a string of second-half saves.
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Floodlight robbery! - February 10, 2001
St Patrick's Athletic 2 UCD 1
Shameless St. Pat's not only garnered three points to move into second place in the Eircom premier table, they also dealt UCD a crippling psychological blow ahead of Monday's League Cup final second leg.
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Byrne saves Bohs with cracker - February 10, 2001
Bohemians 2 Galway United 2
Bohemians fell further behind leaders Shelbourne and relinquished second place to St. Pat's - but it could have been worse, as Galway led until twelve minutes from the end.
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Ton-up Barry wins for Bray - February 10, 2001
Bray Wanderers 2 Derry City 1
Bray Wanderers made up for the disappointment of their Cup exit at the hands of hated Bohs by beating Derry in the league at the Carlisle Ground - but they sure left it late!
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Gypsies need to close gap - February 9, 2001
Bohemians v Galway United 19:45
With the third round of the Cup successfully negotiated its back to the Premier race for Bohemians tonight - and nothing less than three points will do if the Gypsies want to exert some pressure on leaders Shelbourne.
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Clarke goes home! - February 9, 2001
Bray Wanderers v Derry City 19:45
Paul Clark, the Scottish midfielder signed by Derry City from Airdrie on deadline day just over a week ago, has packed up and gone home to Dundee!
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Portmarmock: we're off to sunny Spain and FAI Cup can wait!
- February 9, 2001
Dublin junior side Portmarnock, whose appeal stopped Wednesday's FAI Cup third-round replay against Dundalk from going ahead, are set to keep the Eircom League first division side for at least another fortnight.
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Dolan: we're not thinking about Cup - February 9, 2001
St. Patrick's Athletic v UCD 19:45
St. Patrick's Athletic manager Pat Dolan has issued a 'forget about the Cup' warning to his players ahead of tonight's Stadium of Light clash with UCD.
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Portmarnock appeal halts match - February 8, 2001
Dundalk were furious yesterday after making the tip to Dublin for their FAI Cup third-round match against Portmarnock - only to be told just 45 minutes before kick-off that the match was off.
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Scully steers holders through - February 7, 2001
Shelbourne 1 Derry City 0
Shelbourne almost pulled out of this tie because of the appointment of referee Hugh Byrne - but they weren't complaining last night after a controversial decision saw them beat Derry at the second attempt.
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Minnows cry foul over refix - February 7, 2001
Portmarnock v Dundalk 14:30 BST
Non-leaguers Portmarnock were threatening to abort this afternoon's third-round FAI Cup match against Dundalk at Hyland Park, Baldonnel, claiming the match had been refixed at too short notice.
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Ramblers advance to quarter-final - February 7, 2001
Athlone Town 0 Cobh Ramblers 1
Athlone earned this third-round FAI Cup replay with an injury-time equaliser at the weekend - but there was to be no late reprieve this time as their luck ran out at St. Mel's Park last night.
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Drogs misery continues - February 7, 2001
Drogheda 0 Home Farm 2
Understrength Drogheda United plummeted to yet another Eircom League first-division defeat last night, their 16th in 22 games this term.
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Weather hits Cup games - February 6, 2001
Gale-force winds and driving rain have wreaked havoc with tonight's schedule of FAI Cup third-round replays.
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FAI Cup: it's Big Tuesday - February 6, 2001
It's Big Tuesday in the FAI Cup, with five third-round replays down for decision. And there can be no repeat of the weekend's stalemate, as all five must finish on the night.
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UCD back from the dead - February 5, 2001
UCD 2 Waterford United 2
Premier division UCD twice came from behind to salvage a draw against first division cup battlers Waterford United at Belfield yesterday.
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Rovers land plum draw - February 5, 2001
Shamrock Rovers landed the plum draw when the FAI Cup quarter-final pairings were decided at Belfield yesterday evening.
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Rovers hit Harps for three - February 4, 2001
Finn Harps 0 Shamrock Rovers 3
Shamrock Rovers took the lead in the fourth minute in this FAI Cup third round match at Ballybofey and they never looked back.
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Baker saves Shels' blushes - February 4, 2001
Derry City 1 Shelbourne 1
Cup holders Shelbourne fought their way back from an early deficit at the Brandywell to earn a second chance in the FAI Cup third round.
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Saints favourites to advance - February 4, 2001
Longford Town 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 0
For Premier division new boys Longford, this was a big improvement on the last time the teams met at Flancare Park - but the Saints must now be favourites to finish the job at the Stadium of Light Tuesday night and advance to the quarter-finals.
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Injury-time drama sees Town hold Cobh - February 4, 2001
Cobh Ramblers 1 Athlone Town 1
Talk about leaving things to the last minute! This FAI Cup third-round tie spluttered through a damp ninety minutes and then burst into flames in extra time.
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All too much for poor Bray - February 3, 2001
Bohemians 2 Bray Wanderers 1
This wasn't how the script was meant to go. Wronged Bray have been doing their Charles Atlas course for almost a year just to avenge themselves - and big bully Bohs came along and kicked sand in their faces again!
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Orchard's hopes still alive - February 3, 2001
Cherry Orchard 1 Kilkenny City 1
Struggling premier division side Kilkenny City couldn't have asked for a better start at Richmond Park when they took the lead after two minutes. But brave non-leaguers battled back to force a Buckley Park replay in Tuesday night.
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Bray's Byrne-ing desire for revenge - February 2, 2001
Bohemians v Bray Wanderers, FAI Cup 20:00 BST
Goalkeeper Jimmy Fyffe, newly signed from Limerick stands by to make his debut for 'flu-ravaged Bray Wanders in tonight's grudge match.
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Cats to take the Cherry? - February 2, 2001
Cherry Orchard v Kilkenny City, FAI Cup 19:45 BST
Kilkenny City manager Joe McGrath arrives back from New Zealand tonight to take charge of his team for the first time in three games - and that's probably an indication of the Cats' current priorities.
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Shels threaten Cup boycott - February 2, 2001
Holders Shelbourne are threatening to pull out of the FAI Cup in a row over referees. Shels are due to play Derry City at the Brandywell in the third round tomorrow - but say they won't play if Hugh Byrne is officiating.
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Transfer mayhem as Eircom deadline falls - February 1, 2001
They'll tell you the Eircom League is in cash crisis, with Finn Harps, Derry City and Kilkenny City in trouble and players at Galway United and now Waterford United taking big pay cuts - but that didn't stop yesterday from being one of the busiest transfer days ever as clubs raced to beat the Eircom League deadline.
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Keegan blow to Bray - February 1, 2001
US-based striker Paul Keegan has been forced to cut short his loan period with Bray Wanderers. Keegan has been ordered to return to the United States to have his knee injury assessed and he may not be able to return before the end of the Irish season.
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Dundalk close to three points - February 1, 2001
Dundalk 1 Monaghan 0
Athlone Town's seemingly unassailable led in the Eircom League first division has been cut to just two points.
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