February 17th and 18th - After what seems like a very long wait, the new league season kicked off on Friday night. Four of the five games in the Premier Division ended in draws. Shamrock Rovers drew one-all in Sligo. The champions were ahead until the 95th minute through Graham Burke's goal. Lukas Browning fired home a late equaliser for John Russell's side. The game hinged on a 65th minute red card for Pico Lopes which we mightn't have heard the last of - a first test for the new red card appeal system by the sounds of it.

Two of the other title contenders played out a one-all draw at Richmond Park. Derry City lead for a long time in the game through Jordan McEneff's goal but Joe Redmond rescued a point for St Patricks Athletic when he bundled home a late corner.

UCD have been written off by many of you as relegation certainties but they picked up a point when they drew one-all at Dundalk. The home side looked to be heading to three points through a John Martin goal but Ciaran Behan earned a point for the Students with twelve minutes to go. There was also a draw at Tolka Park where Damien Duff's Shelbourne were held scoreless by Drogheda United.

Bohemians were the only winners in the top division on Friday night when they beat newly promoted Cork City two-one at Turners Cross. Goals from Grant Horton and Jordan Flores saw the visitors win despite a late goal from Ruairi Keating.

Waterford laid down an early marker of their title credentials when they won three-nil at Wexford. All three goals came before the hour mark from Wassim Aouchria as Danny Searle's side look to quickly get over missing out on promotion last season.

Galway United are another of the promotion favourites and they got off to a great start winning two-one at Finn Harps. Vincent Russell Borden scored both goals for John Caulfield's side either side of a penalty from Ryan Rainey for the home side.

The new era at Bray Wanderers got off to a winning start in Limerick as they beat Treaty United one-nil. Ben Feeney scored the only goal at Market's Field. There was disappointment for Kerry whose league debut ended in defeat as Cobh Ramblers won two-nil at Mounthawk Park. Saturday night's first division game saw Athlone kick off their campaign with a three-one win away to Longford Town in El Clasico Midlands style.

The first leaderboard of the season sees debutant Rob Gaffney lead the way on 38 points. He's one clear of Darragh Moriarty with Gary Donnelly a further point back in third. Fourth place is shared by three people - Brian Cunningham, Jack Duffy and John Brophy. Full details below:

  


February 24th - The ten games in both divisions on Friday night saw plenty of drama. Bohemians are 34 games from glory after winning their second game of the season. They remain top of the table after a two-one win at home to Dundalk. Jordan Flores and Declan McDaid had the Phibsborough side two up before Johannes Yli Kokko scored a late consolation for the visitors.

Derry City picked up their first win of the season when they scored two without reply at home to Cork. Patrick McEleney opened the scoring before Jordan McEneff scored his second goal in two games to confirm the win. There was a strange sense of deja vu for Shamrock Rovers as they drew one-all at Drogheda. Like last week at Sligo, they looked to be heading for a comfortable enough win when Graham Burke fired them ahead. However, two red cards turned the game on its head completely as Lee Grace and Daniel Cleary both got their marching orders. Ryan Brennan then scored an equaliser for Kevin Doherty's side who threw everything at Rovers looking for a winner which just didn't come. The champions will now have three centre-halves suspended for next week's visit of Derry.

St Patricks Athletic got the better of Shelbourne when Noah Lewis scored a late winner at Richmond Park. That's four points from two games for the Inchicore side who have made a solid start to the season. Max Mata scored the first hat-trick of the season in the top division as Sligo won three-two at UCD. The Students were ahead twice but ultimately slipped to their first defeat of the season.

Four teams retained 100% records in the first division. Athlone Town are the surprise leaders after a second three-one win of the season. They beat Finn Harps to lead the table on goal difference. Bray Wanderers made it two wins from two after a three-one win at home to Kerry - Leonardo Gaxha made history by scoring Kerry's first goal in the league but it proved to be just a consolation as Ian Ryan's side won for the second week in a row. Cobh Ramblers also have six points - they beat Wexford two-one with a late winner from Dale Holland.

Waterford, many people's favourites for top spot, had to settle for a point in a one-all draw at home to Longford. Darragh Lynch's own goal had the Deise in front but mo Boudiaf headed an equaliser for the midlands side. Galway only needed one goal to see off the challenge of Treaty United - Robert Slevin scoring the only goal at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Rob Gaffney wins our first monthly competition of the season. A score of 41 points from last night's games saw him retain top spot. Darragh Moriarty secured second place with a score of 70 points. Five people - Brian Cunningham, Conor King, James Connolly, John Brophy and Tony McNamee shared third place finishing just ten points back - full details below:

  


The Greatest League - February 2023 Leaderboard
No.
 Lst Chg
Name
Team Name
Pts
Lst
Chg
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1
 1 0 Rob Gaffney Fiorentina Turner 79 38 41


2
 2 0 Darragh Moriarty Moriparty FC 70 37 33
3
 4 1 Brian Cunningham Dermot Keely Cannae Count 69 33 36
4
 17 13 Conor King Yurt City 69 23 46
5
 15 10 James Connolly FC Igghh 69 26 43
6
 6 0 John Brophy Never Going To Beat Eoghan 69 33 36
7
 13 6 Tony McNamee Swilly Rovers 69 28 41
8
 44 36 Conor Claxton Everyone Hates A Bohs Hipster 68 12 56
9
 25 16 Gary McGurk Goose Green Mafia 68 19 49
10
 9 -1 Daniel Murphy 4 In A Row 66 28 38
11
 32 21 Paul Moore JD Sports A Wig 66 18 48
12
 14 2 Danielle McGarry Shamrock Rovers 64 26 38
13
 18 5 David Doyle Dublin Is Green and Whitechurch 64 23 41
14
 7 -7 Gary Fitzpatrick Devolution 64 31 33
15
 5 -10 Jack Duffy Bohs Massive 64 33 31
16
 3 -13 Gary Donnelly One Bray Or Another 61 36 25
17
 29 12 James Keville Inchicore Draw 61 18 43
18
 31 13 Niall Carroll Yellow Bellies 61 18 43
19
 20 1 Stan Tormey Inter Stan 61 23 38
20
 33 13 Gary Parsons TFTES 60 17 43
21
 19 -2 Gerry Draper Everton10 59 23 36
22
 35 13 Gerry Moore Sligobourne Reds 59 16 43
23
 12 -11 Shane Coughlan Shane Lad Rovers 1.0 59 28 31
24
 46 22 Francis Gilligan Yes, I Think To Myself 56 8 48
25
 11 -14 Keith Ryan He's Gone, Yup Ian Ryan 54 28 26
26
 49 23 Kevin Nolan Team Gilzean 54 8 46
27
 21 -6 Tommy Hamill Omeath All-Stars 54 23 31
28
 24 -4 Shane McCormack Forty Four In A Row 53 20 33
29
 38 9 Kevin McQuaide The Longford Langers 51 15 36
30
 22 -8 Tommy Tormey The Four Fs 51 23 28
31
 27 -4 Caroline Carroll Seagulls 49 18 31
32
 39 7 Darragh Kenny Four In A Row 49 13 36
33
 10 -23 Derek McDonald The Auld Reds 49 28 21
34
 54 20 Sean McLean Watts Happening 49 3 46
35
 16 -19 Philip Rankin Stevo's Stars 47 26 21
36
 26 -10 Andy Dunne Phoenix Park Rangers 46 18 28
37
 8 -29 Brian Boyle Komodo Reds 46 28 18
38
 28 -10 Fiachra O'Brolachain Borough Hoops 46 18 28
39
 30 -9 Joseph Kavanagh Cherry Orchard Thieves 46 18 28
40
 23 -17 Craig Whelan Saints 1929 44 21 23
41
 47 6 Gearoid McIntyre 3 Little Martletts 44 8 36
42
 43 1 Neil Walsh Bradley's Babes 44 13 31
43
 40 -3 Gary Keating Say It With Flores 39 13 26
44
 53 9 Gavin Doherty D12 Shels 39 3 36
45 41 -4 Joe Turner McLaughlin's Aces 39 13 26
46 50 4 Trevor Rankin I'm Not Finn-ished 39 8 31
47 37 -10 Daniel Dorrian Donegallad97 38 15 23
48 34 -14 Shane Langan Asbohs 38 17 21
49 45 -4 Eoghan Brophy Little Ol Shels 36 8 28
50 52 2 Christopher Uzell Heavey's Heroes 34 3 31
51 48 -3 Jake Murphy 4 In A Row 34 8 26
52 42 -10 Michael De Verdier Pelletstown Rovers FC 34 13 21
53 36 -17 Richard Johnston Turnip Heads 32 16 16
54 51 -3 Senan Slattery Clooney-Quin On Top 27 5 22