It’s been a hectic start to the eLOI, with the opening three weeks seeing the group stages loaded with action, and this week the first live-streamed games were broadcast via the FAI’s Twitch channel.
Heading into this week’s games the 4 groups had a very clear outline. In Group A, Bohemians had looked good for their lead atop the group with 3 wins from 3 games.
In Group B, Dundalk had comfortably been the best team in their group with 3 wins from 3 and a gaudy 25 goals scored over their 4 games.
Group C was similarly top loaded with Shamrock Rovers sitting atop the group, undefeated and with a goal difference of +30. Group D has been the closest group with multiple teams sitting on 6 points.
On Wednesday, Group A saw multiple important games, with Derry City’s Michael Tuffy taking on Cabinteely’s Cillian Melwani.
Both teams came into the game looking to stake their claim to one of the playoff spots.
Tuffy came out of fire and was able to easily down Melwani’s Cabinteely team, beating them by an impressive 9 goal margin with the final score being 12-3.
In the other game in Group A, Eric “XampL_Xx” Finn looked to take his Bohemians team to great heights; and firmly secure the top spot in Group A against Cork City’s Ciaran “MrWeLLy” Walsh.
The game was a cagey affair with each team probing around the others box looking for opportunities. XampL_Xx was able to secure the victory in the end, ensuring Bohs claimed the top spot in the group.
Group B featured the best game of the week as former Roma star Conran ‘Rannerz’ Tobin took his Dundalk team up against Kevin Connolly’s Sligo Rovers. Both legs were incredibly close with the game eventually going to extra time in which Rannerz managed to bag the winning goal.
In Group C Shamrock Rovers Tyrone Ryan continued to run riot by putting up an 11-3 score over Eoin Norton’s St. Patrick’s Athletic.
Elsewhere in Group C a 6-4 victory for Longford FC sets up a final week battle for the second spot in the group with U.C.D as both teams sit on six points with one game to go.
Finally in Group D, Finn Harps’ Sean Tully & Drogheda United’s Leigh Kierans both kept their qualification dreams alive respectively with Harps defeating Cobh Ramblers 4-2 while Drogheda beat Bray Wanderers 6-2.
This sets up a big weekend for Group D as group leaders Shelbourne will take on Drogheda while Finn Harps take on Bray.
Full Tables, Fixtures and Results are available in our eLOI section.
