 Time for our weekly League of Ireland Premier Division discussion and joining us this week is a man Of course who features quite regular on the program and indeed harps commentaries as well, Mr Declan Boyle former fun harps player former sligo rovers player Declan you're welcome again Thank you very much Washington. Good to be back Yeah, Declan sligo rovers will start with them top of the table They are of course coming to fun park on on Friday nights. You're this leg under 19 manager I'm sure you've had training between Monday and one we're talking now I would say there's a there's a great atmosphere and feeling around the club with both the sites leading the way now in the premier division Yeah, absolutely Big result for them beating shamrock rovers over there and it's funny The shamrock rovers went 33 games on beaten and then lost two than a very short space of time So big result obviously won't know up in Tala first leg And that keeps them a point above shamrock rovers and it keeps it very exciting But it's yeah, it's good to be probably involved with sligo rovers. They might have to go in very well There's only one loss for the whole season. So the forums being good They're coming to fun park obviously follow conference But perhaps it's a difficult place to come as we all know and perhaps will be One and ready to take three points often if the performances isn't good enough Yeah, and I suppose from a sligo point of view It's it's evidence how much they've come since the break for COVID last year where they were lingering in The bottom of the table and now they find themselves sitting at the other end Leading the pack and you have to give Liam Buckley and and those involved there a lot of credit because it's been a fantastic Transformation so it is. Yeah, it's some turnaround hasn't it been like you're right I mean before COVID there they were sitting bottom and then they came back from COVID and went on a run at games And ended up getting into Europe and probably they probably got in more players and better quality players Buckley did in the offseason because of the fact that they're going to Europe and you know There's probably funding coming their way from the European adventure. So yeah, that's not that's added Then obviously if they've added in the quality and if they've jailed together very well and said early only last one game So far into five draws in the restaurant one So the performances have been very good the good quality in the top end of the pitch and can cause your problems And that's where they've kind of let out both and they start off very well very consistent not exceeding too many goals And I suppose the key is no injuries as such I mean Buckley chatted about it afterwards in the match in channel growers if we can keep his team together Squad wouldn't be the biggest problem not the strongest in the league compared to the dark and channel growers But if he can mature a season where he's very little injuries He'll be up around the top three or two or even one of the if he gets the lucky needs Yeah, obviously he's going to keep them grounded They're not going to get too carried away with this and and they'll know what the next challenge is Is going to be like because fun park as you said earlier. It's a difficult place to come and harps will be looking to put it up to them There's no doubt about that. I mean, I'm an absolute return them and many occasions in fun part And I'm expecting a big performance from perhaps on Friday night disappointingly draw to score last month one or Last week and then obviously bounce back for tripping performance and an excellent result down in Waterford One and two one after conceding as well And that's a big thing coming from behind one null away from home and dig in a really big performance And probably should have wanted more comfortably on the night and the farmers was excellent They're home for farmers have been very good as well as she and I'm expecting the same sort of performance so You know, we know we're going to get from fun perhaps and they know they're very dog It's defensively very good. Don't give much away and it's going to be difficult place for them to come and get three points Yeah, but you're not want to go one-nil down against the league leaders. Will you Declan on Friday night? No, listen, there's no doubt about it. Like you're right There's not too many games where you go one down in the Premier League so far this season where teams are turned around Obviously last week or down in Waterford was an exception to that one But majority times when you concede first to put you on the weaver pressure And also what it means as well that all he has to change the strategy we've been regards to likes to play We've been more defensive and if they can go go up They can dig in a wee bit deeper in that had teams in the counter attack But when you have to start chasing games and you're pushing men forward to create opportunities that obviously Spaces and flag rovers will exploit those spaces because our top three are very Very dynamic really really quick and like to get in behind teams and can cause your problems I wonder left one view once If harps are gonna sort of trouble and if harps are gonna come with a breakthrough here And and if they are gonna do damage to slag one Friday, where do you think it's gonna come from Declan? Yeah, listen when tundy or lobbies come on and don't have an excellent performance They're down in Waterford and create their problems obviously got a penalty in the second half very McNamee's been to the forward Everything has been very positive Biden he can play higher up the pitch and stay close to Adam Foley Who's obviously in six goals and joint top score with Georgie Kelly and so far So, you know, that's that's you're looking at Carlos Evans very industrial down the right-hand side You know quality of ball needs we weave better at times But it does cause problems in the counter attack and he's got that pace as well So you're looking at the mixture of them It'll be interesting to see what the starting lineup will be with what tundy make the start in 11 He's been coming on and substitution rolls started obviously down in Waterford and made an impact and I was having involved for a lot of the key moments of Attacks and obviously got a penalty to sit earlier and then buy in McNamee stuck that away And I'm fully the answer for an excellent goal down the right-hand side just a minute later and quit funny So, you know, you're looking at those public key players Defensively, we're gonna have to be very good against like a Roberts. We've done live commentary as you know up in showgrounds And it's very little between both teams Just to just a point and mistake that on the night by marketing again They cost us three points. I would think you know, so that's that's probably key one For you know, so it's important. We probably keep a clean sheet and we keep a clean sheet We've got opportunity of getting something out of the game. Yeah Just moving on from from the last time they met our slaggle a better team than what they were that night now Yeah No, I don't mean that performance wasn't bad slaggle on the night You know when they want to go up and we had to go after the game Then they started the spaces are left behind they do have really good players in the top end the pitches really mentioned and they will Cause your problems from Romeo parts up there Obviously Jordan Gibson is probably been up there with player the year so far There's were a lot of key goals and for them as a real threat on the right-hand side So they have players that can hurt you like they've been very consistent to say it But no, I don't see them they haven't improved me I don't say they've improved a lot since the last time I think they've just been very consistent You get an eight out of ten of them every single week to go out in the pitch. It's very Unlikely you'll get it in below that sort of performance So they've been very good instead of no injuries as well and not any inspections as such So they've been looking outside, but listen lame walk the nose. This is difficult matches. It's not easy come the fun part There's no easy games in the Premier League and especially going to fun parts not easy and Harps are an excellent form as well So it's going to be an exciting one. It's just such a putty I shouldn't that the fans can't be there because with Sligo rose all the top of the table and harps going really well They've been massive crowd and that's a disappointing aspect for me that fans can't quite both slag go on fun harps can fans can't come out And once again, what would be deemed a good result in your mind for harps and freddie? I Think it's important that they keep keep putting points on the board. I should ask the kids for me So that's a point or three, you know dependent before when she you know Some days you can say listen a draw would be good result now obviously and you're talking slag rovers on how well they're going But on the night you could print a really good performance You could create chances chances and you could miss those chances or afterwards just thinking geez we let three go there So yeah, listen interesting one. I don't know. It's gonna be a difficult game to count You know to find out what's ways gonna go. I think it'll be tight. It'll be cagey. Will there be a lot of goals I don't think there will be unless unless like a rovers can score earlier something like that And then hearts will have to come out and try to get something out of the game But yeah, I think a draw would be a big result for for fun harps Slaver probably coming up in the three points because they're gonna be on their pressure from Shamrock rovers who've long for At the weekend and they'll up to the off to get three points there Yeah Do you sell do you still see Shamrock rovers as as the title winners come the end of the season deck than I know They've had a blip so they have but you can't take away the quality that they have either like and they're still favorites for it The favors for me At the start of the season, we're very unsure what what's gonna happen between Dundalk and Shamrock rovers Who's gonna want it but mean Dundalk has just For one reason or another just haven't performed to the level and to the quality that they have at their disposal I mean a 29 senior players at the squad and they've definitely Govers is it earlier 33 on beaten and then they go To defeats on the bounce within three or four days, which is incredible But yeah, this for me Shamrock rovers are the best team the league I don't think there's as potent and they don't have as much penetration as they had last year not scorn as many goals Scorn a lot of late goals. The performances have been good. They're defensively a lot better Sean Horst come on there and Brian Gallin's come on as well from From Shandong and they've all tightened up. We've not conceding too many goals, but they're not scoring as pretty as there were Jack Bourne was there last year and was involved in 41 1% of all goals scored and you did that out of your team. It's very difficult to replace that Chris Cannes command but hasn't hasn't had that same impact as Jack Bourne would have but yeah, listen Still for me the best team in the league best squad of players I learned on top, but they're playing the playing well at spells without scoring a lot of goals But they're getting over the line Pats, of course are looking to challenge as well They played on dock on Friday night and given current form you and anything Pat should be walking out the door with the full three points against on dock in this game But the the Richmond Parkside the intro core club have had bluffs along the way in recent weeks, too So they have Declan. Yeah, they have and that's you just don't know what's gonna happen I came to you because both teams you just you know Don't talk. We just don't know what's gonna happen. They turned over obviously Shamar of Overs and Oriel Last weekend and then obviously they went up and the last the last next game the end to Bose 51 count to be beaten by Bose and George E. Kelly scoring a hat-trick on the night for him But yeah, so you don't know what's gonna get them done doc. They help the players when they head for them. They're really good Some parts have been far more consistent. I haven't conceded too many goals I've got a few lead goals as well and go over the line a few of those ones But Steven and Donald's come in and done an excellent job in there. They've been consistent They've obviously had a players that have helped them and Robbie Benson come in and scored a penalty Obviously last week as well to one the game and two one So how do you know I would see potentially a draw there on that and that one Conduct kind of doctor and beat them they can they seem to play better against the bigger teams So that could be performance With a lot of other X players obviously parents and parts as well. So that'll be an interesting one But some parts have been very consistent. They're up there obviously, but just don't know how that games gonna go Yeah, the other game and Friday night Darius city are on the road Again, straw to United draw how to sitting above harps forehead of the off the Balboff a say and draw I've been like harps one of the surprise packages is fair to say deck on the premier division But from a dairy city point of view since Rory Higgins took charge They haven't had a one under him at the brandy well, but that's been flipped on its head with the waveforms Don't be surprised if dairy city can take a positive result and on the pole points against draw on Friday night It wouldn't shock you would it? No, it's absolutely wouldn't the funny I don't know how that is like why that the performances have been so good away from home And then that home probably there's more pressure for them to take control of the game and drive forward and try to create opportunities Where potentially I would say when they're at a way from home They're sitting a little bit deeper and they're harder to break down and also very good in the counter attack Jerry rely heavily on set plays. I even took over the last day was was the first one was obviously a set play and Ronan Boy scored from a scrappy goal in the back post and on top of that as well This Joe Thompson score from a strike from a free kick to the second phase and they got a good strike into the net So there I have him they haven't scored too many goals from open plays. So they're heavenly and set plays Yeah, so interesting draw down really good form. Obviously, we you know, we've lost them last weekend with last minute Free kick wonder goal by by Massey, but I mean it's just one of those ones were and then up to they went and comfy beat Langford Up in draw hot as so I mean draws forms very good. They're playing very well for very free They score a lot of goals And they have they have scored so many goals this season and they're very Open they like to play attacking football and so the biennial can see but you're absolutely right I expect that to be a very tight affair I think Daria could get out of that In a draw to draw with a one no vector Yeah, which would be a huge result for them and have done dock where we're to slip up and even if bows were to slip up They could of course be moving a couple of places up the table. We've already mentioned shamrock rovers They're at Longford town You expect rovers to bounce back after their their two back-to-back defeats And then we've got Bohemians against Waterford also on Saturday as well The interest to see with Georgie Kelly is going to step up with at the weekend Very capable of grabbing another couple of goals particularly in a match against a struggle in Waterford side Yeah, that's so I don't know if you've seen the heartbreak was a wonderful hat-trick. It had everything on it Goal scored some action goals against undock and Georgie got a wonderful wonderful hat-trick And I had her included in that as well So he's obviously been a major hit your spine and undock defense scoring a big hat-trick Yeah started off probably reasonably slow But now it's starting to come and said earlier he's in six goals to the season So you expect him to to answer that tally and he brings players into the game We know he's a big strong lab, but he's also quick as well And when he gets the opportunities in front of goalie, he normally works the keeper He gets it entirely or he scores a goal. So yeah, listen, he's a wee bit of conference Waterford obviously aren't going so well new manager involved and you know, they're conceding a lot of goals as well So you expect both what the quality they have in the top end that puts it to cause problems and Georgia Kelly To definitely add one or two to his six are ready for the season. Yeah, just finally then back to the harps Stegarovers game. What are you predicting on Friday and that one in Bob of a deck? I think that could be a one-one draw That's what I'm thinking. I think they'll be tight and cagey If harps can score first, I think they'll either get a point or three points out of it So yeah, if slag will go on to score first, I'll be pushing towards slag. We're getting three points. Okay, Declan as always Thanks for joining us. Talk to you soon. Thank you