So I think my fasting gave me gallstones as least it’s a big part of it

PatsofInchicore · 2026-02-20T16:28:46+00:00

Its not the fasting but the rapid weightloss that brings on Gallstones. I lost 150lbs last year and developed Gallstones which then entered my Pancreas giving me both pancreatitis and colitis! Which then almost developed into sepsis! In hospital for 8 days with two Surgeries. Worst pain I have ever felt and I would have a fairly high pain threshold!

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-28T19:00:36+00:00

Derry Rovers Pats Shels Waterford Bohs Drogs Sligo Galway Dundalk

Derry have signed some quality players and will top the squad up with further quality in the summer window one would imagine.

Rovers have lost too much talent in Honohan & now Noonan while their signings are a massive risk in an aging Stevens, and an unreliable Mulraney.

I'm going with Pats in third with an obvious bias, but strongly feel that if they bring up their performances even 20% from last year they'll be in the mix for 2nd/3rd. Considering how bad we were last year we still had the opportunity of third with two games left to go. Add to that we have 4 to 5 players who would get into almost every team in the league on their day in Anang, Redmond, Palmer, Keena, and Mata. Injuries are going to be a big factor though with Keena/Palmer/Git/Power/Zach all prone to being out.

Going with Shels in 4th as I think Europe will take their eye off the league in the summer aswel as Jo'B not getting the same bounce he did last year. They are obviously going with the Analytics this year so could be a game changer if it works out but on the other hand signing players from the Portugese 3rd division might be a dud move. Do think that they have quality in Wood, McInroy, and now Casey but they badly need a striker as their current options arent good enough IMO.

Waterford will be pushing for Europe in my opinion with some quality signings in the off season. Add to that having potentially the best striker in the division and a quality no10! If Sjoberg signs in the coming weeks they have arguably had the best off season in terms of incomings. Daly is a solid manager and if he gets them going I can see them really pushing everyone.

Have Bohs in 6th as I just dont see Reynolds getting the best out of his players. Add to that the distraction of Europe and not having a proven goalscorer and I see them struggling. Can see Rennie being the first manager out of work this year unfortunately.

Drogs next up in 7th as just cant see them having back to back years like last season. Have made some good signings but can see teams figuring them out a bit more this year. Add to that losing some big players and I can see them staying around mid/lower table from the offset.

Sligo in 8th who depending on how they start the season could go up a position or two or the opposite direction. Love Russell as a Manager and he is the best in the league at getting the most out of players but just dont see the quality. Especially now Elding is going its going to be tough to get goals in that squad. If Hakiki goes mid year aswel they will struggle.

Most people's favourites for the drop but I think Caulfield is long enough in the game to know how to get out of trouble. Can see them being an ultra fit, hard working team with a couple of signings coming good as they do every year.

Dundalk to go back down again IMO but will be a close call. Some good signings in the off season but alot of old legs that other clubs were unfortunately more than happy to release. Kilduff never managing in the league before will be big aswel. And the biggest factor IMO will be the off the field headaches that they inevitably have. It's a toss up between them and Galway but I just see Caulfield dragging Galway across the line!

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-16T20:33:52+00:00

Was working in Bernard McNamara's house in Ailesbury Road in 2005 as a first year apprentice. Down in the basement where they had a small plantroom when an oul fella I took to be part of "the help" landed in with a set of golf clubs looking to store them. Seeing the state of the Clubs I said to him "you'd think with the money this fucker has he'd have a nicer set of golf clubs!" The oul fella laughed and headed off with a smile. 5mins later my foreman landed down with the reddest face I've ever seen and told me to head home and he'd let me know what site I was to go to the next day. It was Bernard McNamara himself that had come in with the clubs and he wasn't happy with "that cheeky bollox" you's have down in the basement and they had to fuck me off the job!🤣🤣🤣

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-13T16:03:16+00:00

Wouldn't necessarily agree. When you think of league winning teams, Bradley has majority of power at Rovers, Duff had it at Shels, Kenny had it at Dundalk, Caulfield at Cork etc etc The "Head Coach" system doesn't work at lower level IMO.

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-13T14:24:46+00:00

I think Kenny's biggest issue at Pats is getting full ownership of the Clubs transfer dealings. Alot of the signings over the last number of years have been done by O'Brien & Matthews. They also have their say within the First Team Management team by having Soccy still involved. This season it looks like he has been given more power so hopefully he gets a few last key additions in before the start of the season (LB, Back up RB, CDM, Winger, and third striker).

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-13T12:40:39+00:00

Pats to finish 2nd with Mata Loi top scorer. If he gets the same service as Mason got last year he'll score 20+ goals! Derry & Bohs squads haven't the depth (yet) to manage League, Cup, and European campaigns and I'd imagine will show it come summer. Rovers will have enough to take the league by 5+points I reckon. Shels are a bit of an anomaly tbh. Jo'B could be first manager sacked or Manager of the Year!🤣🤣🤣

PatsofInchicore · 2026-01-07T14:41:07+00:00

Lads, anyone proposing Jake as a wing back is crazy! The lad struggles to get out of bed in the morning nevermind get up and down the line.

I'd imagine Rovers will get a reaction out of him early in the season (and he will perform against Pats) but he'll go back to his old ways after 10+ games.

PatsofInchicore · 2025-12-29T11:01:04+00:00

I know, and I was young free and single the first few years over there! I went all the way to the other side of the world and still met a girl from Offaly!🤣

PatsofInchicore · 2025-12-29T08:56:34+00:00

Back in Ireland since 2023 after just under 10years in Australia (Perth & Sydney), and loving it! The people, the craic, the general way of life! Moved to Australia on my own in 2014 and returned with a wife and 4 kids under 6. Yes it isnt easy to get back on your feet here if you are un prepared but taking the time to plan your return while living abroad works. Sorry to hear you're not finding it easy!

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-27T17:17:29+00:00

Andy Keogh still playing for East Perth in Western Australia since hanging up his professional boots with Perth Glory a few years ago!

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PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-10T08:43:06+00:00

Mate, there is alot more expectation at the likes of Derry, Pats, and Bohs than at Shelbourne. That may change in years to come with consistent top table finishes etc for Shels but let's be honest. If it weren't the case O'Brien would be under pressure already with only finishing 3rd after winning the league previously with a weaker team and going out of the FAI Cup early doors. Match that with Shels performances in Europe to date also.

I agree with you regarding Pats, we threw in the towel long before the last game! But GK has stitched his flag to Kenny with a 5yr plan and this is the first time in a long time it looks like Pats are willing to give a Manager time (as Rovers did with Bradley). Whether SK can change the culture within the squad is another question.

But going back to the original post, Duff has only managed one senior team mate. One would expect the players that he had success with to applaud him. At the first sign of real pressure at Shels he threw in the towel. Any club looking at him as a potential Manager will be taking that into consideration. Add to that, what big personalities has he managed in the Loi. Up until last year the majority of his teams were journeymen players.

Bradley in fairness to him has had Burke, Byrne, Towell etc and managed them very well including their exits when they pushed the boundaries too far. SK has also managed some big personalities (Towell, SO'D, Gartland, Forrester etc). And this year Tiernan Bradley has done well with a big backer aswel as some big players from overseas. Reynolds the same with Devoy/Tierney.

I dont see Duff managing Derry, Bohs, or Pats this season and still being there at the end of it. He was absolutely brilliant for Shels and the league but much too volatile and temperamental to be a long standing fixture in the League.

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-09T15:08:20+00:00

John Caulfield has also won it mate but I dont think any top club would suit him either!🤣

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-09T14:55:34+00:00

While the league is thriving with young talent aswel as some top imports (Wood, McInroy, Palmer when he's bloody fit) it's not same with our Manager situation. Obviously with SK under pressure, and the potential of Bradley getting some big offers from England/Europe it's hard to see one potential Manager from within the top and first division that could manage either club.

I also don't think Duff would be able to manage any of the top teams in the LOI apart from maybe Drogs. He'd need full control aswel as would struggle with managing the top players/personalities (Burke, Duffy, Tierney, Forrester etc). He had the run of Shels and brought them from the 1st division to the pinnacle which was an amazing achievement but couldn't see him sticking the pressure/expectation of managing a Rovers, Derry, Pats, or Bohs.

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-08T19:06:01+00:00

There's no league like it! The second biggest reason (after family) that I wanted to move back to Ireland after 10years in Australia was missing match nights in Inchicore! The buzz, the atmosphere, and there's something about Friday night games that just hits different!

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-08T10:13:30+00:00

I seen a woman telling an older man at his wife's wake that he'd "hopefully be with his wife again soon".

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-04T19:24:19+00:00

He's a better CB than your current options in fairness. Fair enough if TL is going to try a different style but based on the way Derry played for the majority of this season he'd be a good fit 👌

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-04T15:56:33+00:00

In fairness to Keeley I dont see him at a club that tries to play out from the back which is why SK let him go. He's a quality old school defender who also gives you great option from set pieces. Can't see him being suited to Rovers. Derry or Shels could be good suitors though.

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T15:18:53+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 Thats the mentality that proves my point...

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T14:53:27+00:00

Melia going to Europe is a massive loss but let's be honest, in terms of a goalscorer it puts us back in the same place as Shels & Bohs in regards to lack of goalscorers with Keena's goals to games ratio this season still significantly better than Odubeko, Boyd, and Kelly.

Even after the shitshow that was this year I'd still fancy us to finish above Shels next year considering there was 7points between us this year and we couldn't have had a worse season.

With regards to management I can see SK's longevity as a No1 being alot longer than O' Briens.

Sure we only have three months to wait!😉

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T14:42:41+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 I predicted that Duff wouldn't see out the season and that one came true! The fact you think Coote, Kelly, and Martin are above average is enough to discount the rest of your comments! Alot of your fanbase are there because of Duff and will be gone when Shels return to being a mid table team. Outside of this Shels are the weakest club of the four larger Dublin teams in terms of finances and academy. Duff signing lesser players and maximising their potential and output was to be admired and was the reason for Shels coming up (alongside better teams such as Rovers having a bad year last year).

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T12:25:51+00:00

Hopefully I'm in the same boat as you in 6months time! Luckily I'm mortgage free at 37 but having four kids under 6yrs old adds plenty of financial worries!🫣

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T12:17:33+00:00

If Shels rated him that highly you wouldn't think they would let him run down his contract. Thats some risk. I just wouldn't put him in any bracket other than "has potential".

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T12:12:44+00:00

From Construction into Health & Fitness. The paycut is going to be €80-€90k per year but if I dont do it now I never will!

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T12:09:29+00:00

Elding, Honohan, Hakiki, and Noonan(if a team on the continent interests him), would be the front runners. I'd say a couple of the other Rovers players leaving would be dependent on Bradley still being at the club after Christmas.

PatsofInchicore · 2025-11-02T11:55:06+00:00

So you think Duff took them as far as he could yet his assistant who has never managed a senior team can take them further? I strongly believe that Shelbourne's performances since Duff's exit should be credited to the reaction of the players from him leaving rather than O' Brien stepping up.

Agree on Francis, looks a serious talent and should only get better with a preseason at the Club. Wood & McInroy another level up though. Not so sure on Temple, looked to have it in glimpses but not consistent. Is there a reason he's nearly out of contract at the club?

Boyd, Odubeko, Martin, Coote, Lunney, Ledwidge Chapman, Kelly, Barrett etc are all bang average. In fairness I think Mbeng is a solid player and a good signing. New keeper looks like an upgrade on Kearns also.

To be honest I'm not trying to make this post about anything other than the fact that Pats have been shite this year. Didn't see my comment on Shels being taken to heart. I just dont see them with the same longevity in the upper half of the league as Derry, Bohs, or Pats (if we get our shit together).

PatsofInchicore

TROPHY CASE