Hi Tom, Hope you're keeping well.

When I was around 10 or 11 one of my Subbuteo teams was Shamrock Rovers and the players were not even !

Ah Ralph, good to hear from you! All good here, hope you’re doing well too.

On the subbeteo, I was a player myself, I had dozens of teams. They were the 3 D versions though! If you’re a fan of the Undertones, they’re from Derry and the cover art on their single, “My perfect cousin” had Derry subbeteo players on it and subbeteo is mentioned in the song.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J9fTMRftrXc

My team is Bohemians (we won’t be bothering the top of the table) and Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians are sworn enemies!

Nice writeage Mr Dazzler, thank you.

Cheers Mr Tikay, I hope you’re well!

I should also have mentioned ex Premiership player James McClean has returned to Derry, his home team club, this year. He’s 36 yrs now and his best days are far behind him but he’s a very fit boy and still likely to be a major player at this level. Most of all, his massive experience (he has 100 international caps) should be huge. The football club is a huge part of Derry City and the desire to win the league is monumental. Think of maybe Newcastle under Keegan when they were in the hunt. They would love it, just love it if they can pip Rovers this year. I think they will.

If anyone is looking for a fun bet, the League of Ireland football season is starting (runs from Feb-Oct) and odds are;
https://www.oddschecker.com/football/ireland/premier-division/irish-premier-division/winner

Shamrock Rovers 13/10
Derry 4/1
Shelbourne 6/1
St Patrick’s Athletic 6/1
Bohemians 11/1
66/1 bar.

Rovers have won 5 of the last 6 titles, are defending champions and are historically the most successful team in Ireland.
They have however just sold league team of the season left back Josh Holohan to Lincoln for €500k. Money is scarce in League of Ireland and the clubs can’t compete financially on wages with English League One clubs, so the best players get picked off regularly. It appeared they had agreed terms with Hoffenheim for €1.8m plus add ons for their very promising 17 year striker Michael Noonan (he’s the youngest ever Conference League goalscorer at 16yrs 197 days) but apparently he’s pulled the plug on that. He may be waiting until he’s 18 in the summer to join a British side. Brexit has been great for league of Ireland as previously young players were constantly moving to UK at 15/16 yrs but now they can’t until 18 yrs. If Noonan doesn’t go to EU in this window, he’ll be gone in the summer.

Last season Rovers started slowly and didn’t hit the top spot in the league until nearly halfway through but eventually won, beating Derry by 3pts. In 2024, they started slowly and couldn’t catch Shelbourne, finishing 2nd. In 2023 they didn’t win until their 7th match but ended up winning the title.
This slow start is becoming a pattern and may be related to success in Europe. In the season just gone, they qualified for Europa Conference league phase finishing their final game on 18th December, when their last domestic game was the cup final on 9th November.
The previous season they again qualified for Conference league phase. They’re missing over a month of their off season due to Europe. They’re also playing a lot of European games (12 and 14 games in the last 2 years) which they maybe don’t have the strength in depth of squad to be always competitive at home and in Europe.

Derry have finished 2nd to Rovers in 3 of the last 4 years. They just beat Rovers in the Presidents Cup (Community Shield) 1-0 yesterday in the season opener in a feisty affair. They are backed by a wealthy local billionaire benefactor. He’s not pouring money in, it’s slow and steady but they are making strides. It’s generally accepted they have recruited well this window and most fans believe it’s going to be a straight shoot out between the two of them.

I’ll be backing Derry, hoping Rovers have another slow start and maybe hedge on a bet on Rovers later if the prices start to reverse. If not, happy to let the bet on Derry run.

Surely any Joshua bet, particularly ‘early’, is good against Jack Paul? This is like Mayweather vs McGregor, no?

Ah well, Panda Boy didn't have the best of outings but he came home safe, he's young and he'll go again next year!

My uncle's horse Panda Boy is 3rd favourite for the Grand National so I'm not saying anything hugely interesting but he says "he's as right as he could be", if anyone fancied a bet.
It's a dream for him. He had a horse Doubleuagain that won at Cheltenham about 40 years ago. That ran in the Grand National, finished but didn't place. Winning the Grand National has always been a life long dream and to be so close is amazing.

Oh apologies, I thought he played in the previous game.
Well done getting it done today.
 
I got some Dan Stephens bees still running to be the next James Bond from 2015. 8 years ago and still running.
Anyone got any longer?
Didn’t Camel have a long running one on Sven Gorman Eriksen taking over from Alex Ferguson that ran for years? 😀

I do indeed. Two in fact, one at 50s one at 66-1. Be a nice one to get home. If it's ever happening it'll be this month.

There it is, 6 months ago Chomps was asked if he'd had a bet on Ivan Toney playing for England.

Nervous night for the Big Fella.

And in the same match, I got my "Kane to beat Rooney England gls" bet up.
Only had to wait 5 years!
http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=56581.msg2219617#msg2219617

Well done Chomps!

Ryan Tubridy has stepped down as the host of the Late Late Show in Ireland.
Host of The Late Late Show is the biggest gig in Irish television and odds are already being laid for his successor.
The comedian Tommy Tiernan is my tip @ 6/1 with Boylesports, 4/1 with PaddyPower.
I've been waiting for this moment for a few years now. Tubridy is rubbish and Tommy Tiernan has been presenting his own chat show now for a few years. Tommy is a bit of a wild card and his show is one where he (and the audience) have no idea who the guests are going to be until they step on stage. And sometimes he doesn't know who they are even after they've stepped on stage!
It's brave TV and Tommy himself is not exactly a "safe pair of hands", he's a bit wild. But he's pretty much avoided any major scandal on his show and indeed has gained a lot of plaudits.

In the US chat show world many of the hosts are comedians and indeed stand up comedians, as Tommy is. It's the proven format to follow.
The early front runner is Miriam O'Callaghan a 63yr old veteran. She's a good political interviewer, which is part of the skills needed in The Late Late Show but you've got to have a bit more. She's also a little old. She's also one of the front runners for the Irish Presidential elections in a couple of years!
Claire Byrne I think might be the biggest danger 3/1 with Boyles. Young, smart, attractive and female, which in todays world surely helps! 

My uncle owns Panda Boy who is fav for the 16:55 at Leopardstown.
He is just out for a runout today, he is being aimed at the Irish Grand National. So he should not win today.
PaddyPower shops are giving money back (up to a max of €10) in their shops if you finish 2nd or 3rd in that race, so I guess the play is to back the 2nd fav. 

Stay local 19:25 Killarney
Bucko’s Boy 19:33 Hexham
For anyone wanting an evening interest

Bah, both 2nd 😞

Stay local 19:25 Killarney
Bucko’s Boy 19:33 Hexham
For anyone wanting an evening interest

Apologies if this is already posted but 11/10 Ukraine for Eurovision is literally insane. That’s like 11/10 the sun not rising tomorrow.

I don't think it's going to happen (in the short term at least) but if it does, what's the betting opportunities?
Germany for the Euros/World Cup for a start. If FIFA/UEFA ban players playing international matches then the Germans are in a great spot.
West Ham to win the Champions League?
Any others?

That wa sa cracking shout Ant, never a 31/1 shot.

Thunder Kiss if anyone wats an interest in the 17:30 at Dundalk

That won at 6/1 if anyone was on.