Premier Division Stats Round-up
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Heading into Round 13 of the Airtricity League Premier Division, we take a look at the facts and figures from the action to date.
Goalscorers
With no one kicking on from the opening rounds of the campaign, Gary Twigg now cuts an ominous figure in the goalscorer's charts with four goals in five games since his return from injury. Given that he also has four assists to his name, Galway United's Karl Sheppard tops the list and his promptings have helped Anto Flood to three of his four-goal total.
Garry Breen is building a reputation as a goal-scoring centre half with Dundalk, already surpassing his three-goal tally from last season. Breen is benefiting from the excellent dead-ball delivery of Ross Gaynor, while Dundalk have spread the duties around well so far, with 10 of the league leader's squad having found the net to date.
There have been 123 goals scored so far, at an average of 2.12 per game, by 65 different players.
Nodding off
It might be thought of as a cliché, and a certain sports drink uses this as a selling point, but the facts back up the assertion that tired legs and minds in the final 15 minutes of games leads to a higher proportion of goals being scored in this period.
Dundalk have fared well in this regard, netting six times in the closing stages, while their Louth neighbours Drogheda United have conceded eight goals. Sporting Fingal are quickest out of the blocks with four goals bagged in the opening fifteen.
Clean Sheets
Continued admiration goes to the studious defensive unit assembled by Martin Russell, who continue to prove difficult to break down. Since Raf Cretaro's winner for Bohs on March 15th, UCD haven't conceded a goal in front of their small band of followers at The Bowl. Keeping it tight has been the order of the day for The Students, with none of their games featuring more than three goals to date.
Suspenders
A month on, Sporting Fingal defender Kenny Browne finally received notice of his suspension for accumulating four yellows this week, to coincide precisely with an automatic ban that he will pick up for his dismissal last Monday. Timing is everything.
Bray's James Kavanagh also sits out this week and fifteen players have now had to miss matches due to their indiscretions, with a list of those who will soon (or not so soon) be receiving notice in the post of their bans for reaching the dreaded four-yellow-mark below. Those who are one clumsy challenge away are also included.
What is noticeable from this is yet again the number of Dundalk players (5) who are set for an unwanted spell on the sidelines. While the number of red cards is nowhere near that of last season, 30 yellows have been accumulated and with title aspirations now looking a little more genuine, the loss of key players will be keenly felt.
Sean Connor was an easy target for abuse last year when his side misbehaved. In my own opinion, the cause is more to do with the artificial surface at Oriel Park, which produces unnatural conditions for players to deal with and indecision leads to poorly-timed tackles.
There have been an average of six cards in total shown in the six games played there this year, putting it well clear of any other Premier Division venue. Dundalk have picked up 18 yellows at home compared to only 12 away. 80% of Premier Division teams accumulate more away from home than in their own back yard. Draw your own conclusions.
Goalscorers
With no one kicking on from the opening rounds of the campaign, Gary Twigg now cuts an ominous figure in the goalscorer's charts with four goals in five games since his return from injury. Given that he also has four assists to his name, Galway United's Karl Sheppard tops the list and his promptings have helped Anto Flood to three of his four-goal total.
Garry Breen is building a reputation as a goal-scoring centre half with Dundalk, already surpassing his three-goal tally from last season. Breen is benefiting from the excellent dead-ball delivery of Ross Gaynor, while Dundalk have spread the duties around well so far, with 10 of the league leader's squad having found the net to date.
There have been 123 goals scored so far, at an average of 2.12 per game, by 65 different players.
| Scorer | Goals |
| Karl Sheppard | 5 |
| Jason Byrne | 5 |
| Gary O'Neill | 5 |
| Gary Twigg | 4 |
| Ciaran Kilduff | 4 |
| Padraig Amond | 4 |
| Garry Breen | 4 |
| Anto Flood | 4 |
| Ryan Guy | 3 |
| Greg Bolger | 3 *2 penalties |
| Eamon Zayed | 3 |
| JJ Melligan | 3 |
| Ross Gaynor | 3 |
| Neale Fenn | 3 *1 pen |
| Jake Kelly | 3 *2 pens |
| Vinny Faherty | 3 |
Nodding off
It might be thought of as a cliché, and a certain sports drink uses this as a selling point, but the facts back up the assertion that tired legs and minds in the final 15 minutes of games leads to a higher proportion of goals being scored in this period.
| Minute | Goals |
| 0-15 | 14 |
| 16-30 | 17 |
| 31-45 | 22 |
| 46-60 | 23 |
| 61-75 | 18 |
| 76-90 | 30 |
Dundalk have fared well in this regard, netting six times in the closing stages, while their Louth neighbours Drogheda United have conceded eight goals. Sporting Fingal are quickest out of the blocks with four goals bagged in the opening fifteen.
Clean Sheets
Continued admiration goes to the studious defensive unit assembled by Martin Russell, who continue to prove difficult to break down. Since Raf Cretaro's winner for Bohs on March 15th, UCD haven't conceded a goal in front of their small band of followers at The Bowl. Keeping it tight has been the order of the day for The Students, with none of their games featuring more than three goals to date.
| Team | Clean Sheets |
| St. Patrick's Athletic | 8 |
| UCD | 8 |
| Dundalk | 6 |
| Shamrock Rovers | 5 |
| Bohemians | 5 |
| Sporting Fingal | 4 |
| Sligo Rovers | 3 |
| Galway United | 3 |
| Drogheda United | 2 |
| Bray Wanderers | 1 |
Suspenders
A month on, Sporting Fingal defender Kenny Browne finally received notice of his suspension for accumulating four yellows this week, to coincide precisely with an automatic ban that he will pick up for his dismissal last Monday. Timing is everything.
Bray's James Kavanagh also sits out this week and fifteen players have now had to miss matches due to their indiscretions, with a list of those who will soon (or not so soon) be receiving notice in the post of their bans for reaching the dreaded four-yellow-mark below. Those who are one clumsy challenge away are also included.
| Player | Yellow Cards |
| Gareth O'Connor | 6 |
| Tom Miller | 5 |
| Stephen Maher | 5 |
| Ross Gaynor | 4 |
| Wayne Hatswell | 4 |
| Robert Bayly | 4 |
| Stephen Paisley | 4 |
| Rhys Meynell | 4 |
| Shane McFaul | 4 |
| Alan Keane | 3 |
| Faz Kudozovic | 3 |
| Shane Guthrie | 3 |
| Alan McNally | 3 |
| Danny Ventre | 3 |
| Karl Sheppard | 3 |
| Dave McAllister | 3 |
| Glen Fitzpatrick | 3 |
| Vinny Faherty | 3 |
| Joe Kendrick | 3 |
| Greg Bolger | 3 |
| Eoin Doye | 3 |
| Robbie Doyle | 3 |
What is noticeable from this is yet again the number of Dundalk players (5) who are set for an unwanted spell on the sidelines. While the number of red cards is nowhere near that of last season, 30 yellows have been accumulated and with title aspirations now looking a little more genuine, the loss of key players will be keenly felt.
Sean Connor was an easy target for abuse last year when his side misbehaved. In my own opinion, the cause is more to do with the artificial surface at Oriel Park, which produces unnatural conditions for players to deal with and indecision leads to poorly-timed tackles.
There have been an average of six cards in total shown in the six games played there this year, putting it well clear of any other Premier Division venue. Dundalk have picked up 18 yellows at home compared to only 12 away. 80% of Premier Division teams accumulate more away from home than in their own back yard. Draw your own conclusions.
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile