Shamrock Rovers 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0
Now in their new stadium in Tallaght, with two stands open and a big crowd of over 5,000 there was a definite buzz around this game.
The ultras could do their thing and their team did theirs via an early Twigg penalty.
St Pats had a man sent off in the penalty incident and though the visitors did better in the second half it was not enough.
With Bohemians losing it was a very good night for Rovers as they closed in on top place.
Afterwards I took the Luas back to Red Cow.
Done good.
Portadown 1 Dungannon Swifts 4Newly promoted Portadown have a decent ground including an older main stand and two newer stands, plenty of room to accommodate around 300 for this fixture.
After a dull, goalless, first half the Swifts pressed on to a convincing win against a limited Ports team.
Better game.
Newry City 1 Cliftonville 2
This was good entertainment for a higher than usual (Sunday) crowd , though with less goals than at Portadown. Both teams pushed forward from the start and the home side edged the first half.
But the Belfast team came out top in the 2nd scoring with two short range goals to seal the win.
No game.
Carrick Rangers v Ballyclare Comrades
Carrickfergus was mostly shut on this Monday night though the pub I went into was lively enough.
The Comrades brought some 'ultras' but they and the rest of us didn't see any football as the floodlights flickered and expired. A few minutes hanging around and the game was abandoned.
Punchless.
Ireland 1 South Africa 0
From Belfast to Dublin by bus , then hire car to Limerick for this friendly.
Played at Thomond Park, home to Munster rugby and prior to redevelopment the ground were the touring All Blacks were once defeated.
Ireland picked various reserve players.
South Africa passed well and dominated possession but lacked any punch up front.
Pienaar was typically prominent.
But it took a Liam Lawrence free kick to show them how it should be done.
Without a Benni McCarthy Bafana Bafana will struggle to score at the World Cup finals.
Reds beat Blues.
Cliftonville 4 Linfield 0
Sometime later in North Belfast.
Solitude was vibrant for this feisty game though the main stand was not open and opposite was just the TV cameras (and a view of the countryside)
The Reds fans were behind one goal and the Linfield fans at the other with plenty of characteristic police vans outside.
One flag was against the famine but there was no goal famine for Cliftonville as they scored decisive goals and benefited from Linfield having a man sent off.
It was a memorable win for the home side.
After a ten minute wait to allow the away fans to disperse I walked back to the city centre through ever quieter streets and passing the odd hooded figure.
