SEASON 16 - DIVISION 3 - Report  1 of 4

With only 9 games played in all Groups (roughly a quarter of the season’s fixtures) it is still far too early to be discussing promotion and relegation candidates but there are certainly a few trends starting to develop throughout Division 3.

So lets take a look at all the early movers and shakers in the Division 3 Groups...

Division 3 Group 1

Recently promoted Beechhill United are the surprise early pace setters in 3.1. Only 3 goals conceded in 9 games is testament to the side’s defensive qualities. An aging defence it might be... but with age also comes experience. If the defence can remain consistent, Beechhill will be tough to knock off their perch. Rathgar United are the only club still undefeated and they sit a solitary point behind the leaders, level with last year’s Division 4.3 Champions Minaccia Alcolica.

Crazy Cows are rooted to the foot of the table, still without a win and with only 2 points on the board. Manager Louise will have some serious reshuffling to do if the Cows are going to kick-start their season.

Group Top Scorer – Liam McKenna (Rathgar United) – 7 Goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Shane Kiely (Beechhill United) – 7.25 average from 8 games

Division 3 Group 2

Group 2 is far too close to call with Douglas Dodgers, The Town FC and FC Skorokopy joint top with 17 points apiece. Incredibly, the next 6 teams are all on 14 points, so in two games time the group could look very very different.

Capitan are bottom, still winless after 9. With 5 draws to their name already, a bit more luck could see them move swiftly up the table.

Group Top Scorer – Marius Lazar (Weeds United) – 7 Goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Shane Kiely (Spartak Charlesland) – 6.80 average from 5 games

Division 3 Group 3

Carlow FC are the early leaders in 3.3, a point ahead of the chasing pack. With only 6 points separating the top 13 clubs, no one team has yet established themselves as the dominant force in the Group.

Multiple Scorgasms and Paulo and the Boomtown Rats are rooted to the bottom, each with 2 points to their names. Paulo manager King Paul needs to take a long hard look at his defence. 36 goals conceded in just 9 games is a sure sign of a club that’s gearing up for Division 4.

Group Top Scorer – Sean Johnston (Stanfranciscans) – 5 Goals (3 games)

Group MVP – Jack Lynch (BRFC Ultras) – 7.00 average from 8 games

Division 3 Group 4

Linden Village have already opened up a 4 point gap at the top of 3.4 and are looking good for the lead. As with the other groups, 9 games in is far too early to be calling anyone a promotion candidate, but if Linden continue as they are, they should be there or there abouts come the seasons end.

Duffry Rovers 6 points is unfortunately only enough for last place. They have shown glimpses of good form however and they will be looking to turn that potential into results before they fall too far behind.

Group Top Scorer – Adam McCarthy (Dublin Dragons) – 5 Goals (5 games)

Group MVP – James O’Connor (Ronanstown United) – 7.20 average from 5 games

Division 3 Group 5

Another tight affair in 3.5 with very little to choose between the top 6. Champion of Champions hold a slight advantage but have been far from governing thus far.  The chasing pack is ready to pounce and one team to watch in particular is TM veteran Balloon FC as they fight to regain their Division 2 status.

Moher Celtic and Ringmahon Rangers still have a lot of work to do as they are both winless and rooted to the foot of the table.

Group Top Scorer – “Tequila” Rodriguez (Lakeside Smokers) – 6 Goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Cillian Mitchell (Balloon FC) – 7.44 average from 9 games

Division 3 Group 6

Seansky FC, Limerick Legends and Mad Utd lead the way in a group where a mere 2 points separates the top 6 teams. This league is definitely there to be won and now is the time for someone to step up to the plate and make a break away from the pack, but it would take a brave man to guess who that may be.

Wowe FC and Cineplex Utd are both struggling at the foot of the table. If Cineplex are not careful it could be a second consecutive relegation for the former D2 Club.

Group Top Scorer – Petr Suchkov (Seansky FC) – 7 Goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Javier Sanchez (Seansky FC) – 7.56 average from 9 games

Division 3 Group 7

Biffdons Athletic hold a slender 2 point lead at the top of 3.7. FC Meteor will be looking to get back on top before too long and Cork City FC have had a fantastic start to their season. Big spending Leeverpool will be one to watch in this group. Their new signings are starting to gel together well and after two big seasons of spending, the manager, board, players and fans will surely be expecting Division 2 football in the near future.

The unfortunately titled Win1soon sit at the bottom of the group. Indeed, if they do not “win one soon”, they will be making a quick return to Division 4.

Group Top Scorer – Albaniusz Puchalski (FC Meteor) – 7 goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Darragh Bell (Cork City FC) – 7.38 average from 8 games

Division 3 Group 8

Glin Rovers and هلالي مدريدي lead the way early in 3.8. Rovers are the only team still undefeated in the group. Scoring plenty and conceding, they have started very brightly and will surely be sniffing around the promotion spots come seasons end. Group 8 is one of the tougher looking bunches though. With the likes of Clodagh Hibs and Eire FC around, any success Glin Rovers may get will certainly not come easy.

FC Bananaskins have slipped into last place in the group and are yet another newly promoted side struggling with life in Division 3.

Group Top Scorer – Cian O’Callaghan (هلالي مدريدي) – 6 goals (8 games)

Group MVP – Dean Smith (Gayatasaray) – 7.00 average from 5 games

Division 3 Group 9

Uruguay Fan FC have stormed into an early 6 point lead with an impressive 8 wins out of 9. The club who twice finished agonisingly close to a LOI playoff spot when in Division 2 are looking to re-establish themselves as a major Irish side once again. They are clearly the team to beat now in group 9, the only question is, can they be caught??

A less than impressive start sees Kilcoolio rooted to the bottom of the final Division 3 group.

Group Top Scorer – Andrew Skiddy (Uruguay Fan Fc) – 7 goals (9 games)

Group MVP – Cormac Crawford (Lansdowne FC) – 7.00 average from 6 games

To finish up, let’s take a look at Biffs Best 11 so far:

(Please note: Biffs Best 11 is based on current player performance/productivity as well as Biffs personal opinion. So if you disagree with any of his selections.... tough!!)

GK – Darragh Bell (Cork City FC)

DR – Cillan Mitchell (Balloon FC)

DL – Jack Lynch (BRFC Ultras)

DC – Shane Kiely (Beechhill Utd)

DC – Dean Smith (Gayatasaray)

MR – Matthew Daly (Chaos)

ML – Joseph Lyons (Real Kilmac)

MC – Javier Sanchez (Seansky FC)

MC – Castore Valente (Balloon FC)

FC – Liam McKenna (Rathgar Utd)

FC – Andrew Skiddy (Uruguay Fan FC)