Plenty of exciting action on TV and digital platforms for first weekend

How did you team fare in the opening round of fixtures in the 2021 League of IrelAnd season and have you any predictions for next weekend?

It was the first season in over 20 years the Bohermeen man Gary Rogers wasn't between the posts and his last club Dundalk kicked-off with a trip to Sligo.

League of Ireland fans certainly had plenty of action to look at over this evening and yesterday and Meath players were involved in the action across a number of venues.

With the Shamrock Rovers v St Pat's game live on RTE 2 last night and the WATCHLOI platform providing access to all the other games for the first part of the season for €59 there was an option to view some live local football.

After the first round of games the two promoted teams - Drogheda and Longford Town sit top of the table with the team that just avoided the relegation play-off Finn Harps up there as weel.

Drogheda won 1-0 against Waterford last night as already reported and manager Tim Clancy had Duleek man Brandon Bermingham in his team while St Pat's who drew 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers last night had Dunboyne teenager Josh Keeley on the bench.

Tonight Meath man Greg Sloggett was in action for Dundalk as the Louth men survived a late scare and earned a point from the trip to plat Sligo Rovers.

Dundalk started without Gary Rogers between the posts for the first time since 2015 but his replacement Alessio Abibi made a superb late save to keep it at 1-1 after the sides traded early first-half goals.

Bohemian FC with Meath men James Finnerty starting and Dawson Devoy on the bench would have expected to win against Finn Harps, but it was the Donegal men who took the three points with a first-half goal for a 1-0 victory.

However, the upset of the evening was in the midlands where Longford Town, promoted via the play-offs last season, recorded a 2-0 win over Derry City.

Next weekend the live game is Waterford v Sligo Rovers on RTE while the other games will be available on the WATCHLOI platform.

The First Division and the Women's League start next week - all the results and fixtures are listed.

Meath supporters of any of the clubs are welcome to comment on the weekend action and look ahead to next weekend.

RESULTS

Premier - Drogheda 1, Waterford 0; Shamrock Rovers 1, St Pat's 1; Finn Harps 1, Bohs 0; Longford 2, Derry 0; Sligo Rovers 1, Dundalk 1.

NEXT UP

FRIDAY 26th MARCH

Premier - Waterford v Sligo Rovers; Dundalk v Finn Harps.

First Division - Bray v Treaty; Cork City v Cobh; Galway v Shelbourne; UCD v Athlone; Wexford v Cabinteely.

SATURDAY 27th MARCH

Premier - Derry City v Shamrock Rovers; Bohemian FC v Longford Town; St Pat’s v Drogheda.

Women's League - Shelbourne v Athlone; Bohemians v Treaty; Galway v Cork City; Wexford v Peamount.