Month: July 2019

Iceland. The predicament of small country and small clubs – although good Icelandic players came out in the 1980s, they inevitably made their names playing for foreign clubs. Domestic football was the same, though – lowly.

FH Hafnarfjördur dominated Second Division and ended 1st with 40 points. Promoted, of course.

Vidir (Gardur) was 2nd and also promoted. 7 points behind the winners, but going up, which was their best achievement so far.

The second division winners were going to replace those at the bottom of the top league next season: KA Akureyri, last, and UB Kopavogur, 9th. Nothing much up the small league, not even big battle for the title.

IA Akranes had no rival at all – at the end, the second placed Valur (Reykjavik) was 10 points behind. 12 wins, 2 ties, 4 losses, 33-18 goal-difference, 26 points. Life was good.

More than good, for IA Akranes also reached the Cup final and won it over Fram (Reykjavik) 2-1.

A double, which was their best achievement so far.

Northern Ireland. May be one easily confuses Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland – the low profiles of both may confuse Shamrock Rovers with Linfield – both leading clubs, but if Rovers had to suffer 20 years without a title, it was not the same for Linfield. The championship was not much, as usual – two teams were far above the rest of the league and fought for the title.

Glentoran lost the battle and settled for 2nd place with 42 points. They lost only 2 games and received least goals – 19 – but so what?

Linfield was still the winner with 45 points from 22 wins, 1 tie, and 3 losses. 76-23 goal-difference, proving, as ever, that high scoring is far more sufficient than stubborn defense. Third consecutive title, making the grand total… well, does not even matter.

The Cup final was unusual – Carrick Rangers vs Ballymena United. Current form and strength decided the outcome – Ballymena 4, Rangers 1.

No surprise there – Carrick Rangers not only is not known for winning, but had particularly awful season. They were hopeless outsiders, finishing last in the championship with 9 points. FC Larne, just above them, ended with 15 points and that because they were penalized with 2-point deduction. No way a miracle could happen.

Ballymena United was expected winner and easily got the Cup, which they did as well in 1981. Good years, then, for rather modest club even by Irish measures. They were 6th in the championship,which was also fine.

Since Shamrock Rovers was so dominant, a double was natural expectation – Rovers had only to beat University College Dublin at the Cup final. A mere formality, for UCD never won anything and having strong season meant 6th place for them. But that is why football is great: UCD managed a scoreless tie in the final and after 0-0 in the first match, did better in the replay, winning 2-1.

May be UCD surprised even themselves, for such historic victory left almost no record.

One can glimpse a bit of the game, but no proud photo of the winners on their site. A pity, for this is very rare triumph: UCD not only did not win anything before, but did not win anything else since.