U19s set for Iceland double header…04/06/2022

Republic of Ireland U19 Head Coach Tom Mohan has named a 24 player squad for two friendly internationals against Iceland which take place in Pinatar, Spain this week.

Wednesday 1 June | Pinatar Arena at 5.30pm
Saturday 4 June | Pinatar Arena at 3pm

Squad

Goalkeepers: Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Mason (Mansfield Town), Jimmy Storer (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Defenders: James Abankwah (St Patrick’s Athletic), Sam Curtis (St Patrick’s Athletic), James Golding (Oxford United), Sean Grehan (Unattached), Alex Murphy (Galway United), Harry Nevin (Preston North End), Aaron O’Reilly (Aston Villa), David Okagbue (Stoke City), John Ryan (UCD)

Midfielders: Cian Coleman (Leeds United), Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Jad Hakiki (Shelbourne), Ronnie McGrath (Leeds United), James McManus (Bohemian), Jamie Mullins (Bohemian), Harry Vaughan (Oldham Athletic)

Forwards: Gberni Arubi (Shelbourne), Billy Brooks (Lincoln City), Nathan Fraser (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)

Airtricity League on Friday evening…27/05/2022

There was a full programme of fixtures played in both the Premier Division and First Division of the Airtricity League this Friday evening before the mid-season break which runs from Saturday 29 May to Thursday 9 June.

Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers increased  their lead at the summit with a two nil victory over  Shelbourne in Tallaght Stadium while Derry City were held to a two all draw by visitors Finn Harps. Dundalk climbed up to second place with a one nil victory over St Patrick’s Athletic in Oriel Park. Bohemian and Drogheda United played out a one all draw in Dalymount Park as also did UCD and visitors Sligo Rovers in The Bowl.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        19 13  3  3  33 12   21   42
Dundalk                18  9  7  2  27 14   13   34
Derry City             19  9  6  4  31 16   15   33
St Patrick’s Athletic  19  8  4  7  24 16    8   28
Sligo Rovers           19  6  7  6  25 23    2   25
Shelbourne             18  7  3  8  17 23   -6   24
Bohemian               18  5  8  5  24 24    –   23
Drogheda United        18  5  5  8  21 31  -10   20
Finn Harps             18  2  5 11  15 31  -16   11
UCD                    18  1  6 11  11 38  -27    9

Eamonn Deacy Park hosted the clash of the First Division top duo with Cork City leapfrogging their hosts Galway United with the only goal for victory. Third place Waterford consolidated  their position with a four nil defeat of Treaty United at the  RSC while Bray Wanderers overcame visitors Athlone Town by three goals to nil in the Carlisle Grounds. St Colman’s Park hosted the remaining fixture which saw visitors Longford Town defeat their hosts Cobh Ramblers by four goals to two.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Cork City              16 12  3  1  35  8   27   39
Galway United          16 12  2  2
  32 11   21   38
Waterford              16 10  2  4  35 16   19   32
Longford Town          16  8  4  4  22 18    4   28
Treaty United          16  4  7  5  19 24   -5   19
Wexford                16  4  4  8  19 29  -10   16
Bray Wanderers         16  3  7  6  14 24  -10   16
Cobh Ramblers          16  2  3 11  19 39  -20    9
Athlone Town           16  0  2 14  13 39  -26    2

Crawford announces U21 squad…26/05/2022

Republic of Ireland U21 Head Coach Jim Crawford has announced a 25 man squad for the upcoming European U21 Championship qualifiers in June.

There are four uncapped players named in the squad, Taya Adaramola, Sinclair Armstrong, Joe Hodge and David Harrington.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers), David Harrington (Cork City)

Defenders: Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Oisin McEntee (Walsall), Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City), Jake O’Brien (Crystal Palace), Lee O’Connor (Tranmere Rovers)

Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemian), Joe Hodge (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Gavin Kilkenny (AFC Bournemouth), Conor Noss (Borussia Mochengladbach), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)

Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Darragh Burns (St Patrick’s Athletic),  Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua Kayode (Rotherham United), Liam Kerrigan (UCD), Mipo Odubeko (West Ham United), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa)

Group F Fixtures
Friday 3 June – Republic of Ireland v Bosnia & Herzegovina – Tallaght 7.30pm
Monday 6 June – Republic of Ireland v Montenegro – Tallaght 5.00pm
Tuesday 14 June – Italy v Republic of Ireland – Ascoli 4.30pm

 

Senior squad preparing for action…30/05/2022

 

All 27 players selected have now reported into the training camp with captain Seamus Coleman, John Egan, Conor Hourihane, Enda Stevens and Caoimhin Kelleher, who all had late club commitments, slightly later than the main group.

A warm-up encounter comprising two 30 minute halves has already taken place with our U21 squad, who are also in camp,  providing the opposition.

Coach John Eustace , about whom there has been much speculation concerning him being the managerial target of two Championship clubs, is present. 

All indications are that the full squad complement, save for the suspended Josh Cullen, will be available for selection in Yerevan on Saturday. 

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Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has named  a 27 man squad for the upcoming quartet of UEFA Nations League fixtures.

Whilst the inclusion of Festy Ebosele and Michael Obafemi is not wholly unexpected, that of 27 year old Blackpool winger CJ Hamilton certainly is.

Injury victims Matt Doherty, Andrew Omobamidele, Adam Idah, Callum O’Dowda and Connor Ronan are unavailable while James Collins, Aaron Connolly, Jimmy Dunne, Daryl Horgan, Jamie McGrath, Liam Scales and Mark Sykes have not been included at this juncture. The absence of a fully fit James McCarthy would suggest that his time at international level is at an end.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth)

Defenders:  Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Nathan Collins (Burnley),  Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)

Midfielders: Alan Browne (Preston North End), Josh Cullen (RSC Anderlecht), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), CJ Hamilton (Blackpool), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jason Knight (Derby County), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion)

Forwards: Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Michael Obafemi (Swansea City), Chiedoze Ogbene (Rotherham United), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion)

 

Monday evening in the Airtricity League…24/05/2022

There was a full set of fixtures played in the Airtricity League Premier Division this Monday evening. Leaders Shamrock Rovers travelled to face Drogheda United in Head in the Game Park where they suffered  a shock one nil defeat. Second place Derry City visited Sligo Rovers, who parted company with manager Liam Buckley yesterday, and went down to a two one defeat. Third place Dundalk journied North and scored  the only goal to defeat Finn Harps while fourth and fifth met in Richmond Park where St Patrick’s Athletic defeated Bohemian by three goals to nil with Tunde Owolabi scoring all three goals. Shelbourne continued their good form with a two nil defeat of  bottom side UCD in Tolka Park.

                       P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        18 12  3  3  31 12   19   39
Derry City             18  9  5  4  31 16   15   32
Dundalk                17  8  7  2  26 14   12   31
St Patrick’s Athletic  18  8  4  6  24 15    9   28
Sligo Rovers           18  6  6  6  24 22    2   24
Shelbourne             17  7  3  7  17 21   -4   24
Bohemian               17  5  7  5  23 23    –   22
Drogheda United        17  5  4  8  20 30  -10   19
Finn Harps             17  2  4 11  13 29  -16   10
UCD                    17  1  5 11  10 37  -27    8

Weekend action overseas…23/05/2022

Saturday
Sunderland have won promotion to the Championship following their two nil victory over Wycombe Wanderers in this afternoon’s League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium. The ‘Makems’ included Denis Cirkin in their starting eleven while Aiden McGeady was an unused substitute while Daryl Horgan started for the ‘Chairboys’ but was withdrawn on 55 minutes. 

Sunday
The Premier League concluded on Sunday afternoon with Manchester City retaining the title with a champion like recovery from a two goal deficit to defeat visitors Aston Villa by three goals to two. Liverpool trail them by one point following their three one victory over visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers where Caoimhin Kelleher was unused on the host bench. With Norwich City and Watford already doomed to relegation the identity of the third casualty rested between Burnley and Leeds United who began the day level on points with Burnley having a significant goal difference advantage. It was not to be for the ‘Clarets’ however as they suffered  a two one defeat by visitors Newcastle United while Leeds United won at Brentford by two goals to one. Nathan Collins and Kevin Long were in the Burnley side with Dara Costelloe unused on their bench. Midweek survivors Everton suffered  a five one defeat at Arsenal with Seamus Coleman unused on the bench. Shane Duffy and Evan Ferguson were unused on the Brighton & Hove Albion bench for their three one victory over visitors West Ham United who named Darren Randolph and Armstrong Oko-Flex on their bench. Shane Long and Will Smallbone were late substitutes for Southampton who went down to a four one defeat at Leicester City.

Following their disappointing defeat last weekend, Josh Cullen and RSC Anderlecht travelled to face Club Bruges in the Belgian First Division where they scored a late equaliser to secure a point from a one all draw.

Monday
Former Airtricity League duo, Dan Cleary and John Mahon were in the St Johnstone side which retained their  Scottish Premiership status with a four nil victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off on Monday evening. The sides had played out a two all draw in the first leg last Friday and this evening’s contest was scoreless at half-time before the hosts took command in the second half.

   

Airtricity League action this weekend…21/05/2022

Following the three nil victory for leaders Shamrock Rovers at UCD on Thursday evening, there were four Airtricity League Premier Division contests played on Friday evening with second place Derry City going down to a two one defeat by third place visitors Dundalk while fourth place St Patrick’s Athletic also suffered  a two one home defeat by Shelbourne in Richmond Park. Bohemian defeated Sligo Rovers by two goals to one in Dalymount Park while Drogheda United despite being reduced  to ten men,  came from behind to defeat visitors Finn Harps by three goals to one  in Head in the Game Park.  

                    P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        17 12  3  2  31 11   20   39
Derry City             17  9  5  3  30 14   16   32
Dundalk                16  7  7  2  25 14   11   28

St Patrick’s Athletic  17  7  4  6  21 15    6   25
Bohemian               16  5  7  4  23 20    3   22

Sligo Rovers           17  5  6  6  22 21    1   21
Shelbourne             16  6  3  7  15 21   -6   21
Drogheda United        16  4  4  8  19 30
  -11   16
Finn Harps             16  2  4 10  13 28
  -15   10
UCD                    16  1  5 10  10 35  -25    8

 

There were three Airtricity League First Division contests played on Friday evening with Cork City held to a one all draw by Wexford in Turners Cross while Galway United leap frogged them at the summit with a three nil victory over Athlone Town in Eamonn Deacy Park. Treaty United and Cobh Ramblers shared four goals in the Markets Field.

Third place Waterford secured a convincing three nil victory over fourth place Longford Town in Bishopsgate on Saturday evening.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Galway United          15 12  2  1  32 10   22   38
Cork City              15 11  3  1  34  8   26   36
Waterford              15  9  2  4  31 16   15   29
Longford Town          15  7  4  4  18 16    2   25
Treaty United          15  4  7  4  19 20   -1   19
Wexford                16  4  4  8  19 29  -10   16
Bray Wanderers         15  2  7  6  11 24  -13   13
Cobh Ramblers          15  2  3 10  17 35  -18    9
Athlone Town           15  0  2 13  13 36  -23    2