Category: Latest News

The Airtricity League Premier Division saw four games played this Friday evening. Shamrock Rovers maintained their position at the top of the league table with a one nil victory over St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park but they have played one match more than all of their nearest challengers. Second place Bohemian were held to a one all draw by Derry City in Dalymount Park while defending champions Dundalk crushed Waterford by four goals to nil in Oriel Park. Promoted side Finn Harps were on the wrong side of a seven goal thriller as they went down to visitors Cork City.
The remaining fixture between Sligo Rovers and promoted side UCD took place in the Showgrounds on Saturday evening and saw the hosts emerge victorious by one goal to nil.

                            P  W  D  L  F   A  G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers             6  4  1  1  8   2   6    13
Bohemian                    5  3  2  0  5   1   4    11
Dundalk                     5  2  3  0  8   3   5     9  
Derry City                  5  2  2  1  7   5   2     8
St Patrick’s Athletic       5  2  2  1  3   2   1     8
Sligo Rovers                5  2  1  2  5   5   –     7
Cork City                   5  2  1  2  6   7  -1     7
Waterford                   5  1  1  3  5   9  -4     4
Finn Harps                  6  0  2  4  6  12  -6     2
UCD                         5  0  1  4  2   9  -7     1

There were four Airtricity League First Division fixtures played on  Friday evening with Athlone Town going down to a two nil defeat by visitors Shelbourne while Cabinteely played out a one all draw with Longford Town at Stradbrook. Galway United lost to the only goal from visitors Bray Wanderers in Eamonn Deacy Park while the Markets Field hosted a scoreless draw between Limerick and Drogheda United.
On Saturday evening, Cobh Ramblers crushed Wexford by six goals to one in St Colman’s Park.

                            P  W  D  L  F  A  G/D   Pts
Bray Wanderers              3  3  0  0  6  0    6     9
Shelbourne                  3  2  0  1  7  5    2     6
Athlone Town                3  2  0  1  5  4    1     6
Longford Town               3  1  2  0  4  1    3     5
Drogheda United             3  1  1  1  4  3    1     4
Cabinteely                  3  1  1  1  4  6   -2     4
Galway United               3  1  0  2  6  4    2     3
Cobh Ramblers               3  1  0  2  6  6    –     3
Limerick                    3  0  2  1  0  2    -2    2
Wexford                     3  0  0  3  3  14  -11    0

 

Senior Squad
Mick McCarthy has today announced an initial thirty eight man squad for the upcoming 2021 European Championship Qualifying contests against Gibraltar and Georgia. The extensive squad size, echoing the actions of his predecessor, is surprising. The squad will be reduced prior to their gathering at the NTC Abbotstown and one must assume that the initial expanded squad is designed to keep all in the loop should and when injury has an impact. The inclusion of the three young goalkeepers, Kelleher, O’Hara and Travers may be seen as a positive look to the future. Injury ruled out Ciaran Clark, Michael Obafemi, Callum Robinson and Jonathan Walters although both Clark and Robinson have resumed training with their clubs this week and may yet enter the equation. 

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher(Liverpool), Kieran O’Hara(Macclesfield Town-loan from Manchester United), Darren Randolph(Middlesbrough), Mark Travers(AFC Bournemouth), Keiren Westwood(Sheffield Wednesday),
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Seamus Coleman(Everton), Matt Doherty(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy(Brighton & Hove Albion), Jimmy Dunne(Sunderland-on loan from Burnley), John Egan(Sheffield United), Richard Keogh(Derby County), Kevin Long(Burnley), Enda Stevens(Sheffield Wednesday), Stephen Ward(Burnley), Derrick Williams(Blackburn Rovers)
Midfielders: Harry Arter(Cardiff City), Robbie Brady(Burnley), Alan Browne(Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick(Burnley), Daryl Horgan(Hibernian), Conor Hourihane(Aston Villa), Alan Judge(Ipswich Town), James McCarthy(Everton), James McClean(Stoke City), Aiden McGeady(Sunderland), David Meyler(Coventry City-on loan from Reading),Callum O’Dowda(Bristol City), Glenn Whelan(Aston Villa), Shaun Williams(Millwall)
Forwards: Padraig Amond(Newport County), James Collins(Luton Town), Ronan Curtis(Portsmouth), Scott Hogan(Sheffield United-on loan from Aston Villa), Shane Long(Southampton), Sean Maguire(Preston North End), David McGoldrick(Sheffield United), Aiden O’Brien(Millwall)

Under 15
Following their one all draw on Tuesday afternoon, our U15 side took on their hosts Cyprus in their second contest, again in the Sotira Municipal Stadium, at 1pm this Thursday afternoon. Captain Evan Ferguson of Bohemian gave Ireland a first half lead but the hosts responded and scored twice in the second half for victory.

The Championship
Derby County maintained their interest in the Championship promotion race when they came from behind to defeat visitors Wigan Athletic by two goals to one on Tuesday evening. They currently occupy seventh position level on points with sixth place Bristol City who have a superior goal difference and a match in hand. The ‘Rams’ captain Richard Keogh played his 600th senior match this evening while injury ruled Anthony Pilkington out of the visitors squad but Darron Gibson was an unused substitute.

EFL Trophy
The second semi-final of the EFL Checkatrade Trophy between Bristol Rovers and Sunderland took place at the Memorial Ground this Tuesday evening with the visiting ‘Makems’ securing a two nil victory to book their passage to the Wembley final against Portsmouth on Sunday the 31st March. The hosts, with new manager Graham Coughlan in charge and former U21 goalkeeper Jack Bonham starting, are struggling at the foot of the League One table but presented  Sunderland, with Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne and Aiden McGeady in their starting eleven, with a stern test this evening before succumbing to goals scored just before half-time and immediately following the break. Sunderland are also challenging for promotion and currently sit third on the League One table. 

EA Sports Cup
The EA Sports Cup first round tie between Cobh Ramblers and Limerick scheduled for this Tuesday evening fell foul of the weather and was postponed but Longford Town welcomed non-league Cockhill Celtic to the City Calling Stadium and secured a one nil victory with a fifth minute goal to progress to the second round.

Senior Women
Following their scoreless draw on Thursday last, our Senior Women again faced Wales in another friendly international at noon on Tuesday in Marbella where a fine Louise Quinn header from a free kick delivered by Tyler Toland on sixty two minutes secured an excellent one nil victory.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan(Le Havre), Marie Hourihan(Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney(Reading)
Defenders: Diane Caldwell(SC Sand), Megan Campbell(Manchester City), Niamh Fahey(Liverpool), Eabha O’Mahoney(Cork City), Claire O’Riordan(MSV Duisberg), Heather Payne(Bristol City), Louise Quinn(Arsenal), Harriet Scott(Birmingham City)
Midfielders: Megan Connolly(Brighton & Hove Albion), Niamh Farrelly(Peamount United), Denise O’Sullivan(North Carolina Courage), Tyler Toland(Kildrum Tigers), Jessica Ziu(Shelbourne)
Forwards: Amber Barrett(Peamount United), Leanne Kiernan(West Ham United), Katie McCabe(Arsenal), Emily Whelan(Shelbourne)

Ireland U15 International
Head Coach Jason Donohue has selected a squad of eighteen players for two Under 15 international friendlies in Cyprus this week. The first contest took place at 1pm(Irish time)on Tuesday afternoon in the Sotira Municipal Stadium and saw Ireland recover from conceding a goal after fifteen minutes to secure a draw with an excellent equaliser scored  by Ben Quinn. The two sides will meet again at the same time and venue on Thursday afternoon.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Aaron Maguire(Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Ross(Bray Wanderers)
Defenders: Ben Curtis(Shamrock Rovers), Tom Fogarty(Birmingham City), Sean Grehan(Bohemian), Craig King(St Patrick’s Athletic), Aaron O’Reilly(St Patrick’s Athletic), John Ryan(Shamrock Rovers) 
Midfielders: Luke McGlynn(Finn Harps), Jamie Mullins(Bohemian), Glory Nzinga(St Patrick’s Athletic), John Joe Power(Burton Albion)
Forwards: Edwin Agbaje(Shamrock Rovers), Evan Ferguson(Bohemian), Cian Kelly(Bohemian), Michael Leddy(Shamrock Rovers), Ciaran O’Sullivan(Cork City), Ben Quinn(St Patrick’s Athletic)

The Steel City Championship Derby meeting of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United ended scoreless at Hillsborough this Monday evening. Ireland Assistant Manager Terry Connor was expected to be in attendance. Enda Stevens and John Egan both started for the visiting ‘Blades’, but strikers David McGoldrick and loanee Scott Hogan were named on the substitute bench with McGoldrick introduced on sixty eight minutes. The host ‘Owls’ had Keiren Westwood on duty and he is expected to be recalled for international duty by Mick McCarthy on Thursday.

The Scottish Cup quarter-final tie between Partick Thistle and Heart of Midlothian ended in a one all draw at Firhill this Monday evening. The Irish trio of Colin Doyle, Jake Mulraney and Aiden Keena were named on the substitute bench for the visiting ‘Jam Tarts’ with Mulraney introduced for the final thirteen minutes.

The Airtricity League Series 16 Premier Division contest between Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps, brought forward because Tallaght Stadium will be hosting the UEFA U17 Championship in May, took place this Monday evening and saw the ‘Hoops’ secure a comfortable three nil victory.

                            P  W  D  L  F  A  G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers             5  3  1  1  7  2  5    10
Bohemian                    4  3  1  0  4  0  4    10
St Patrick’s Athletic       4  2  2  0  3  1  2     8
Derry City                  4  2  1  1  6  4  2     7
Dundalk                     4  1  3  0  4  3  1     6
Waterford                   4  1  1  2  5  5  –     4
Sligo Rovers                4  1  1  2  4  5  -1    4
Cork City                   4  1  1  2  2  4  -2    4
Finn Harps                  5  0  2  3  3  8  -5    2
UCD                         4  0  1  3  2  8  -6    1

There were four EA Sports Cup first round ties completed this Monday evening. Athlone Town went down to a two one extra-time defeat by visitors Galway United while Bray Wanderers overcame Wexford by three goals to two in the Carlisle Grounds. Drogheda United lost to the only goal from visitors Cabinteely in United Park while non-league Bluebell United went down to a one nil defeat by Shelbourne in Tolka Park.