Category: Latest News

Seamus Coleman captained Everton in their merited scoreless draw with Stanley Park rivals and League Title chasers Liverpool this Sunday afternoon in Goodison Park. James McCarthy was again missing from the ‘Toffees’ matchday squad and it seems very unlikely that he will be included in Mick McCarthy‘s squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia. Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute for Fulham who went down to a two one defeat by Chelsea at Craven Cottage and his inclusion in the international squad may also be in doubt.

Brighton & Hove Albion and Shane Duffy secured their first league win of this calendar year with a one nil Premier League victory over relegation favourites Huddersfield Town in a crucial contest at the AMEX Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Jeff Hendrick started, but was substituted at half-time, for Burnley with Robbie Brady a seventy second minute substitute in their three one home defeat by visitors Crystal Palace but Kevin Long and Stephen Ward failed to make the matchday squad. Matt Doherty was introduced from the substitute bench for Wolverhampton Wanderers on forty seven minutes as they secured a two nil victory over visitors Cardiff City for whom Harry Arter was an unused substitute with Greg Cunningham absent from the matchday squad.

Two sides currently disappointing their followers, Aston Villa and Derby County, faced each other in the Championship at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon where the hosts scored four unanswered first half goals for victory. The hosts included Conor Hourihane, who scored twice, and Glenn Whelan in their starting eleven while Richard Keogh captained the visiting ‘Rams’. Alan Judge started for basement side Ipswich Town but a hamstring injury ruled out recent Ireland declaree Will Keane for the two one home defeat by Reading who had John O’Shea and Paul McShane on the substitute bench. Shaun Williams returned to the Millwall starting eleven and scored in their three one defeat by leaders Norwich City  at the new Den. Aiden O’Brien was introduced on seventy four minutes while Derby County loanee Alex Pearce remained on the substitute bench. Alan Browne and Sean Maguire were in the Preston North End side for the one all draw with visitors Bristol City for whom Callum O’Dowda was substituted after fifty three minutes. James McClean was fifty ninth minute substitute for Stoke City in their two nil victory over Nottingham Forest and Daryl Murphy.   

With Mick McCarthy set to announce his first Ireland squad of his second stint at the senior managerial reins on Thursday next, there are a number of players currently operating in League One who may be under consideration. West Ham United midfielder and recent Under 21 captain Josh Cullen is currently on loan at Charlton Athletic who played out a one all draw at Doncaster Rovers. Another former U21 player James Collins, has been finding the net on a regular basis for current leaders Luton Town and did so again this afternoon in their two nil victory over visitors Rochdale.  Wide attacker Ronan Curtis has also been finding the net, but not today, for Portsmouth who crushed Bradford City by five goals to one at Fratton Park. The visiting ‘Bantams’ included Anthony O’Connor and Eoin Doyle in their starting eleven with Billy Clarke on the substitute bench. Under 21 defender James Dunne is on loan at Sunderland from Burnley and together with veteran Aiden McGeady was in action in this afternoon’s two nil defeat of Plymouth Argyle at the Stadium of Light. 

Match series four in the Airtricity League Premier Division took place this Friday evening with early leaders Bohemian making the journey to face Waterford at the RSC where they played out a scoreless draw.  Second place St Patrick’s Athletic made the short trip to the Bowl where UCD gained their first point of the campaign when they recovered  from conceding an early goal to secure a one all draw. Cork City gained their first points on Monday night and added another this evening from a scoreless draw with visitors Derry City at Turner’s Cross. The Tallaght Stadium meeting of Shamrock Rovers and defending champions Dundalk also ended scoreless while the ‘North West Derby’ between Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers went the way of the visitors who won by two goals to one in Finn Park.

                            P  W  D  L  F  A  GD   Pts
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
Shamrock Rovers             4  2  1  1  4  2  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                  4  0  2  2  3  5  -2    2
UCD                         4  0  1  3  2  8  -6    1

There were three Airtricity League First Division matches played  this Friday night. Bray Wanderers defeated visitors Limerick by two goals to nil in the Carlisle Grounds while Shelbourne went down to a surprise three two defeat by visitors Cabinteely in Tolka Park. Wexford suffered a crushing four nil defeat by their visitors  Galway United in Ferrycarrig Park.

The two remaining First Division contests took place on Saturday evening with Cobh Ramblers losing to the only goal from visitors Athlone Town in St Colman’s Park with Longford Town defeating  Drogheda United by three goals to nil in the City Calling Stadium.

With Ireland Assistant Manager Terry Connor understood to be in attendance, reported Ireland target Patrick Bamford started and scored twice in a four nil victory for Leeds United in their crucial Championship contest with Elland Road visitors West Bromwich Albion this Friday evening. Wes Hoolihan was not involved for the ‘Baggies’ in last weekend’s one nil home defeat by Sheffield United and was again absent from this evening’s match.  

The hamstring injury suffered by Michael Obafemi saw Shane Long   return as a sixty fourth minute Southampton substitute in this Wednesday evening’s two nil Premier League victory over Fulham, for whom Cyrus Christie  was unused on the bench, at St Mary’s Stadium.
The Heart of Midlothian trio of Colin Doyle, Conor Shaughnessy and Aiden Keena were unused on the substitute bench for the visit of Celtic and new manager Neil Lennon to Tynecastle this Wednesday evening in the Scottish Premier League. Jonny Hayes was also an unused substitute for the visitors who ran out two one winners.