Category: Latest News

Fifty third minute substitute Cyrus Christie and his Fulham colleagues went down to a three nil Premier League defeat by visitors Manchester United at Craven Cottage in the early kick-off  on Saturday afternoon. Southampton included Shane Long in their starting eleven for the visit of Harry Arter and Cardiff City who scored in added time to secure a two one victory at St Mary’s Stadium. Unused midweek substitutes Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy suffered the same fate this afternoon as Everton lost to the only goal for Watford at Vicarage Road. The 5.30pm kick-off saw Shane Duffy in action and scoring the consolation goal for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a three one defeat by visitors Burnley for whom Jeff Hendrick started with Stephen Ward and Kevin Long unused on the substitute bench. Home manager Chris Hughton was not a happy man as his side were denied what appeared to be two clear cut penalties.   

Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was in Championship action for fifth place Middlesbrough at 1pm on Saturday afternoon where Leeds United returned to the summit with a very late equaliser  for a one all draw at the Riverside Stadium. Striker Patrick Bamford who is rumoured to be on Mick McCarthy’s radar completed ninety minutes for Leeds United. A knee injury ruled Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side but Derrick Williams started as high flying Bristol City and the in-form Callum O’Dowda moved into the top six with a one nil victory at Ewood Park. The Lancashire Derby meeting of Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End saw teenager Luca Connell start for the hosts, but he was forced off through injury after just twenty three minutes. Alan Browne was again on the scoresheet for the visitors and Sean Maguire was also in the starting eleven as they secured a two one victory. Kieran Westwood was in action for Sheffield Wednesday who played out a scoreless draw with Reading at Hillsborough. The 5.30pm kick-off between Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion at the Bet365 Stadium saw James McClean start for the hosts while  visiting veteran Wes Hoolihan, who performed so admirably in their midweek cup defeat, was an unused substitute for the ‘Baggies’ who scored  the only goal for victory. 

While not the division one might normally be seeking to identify possible Irish international options, League One currently does warrant a glance, where four promotion challengers include a number of Irish hopefuls. Former Ireland U21 striker James Collins has been finding the net on a regular basis and opened the scoring for current leaders Luton Town as they secured a three nil victory over near neighbours Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road. Third place Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis, a member of Martin O’Neill’s final international gathering, in their side for the one all draw with visitors Plymouth Argyle while fourth place Sunderland also played out a one all draw at Oxford United where veteran midfielder Aiden McGeady started as did centre back Jimmy Dunne, on loan from Burnley, who scored the ‘Makems’ goal. Josh Cullen, our captain throughout the last U21 campaign, is on loan at fifth place Charlton Athletic from West Ham United and he too was in action in another one all draw against Southend United at the Valley.

The President’s Cup kicked-off the Irish domestic season on Saturday afternoon when double winners Dundalk lifted the Trophy for the first time since 2015 with a two one victory over dual runners-up Cork City in Turner’s Cross. The ‘Rebels’ had a much changed side with a significant number of players having departed the Club during the close season. The visiting ‘Lilywhites’ have succeeded in retaining the vast majority of their squad and have added some high profile new recruits to the mix. They of course did have one very significant departure with the elevation of manager Stephen Kenny to the role of Ireland Under 21 manager. 

The Championship contest between Aston Villa and third place Sheffield United, who would have gone top with victory, ended in a dramatic three all draw at Villa Park this Friday evening. The visiting ‘Blades’ dominated the first half and led by three goals to nil just after the hour mark. With just eight minutes of regular time remaining, the hosts scored following poor goalkeeping and just four minutes another goalkeeping error saw the hosts score a second. Their revival was completed four minutes into added time when another defensive calamity led to the third and equalising goal.  Conor Hourihane started in midfield for the hosts while the veteran Glenn Whelan was introduced from the bench on sixty six minutes and immediately brought a new solidity to the home midfield. John Egan and Enda Stevens started for the ‘Blades’ with David McGoldrick a sixty ninth minute substitute. Striker Scott Hogan, on loan to the ‘Blades’ from the hosts, was unable to be involved this evening.

New Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Stephen Kenny saw his first selection, predominantly comprised of home based players, secure a deserved one nil success over a Republic of Ireland Amateur side at Home Farm FC this Wednesday evening.

Kenny was true to his word, emphasised on his visit to RISSC (London) last week, as he set his first selection up in a 4-1-4-1 format to play a possession game. Given the very short preparation period and the dismally wet conditions this evening, his charges did a fine job in seeking to implement the game plan.

It did take a little while for the process to click into gear but it did and the winning goal was scored after thirty five minutes by Brandon Kavanagh who finished off some excellent build up play from UCD winger Neil Farrugia. There were several other passages of fine play against their more physically imposing opponents and substitute Robbie McCourt was unlucky with a shot which hit the post.

Save for back-up goalkeeper Ross Treacy and the injured Darragh Leahy, all of the other seven substitutes received some game time, albeit a few had just a couple of minutes at the finale.
Star of the show was UCD winger Neil Farrugia, while holding midfielder Jamie Lennon of St Patrick’s Athletic, who captained the side,and Waterford midfielder Zachary Elbouzedi also caught the eye.

Team: C Kearns; A Lyons, C McCarthy, L Scales, TR Clarke; J Lennon; Z Elbouzedi, A Bolger, B Kavanagh, N Farrugia; A Drinan
Substitutes: R Treacy(Unused), D Leahy(Injured), S Todd, D Mandriou, J Keaney, R McCourt, M O’Connor, W Fitzgerald, K O’Sullivan

There was some Irish involvement in three different competitions this Wednesday evening. The FA Cup fourth round replay between West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion saw Wes Hoolihan starting for the hosts who went down to a three one defeat at the Hawthorns. The 36 year old Dubliner performed very well for the ‘Baggies’ before his withdrawal after 82 minutes. Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy were unused on the Everton substitute bench for their two nil Premier League defeat by Goodison Park visitors Manchester City.  Meanwhile up at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership, Heart of Midlothian included the trio of Colin Doyle, Conor Shaughnessy and Jake Mulraney in their starting eleven for the scoreless draw with visitors Livingston.