Category: Latest News

Bohemian resume competitive action when they play host to East Fife FC in the quarter-final of the IRN-BRU Cup in Dalymount Park at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. The ‘Gypsies’ have made several exciting new signings during the Irish close season but their lack of competitive action is likely to amplify the challenge presented by their opponents who currently sit third in the Scottish League One.

Alan Browne, who has scored ten goals from midfield for Preston North End this season, was in Championship action on Friday evening when the ‘Lilywhites’ played out a scoreless draw with visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh at Deepdale. The Cork man was joined in the home side by striker Sean Maguire.
Third met fifth in the Scottish Premier League on Friday night when Kilmarnock, with former U21 internationals Gary Dicker and Alan Power in their starting midfield, went down to a two one defeat by visitors  Heart of Midlothian who included Leeds United loanee Conor Shaughnessy, goalkeeper Colin Doyle and U21 midfielder Jake Mulraney in their starting eleven while teenage striker Aiden Keena remained unused on the substitute bench at Rugby Park. 

 

Our Republic of Ireland Under 15 side, guided by Head Coach Jason Donohue and assisted by Technical Advisor Sean St Ledger, drew one each with Spain in their opening contest of an Invitation Tournament taking place at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain this Wednesday afternoon. Bohemian striker Cian Kelly gave Ireland the lead on the stroke of half-time but the Tournament hosts equalised ten minutes into the second half. We will face Holland in our second contest at the same venue on Friday afternoon at 5pm (4pm Irish time) before completing our schedule against Hungary at 2pm (1pm Irish time)on Sunday.

Team: Aaron Maguire (Tottenham Hotspur); Tom Fogarty (Birmingham City), Ben Curtis [c] (Shamrock Rovers), Darragh Reilly (Sligo Rovers), John Ryan (Shamrock Rovers); Glory Nzingo (St Patrick’s Athletic), Luke McGlynn (Finn Harps), John Joe Power (Burton Albion); Conor Campbell (Finn Harps), Michael Leddy (Shamrock Rovers), Cian Kelly (Bohemian)
Substitutes: Ben Quinn (Cherry Orchard)for Campbell 36′,  Edwin Agbaje (Shamrock Rovers)for Kelly 44′, Evan Ferguson (Bohemian)for Power 44′, Jamie Mullins (Bohemian)for McGlynn 50′, Aaron O’Reilly (St Patrick’s Athletic)for Leddy 54′.  

Struggling Cardiff City and their Irish duo of Harry Arter, who started, and Greg Cunningham who was unused on the bench went down to a two one defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Defenders, Cyrus Christie for Fulham and Shane Duffy with Brighton & Hove Albion were in opposition at Craven Cottage where the hosts recovered from a two nil half-time deficit to secure a four two victory. Seamus Coleman started for Everton, with James McCarthy an unused substitute following his lengthy injury absence, as they scored the only goal for victory at Huddersfield Town. Jeff Hendrick started for Burnley who held Manchester United to a two all draw at  Old Trafford but a groin injury ruled out Robbie Brady with Stephen Ward an unused substitute. Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for Newcastle United as they shocked visitors Manchester City, who took the lead in the first minute, by recovering for a two one victory.   Matt Doherty and his Wolverhampton Wanderers colleagues secured a comfortable three nil victory over visitors West Ham United at Molineaux where Declan Rice started for the visitors with Conor Coventry unused on the substitute bench.

The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with struggling sides Bolton Wanderers and Reading playing out a one all draw at the Macron Stadium  where seventeen year old midfielder Luca Connell was named in the starting eleven for the hosts following his fine debut start at Bristol City last Friday evening. The versatile Connell stood out for Ireland during the U17 European Championship Finals last summer. Physically imposing striker Lukas Jutkievicz started for Birmingham City who earned a three all draw with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
In the First Division, new leaders Luton Town extended their lead over second place Portsmouth, who had led the table from the outset until last weekend, to five points with a three two victory over the visiting ‘Pompey’ side at Kenilworth Road. Striker James Collins scored twice for the victors while Ronan Curtis also found the net for Portsmouth.  

It has been announced this morning that Roy Keane has joined Nottingham Forest as Assistant Manager to recent appointee Martin O’Neill. The Cork man, who made his breakthrough at the City Ground during the reign of the late Brian Clough, links up again with the Kilrea man following their five year association with the Republic of Ireland, which ended in November last. 

The Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club (London) hosted it’s 14th Annual Charity Quiz Event at the Claddagh Ring in Hendon on Friday evening where our special guest was newly appointed Ireland U21 manager Stephen Kenny. The Dubliner enters the international stage having presided over a magnificent body of work with Irish clubs during the past twenty years.

The then twenty seven year old Stephen Kenny took the managerial reins at a struggling First Division side Longford Town and during his three year tenure he led the Midlands club to the Premier Division and also reached an FAI Cup Final. Stephen left the Midlands to take the reins at a then struggling Bohemian, back in his native Dublin. His influence revived the club and they moved steadily upward and reached the FAI Cup Final. Bohemian won the League Title in the next season and finished as runners-up the following season. Stephen parted company with Bohemian in July 2004 and just three weeks later took the reins at Derry City.

Under his guidance, the ‘Candystripes’ finished as runners-up in the 2005 Premier Division which gained them entry to the UEFA Cup where they were a revelation. Two time winners IFK Goteborg were defeated by one goal to nil in both legs of the first qualifying round and Scottish representatives Gretna were then dispatched on an aggregate seven three score line in the second qualifying round. Derry faced the might of Paris St-Germain in the first round proper and held them to a scoreless draw in the Brandywell, before exiting the competition with a two nil defeat in Paris. Derry City missed out on the Premier Division to Shelbourne on goal difference in 2006 but lifted the FAI Cup with victory over St Patrick’s Athletic. The club also lifted the League Cup in 2005 and 2006.

In the midst of the FAI Cup success, Stephen was lured to Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic whom he led to the 2007 Scottish Cup Final where they lost by the only goal to Glasgow Celtic. The ‘Pars’ had defeated Glasgow Rangers, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian on route to the final. There was disappointment however as, despite a late surge, the club suffered relegation. Stephen left the club in December 2007 and returned to Derry City for his second spell later that month.

The Derry City that Stephen re-joined was in a degree of turmoil and suffered relegation after entering administration. He returned them to the top flight by winning the First Division title and also lifted the League Cup on two occasions during his tenure. Stephen left Derry in December 2011 to join Shamrock Rovers back in Dublin. His spell with the ‘Hoops’ proved  disappointing and he lost his job in September 2012.

Two months later, in November 2012, Stephen joined Dundalk where he instigated a huge culture change through astute recruitment leading to the unprecedented success the club has enjoyed over the past five seasons. Four League of Ireland Premier Division titles, two FAI Cup successes, two League Cup victories have been achieved during this period. The club also enjoyed huge success in Europe, highlighted by some significant results. A three one Champions League aggregate success over BATE Borisov caught the eye as indeed did their exploits in the Europa League group stage where they held Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to a scoreless draw in Holland and defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv by one goal to nil in Dublin.

Stephen was appointed Ireland U21 manager on the 25th November 2018 and it was also announced that he would succeed senior manager Mick McCarthy, also appointed that day, in the summer of 2020.

At the Claddagh Ring on Friday evening Stephen talked us through his playing and managerial career including his U15 encounters with a certain Roy Keane and his trial period at the then English First Division side Oxford United, who included John Aldridge, Ray Houghton and David Langan in their ranks.

Stephen provided a spellbound audience with his thoughts and vision of how football should be played, as exemplified by his Dundalk  team, and confirmed that it was his intention to pursue a similar style with his new Ireland U21 and subsequent senior sides.

Invigorated by our special guest, Michael and his team performed in their own unique style as they steered the Charity Quiz Ship to a successful conclusion. The ‘Mac’ duo of Mark McCoy and Peter McGarry emerged victorious and received their winning trophies from our wonderful guest Stephen Kenny.

Our Event, with the contributions of our generous Sponsors, our various raffles and member donations together with the magnificent contribution made by our host Finbar, generated €6,500, which will be distributed equally between our two nominated charities – Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.   

Charity Quiz Archive