Category: Latest News

Stephen Kenny, the new Republic of Ireland U21 manager and the  special guest of RISSC (London) at our Charity Quiz event on Friday evening, has announced his first 21 man domestic training squad for a two day gathering at Dunboyne Castle on the 4th and 5th February. The gathering is also set to incorporate a training match against the Republic of Ireland Amateur side managed by Gerry Davis at Whitehall on Wednesday the 6th February. Stephen has also confirmed his backroom team, with Keith Andrews and Jim Crawford named  as Assistant Coaches and Dan Connor as Goalkeeping Coach. 

On Saturday afternoon, beleaguered Aston Villa and their Irish duo of Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan played host to Championship bottom side Ipswich Town who included Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven. The ‘Villians’ emerged victorious by two goals to one. Promotion hopefuls Norwich City and Sheffield United played out a two all draw at Carrow Road with the visiting trio of John Egan, Jack O’Connell and Enda Stevens starting while David McGoldrick was a sixtieth minute substitute. Martin O’Neill and his Nottingham Forest charges, who included Daryl Murphy, defeated City Ground visitors Wigan Athletic by three goals to one. Darragh Lenihan started while Derrick Williams was an unused substitute for Blackburn Rovers who defeated visitors Hull City by three goals to nil at Ewood Park. James McClean was a sixty first minute substitute for Stoke City who went down to a two nil home defeat by Preston North End for whom midfielder Alan Browne opened the scoring, his tenth of the season, while Sean Maguire was also in the starting eleven.   

The FA Cup fourth round sprung into action on Friday evening with Bristol City and the in-form Callum O’Dowda defeating fellow Championship side Bolton Wanderers by two goals to one at Ashton Gate with O’Dowda scoring the first for City. First up on Saturday afternoon were Accrington Stanley of the First Division who went down to a very late winner for visitors Derby County and Richard Keogh at 12.30pm in the Crown Ground. Shane Duffy and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues were held to a scoreless draw by high flying Championship side West Bromwich Albion for whom Wes Hoolihan was in the starting eleven. Long time injury absentee Stephen Ward started for Burnley alongside Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long as they crashed to a five nil defeat by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Ronan Curtis and  Portsmouth played out a one all draw with visitors QPR for whom Ryan Manning was in the starting eleven. Ciaran Clark started for Newcastle United who went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Watford  at St James Park. Matt Doherty returned to the starting eleven for Wolverhampton Wanderers and scored the added time equaliser which earned them a home replay with League One side Shrewsbury Town. Inconsistency surrounds both Millwall and Everton who clashed at the New Den where Aiden O’Brien and Shaun Williams started for the hosts with Seamus Coleman captaining the visiting ‘Toffees’ in a controversial contest. The visitors twice took the lead but were pegged back with the second equaliser clearly scored with the arm and then to rub salt in the wound, Everton conceded an added time goal to exit the competition. In the late kick-off, League One basement outfit AFC Wimbledon created the shock of the round with a four two victory over Premier League visitors West Ham United for whom Declan Rice and Conor Coventry were unused substitutes. Former Dundalk winger Dylan Connolly made his first start for the victors and caught the eye with an energetic and skilful display. 

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City kicked-off the Saturday afternoon fare in the Premier League when they faced each other in Molineaux at 12.30pm. Matt Doherty was relegated to the home bench but was introduced on seventy three minutes of an invigorating contest which went the way of the hosts who scored an added time winner for a four three success. Declan Rice started for West Ham United who went down to a two nil defeat by AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium while Shane Duffy lined out at Old Trafford with Brighton & Hove Albion where in-form Manchester United continued their revival with a two one victory. Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for Newcastle United who defeated visitors Cardiff City by three goals to nil at St James Park. Shane Long, who faced a battle to be fit, was introduced from the substitute bench for Southampton who defeated visitors Everton and Seamus Coleman by two goals to one at St Mary’s Stadium. Stephen Ward who has recovered from his long term injury together with Robbie Brady did not make the Burnley matchday squad for the trip to Watford. Jeff Hendrick  started with Kevin Long an unused substitute as the sides played out a scoreless draw.

The Championship marathon took another step on it’s arduous journey to the Premier riches this Saturday afternoon. Stuttering Aston Villa, with Conor Hourihane in their starting eleven, were held to a two all, draw by visitors Hull City at Villa Park while Blackburn Rovers had Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven for their two nil victory over visiting basement side Ipswich Town who included new signings Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven. Derby County captain Richard Keogh continued in defence for the two one defeat of visitors Reading for whom long time injury absentee Paul McShane has returned to training. Darren Randolph and his Middlesbrough colleagues were held to a one all draw by visitors  Millwall for whom Shaun Williams started and Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute at the Riverside Stadium. Callum O’Dowda was again prominent for Bristol City who scored the only goal at the City Ground to defeat their hosts Nottingham Forest and hand new manager Martin O’Neill and his coaching assistants Steve Guppy and Seamus McDonagh a disappointing start to their tenure. Ryan Manning remained on the QPR bench as they suffered a four one Loftus Road defeat by visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne, who scored, and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven. Keiren Westwood  recovered from injury and started for Sheffield Wednesday who overcame visitors Wigan Athletic and their new signing Anthony Pilkington with the only goal at Hillsborough. James McClean was a second half substitute for stuttering Stoke City who shocked current leaders Leeds United with a two one success at the Bet365 Stadium. The Sheffield United quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started  the late kick-off at Swansea City but were disappointed with a one nil defeat.
League One leaders Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis in their starting eleven for their two one Kassam Stadium defeat by hosts Oxford United, while Josh Cullen started for Charlton Athletic who defeated their visitors Accrington Stanley with the only goal at the Valley.

The FAI has today announced two International friendlies to be played this Autumn. We will face Bulgaria in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday the 10th September, five days after the home European Championship qualifier against Switzerland and we then meet New Zealand, for the first ever time, in the Aviva Stadium on Thursday the 14th November, four days before we take on Denmark in the European Championship, again in the Aviva Stadium.