Category: Latest News

Struggling Burnley, with Robbie Brady in their starting eleven and  Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long unused on the substitute bench, went down to a three one defeat by visitors Liverpool at Turf Moor in the Premier League this Wednesday evening. Seamus Coleman started for Everton who were held to a one all draw by visitors Newcastle United for whom Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute at Goodison Park while Fulham and Cyrus Christie also played out a one all draw with visitors Leicester City at Craven Cottage. The hamstring injury suffered by Michael Obafemi on Saturday ruled him out of the Southampton side which went down to a three one defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. Matt Doherty provided the pass for the goal which enabled Wolverhampton Wanderers to come from behind and secure a two one victory over visitors Chelsea at Molineaux.

Shane Duffy was dismissed for violent conduct just twenty eight minutes into his club Brighton & Hove Albion’s three one victory over visitors Crystal Palace in the Premier League this Tuesday evening. Declan Rice was in his customary midfield position for West Ham United who defeated visitors Cardiff City and Harry Arter by three goals to one at the London Stadium. Injury ruled Greg Cunningham out of the visiting ‘Bluebirds’ side.

West Bromwich Albion, with Wes Hoolihan an unused substitute, conceded an added time equaliser to visitors Brentford in the Championship on Monday evening. The ‘Baggies’ dominated the first half but failed to score until midway through the second half and paid the price with the ‘Bees’ scoring the late equaliser. Alan Judge started in an unfamiliar wide left position for Brentford and was rarely involved until switching to his more familiar position in the central/right side area late in the second half.

The qualifying draw for the UEFA EURO 2020 Championship took place at the Convention Centre in Dublin this Sunday morning and saw Ireland [33] drawn in Qualifying Group D alongside Switzerland [8], Denmark [10], Georgia [89] and Gibraltar [194].
Current FIFA Ranking in brackets.

Fixture Schedule

Saturday 23 March	v	Gibraltar	(A)
Tuesday 26 March	v	Georgia	(H)
Friday 7 June	v	Denmark	(A)
Monday 10 June	v	Gibraltar	(H)
Thursday 5 September	v	Switzerland	(H)
Saturday 12 October	v	Georgia	(A)
Tuesday 15 October	v	Switzerland	(A)
Monday 18 November	v	Denmark	(H)

It is likely that friendly matches will be arranged for the September and November dates when single Qualifiers are scheduled.

There are 24 places available at the Finals with 20 of those to be secured by the countries finishing first and second in the ten qualifying groups which were drawn in Dublin today. The remaining four places will go to the winners of a new play-off system linked to the UEFA Nations League, the first phase of which finished last month.

The four UK participants have been drawn as follows:-
Group A: England, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Kosova
Group C: Holland, Germany, N Ireland, Estonia, Belarus
Group E: Croatia, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, Azerbaijan
Group I: Belgium, Russia, Scotland, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, San Marino

   

 

There was Irish involvement in the Premier League and Championship on Sunday afternoon. Cyrus Christie started for Fulham in their two nil Premier League defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge while fellow right back Seamus Coleman captained Everton who lost to a 96th minute goal from neighbours Liverpool at Anfield. In the Championship, Bristol City, for whom Callum O’Dowda was an eighty third minute substitute, played out a one all draw with visitors  Millwall, for whom Shaun Williams scored the equalising goal. Aiden O’Brien also started but was substituted before the hour mark. 

Struggling Burnley had Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long in their starting eleven with Robbie Brady a half-time substitute as they went down to a two nil defeat at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Shane Duffy and Brighton & Hove Albion were also on the road as they travelled to Huddersfield Town where they recovered from conceding a first minute goal to win by two goals to one with Duffy scoring the equaliser. Midweek captain Ciaran Clark was dropped to the Newcastle United substitute bench for the visit of West Ham United and Declan Rice to St James Park. The ‘Hammers’ secured all three points with an empathic three nil victory. The 5.30pm kick-off featured Southampton at home to Manchester United which ended in a two all draw. Following his midweek League Cup performance, teenager Michael Obafemi retained his place in the starting eleven, his first Premier League start, and he again performed admirably before his sixty fourth minute departure with a hamstring injury.  

The ‘Yorkshire Derby’ meeting of Sheffield United and Leeds United kicked off the Championship action at 12.30pm in Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon with the visitors scoring a late winner. The hosts included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven, each of whom performed reasonably well although both McGoldrick and Stevens might have been red carded had a more vigilant referee been in charge. In form Preston North End midfielder Alan Browne started but was replaced by Graham Burke on seventy nine minutes as their side crashed to a three nil defeat by Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.  A hip injury ruled  Darragh Lenihan out of the Blackburn Rovers side which defeated visitors  Sheffield Wednesday by four goals to two at Ewood Park. Fellow defender Derrick Williams returned to the starting eleven following his midweek exclusion. Richard Keogh and Derby County returned to winning ways with a two one victory over visitors Swansea City at  Pride Park. Rotherham United duo Richie Towell and Anthony Forde started against Norwich City at Carrow Road with Towell opening the scoring on eleven minutes but in vain as the ‘Canaries’ recovered to win by three goals to one. Loanee Ryan Manning remained unused on the ‘Millers’ substitute bench. James McClean and Stoke City secured a point from a two all draw at Reading where David Meyler was unused on the ‘Royals’ substitute bench. The 5.30pm kick-off saw Darren Randolph and Middlesbrough play disappointingly below par against  vibrant visitors Aston Villa who secured an emphatic three nil victory. Conor Hourihane was named ‘mam of the match’ while Glenn Whelan and Scott Hogan were introduced from the substitute bench on eighty two minutes with Whelan scoring the third goal just a minute after his arrival on the pitch.