Category: Latest News

Greg Cunningham returned to the Cardiff City starting eleven for their two one Premier League victory over visitors Brighton & Hove Albion for whom Shane Duffy was in central defence. Declan Rice was in midfield for West Ham United who secured a point in a one all draw at Huddersfield Town. Kevin Long started in central defence for Burnley who played out a scoreless draw at Leicester City while Jeff Hendrick (55 minutes) and Robbie Brady (65 minutes) were second half substitutes for the ‘Clarets’. Ciaran Clark was introduced by Newcastle United on 78 minutes of their two one defeat of visitors AFC Bournemouth while Michael Obafemi was a last minute substitute for Southampton who drew one each with visitors Watford.  

Darragh Lenihan was in central defence for Blackburn Rovers who were held to a one all Championship draw by Ewood Park visitors Rotherham United who included Ryan Manning and Richie Towell in their starting eleven on Saturday afternoon. Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute for Bristol City who went down to a one nil home defeat by Preston North End for whom Callum Robinson scored the winning goal. Fellow striker Sean Maguire also started while Alan Browne was a seventy fourth minute substitute. Derby County, captained by Richard Keogh, suffered an emphatic three nil home defeat by visitors Aston villa for whom Conor Hourihane scored a magnificent free kick goal. Scott Hogan got a few substitute minutes at the end of the contest while Glenn Whelan was an unused substitute. Darren Randolph kept another clean sheet as his Middlesbrough secured a two nil home victory over Wigan Athletic. Leaders Norwich City defeated visitors Millwall by four goals to three with Shaun Williams in his customary midfield role for the ‘Lions’ while Aiden O’Brien was unused on the substitute bench. James McClean completed an industrious ninety minutes for Stoke City in their scoreless draw at Nottingham Forest while Alan Judge was a first half added time substitute for Brentford in their three two defeat at QPR.
In the first round of the FA Cup, Ronan Curtis was named man of the match for Portsmouth who defeated their non-league hosts Maidenhead United by four goals to nil.       

The Championship ‘Steel City Derby’  between Sheffield United  and Sheffield Wednesday ended in a scoreless at Bramall Lane on Friday evening. The hosts, entered the match in third position and included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven while their local rivals were ten points further away in seventeenth position. All three Irish internationals had fine games despite the fact that McGoldrick had his 15th minute penalty saved.

Our U17 side went down to a three one defeat by England in their opening contest of the Quadrangular Tournament in Tallaght Stadium this Thursday evening. England went ahead on eighteen minutes and doubled their advantage after thirty one minutes. A penalty, converted by Festy Ebosele following a foul on himself, reduced arrears and gave Ireland hope which was further enhanced with the dismissal of English defender Dennis Cirken just before the half-time break. Despite a number of fine opportunities, Ireland were unable to find the net in the second half and England extended their lead with just six minutes remaining. Head Coach Colin O’Brien expressed disappointment at the result but satisfaction with certain aspects of his team’s play. Ireland next face the Czech Republic in Tallaght Stadium at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

With the European U17 Championship Finals set for Ireland next May, we are hosting a Four Nation mini-Tournament which kicks off this afternoon at 3pm in the UCD Bowl with Germany taking on the Czech Republic. This evening at 7pm we will face England in Tallaght Stadium in the second contest.

Head Coach Colin O’Brien has named a 21 man squad for the Tournament:

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Shamrock Rovers), Jimmy Corcoran (Preston North End), Harry Halwax (Derby County)
Defenders: Thomas Considine (Bohemian), Alex Dunne (Shamrock Rovers), James Furlong (Shamrock Rovers), Anselmo Garcia-McNulty (Real Betis), Cian Kelly (Shamrock Rovers), Luke Turner (Aberdeen)
Midfielders: Kyle Conway (St Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Healy (Ipswich Town), Joe Hodge (Manchester City), Brandon Holt (St Patrick’s Athletic), Seamas Keogh (Southampton), Ronan McKinley (Derry City), Timi Sobowale (Manchester City)
Forwards: Conor Carty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Matt Everitt (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua Giurgi (Norwich City), Sean Kennedy (Sunderland)

Fixtures:
08/11: Germany v Czech Republic – UCD Bowl – 15.00
Ireland v England  – Tallaght Stadium – 19.00
11/11: Ireland v Czech Republic – Tallaght Stadium – 15.00
England v Germany – UCD Bowl – 19.00
14/11: Czech Republic v England – Home Farm FC – 13.00
Germany v Ireland – Tallaght Stadium – 13.00 

Martin O’Neill has named a thirty six man provisional squad for the upcoming senior international fixtures against Northern Ireland and Denmark. The squad includes Glenn Whelan who will captain Ireland in his farewell appearance against Northern Ireland before departing the squad. There are four players named in the squad for the first time, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jimmy Dunne, Ryan Manning and Michael Obafemi. Recent U21 captain Josh Cullen is a disappointing and surprising omission. The final reduced squad will be confirmed on Monday 12 November.
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle (Heart of Midlothian), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Sean McDermott (Kristiansund BK), Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Greg Cunningham (Cardiff City), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jimmy Dunne (Heart of Midlothian-loan from Burnley), John Egan (Sheffield United), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers)
Midfielders: Harry Arter (Cardiff City-loan from AFC Bournemouth), Robbie Brady (Burnley), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Ryan Manning (Rotherham United-loan from QPR), James McClean (Stoke City), David Meyler (Reading), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Richie Towell (Rotherham United-loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Glenn Whelan (Aston Villa), Shaun Williams (Millwall)
Forwards: Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Callum Robinson (Preston North End)  

With Europe again on the agenda there is very little club action this week. Cyrus Christie was introduced as a half-time substitute for Fulham who went down to a one nil defeat at Huddersfield Town on Monday evening and have now dropped to the basement of the Premier League.
Our recent U21 captain Josh Cullen of West Ham United was in action for his loan club Charlton Athletic who secured a two nil victory at Walsall in the First Division on Tuesday evening. Another of our U21 players, Liam Kinsella, son of former hero Mark, was a second half substitute for Walsall and Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Connor Ronan was also a very late substitute.
Wednesday afternoon saw our U19 captain Lee O’Connor in action for Manchester United in their UEFA Youth League contest against Juventus in Turin. O’Connor, playing the sweeper role, had a fine match as the sides played out a two all draw.
The Sheffield duo of United and Wednesday are set to meet at Bramall Lane in the Championship on Friday evening. The host ‘Blades’ include John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their ranks.