Category: Latest News

 

Dec and his Committee colleagues would be delighted if you were able to join us for our final Club Meeting of 2018 which takes place next Friday evening, the 9^th November at the Claddagh Ring , 10 Church Road, Hendon, London NW4 4EA.

We are set to commence at 7.30pm and invite our regular and occasional attendees and indeed any of you who have not yet been able to attend a Club meeting to come and have a drink with us and partake of the excellent savouries provided by our host Finbar and his team at the Claddagh.

We will be joined on the night by our special guests Mark O’Toole and Brendan O’Dowda, to talk about the current situation surrounding our senior international team and their hopes for the future of all of our international teams.

Mark is the UK Southern Region Scout for the FAI and is responsible for identifying and introducing numerous young players to our various international management teams while Brendan, the father of current senior international Callum O’Dowda, is an FA Licensed Intermediary and a director of Summit Sports Management, providing representation services for Professional Footballers.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to those of you who were able to join us on the occasion of our Special Celebratory Dinner Function last month and thank you for the many kind comments made in relation to the evening. Hopefully you will be imbued with the spirit to return next Friday evening and as always we will be delighted to welcome members of your family and friends

Following their Airtricity League Premier Division success, Dundalk completed the domestic double with a two one victory over Cork City in the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium this Sunday afternoon. This was the fourth successive final between the two sides and in a keenly contested match, Dundalk took the lead on nineteen minutes through centre back Sean Hoare who headed powerfully home following a corner. The opening goal came very much against the run of play but parity was restored two minutes later when Kieran Sadlier scored from the penalty spot following a foul by the aforementioned Hoare. The contest continued on an even keel with the possibility of extra-time coming into mind as it had done in each of their previous final encounters. It was however settled on seventy three minutes when Patrick McAleney headed home a splendid cross from Sean Gannon to complete the ‘double’ for Dundalk

Shane Long completed the full ninety minutes for Southampton who suffered a six one mauling at Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Ireland U19 striker Michael Obafemi was introduced from the ‘Saints’ substitute bench on seventy three minutes

Following last Saturday’s post match Helicopter tragedy, Leicester City travelled to face Cardiff City in the Premier League and secured a one nil victory. Harry Arter started for the hosts while Greg Cunningham was unused on the substitute bench. Seamus Coleman scored for Everton who defeated Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion and Shane Duffy by three goals to one at Goodison Park. Declan Rice was in midfield for West Ham United who defeated visitors Burnley by four goals to two at the London Stadium. Robbie Brady was a seventy fifth minute substitute for the visiting ‘Clarets’ while Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long were unused substitutes. The late kick-off featured Wolverhampton Wanderers and Matt Doherty in a three two Molineaux defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.  

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers, for whom Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams were in defence, scoring a late winner to defeat QPR at Ewood Park. Alan Judge was a very late substitute for Brentford who defeated London rivals Millwall by two goals to nil at Griffin Park. Young defender Canice Carroll was on the home bench while Shaun Williams started for the visitors but Aiden O’Brien was unused on the bench. In-form Derby County had Richard Keogh in defence as they came from behind to defeat visitors Birmingham City by three goals to one at Pride Park. Bottom side Ipswich Town played out a one all draw with visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven. Nottingham Forest defeated visitors Sheffield United, who had John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven with David McGoldrick a fifty fifth minute substitute,with the only goal at the City Ground. Struggling Reading with John O’Shea in defence earned some relief with a three two victory over visitors Bristol City for whom Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute at the Madejski Stadium. Rotherham United had Richie Towell in their starting eleven but it was half-time substitute Ryan Manning who stole the show as he converted two late penalties to secure a two one victory over visitors Swansea City. The late kick-off saw Stoke City, with James McClean a late substitute, play out a scoreless draw with visitors Middlesbrough for whom Darren Randolph was in his regular goalkeeping position.
In the First Division, Ronan Curtis was in action for leaders Portsmouth who secured a one nil victory at Bradford City while Charlton Athletic had West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen in midfield for their two nil defeat of visitors Doncaster Rovers at the Valley.

Aston Villa secured a deserved two nil victory over visitors Bolton Wanderers in the Championship this Friday evening. Both clubs were  searching for form and while the visitors did have some bright moments, it was the hosts who showed the greater quality and reserve. Conor Hourihane started in an unexpected holding midfield role and performed quite well while Scott Hogan, with fifteen minutes and Glenn Whelan with six were late substitutes. 

Finn Harps will replace Limerick in the Airtricity League Premier Division next season. The Donegal side, leading one nil from the home first leg, secured a two nil victory in the Markets Field this evening for an aggregate three nil success and promotion to the top division. Mark Timlin scored just before the half time break and the second, from Nathan Boyle on eighty minutes set the seal on an excellent performance.