Category: Latest News

There was some Irish involvement in the fourth round of the Football League Cup on Wednesday evening with Richard Keogh, who conceded  an unfortunate own goal, captaining Derby County in their three two defeat at Chelsea. The Declan Rice debate was again resurrected with reports that he is about to make the anticipated international switch to England, while his West Ham United exited the League Cup following their three one defeat by London Stadium visitors Tottenham Hotspur. Loanees Ben Heneghan and Paudie O’Connor were in central defence for League Two side Blackpool who went down to a two one defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with O’Connor, who was dismissed on eighty four minutes, scoring the ‘Tangarines’ goal. On Tuesday evening, teenage goalkeeper Mark Travers was on the substitute bench for AFC Bournemouth who progressed to the quarter-finals with a two one victory over Norwich City. Cyrus Christie saw just a few minutes of action as a very late substitute for Fulham who went down to a two nil defeat at Manchester City on Thursday evening.
Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne was again in central defence for current Sottish Premier League leaders Heart of Midlothian who played out a scoreless draw with fierce Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, for whom Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute.   

The first leg of the Airtricity League promotion play-off between in-form First Division side Finn Harps and struggling Premier Division side Limerick took place in Finn Park this Monday evening with the home side scoring the only goal, a thirty sixth minute penalty converted by Paddy McCourt. The second leg is set for the Markets Field at 7.45pm on Friday the 2nd November 2018.

Our Under 17 Women completed their Group Seven Qualifying Round fixtures when they went down to a one nil defeat by mini-tournament hosts Serbia at their National Sports Centre, Stara Pazova early on Sunday afternoon. The hosts had already qualified for the next Elite Stage, where Ireland will join them as our goal difference was much superior to Wales who finished level on points with us following their two nil victory over Albania in the other Group contest.

Burnley went down to a crushing four nil home defeat by Chelsea at Turf Moor in the Premier League early on Sunday afternoon. From an Irish perspective, the return of Robbie Brady to first team action for the first time since injury side lined him in December 2017 is very welcome and he completed the full ninety minutes today. Jeff Hendrick also started while Kevin Long was an unused substitute. Later in the afternoon, Everton and Seamus Coleman went down to a two one defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford. James McCarthy completed the full ninety minutes for the Everton U23 side in their one nil victory over Manchester City U23 on Saturday evening and is nearing a return to first team action. This was his first competitive match action since his double leg break last January.

Brighton & Hove Albion (Shane Duffy) scored the only goal to defeat visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers (Matt Doherty) at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Fulham (Cyrus Christie – unused substitute) went down to a three nil defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth while Cardiff City (Greg Cunningham – unused substitute)went down to a four one defeat by Liverpool at Anfield. Southampton (Shane Long) were held to a scoreless draw by visitors Newcastle United at St Mary’s Stadium while the 5.30pm kick-off featured Leicester City in action against visitors West Ham United (Declan Rice, Conor Coventry – unused substitute) which ended in a one all draw with the ‘Hammers’ playing much of the match with ten men, following the dismissal of their captain Mark Noble. 

Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough (Darren Randolph) and Derby County (Richard Keogh) kick-started the Saturday afternoon action when they met at 12.30pm in the Riverside Stadium where they played out a one all draw. Bristol City (Max O’Leary, Callum O’Dowda) went down to a one nil defeat at home to Stoke City (James McClean) at Ashton Gate while The Den hosted the three nil victory for Millwall (Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams) over Ipswich Town. Deepdale was the venue for the one all draw between Preston North End (Alan Browne, Callum Robinson, Sean Maguire) and Rotherham United (Ryan Manning, Richie Towell). Promotion chasing Sheffield United (Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick) defeated visitors Wigan Athletic by four goals to two at Bramall Lane while West Bromwich Albion (Wes Hoolihan) were held to a one all draw by visitors Blackburn Rovers (Derrick Williams).
In League One, leaders Portsmouth (Ronan Curtis) were held to a one all draw at Accrington Stanley.  

The final set of fixtures in the Airtricity League Premier Division for the 2018 season took place on Friday evening. Bohemian played out a one all draw with champions Dundalk in Dalymount Park while runners-up Cork City crushed relegated Bray Wanderers by five goals to one in Turner’s Cross with Kieran Sadlier scoring a hat-trick.  Third place Shamrock Rovers went down to a two nil defeat by hosts  Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds where new manager Liam Buckley was introduced to the crowd at half-time. Fourth place Waterford  defeated relegation play-off bound Limerick by four goals to one in the RSC. Mid-table sides St Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City faced off in Richmond Park with the hosts securing an emphatic five nil success in front of their new manager Harry Kenny.