Category: Latest News

Our Under 21 side played their penultimate Group Five fixture against Israel in Akko on Thursday afternoon, knowing victory was essential if they were to retain any hope of reaching the qualifying play-off stage of these 2019 European Championships. However it was not to be as Ireland slumped to a very disappointing three one defeat. Sadly, once again, there appears little to be excited about at this level with perhaps just goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara, midfield duo Josh Cullen and Ronan Curtis together with Ryan Manning, who missed this afternoon’s match through injury, offering hope for the future. Ireland will travel to face Germany in Heidenmeim on Tuesday afternoon to complete their campaign.

  

With Dundalk confirmed as Champions and Cork City runners-up, together with Bray Wanderers and Limerick filling the bottom two positions, the one remaining situation to be decided in the Airtricity League Premier Division is the third and fourth place standings which are being contested by Shamrock Rovers and Waterford. The ‘Hoops’ made the short trip to Richmond Park this Friday evening where they scored the only goal in added time to defeat St Patrick’s Athletic while Waterford went down to a two one defeat at home to champions Dundalk in the RSC. In the remaining contest, Limerick suffered a three nil defeat by their hosts Cork City in Turner’s Cross.

The first leg of the Airtricity League First Division play-off between Drogheda United and Finn Harps ended in a one all draw in United Park this Friday evening. The second leg, to determine who will face Limerick for the place in the Premier Division next season, is scheduled for Finn Park next Friday evening, the 19th October 2018.

Our Under 19 side, guided by Head Coach Tom Mohan, commenced their 2019 European Championship qualifying campaign this Wednesday afternoon at the City Calling Stadium in Longford where they defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina by three goals to one. After a nervous opening ten minutes, Ireland took command but spurned a couple of scoring opportunities during a scoreless first half. The breakthrough came on fifty six minutes when Will Ferry scored following a pass from Conor Coventry. Ten minutes later, Ireland went two up with Troy Parrott converting from the penalty spot following a foul on Jack James. Ireland went further ahead on seventy four minutes when Adam Idah added the third. While the concession of a late goal will disappoint, the overall performance will not and Ireland now look forward to facing the Faroe Islands on Saturday afternoon, again in Longford. Later this evening in the other Group Ten contest, Holland defeated the Faroe Islands by five goals to nil in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Kian Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders: James Clarke (Burnley), Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Tom Gaston (Bordeaux), Jack James (Luton Town), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Lee O’Connor (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Barry Coffey (Celtic), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), Will Ferry (Southampton), Richard O’Farrell (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Southampton), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Glen McAuley (Liverpool), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Ali Reghba (Bohemian)

 

Martin O’Neill has announced a reduced squad of twenty six for the upcoming UEFA Nations League contests against Denmark and Wales in the Aviva Stadium. Jettisoned are Greg Cunningham, Alan Judge, Daryl Horgan, Richie Towell and Graham Burke while Ronan Curtis links up with the U21 squad for their double header in Israel and Germany.

Revised Squad
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Sean McDermott, Darren Randolph
Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy, John Egan, Richard Keogh, Darragh Lenihan, Kevin Long, Enda Stevens, Derrick Williams
Midfielders: Harry Arter, Alan Browne, Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane, James McClean, David Meyler, Callum O’Dowda, Shaun Williams
Forwards: Scott Hogan, Shane Long, Sean Maguire, Aiden O’Brien, Callum Robinson

A depleted senior women’s squad travelled to Poland where they suffered a four nil friendly international defeat in Ostroda this Tuesday afternoon. The first half finished scoreless but following the concession of the opening goal from a disputed penalty, the floodgates opened and Ireland slumped to a disappointing defeat. 

Drogheda United will face Finn Harps over two legs with the winners contesting the two legged contest with the ninth placed Premier Division side, almost certainly Limerick, to determine who will play in the Airtricity League Premier Division next season. The County Louth side, trailing one nil from the home first leg, took on Shelbourne in a very eventful second leg at Tolka Park this Monday evening. The hosts had Reece McEnteer (10′) and James English (37′) dismissed in the first half and conceded goals scored by Sean Brennan and Chris Lyons before the nine men scored through Adam Evans to level the aggregate scores. Extra-time could not produce a winner and so it went to a penalty shoot-out where Drogheda prevailed by four goals to two.