Amateurs complete Regions Cup campaign…22/09/2018

Our Amateur International side completed their UEFA Regions Cup campaign with a one all draw against England in Ramnicu Sarat this afternoon. England took the lead after seventeen minutes but Shane Ryan of St Michael’s FC scored the equaliser with just three minutes remining. Slovakia defeated the hosts Romania by four goals to one and go through to the Finals next year.

Premier League on Saturday afternoon…22/09/2018

Craven Cottage hosted the Premier League early kick-off which ended in a one all draw between Fulham, for whom Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute, and visitors Watford. Struggling Burnley had  Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long on the substitute bench but no Stephen Ward in their squad for their four nil victory over visitors AFC Bournemouth while Robbie Brady, who played in a midweek match behind closed doors, may be close to a return to first team action. Cardiff City included Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham in their starting eleven for their crushing five nil home defeat by Manchester City while Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for Newcastle United in their scoreless draw at Crystal Palace. Shane Long started for Southampton who went down to a three nil defeat by Liverpool at Anfield  while the in-form Matt Doherty and his Wolverhampton Wanderers colleagues came from behind to earn a one all draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The late kick-off saw Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion go down to a two one defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur despite the efforts of Shane Duffy who performed heroically in his central defensive role. 

Saturday afternoon in the Championship…22/09/2018

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Conor Hourihane starting for Aston Villa with Glenn Whelan unused on the bench as they suffered a surprise two one defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park. Derby County included Richard Keogh in their starting eleven as they recovered from the concession of a first minute goal to defeat visitors Brentford by three goals to one, with Alan Judge an unused substitute. Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph played out a scoreless draw with visitors Swansea City while Nottingham Forest scored the only goal to defeat visitors Rotherham United for whom Ryan Manning and Richie Towell started with Anthony Forde unused on the bench. The Bramall Lane meeting of Sheffield United who included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven and Preston North End for whom Alan Browne and Callum Robinson started with Graham Burke unused on the bench is believed to have been on the radar of Ireland Assistant Manager Roy Keane. The hosts prevailed by three goals to two with McGoldrick scoring the late winner while Robinson found the net for the ‘Lilywhites’. Stoke City were without the injured James McClean for the visit of Blackburn Rovers for whom Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams both started as their side secured a three two success. Millwall had Shaun Williams in their starting eleven with Aiden O’Brien a seventy second minute substitute at high flying West Bromwich Albion who secured the points with a two nil victory. We also cast an eye at League One where Ronan Curtis was in action for current leaders Portsmouth who were held to a two all draw by visitors Wycombe Wanderers. 

Airtricity League Premier Division…21/09/2018

There were just three contests played in the Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday evening. The top two, Cork City and Dundalk met in Turner’s Cross where a goal after just three minutes from Chris Shields proved the winner for the visiting ‘Lilywhites’ and all but ensured the Championship is Oriel Park bound. The basement contest between Bray Wanderers and Limerick at the Carlisle Grounds had a similar ‘all or nothing’ feel to it and the hosts fell further into the relegation abyss as they went down to a two nil defeat leaving them twelve points adrift with just four matches remaining. Waterford leapfrogged Shamrock Rovers into third place with a one nil victory over visitors Sligo Rovers at the Regional Sports Centre.

U17s secure second victory over Turkey in Tallaght…20/09/2018

Head Coach Colin O’Brien ran the rule over the remaining members of his Ireland U17 squad in their second friendly encounter with Turkey in Tallaght Stadium early on Thursday afternoon and witnessed his charges produce another clinical performance in securing a four one victory. Shamrock Rovers defender Cian Kelly opened the scoring on seven minutes following a Matt Everitt corner and the Brighton & Hove Albion striker himself scored the second shorty afterwards. Fellow striker Darragh Burns of St Patrick’s Athletic was on hand to score the third after thirty minutes. Turkey did reduce the deficit on the stroke of half time but Ireland restored their three goal advantage when substitute Conor Carty of Wolverhampton Wanderers scored a stunning goal with an exquisite volley from the edge of the area. Head Coach Colin O’Brien expressed his satisfaction with the progress of this new group which benefits from the experience and knowledge of former international striker Kevin Doyle. The squad will regroup later this year with the Czech Republic, England and Germany set to provide the opposition in a further series of friendly engagements.

The Championship on Wednesday evening…19/09/2018

There was further Championship action on Wednesday evening with Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph defeating visitors Bolton Wanderers by two goals to nil to move up to second place one point behind leaders Leeds United. The ‘London Derby’ meeting of QPR and Millwall went the way of the hosts by two goals to nil at Loftus Road where recent Ireland debutants and goalscorers Aiden O’Brien and Shaun Williams were pretty anonymous for the visiting ‘Lions’. Sheffield United had John Egan in defence for their scoreless draw with visitors Birmingham City while David McGoldrick was introduced from the bench on the hour mark. Recent international debutant Enda Stevens was relegated to the bench for the first time this season.