Category: Latest News

Ireland played out a one all draw with hosts Poland in a friendly international which took place in Wroclaw this evening. This was a massively improved showing from that of Thursday last although the intensity of a competitive encounter was missing. A much changed side, there were six changes to the starting eleven, actually sought to retain possession and pass the ball unlike a whole plethora of previous matches where the ‘hot potato’ syndrome reigned. There were a number of quality performances and one must hope that patience and perseverance is the order of the day in forthcoming contests. John Egan, playing in the centre of a back three, caught the eye with his dogged determination and successful tackle ratio while Shaun Williams was the picture of composure in the holding midfield role. Debutant Aiden O’Brien surprised with the quality of his target man performance and capped a fine performance with the goal while the energy, industry, perseverance and quality control displayed by Callum O’Dowda, creator of the goal, made him the unquestionable star of the show. The multitude of second half substitutions did dilute matters and permitted the hosts to equalise with just minutes remaining but as previously mentioned, let us now show the requisite patience and perseverance and permit these international novices to lead us into the future.

Our U21 side suffered a humiliating six nil European Championship qualifying defeat by Germany in Tallaght Stadium this evening. With injuries, suspensions and withdrawal impacting upon resources this was always likely to be a difficult task but the margin of defeat was quite humbling. The visitors scored after just six minutes and while three of their remaining five goals were scored from the penalty spot they were comprehensive victors. Ireland now drop to third on the Group Five table behind Norway on goal difference and while technically we still retain the outside possibility of a play-off spot by finishing second there are long odds about that with visits to Israel and Germany our two remaining fixtures.

Following the disappointment of their one nil defeat in Longford on Sunday afternoon our U19 side, guided by Head Coach Tom Mohan and assisted by new Technical Advisor Colin Healy, gained revenge over visitors Wales with a two nil victory in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway this afternoon. Goals from Aaron Connolly and substitute Gavin Kilkenny secured the well merited victory.

New Technical Advisor Richard Dunne in tandem with Head Coach Paul Osam will be pleased with the performance of their U16 charges who secured a four two victory over their hosts Bulgaria in Sofia this afternoon. Early goals from Louie Barry and Ben McCormack were cancelled out by the hosts prior to the half time break but Ireland responded in the second half and further goals from Billy Vance and Barry again, underpinned an impressive four two victory. The sides are set to meet again at 3pm (Irish time) on Thursday afternoon at the same venue.

The draw for the third round of the IRN-BRU Cup was made this afternoon. Bohemian  will play host to English side Sutton United while Sligo Rovers will travel to face Motherwell Colts with the ties provisionally scheduled for the week ending Sunday the 14th October 2018.

The draw for the semi-finals of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup was made on the Soccer Republic programme this evening and sees the finalists for the last three years, Cork City and Dundalk once again avoid each other. The draw has paired Dundalk with First Division UCD with the tie likely (unconfirmed) to take place in Oriel Park on Friday the 28th September while the winners of the quarter-final tie between Derry City and Bohemian will host Cork City, with the contest likely (unconfirmed) to take place on Sunday the 30th September.  

A foot injury has ruled Seamus Coleman out of the Ireland team to face Poland in tomorrow evening’s friendly contest in Wroclaw. David Meyler, who joined manager Martin O’Neill at this afternoon’s press conference, is expected to wear the armband tomorrow night.

There was also some ‘fun and games’ surrounding the public release of a whatsapp audio purporting to have come from Stephen Ward who left the squad yesterday with a foot injury. The audio outlines details of the exchanges between Assistant Manager Roy Keane and players Harry Arter and Jon Walters which were alleged to have occurred during the summer internationals.