Category: Latest News

Denmark, whom it seemed were in some domestic turmoil, showed no ill effects as they secured a deserved two nil victory over Wales in Group Four of the UEFA Nations League this Sunday afternoon. Both goals were scored by Christian Eriksen, the man who scored the hat-trick that contributed to Ireland’s crushing World Cup qualification defeat last November.

Our U19 side went down to a one nil defeat by Wales in the first of two friendly internationals played at City Calling Stadium, Longford this afternoon. The second contest is set for Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway at noon on Tuesday.

In the FA Women’s Super League this Sunday afternoon both Louise Quinn and Katie McCabe were in the Arsenal Women’s side which crushed visitors Liverpool by five goals to nil. The visitors included former ‘Gunner’ Niamh Fahey in their starting eleven. Also in action was recent signing Heather Payne who was a second half substitute for Bristol City Women who won with the only goal at Brighton & Hove Albion. Goalkeeper Grace Moloney had a fairly quiet afternoon as her Reading Women’s side secured a comfortable four nil success over visitors Yeovil Town.

The Ireland squad sets out for Poland today without Stephen Ward who picked up a foot injury on Thursday night and has now returned to his club Burnley. The squad which has also lost Jon Walters, has been reinforced by the arrival of Ronan Curtis, who scored the equaliser for the U21 side on Friday evening but is suspended for the clash with Germany on Tuesday.  

With their qualification destiny still in their own hands, decision time looms for our U21 side who face European Championship Qualifying Group Five leaders Germany in Tallaght Stadium at 6pm on Tuesday evening. With three matches remaining for both sides, Ireland trail Germany by two points but with the final two contests away in Israel and Germany, this home encounter is absolutely vital if hopes of qualification for their first ever Championship Finals are to be realised. The current furore surrounding Declan Rice has cost Head Coach Noel King a gigantic asset and coupled with the one match suspension of the in-form Ronan Curtis and centre back Ryan Sweeney makes an already formidable challenge even more daunting. Defenders Shaun Donnellan and Sean McLoughlin have now been called up to the squad.

Goalkeepers: Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest), Kieran O’Hara (Loan-Macclesfield Town)
Defenders: Ryan Delaney (Rochdale), Danny Kane (Loan-AFC Fylde), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Connor Shaughnessy (Leeds United), Ryan Sweeney [suspended]Loan-Mansfield Town), Corey Whelan (Loan-Crewe Alexandra), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town), Sean McLoughlin (Cork City)
Midfielders: Harry Charsley (Everton), Josh Cullen (Loan Charlton Athletic), Rory Hale (Derry City), Ryan Manning (Loan-Rotherham United), Jamie McGrath (Dundalk), Jake Mulraney (Heart of Midlothian)
Forwards: Ronan Curtis [suspended](Portsmouth), Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town), Ronan Hale (Loan-Derry City), Joe Quigley (Maidstone United)   

Head Coach Paul Osam leads a nineteen player squad to Bulgaria where they will face their hosts in two contests at the National Football Complex in Sofia. The first encounter is set for 3pm (Irish time) on Tuesday afternoon with the second contest scheduled for the same time on Thursday afternoon. These U16 players will benefit from the experience and knowledge of Richard Dunne who joins the coaching team in an advisory capacity.

Goalkeepers: Arlo Doherty (Manchester City), Josh Keely (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders: Fionnan Coyle (Finn Harps), Oisin Hand (Shamrock Rovers), Leigh Kavanagh (Bray Wanderers), Ronan Kilkenny (Bohemian), Anselmo Garcia McNulty (Real Betis), Gavin O’Brien (Bohemian)
Midfielders: Louie Barry (West Bromwich Albion), Colon Conroy (Bohemian), Kyle Conway (St Patrick’s Athletic), Oran Crowe (Cork City), Lee Harkin (Tristar Boys), Ben McCormack (St Patrick’s Athletic), Andrew Moran (Bray Wanderers)
Forwards: Roland Banya (Shamrock Rovers), Daniel Gildea (Finn Harps), Callum Kavanagh (Middlesbrough), Billy Vance (Bray Wanderers)

Ireland U19 Head Coach Tom Mohan will run the rule over several new additions when he sends his team into friendly international action against Wales in City Calling Stadium, Longford at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Much interest will focus on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Johansson whose father is Swedish but his mother was born in Westmeath. Also set to be under the microscope is Girondins de Bordeaux defender Tom Gaston while five members of the U17 squad which performed so well at the European Championship Finals last May are also included. The two sides are set to meet again at noon on Tuesday the 11th September in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway.

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Athletic), George McMahon (Burnley)
Defenders: Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Tom Gaston (Bordeaux) Jack James (Luton Town), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Lee O’Connor (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), Will Ferry (Southampton), Ryan Johansson (Bayern Munich), Jason Knight (Derby County)
Forwards: Jonathon Afolabi (Southampton), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Brandon Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers), Glen McAuley (Liverpool), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Will Smallbone (Southampton)

The Airtricity League representatives Bohemian and Sligo Rovers were both successful in their Irn-Bru Cup second round contests on Saturday afternoon and evening. Bohemian travelled to face Scottish League Two side Peterhead in Balmoor at 3pm and scored the only goal through Sligoman Kevin Devaney to progress to round three.  Peterhead currently sit second on the league table and are managed by Jim McInally, who by scouting the opposition, assisted the ‘Gypsies’ away goal elimination of Aberdeen from the UEFA Cup in 2000 and originally cut his managerial teeth with Sligo Rovers in 1995. Sligo Rovers welcomed the Colts team of Scottish Premiership outfit Livingston to the Showgrounds where they recovered from the concession of a goal after ninety seconds to secure a comfortable four one victory with Mikey Drennan scoring a hat-trick.

A humbled Ireland squad, comprehensively crushed by a vibrant Wales in Cardiff on Thursday night, were joined in training on Friday morning by youthful Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher who will also participate in Saturday morning’s session. The squad, minus Jon Walters who has returned to his loan club Ipswich Town are preparing to face Poland in a friendly encounter set for Wroclaw on Tuesday evening where, one hopes, they will endeavour to restore some semblance of organisation and pride.