Category: Latest News

There were three FAI Cup quarter-finals played this Friday evening. The RTE cameras brought live coverage of the fixture between First Division Longford Town and the cup holders Cork City from City Calling Stadium which sadly provided little real excitement as the ‘Rebels’ cruised to a seven nil victory with Kieran Sadlier notching a hat-trick. The Markets Field hosted the meeting of Limerick and Dundalk which again was somewhat disappointing as the ‘Lilywhites’ eased to a comfortable four nil victory. The night’s real excitement arose at the Bowl where First Division leaders and promotion favourites UCD overcame fourth place Premier Division side Waterford by two goals to one. The remaining quarter-final tie between Derry City and Bohemian is scheduled for the Brandywell on Wednesday the 19th September at 7.45pm.

Our U21 side were in European Championship qualifying action early on Friday evening when they played out a one all draw with Kosova in Mitrovica. Ireland currently lie second in qualifying group five, two points behind Germany who visit Tallaght Stadium for a 6pm kick-off on Tuesday evening next. Ireland went behind this evening on sixty four minutes but rescued a point with an eighty second minute equaliser from Ronan Curtis. The Portsmouth striker, who has been in sparkling form for his club, was scoring his first Ireland goal at this level.  

Ireland commenced their UEFA Nations League campaign with a humiliating four one defeat by Wales in Cardiff this evening. The hosts, with several emerging youngsters aligned with their classy established trio of Allen, Bale and Ramsey, were utterly dominant and displayed technical quality far and above that provided by a quite abysmal Ireland. The match, one could not describe it as a contest, was done and dusted by the thirty seventh minute when Wales scored their third goal. The hosts added a fourth on fifty five minutes and continued in cruise control thereafter despite a rather cavalier element of carelessness from the aforementioned Ramsey who presented substitute Shaun Williams with a goal scoring opportunity which the Dubliner accepted with some degree of aplomb on sixty six minutes. Goalkeeper Randolph had a night to forget with poor positioning for two of the goals and while valiant skipper Coleman did strive to offer some semblance of quality effort, his back four colleagues Clark, Duffy and Ward had nights to forget. There were some early right wing forays from Christie but poor delivery of the final ball while the central midfield duo of Hendrick and Hourihane were seemingly invisible. O’Dowda did offer some semblance of hope, showing a certain degree of ability to control and pass the ball and debutant Robinson did not lack for effort but squandered the one clear opportunity set up for him by skipper Coleman. Walters battled valiantly but to no avail and one rather fears that his race may well be run.  Question marks must and will be raised in relation to the five man management team and one must wonder what indeed does each of them contribute to the cause?. 

Manager Martin O’Neill has named his starting eleven for this evening’s UEFA Nations League contest with Wales in Cardiff. Team: D Randolph; S Coleman(C), S Duffy, C Clark, S Ward; C Christie, J Hendrick, C Hourihane, C O’Dowda, C Robinson: J Walters

Preston North end midfielder Alan Browne has sustained a calf injury which rules him out of the upcoming international contests with Wales and Poland. The remaining twenty four members of the squad all trained this morning and travelled to Cardiff later in the day.

There was Irish involvement in the second round of the Checkatrade Trophy this evening. The competition is restricted to English Football League clubs together with U21 sides from the majority of the Premier League clubs. Southampton U21, who secured a two nil victory at Colchester United, included Michael Obafemi who scored, Thomas O’Connor the captain, Aaron O’Driscoll and Will Smallbone in their starting eleven with Jonathan Afolabi and Will Ferry on the substitute bench. Deadline day loan signing Eunan O’Kane made his Luton Town debut in the ‘Hatters’ two one victory over Brighton & Hove Albion U21 for whom Aaron Connolly and Daniel Mandroiu started while Warren O’Hora was on the substitute bench. 

Our UEFA Youth League representatives Bohemian have been drawn to face Danish U19 Champions Midtjylland in the first round of the UEFA Youth League. The ‘Gypsies’ travel to Denmark for the first leg on Wednesday the 3rd of October with the second leg set for Dalymount Park on Wednesday the 24th October 2018.