Category: Latest News

Aston Villa, with Glenn Whelan a midfield starter, suffered a crushing four one Championship defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon. John Egan, David McGoldrick and Enda Stevens all completed ninety minutes for the ‘Blades’ while Conor Hourihane  was a sixty third minute substitute for Villa. Alan Browne and Callum Robinson both scored for Preston North End in their two all ‘Derby’ encounter with Bolton Wanderers at Deepdale while Graham Burke was substituted at half-time.    

The Airtricity League Premier Division continued on Friday evening with current leaders Dundalk scoring the only goal against relegation threatened Limerick in the Markets Field and go six points clear of second place Cork City who went down to their first home defeat of the season when Sligo Rovers came from behind to secure a two one victory in Turner’s Cross. Shamrock Rovers leapfrogged Waterford  into third place following their three nil victory over beleaguered Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds while the ‘Blues’ crashed to a three nil defeat by  St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park. Derry City went down to a two nil defeat by Bohemian at the Brandywell in a rehearsal for their FAI Cup quarter-final.

With now just two sets of fixtures remaining, the Airtricity League First Division is set for a taut climax. UCD currently lead the way with a five point advantage over second place Finn Harps, with both sides victorious this evening. The battle for second, third and fourth places, which offer a promotion opportunity through the play-off process, sees four clubs, Finn Harps, Shelbourne, Drogheda United and Longford Town, who play Cabinteely on Saturday evening,in contention.  

The current top two in the Championship, Leeds United and Middlesbrough, played out a scoreless draw at Elland Road on Friday evening. Darren Randolph was in his customary goalkeeping position for the visitors.

Our Senior Women under the guidance of Head Coach Colin Bell completed their 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign with an emphatic four nil victory over Northern Ireland in Tallaght Stadium on Friday afternoon. A brace each from Leanne Kiernan and captain Katie McCabe set the seal on a comfortable success. Ireland finish third in the group behind top seeds Holland and Norway. Several new young players have been introduced to the squad during the current qualifying campaign and hopes are high that a first ever Championship Finals place can be achieved when the European Championship qualifiers commence next year.

The loan transfer window available to Championship and lower league clubs together with the majority of European Leagues closed on Friday the 31st August 2018. The Irish players listed below have made late loan switches with one, Jack Byrne, permanent transfer.

Jack Bonham – Brentford to Bristol Rovers – End of Season
Andy Boyle – Preston North End to Dundee – to 7/1/2019
Jack Byrne – Oldham Athletic to Kilmarnock – Free
Josh Cullen – West Ham United to Charlton Athletic – End of Season
Joe Mason – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Portsmouth – to 2/1/2019
Chiedozie Ogbene – Brentford to Exeter City – to 7/1/2019
Kevin O’Connor – Preston North End to Crewe Alexandra – to 7/1/2019
Eunan O’Kane – Leeds United to Luton Town – to 10/1/2018
Connor Ronan – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Walsall – to 7/1/2019
Richie Towell – Brighton & Hove Albion to Rotherham United  – Season
Jonathan Walters – Burnley to Ipswich Town – to 7/1/2019
Corey Whelan – Liverpool to Crewe Alexandra – to 7/1/2019

Trailing by three goals to one from the second round first leg in Athens last week, Burnley faced a formidable challenge against Olympiakos in the second leg of the Europa League at Turf Moor this Thursday evening. Despite dominating possession throughout and having a number of excellent chances they were unable to reduce the deficit and indeed fell further behind when conceding a goal very late on which minutes later they negated with a goal of their own, but it was of little use in the closing minutes. Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long completed the full ninety minutes while Stephen Ward was an unused substitute. 

The four remaining EFL Cup second round ties took place this Wednesday evening with Everton defeating Rotherham United by three goals to one. Seamus Coleman was an unused substitute for the ‘Toffees’ while Anthony Forde and Sean Raggett were both in action for the ‘Millers’. Daryl Murphy opened the scoring and had an excellent game for Nottingham Forest who defeated Newcastle United by three goals to one. Ciaran Clark captained the ‘Magpies’, initially from the left back position, where he was very disappointing, before switching to central defence during the second half. Shaun Williams, with a penalty and late substitute Aiden O’Brien with the eighty ninth minute winner helped Millwall to a three two victory over Plymouth Argyle at the new Den. Graham Carey was a very late substitute for the visiting ‘Pilgrims’. John O’Shea started his first competitive match for Reading but was withdrawn on sixty five minutes as the ‘Royals’ went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Watford at the Madejski Stadium.