Category: Latest News

The Premier League continued on Sunday afternoon with Liverpool crushing  West Ham United by four goals to nil at Anfield. Declan Rice started in a midfield holding role for the ‘Hammers’ but was substituted at half-time. Burnley travelled to St Mary’s and played out a scoreless draw with hosts Southampton. Shane Long did not make the ‘Saints’ matchday squad but Stephen Ward and Jeff Hendrick started for the ‘Clarets’. Jon Walters was on the visiting bench but it was bad news for Kevin Long who missed out on the matchday squad for the first time in over a year while Robbie Brady is still not considered fit enough for selection.

The two remaining first round contests in the 2018 FAI Cup took place this Sunday afternoon with holders Cork City securing a comfortable five one victory at non-league Home Farm while Cockhill Celtic of the Ulster Senior League went down to a two nil defeat by Limerick in the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Ground. 

Scottish Premiership side Hibernian have this morning announced the signing of Daryl Horgan from Preston North End for an undisclosed fee on a three year contract and the Galway man is expected to be in the squad for their league fixture at St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon.

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Aston Villa duo, Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan named on the substitute bench for their last gasp three two victory over visitors Wigan Athletic. Hourihane played the final few minutes but Scott Hogan remains an injury casualty. Promoted Blackburn Rovers included recent international debutant Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven while visitors Millwall had Aiden O’Brien and Shaun Williams in their team as the sides played out a scoreless draw. Callum O’Dowda started for Bristol City in their two all draw at Bolton Wanderers while Darren Randolph started for Middlesbrough who scored the only goal to defeat visitors Birmingham City. International retiree Daryl Murphy was an unused substitute for Nottingham Forest who defeated visitors Reading by one goal to nil. Paul McShane and David Meyler  started for the ‘Royals’ with John O’Shea an unused substitute at the City Ground. Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for QPR who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Sheffield United who included John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven. Preston North End had Alan Browne and Callum Robinson in their starting eleven with Graham Burke a second half substitute in their one nil defeat at Swansea City. James McClean started for Stoke City who were held to a one all draw by visitors Brentford for whom Alan Judge was an unused substitute at the Brittania Stadium. Richard Keogh started and Alex Pearce was on the bench for Derby County who went down to a four one defeat by visitors Leeds United in the late kick-off.   

The 2018/19 Premier League season sprung into action on Saturday afternoon with AFC Bournemouth defeating promoted visitors Cardiff City by two goals to nil. Summer signing Greg Cunningham was unused on the substitute bench. Harry Arter who joined the ‘Bluebirds’ on a season long loan from the visitors was not eligible to face his parent club. Cyrus Christie and his colleagues with another promoted side, Fulham, went down to a two nil defeat by Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage while the third promoted side, Wolverhampton Wanderers included Matt Doherty in their starting eleven for the visit of Everton and Seamus Coleman to Molineaux, which ended in two all draw. Shane Duffy was in action for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a two nil defeat at  Watford while Ciaran Clark started for Newcastle United who went down to a two one defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at St James Park in the early kick-off but Rob Elliot has slipped down the pecking order and was not in the matchday squad.    

The first round of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup was completed  on Saturday with CIE Ranch scoring an added time winner through Dean O’Brien to defeat fellow non-league side Dublin Bus. Also through to the second round are Maynooth University Town who defeated Leeds FC by two goals to nil. Non-league Blarney United suffered a record breaking twelve two home defeat by Derry City for whom Aistair Roy scored four while Noel Hunt scored a hat-trick for Waterford in their four one success at Skerries Town. Non-league sides Newmarket Celtic and North End United exited the competition following home defeats by Cabinteely (1-2) and Galway United (0-4) respectively. Sligo Rovers have this evening exited the competition following their one nil home defeat by Longford Town in the Showgrounds.   

Following the disappointment of their opening defeat by AFC Ajax on Tuesday afternoon, Wexford WFC resumed their Women’s Champions League campaign at 7.30pm this Friday evening when they took on Thor/KA of Iceland in Seaview. Sadly, further disappointment ensued as they went down to a three nil defeat. The same venue, home of Crusaders FC, hosted the meeting of AFC Ajax and Linfield Ladies earlier this afternoon with the Dutch side emerging as two nil victors.