Category: Latest News

The first round of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI commenced on Friday evening with Dundalk gaining revenge for their shock EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat by First Division Cobh Ramblers last Monday afternoon, with a three nil victory over their Cork visitors in Oriel Park. Drogheda United of the First Division created the first shock of the competition with the one nil defeat of Shamrock Rovers in United Park with a penalty, which resulted in the dismissal of Lee Grace, converted by Chris Lyons. Richmond Park hosted the local derby meeting of non-league Inchicore Athletic and St Patrick’s Athletic which was scoreless at half-time but became a five nil demolition following the dismissal of Inchicore defender Leon Faney Byrne in the first minute of the second half. The Carlisle Grounds was the setting for the meeting of struggling Premier Division side Bray Wanderers and in-form Finn Harps of the First Division and it was not really a surprise that the Donegal side came from behind to secure a three one victory after extra-time. Shelbourne crushed struggling Athlone Town by four goals to nil in an all First Division clash at Tolka Park while The Bowl was the venue for the meeting of First Division leaders UCD and non-league Pike Rovers with the ‘Students’ emerging as two nil victors. Ferrycarrig Park was the venue for the meeting of First Division hosts Wexford FC and Premier Division Bohemian which resulted in a resounding seven nil victory for the visiting ‘Gypsies’.

Cork City went down to a two nil defeat by Rosenborg of Norway in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League in  Turner’s Cross this Thursday evening and now face a mammoth task in the second leg next week in Trondheim. In the first leg of the same competition, Burnley, with Jon Walters and Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven, secured a scoreless draw against Basakschir of Turkey in Istanbul and will play the second leg next Thursday at Turf Moor. Kevin Long and Stephen Ward were unused substitutes this evening.  

Match Series Two in the new Championship season commenced on Tuesday evening with Middlesbrough (Darren Randolph) scoring three early goals to defeat Sheffield United (John Egan, Enda Stevens), while Nottingham Forest (Daryl Murphy – unused substitute) were held to a one all draw by West Bromwich Albion at the City Ground. 

Our representatives, Wexford WFC, commenced their Group One Women’s Champions League campaign in Belfast when they went down to a four one defeat by  Dutch champions AFC Ajax in Seaview, the home of Crusaders FC, this Tuesday afternoon. The second Group contest, between Thor/KA of Iceland and mini-tournament hosts Linfield Ladies, took place at the same venue this evening with Thor/KA two nil victors.

The £15 million pound weekend signing of Middlesbrough centre back Ben Gibson by Burnley would seem to spell bad news for Ireland defender Kevin Long. The long serving Cork man finally made the breakthrough last season providing a significant contribution to the ‘Clarets’ seventh place Premier League finish and breaking into the Ireland starting eleven where he has performed admirably alongside Shane Duffy. With the much heralded duo of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee still in situ at the club, playing opportunities in the upcoming season may well be limited for Long.

Match Series One of the new Championship season was completed on Monday evening with visitors Aston Villa coming from behind to defeat their hosts Hull City by three goals to one at the KCOM Stadium. The visitors included Glenn Whelan, who had an excellent game, and Conor Hourihane in their starting eleven but striker Scott Hogan missed out with a groin injury.