Martin O’Neill announces 40 man provisional squad

Manager Martin O’Neill has announced an extended forty man Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming friendly contests against Glasgow Celtic, France and the USA. With Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce, Conor Hourihane, Scott Hogan, Glenn Whelan and Darren Randolph attached to clubs involved in the Championship play-offs, it was expected that some new names would appear in the preliminary squad and so it is with goalkeepers Ian Lawlor and Conor O’Malley together with U21 netminder Kieran O’Hara joined by midfielder Shaun Williams and strikers Graham Burke and Callum Robinson. The official paperwork relating to Robinson is not yet completed so he can only be available for the Scott Brown Testimonial against Glasgow Celtic.

John O’Shea yesterday confirmed his retirement from international football and he will skipper the side in his final appearance against the USA in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday the 2nd June.

Ireland win crucial UEFA U17 Group C contest…11/05/2018

Ireland completed their 2018 UEFA U17 Championship Group C contests with a two nil victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina in St Georges Park on Friday afternoon to go through to the knock-out quarter-final stage where Holland await on Monday evening. Troy Parrott was again the hero, scoring the opening settler from a free kick on sixty nine minutes and then providing the added time assist to get Adam Idah off the mark at these finals.

EA Sports Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening

The three remaining 2018 EA Sports Cup quarter-finals were completed this Tuesday evening with Dundalk defeating Bohemian by three goals to nil at Oriel Park while Sligo Rovers scored the only goal to eliminate Waterford in the Showgrounds. The all First Division clash of Cobh Ramblers and Longford Town ended in a two nil victory for the hosts in St Colman’s Park.

Ireland maintain UEFA U17 Finals challenge…08/05/2018

Following the disappointment of their opening defeat by Belgium, our U17 side faced a seminal challenge where victory was essential and achieved with a one nil success over Denmark at St George’s Park on Tuesday afternoon in their second Group C contest of the 2018 UEFA U17 Championship finals. A fifth minute strike from Tottenham Hotspur youngster Troy Parrott settled early nerves as Ireland dominated the first half.

The second period proved more fraught with the Danes pressing for the equaliser, however Ireland should have eased their tension with two excellent chances squandered. Bolton Wanderers youngster Luca Connell, introduced today at left back, caught the eye with an impressive display in front of the watching senior management duo of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane. First round victors Belgium and Bosnia & Herzegovina are curently in action at Rotherham United FC with Belgium holding a two nil half-time advantage.