Category: Latest News

Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and his squad suffered disappointment in Helsinki this afternoon where they went down to a one nil defeat by hosts Finland in the UEFA Nations League. The team showing four changes from Sunday’s outing against Wales was again set up in the 4-2-3-1 formation and featured Dara O’Shea making his debut as the left sided central defender.

Ireland again sought to play the possession based style favoured by Stephen Kenny but had less success than previous outings with the hosts having a 54% success rate. Ireland did create a number of goal scoring opportunities but again our finishing let us down. It must also be said that our defending was not quite at the level of the previous two matches and on another day, Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki might have scored a hat-trick.

The goal, which sank us, was hugely disappointing for goalkeeper Darren Randolph whose sloppy throw out to the edge of the penalty area was seized upon and ultimately converted by Jensen who also scored the winning goal at the Aviva Stadium in September.

Despite the result, there are some positives to derive from this afternoon’s contest. Debutant centre back Dara O’Shea gave a fine performance and should he continue on his upward curve will provide a challenge to our regular defensive duo. Fellow youngster Jayson Molumby, arguably man of the match on his debut last Sunday, gave  another industrious midfield performance while a third U21 player, Aaron Connolly, was a lively presence in the attacking third. While we must find that potent striker to convert the increasing number of goal scoring chances being created, the future does look brighter.  Adam Idah, still only nineteen and a late substitute this afternoon, had no opportunity to score but will certainly improve. Continuing this youthful trend was another debutant midfielder Jason Knight who, while only on the pitch for the closing 11 minutes, looked very accomplished.   

Team: Darren Randolph; Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy(c), Dara O’Shea, Enda Stevens; Jayson Molumby, Conor Hourihane; Daryl Horgan, Jeff Hendrick, Aaron Connolly; Sean Maguire
Substitutes:
Robbie Brady for Maguire 53′
Ronan Curtis for Horgan 75′
Adam Idah for Hendrick 75′
Jason Knight for Molumby 83′

The Airtricity League Premier Division enters the final stages with several fixture alterations taking place. The successful progress of Dundalk in the Europa League has had a significant impact on the ‘Lilywhites’ schedule which looks quite gruelling.

Following their two nil victory at Cork City on Tuesday evening, Dundalk welcomed Bohemian to Oriel Park at 5.45pm on Friday afternoon where they played out a scoreless draw. Champions elect Shamrock Rovers were also scheduled for Friday evening action with Derry City set to visit Tallaght Stadium  but confirmation of a number of Covid-19 cases within the ‘Hoops’ ranks sees the match postponed as also are their fixtures against Finn Harps (20.10) and St Patrick’s Athletic (23.10).

Munster rivals Cork City and Waterford played out a scoreless draw  in Turner’s Cross at 5pm on Saturday afternoon.

Shelbourne earned three points with a one nil victory over an insipid Sligo Rovers in Tolka Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium hosted the meeting of Derry City and Dundalk on Monday afternoon which saw the visitors secure the points with a two one victory to consolidate their third place on the League Table.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        14 12  2  0  38  7   31   38
Bohemian               16 11  1  4  21  9   12   34
Dundalk                15  7  4  4  24 19    5   25  
Waterford              16  6  3  7  16 21   -5   21
St Patrick’s Athletic  14  5  4  5  10 11   -1   19
Shelbourne             16  5  4  7  13 18   -5   19
Sligo Rovers           16  6  1  9  15 22   -7   19
Derry City             14  4  4  7  15 15    –   16
Finn Harps             14  2  5  7   9 20  -11   11
Cork City              16  2  4 10   8 27  -19   10

The FAI have just confirmed that the unnamed player who initially tested positive for Covid-19 and then negative has now returned a second positive result and will not be travelling to Finland in the morning. The player must now self-isolate for ten days.

It has also, at this juncture, been intimated that the player has not been in contact with any other members of the squad which seems rather strange but we will await any further developments.

Our U21 side suffered bitter disappointment in Pisa this Tuesday afternoon when they went down to a two nil defeat by hosts Italy in their European Championship qualifier. The first half was fairly even until we conceded the opening goal just a couple of minutes before the half-time break. We then conceded the second goal on 62 minutes and an already difficult position became even more challenging. We have now been superseded at the summit by Italy on goal difference but they also have a match in hand. Realistically we are now in a battle for second place with our next opponents Iceland and Sweden.

Team:
Gavin Bazunu; Lee O’Connor, Nathan Collins, Conor Masterson(C), Darragh Leahy; Conor Coventry, Jack Taylor; Will Smallbone, Connor Ronan, Zack Elbouzedi; Michael Obafemi
Substitutes:
Jonathan Afolabi for Obafemi 74′
Danny Grant for Ronan 75′
Daniel Mandroiu for Taylor 75′

                      P  W  D  L   F  A  G/D  Pts
Italy                 7  5  1  1  17  3  14   16
Republic of Ireland   8  5  1  2  12  5   7   16
Sweden                8  5  0  2  27  8  19   15
Iceland               7  5  0  2  13  9   4   15
Luxembourg            8  1  0  7   2 23 -21    3
Armenia               8  1  0  7   4 27 -23    3

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Our U21 side, under the guidance of new Head Coach Jim Crawford, his first match in command, face top seeds Italy in a crucial European Championship qualifier in the Garibaldi Arena, Pisa at 4pm (Irish time) on Tuesday afternoon. Ireland currently top Group One, three points clear of Italy who have a match in hand. Crawford will select his team from a squad without seven stellar performers, six of whom, Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jason Knight, Jayson Molumby and Dara O’Shea are with the senior squad while the injured Troy Parrott would almost certainly be in the senior ranks were he available.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu(Rochdale-Loan) Ed McGinty(Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Nathan Collins(Stoke City), Darragh Leahy(Dundalk), Conor Masterson(QPR), Conor McCarthy(St Mirren), Danny McNamara(St Johnstone-Loan), Lee O’Connor(Tranmere Rovers-Loan), Thomas O’Connor(Gillingham-Loan), Liam Scales(Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry(West Ham United), Will Ferry(Southampton), Daniel Mandroiu(Bohemian), Connor Ronan(Grasshopper Zurich-Loan), Will Smallbone(Southampton), Jack Taylor(Peterborough United)
Attackers: Jonathan Afolabi(Dundee-Loan), Zachery Elbouzedi(Lincoln City), Danny Grant(Bohemian), Joshua Kayode(Carlisle United-Loan), Michael Obafemi (Southampton)

                      

There have been a number of amendments to our senior and U21 squads as they prepare for next week’s contests in Finland and Italy respectively.

Dara O’Shea and Jason Knight have been summoned from the U21 squad to link up with the senior squad while Danny Grant of Bohemian replaces the injured Neil Farrugia in the U21 squad.

The five senior players currently in isolation (Alan Browne, John Egan, Callum O’Dowda, Callum Robinson, Derrick Williams) are expected to return to their clubs, while the position surrounding Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah, the two players excluded from the senior squad last week, is unclear following the disclosure that the Covid-19 report on the staff member which triggered their exit has now been declared as negative.

It has now been confirmed that Adam Idah has re-joined the senior squad and that Ronan Curtis of Portsmouth and Ryan Manning from QPR have also linked up with the squad in Dublin. Aaron Connolly has, this Monday morning, linked up with the squad in Dublin following his release by his club Brighton & Hove Albion.

Revised Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher(Liverpool), Darren Randolph(West Ham United), Mark Travers(AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie(Nottingham Forest), Matt Doherty(Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy(Glasgow Celtic-Loan), Kevin Long(Burnley), Ryan Manning(QPR), Dara O’Shea(West Bromwich Albion), Enda Stevens(Sheffield United),
Midfielders: Robbie Brady(Burnley), Jack Byrne(Shamrock Rovers), Josh Cullen(RSC Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick(Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane(Aston Villa), Jason Knight(Derby County), James McCarthy(Crystal Palace), Jayson Molumby(Brighton & Hove Albion)  
Forwards: Ronan Curtis(Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan(Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Idah(Norwich City), Shane Long(Southampton), Sean Maguire(Preston North End), 

  

Ireland were held to a scoreless draw by Wales in the Nations League contest played in the Aviva Stadium this Sunday afternoon.

Following the pre-match hullabaloo surrounding the Covid-19 related exclusions from the squad, Stephen Kenny made four changes to the side which started in Bratislava on Thursday.  Kevin Long replaced John Egan in central defence, Jayson Molumby came in to midfield in place of the injured James McCarthy while Robbie Brady and Shane Long replaced attacking duo Callum Robinson and the injured David McGoldrick. There were just seven players available for the substitute bench including two goalkeepers.

The early exchanges were extremely timid and lacked the passion normally associated with an encounter with Wales. While the pace of the game did pick up a little, it never reached any great heights.

Ireland’s already depleted defensive ranks were dealt a further blow on 25 minutes when Kevin Long was forced to withdraw with a head injury. He was replaced by the only available defender, Cyrus Christie who occupied his usual right back slot while Matt Doherty switched to centre back.

Ireland do seek to play a more controlled possession based game under Stephen Kenny and this was again in evidence but much of that possession was in our own half. The Irish defence remained steadfast for the most part with Darren Randolph required to only make two routine saves over the course of the match. He did however have one moment of trepidation, when having comfortably collected a cross following a corner, he dropped the ball and on another occasion might well have conceded a penalty in the subsequent scramble to retrieve the situation.

Ireland did create a number of goalscoring opportunities but our failure to capitalize and convert remains a significant problem. Robbie Brady, Shane Long and substitute Daryl Horgan all had excellent chances but none even hit the target. Sadly we only had one on target effort throughout the contest with Jeff Hendrick‘s long range shot not troubling the goalkeeper.

Despite the upheavals, our defence again performed admirably with Matt Doherty actually performing better in his emergency central defensive role than his hitherto full back performances. Young Jayson Molumby was excellent in the holding midfield role and offers an appealing option to retain the position. He did suffer a 90th minute injury but hopefully he does recover in time for Helsinki. Jeff Hendrick again started in the advanced midfield position and while committed and energetic throughout it may not be the role for him. Robbie Brady provided some pleasing cameos and his dead ball deliveries offered rays of opportunity.

Indeed all of the players offered total effort and commitment with James McClean taking things just a shade too far resulting in his dismissal on 83 minutes following a second bookable offence.

While there are clear playing style developments amid some promising passages of play, we remain very much a work in progress. Manager Stephen Kenny must be exasperated by the events surrounding the two matches this week but hopefully time and patience from all of us will ultimately be rewarded.

Team: Darren Randolph; Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy(c), Kevin Long, Enda Stevens; Jayson Molumby, Conor Hourihane; Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean; Shane Long

Substitutes:
Mark Travers
Caoimhin Kelleher
Cyrus Christie for K Long 25′
Jack Byrne
Josh Cullen for J Molumby 90′
Daryl Horgan for R Brady 74′
Sean Maguire for S Long 74′ 

 

It has been confirmed that five players have been withdrawn from the squad following a positive Corona Virus test on one individual who has been in close contact with the four other squad members. The player who has tested positive is a defender who did not participate in Thursday’s match but all four of the close contacts played some part. The four are Alan Browne, John Egan, Callum O’Dowda and Callum Robinson. 

There have also been reams of speculation relating to the withdrawal of Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah from the match in Bratislava on Thursday last which have now taken a further twist with reports that the non-playing individual cited as the catalyst for the action has now returned a false positive reading.

Manager Stephen Kenny has named his starting eleven for this afternoon’s contest:-

Darren Randolph; Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy(c), Kevin Long, Enda Stevens; Jayson Molumby, Conor Hourihane; Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, James McClean; Shane Long

Substitutes;
Mark Travers
Caoimhin Kelleher
Cyrus Christie
Jack Byrne
Josh Cullen
Daryl Horgan
Sean Maguire