Category: Latest News

The British 2020 Summer Transfer Window opened on Monday the 27th July and will close on Monday the 5th October 2020. There will be a further extension to Friday the 16th October for domestic transfers only. There has already been a significant number of Irish player movements with the senior international nonet of Harry Arter, Cyrus Christie, Josh Cullen, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy(Loan), Jeff Hendrick, Kieran O’Hara, Troy Parrott(Loan) and Callum Robinson being the most significant. There have also been season long loan moves moves for a number of our exciting Under 21 Squad including Jonathan Afolabi, Gavin Bazunu, Ryan Cassidy, Danny McNamara, Lee O’Connor, Thomas O’Connor and Connor Ronan.

 

Summer 2020 Transfer Window

 

Head Coach Jim Crawford has announced his 23 player Republic of Ireland squad for the crucial European U21 Championship qualifier against Italy in Arena Garibaldi, Pisa at 4.30pm (Irish Time) on Tuesday the 13th October 2020.

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), Dara O’Shea(West Bromwich Albion), Liam Scales(Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Conor Coventry(West Ham United), Will Ferry(Southampton), Jason Knight(Derby County), Daniel Mandroiu(Bohemian), Connor Ronan(Grasshopper Zurich-Loan), Will Smallbone(Southampton), Jack Taylor(Peterborough United)
Attackers: Jonathan Afolabi(Dundee-Loan), Zachery Elbouzedi(Lincoln City), Neil Farrugia(Shamrock Rovers), Joshua Kayode(Carlisle United-Loan), Michael Obafemi(Southampton).

Sunday
Darren Randolph was again an unused substitute for West Ham United who shocked their hosts Leicester City with a three nil victory in the Premier League at noon on Sunday. At the same time Southampton overcame visitors West Bromwich Albion by two goals to nil at St Mary’s Stadium where Shane Long was an 84th minute substitute with Michael Obafemi and Will Smallbone remaining on the substitute bench while Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson both started for the visitors with Robinson withdrawn on 60 minutes.  Another trio, John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick, started for Sheffield United who went down to a two one defeat at Arsenal with McGoldrick scoring the goal for the ‘Blades’. In the 4.30pm kick-off, Matt Doherty was unused on the Tottenham Hotspur substitute bench for their six one crushing of Manchester United at Old Trafford. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who demolished visitors Liverpool by seven goals to two in this evening’s late kick-off.  Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is probably happy to have remained on the visiting substitute bench.

In the Championship, Alan Browne and Sean Maguire both started for Preston North End who recovered from a two goal half-time deficit to secure a four two victory over their hosts Brentford with Maguire scoring the fourth goal. Stoke City, for whom James McClean was an 81st minute substitute, played out a one all draw with visitors Birmingham City who introduced Scott Hogan from their substitute bench in the 87th minute.

Shane Duffy and his Glasgow Celtic colleagues secured  a very late two nil Scottish Premiership victory at St Johnstone for whom Millwall loanee Danny McNamara was again in action.

Saturday
James McCarthy was in Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when his Crystal Palace made the short trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge where they suffered a four nil defeat with McCarthy being substituted on 67 minutes. Later in the afternoon, Everton defeated Brighton & Hove Albion by four goals to two with Seamus Coleman in excellent form until his 57th minute injury withdrawal which raises a doubt concerning his availability to link up with the international squad. Aaron Connolly had little opportunity to make an impact for the ‘Seagulls’ before his 66th minute withdrawal. Later this evening, Jeff Hendrick completed the full 90 minutes against his former club Burnley when his Newcastle United secured a three one victory at St James Park. Kevin Long started for the visiting ‘Clarets’ with Jimmy Dunne and Robbie Brady unused on the substitute bench.

First into Championship action on Saturday afternoon was our U21 midfielder Jason Knight whose seemingly limitless energy proved vital in the one nil victory for Derby County at Norwich City for whom Adam Idah was a 57th minute substitute. Derrick Williams was in action with Blackburn Rovers who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Cardiff City at Ewood Park. Nottingham Forest included Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie in their starting eleven for their two one defeat by visitors Bristol City for whom Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute after his injury absence. Arter was a 68th minute injury withdrawal the extent of which is as yet unknown. 

U21 striker Zach Elbouzedi has seen very little League One action with his club Lincoln City so far this season and was again an unused substitute in their three two victory at Blackpool. Jack Taylor was in action with Peterborough United who defeated visitors Swindon Town by three goals to one while Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu was in goalkeeping action with Rochdale who overcame visitors Fleetwood Town by two goals to one.

Loanee striker Joshua Kayode was in action with League Two side Carlisle United who scored the only goal to defeat visitors Barrow while fellow loanee Lee O’Connor was in the Tranmere Rovers side which defeated visitors Scunthorpe United by two goals to nil. 

Friday
Goalkeeper Mark Travers was on the AFC Bournemouth bench for their three one Championship victory at Coventry City on Friday evening.

The Airtricity League Premier Division continued on Friday with  Derry City scoring twice from the penalty spot to defeat Waterford in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium while Shamrock Rovers cruised to a comfortable four nil victory over Sligo Rovers in Tallaght Stadium to move ever closer to claiming the League Title.
Jack Byrne, named in Stephen Kenny‘s senior squad this week, had a relatively quiet match but did score an excellent goal. Byrne left the action early with what appeared to be a groin injury, the extent of which is presently unknown. Sligo goalkeeper Ed McGinty, named in Jim Crawford‘s U21 squad, had a mixed evening, being entirely culpable for the first goal but he did make a couple of important saves later in the match. Also in the U21 squad are Liam Scales and Neil Farrugia with Scales being quite prominent for the hosts.

Cork City suffered a two one defeat by visitors St Patrick’s Athletic in Turner’s Cross at 5pm on Saturday afternoon. Later in the evening, neighbours Shelbourne and Bohemian locked horns in Tolka Park where the ‘Gypsies’ emerged as three one victors to consolidate their second place on the League Table. U21 attacker Danny Grant scored all three Bohemian goals.

The remaining contest featuring Dundalk and Finn Harps took place in Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon and ended in a scoreless draw.

There was an early start to Airtricity League Premier Division action this week with Sligo Rovers defeating visitors Derry City with the only goal in the Showgrounds on Tuesday night. The match was brought forward from the 10th October as the ‘Candystripes’ will have a number of players involved in international squads during that week.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        14 12  2  0  38  7   31   38
Bohemian               14 10  0  4  18  9    9   30
Waterford              14  6  2  6  16 20   -4   20
St Patrick’s Athletic  14  5  4  5  10 11   -1   19
Sligo Rovers           15  6  1  8  15 21   -6   19
Dundalk                12  5  3  4  20 18    2   18
Derry City             13  4  4  6  14 13    1   16
Shelbourne             14  3  4  7  11 18   -7   13
Finn Harps             14  2  5  7   9 20  -11   11
Cork City              13  2  3  8   8 22  -14    9

Match Series 15 in the Airtricity League First Division on Friday evening saw pre-match leaders Drogheda United suffer a shock two nil home defeat by Athlone Town in United Park while Bray Wanderers superseded them at the summit with a three one success over UCD at  The Bowl. Down in Ferrycarrig Park visitors Shamrock Rovers II secured a two nil victory over their hosts Wexford to leapfrog them at the bottom of the League Table.

On Saturday evening, Cobh Ramblers went down to a two one defeat by visitors Cabinteely in St Colman’s Park. Longford Town suffered  a stunning home defeat by Galway United in Bishopsgate where they took an early two goal lead before collapsing dramatically to concede six goals.

                     P  W  D  L   F  A  G/D  Pts
Bray Wanderers      15 10  2  3  27 12  15   32
Drogheda United     15  9  3  3  32 16  16   30
Longford Town       15  8  2  5  22 20   2   26
Cabinteely          15  8  2  5  21 23  -2   26
UCD                 15  7  2  6  33 24   9   23
Galway United       15  6  5  4  22 14   8   23
Cobh Ramblers       15  6  2  7  17 20  -3   20
Athlone Town        15  3  3  9  18 35 -17   12
Shamrock Rovers II  15  3  2 10  18 25  -7   11
Wexford             15  2  3 10  11 32 -21    9 

The draw for the Group Stage of the 2021 Europa League was made in Nyon this afternoon and sees Dundalk drawn in Group B alongside Arsenal, Rapid Vienna and Molde. Trips to London, Vienna and the Atlantic Coast of Norway await the ‘Lilywhites’ with the home legs set for the Aviva Stadium.

The match dates are set for:-
22 October  v Molde (H) 5.55pm
29 October  v Arsenal (A) 5.55pm
5 November v Rapid Vienna (A) 5.55pm
26 November v Rapid Vienna (H) 8.00pm
3 December v Molde (A) 8.00pm
10 December v Arsenal (H) 5.55pm.

Other Group Draws include:-
Group D – Benfica, Standard Liege, Glasgow Rangers, Lech Poznan
Group G – Braga, Leicester City, AEK Athens, Zorya Luhansk
Group H – Glasgow Celtic, Sparta Prague, AC Milan, LOSC Lille
Group J – Tottenham Hotspur, Ludogorets, LASK, Royal Antwerp

Dundalk are through to the Group Stage of the 2021 Europa League following their three one victory over KI Klaksvick of the Faroe Islands in the Aviva Stadium this Thursday evening. Sean Murray gave the ‘Lilywhites’ the lead on 33 minutes and Dan Cleary added the second two minutes into the second half. The visitors reduced arrears on 66 minutes but a 79th minute strike from Daniel Kelly set the seal on victory. Dundalk now await tomorrow morning’s Group Stage Draw. 

Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty will also be in the Group Stage draw following their 7-2 thrashing of Israeli side Maccabi Haifa at the London Stadium.

Both Scottish sides, Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers, have also progressed to the Group Stage with the ‘Hoops’ and Shane Duffy earning a one nil victory over FK Sarajevo in Bosnia while ‘The Blues’ defeated Galatasaray of Turkey by two goals to one in Ibrox Stadium.

Manager Stephen Kenny has announced his 25 man Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming contests against Slovakia in the EURO 2020 play-off semi-final and the EURO Nations League Group Four encounters with Wales and Finland.

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher(Liverpool), Darren Randolph(West Ham United), Mark Travers(AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman(Everton), Matt Doherty(Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy(Glasgow Celtic-Loan), John Egan(Sheffield United), Daragh Lenihan(Blackburn Rovers), Enda Stevens(Sheffield United), Derrick Williams(Blackburn Rovers)
Midfielders: Harry Arter(Nottingham Forest), Robbie Brady(Burnley), Alan Browne(Preston North End), Jack Byrne(Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick(Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane(Aston Villa), James McCarthy(Crystal Palace), Jayson Molumby(Brighton & Hove Albion)  
Forwards: Aaron Connolly(Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Idah(Norwich City), Shane Long(Southampton), James McClean(Stoke City), David McGoldrick(Sheffield United), Callum O’Dowda(Bristol City), Callum Robinson(West Bromwich Albion)

Fixtures:
Thursday 8 October    Slovakia v RoI     Bratislava 7.45pm      
Sunday 11 October     RoI v Wales        Aviva Stadium 2.00pm
Wednesday 14 October  Finland v RoI      Helsinki 5.00pm