Irish in Tuesday night action…05/03/2019

The Championship
Derby County maintained their interest in the Championship promotion race when they came from behind to defeat visitors Wigan Athletic by two goals to one on Tuesday evening. They currently occupy seventh position level on points with sixth place Bristol City who have a superior goal difference and a match in hand. The ‘Rams’ captain Richard Keogh played his 600th senior match this evening while injury ruled Anthony Pilkington out of the visitors squad but Darron Gibson was an unused substitute.

EFL Trophy
The second semi-final of the EFL Checkatrade Trophy between Bristol Rovers and Sunderland took place at the Memorial Ground this Tuesday evening with the visiting ‘Makems’ securing a two nil victory to book their passage to the Wembley final against Portsmouth on Sunday the 31st March. The hosts, with new manager Graham Coughlan in charge and former U21 goalkeeper Jack Bonham starting, are struggling at the foot of the League One table but presented  Sunderland, with Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne and Aiden McGeady in their starting eleven, with a stern test this evening before succumbing to goals scored just before half-time and immediately following the break. Sunderland are also challenging for promotion and currently sit third on the League One table. 

EA Sports Cup
The EA Sports Cup first round tie between Cobh Ramblers and Limerick scheduled for this Tuesday evening fell foul of the weather and was postponed but Longford Town welcomed non-league Cockhill Celtic to the City Calling Stadium and secured a one nil victory with a fifth minute goal to progress to the second round.

Senior Women
Following their scoreless draw on Thursday last, our Senior Women again faced Wales in another friendly international at noon on Tuesday in Marbella where a fine Louise Quinn header from a free kick delivered by Tyler Toland on sixty two minutes secured an excellent one nil victory.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan(Le Havre), Marie Hourihan(Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney(Reading)
Defenders: Diane Caldwell(SC Sand), Megan Campbell(Manchester City), Niamh Fahey(Liverpool), Eabha O’Mahoney(Cork City), Claire O’Riordan(MSV Duisberg), Heather Payne(Bristol City), Louise Quinn(Arsenal), Harriet Scott(Birmingham City)
Midfielders: Megan Connolly(Brighton & Hove Albion), Niamh Farrelly(Peamount United), Denise O’Sullivan(North Carolina Courage), Tyler Toland(Kildrum Tigers), Jessica Ziu(Shelbourne)
Forwards: Amber Barrett(Peamount United), Leanne Kiernan(West Ham United), Katie McCabe(Arsenal), Emily Whelan(Shelbourne)

Ireland U15 International
Head Coach Jason Donohue has selected a squad of eighteen players for two Under 15 international friendlies in Cyprus this week. The first contest took place at 1pm(Irish time)on Tuesday afternoon in the Sotira Municipal Stadium and saw Ireland recover from conceding a goal after fifteen minutes to secure a draw with an excellent equaliser scored  by Ben Quinn. The two sides will meet again at the same time and venue on Thursday afternoon.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Aaron Maguire(Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Ross(Bray Wanderers)
Defenders: Ben Curtis(Shamrock Rovers), Tom Fogarty(Birmingham City), Sean Grehan(Bohemian), Craig King(St Patrick’s Athletic), Aaron O’Reilly(St Patrick’s Athletic), John Ryan(Shamrock Rovers) 
Midfielders:
Luke McGlynn(Finn Harps), Jamie Mullins(Bohemian), Glory Nzinga(St Patrick’s Athletic), John Joe Power(Burton Albion)
Forwards: Edwin Agbaje(Shamrock Rovers), Evan Ferguson(Bohemian), Cian Kelly(Bohemian), Michael Leddy(Shamrock Rovers), Ciaran O’Sullivan(Cork City), Ben Quinn(St Patrick’s Athletic)