News

Holland retain European U17 Championship title…19/05/2019

Holland secured a four two victory over Italy in Tallaght Stadium this Sunday afternoon to win the 2019 European U17 Championship. Today’s final, a repeat of last year’s event won by the Dutch in a penalty shoot-out, was watched by a crowd of 5,952. Holland dominated the opening half and led by three goals to nil at the interval. Italy made three half-time substitutions and it had a positive effect with them getting on top during the early stages of the second half and scoring to reduce the deficit. Italy continued in a positive vein and looked quite dangerous but they were undone by a fifteen year old Dutch substitute who scored the fourth to deflate the Italians. They did pull one goal back but it was never going to be enough and Holland deservedly retained their title.     

Airtricity League action this weekend…17/05/2019

There were four Airtricity League Premier Division matches played this Friday evening. Current leaders Dundalk travelled to face old rivals Cork City in Turner’s Cross where they secured a two nil victory while second place Shamrock Rovers made the very short journey to face UCD in The Bowl where they secured a one nil success. St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemian played out a one all draw in Richmond Park while Finn Harps defeated visitors Waterford by three goals to two in Finn Park.

The remaining contest between Sligo Rovers and Derry City took place in the Showgrounds on Saturday evening and ended scoreless.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Dundalk                    17  11  4  2  30  10   20    37
Shamrock Rovers            17  12  1  4  25  10   15    37
Bohemian                   17   9  4  4  16   8    8    31
Derry City                 17   7  6  4  24  18    6    27
St Patrick’s Athletic      17   6  5  6  14  16   -2    23
Sligo Rovers               17   5  6  6  16  20   -4    21
Waterford                  17   5  5  7  25  26   -1    20
Cork City                  17   5  4  8  14  20   -6    19
Finn Harps                 17   2  4 11  16  33  -17    10
UCD                        17   3  1 13  13  32  -19    10

 

There were three Airtricity League First Division fixtures completed this evening. Athlone Town crashed to a five nil home defeat by Bray Wanderers while Galway United shocked visitors Longford Town with a two one victory in Eamonn Deacy Park. Bottom side Wexford went down to a two one defeat by visitors Shelbourne in Ferrycarrig Park.

Current leaders Cabinteely suffered a stunning five nil home defeat by Drogheda United on Saturday evening while Cobh Ramblers went down to a three two home defeat by Limerick in St Colman’s Park.

                            P  W  D  L   F   A    G/D  Pts
Cabinteely                 13  8  2  3  19  17     2    26
Shelbourne                 13  8  1  4  21  12     9    25
Longford Town              12  7  3  2  14   5     9    24
Drogheda United            13  7  2  4  26  18     8    23
Limerick                   13  6  3  4  15  13     2    21
Bray Wanderers             12  6  1  5  16   9     7    19
Galway United              11  4  0  7  14  13     1    12
Cobh Ramblers              13  3  3  7  17  22    -5    12
Athlone Town               13  3  1  9  13  29   -16    10
Wexford                    13  2  2  9  13  30   -17     8

League One play-off second legs…16/05/2019

The first League One play-off semi-final was decided this Thursday evening in Fratton Park when Portsmouth failed to overturn their one nil first leg deficit in a scoreless draw with visitors Sunderland.
Ronan Curtis was an unused substitute for ‘Pompey’  while injury  ruled Aiden McGeady out of the visitors squad with Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne also consigned to the substitute bench.

The second semi-final was decided at the Valley on Friday evening with hosts Charlton Athletic prevailing by four goals to three in a penalty shoot-out after visitors Doncaster Rovers recovered from their two one first leg deficit to record a three two victory after extra-time. West ham United loanee Josh Cullen was again neat and tidy in midfield for the ‘Addicks’ while Kieran Sadlier was an extra-time substitute for the visitors. Both Cullen and Sadlier converted their kicks in the penalty shoot-out.

The play-off final to determine which of Charlton Athletic and Sunderland will earn promotion to the Championship will take place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday the 24th May 2019.

UEFA U17 Championship semi-finals today…16/05/2019

The semi-finals in the 2019 European U17 Championship took place  today Thursday with Holland and Spain facing each other in the UCD Bowl at 4.30pm while France and Italy will lock horns in Tallaght Stadium at 7pm.

The first semi-final at the UCD Bowl was a somewhat fractious affair with seven yellow cards administered. Goal scoring chances were few and far between but the one which was taken by the defending champions Holland two minutes from time was an excellent strike and sees them through to Sunday’s Final in Tallaght Stadium.

The second semi-final between France and Italy took place this evening in Tallaght Stadium where Italy came from behind to secure the final place with a two one victory. The final contest with Holland is a repeat of last year’s pairing which was won by the Dutch following a penalty shoot-out.

The play-off to decide fifth place and involvement at the World Championship Finals in Brazil later this year ended in a one all draw between Belgium and Hungary in Tolka Park at noon. The penalty  shoot-out went the way of Hungary by five goals to four. 

Championship semi-final second leg tonight…15/05/2019

The second Championship semi-final second leg took place at Elland Road this Wednesday evening and provided another dramatic outcome with visitors Derby County overturning the one goal lead secured by their hosts Leeds United at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon and also conceding an early goal this evening to emerge victorious by four goals to two on the night and four three on aggregate. Captain  Richard Keogh may have been a little culpable for the concession of the opening goal but his surging run and superb pass created the final and winning goal for the ‘Rams’. Eighteen year old midfielder Jason Knight was an unexpected inclusion on the Derby County bench.

The first Championship semi-final play-off was resolved this Tuesday evening when Aston Villa secured their passage to the Wembley play-off Final with a four three penalty shoot-out victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. Villa held a two one first leg advantage but despite dominating the majority of the first half exchanges they conceded a much disputed but essentially soft goal on twenty nine minutes which levelled the tie. Extra-time and the dismissal of the ‘Baggies’ captain brought no further goals so the contest went to a penalty shoot-out. The visitors prevailed by four goals to three with Saturday goalscorer Conor Hourihane converting the opening Villa penalty. Hourihane had a fine game in the holding midfield role while fellow midfielder Glenn Whelan was unused on the substitute bench.

 

UEFA U17 Championship quarter-finals today…13/05/2019

The two remaining quarter-final ties in the 2019 European U17 Championship Finals took place today, Monday the 13th May 2019.

Group D winners Italy got the ball rolling when they defeated Group C runners-up Portugal with the only goal in Tolka Park earlier this afternoon.

The remaining contest between Group C winners Hungary and Group D runners-up Spain took place at the UCD Bowl this evening where Spain eventually prevailed in a penalty shoot-out by 5 goals to 4 after the sides had played out a one all draw.

The fifth place play-off for a place at the World Championship Finals in Chile will be contested by Belgium and Hungary who will face each other in Tolka Park at noon on Thursday.

The semi-finals will also take place on Thursday with Holland and Spain getting the ball rolling in the UCD Bowl at 4.30pm while France and Italy meet in Tallaght Stadium at 7pm .

 

 

Chris Hughton exits Brighton & Hove Albion…13/05/2019

Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the departure of Chris Hughton and his immediate coaching staff from the Club. Following four and a half years, during which he re-ignited the Club, gaining promotion to the Premier League where they have performed for the past two seasons, the decision to dispense with his services comes as quite a shock. The Club Executive would appear to have grand ambitions and only time will tell if their decision to seek new team management will sate their appetite or whether they might follow the path of Ipswich Town whose dismissal of Mick McCarthy has resulted in that Club descending into the lower depths of League One or the Third Division in ‘old money’ if you prefer.