News

The second round of matches in Groups C and D of the 2019 European U17 Championship Finals took place on Tuesday the 7th May 2019.

In Group C, Iceland went down to a two one defeat by Hungary at noon in Home Farm FC, Whitehall while the UCD Bowl hosted the second fixture between Portugal and Russia at 3pm with Portugal emerging victorious by two goals to one. Today’s results mean that Hungary are through to the quarter-final stage while Russia are eliminated.

             P  W  D  L  F  A   G/D   Pts
Hungary(Q)   2  2  0  0  3  1    2     6
Iceland      2  1  0  1  4  4    –     3
Portugal     2  1  0  1  2  2    –     3
Russia       2  0  0  2  3  5   -2     0

In Group D, Italy defeated Austria by two goals to one in the City Calling Stadium, Longford and Spain scored the only goal to defeat Germany in the RSC Waterford which means that Italy and Spain are both through to the quarter-finals while Austria and Germany are both eliminated.

            P  W  D  L  F  A   G/D   Pts
Spain(Q)    2  2  0  0  4  0    4     6
Italy (Q)   2  2  0  0  5  2    3     6
Germany     2  0  0  2  1  4   -3     0
Austria     2  0  0  2  1  5   -4     0 

Our Republic of Ireland U17 side secured a valuable point with an eighty eight minute equaliser to draw one each with the Czech Republic in their second European Championship Finals Group A contest at the Regional Sports Centre, Waterford this Monday evening.

The match was largely even in the first half with both sides somewhat lacking in front of goal. Matters took a turn for the worse from an Irish perspective when substitute Sejk scored with his first touch following his introduction on sixty three minutes. Ireland sought to respond but had no joy until two minutes from the end of normal time when James Furlong’s searching corner kick was calmly slotted home by Andrew Omobamidele at the back post.

Further drama ensued in added time when Festy Ebosale was dismissed following a second yellow card for an alleged offence which replays showed was an act of feigning by the Czech defender. Unfortunately for the Derby County player, there is no appeal for a yellow card and he will miss the crucial decider against top seeds Belgium in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday evening.

It is almost certain that Ireland will need to defeat Belgium in order to progress to the knock-out stage of the competition and the absence through suspension of Ebosale and Conor Carty together with injury concerns surrounding Timi Sobowale and captain Seamas Keogh will make that task even more difficult.

Team:
Gavin Bazunu; Sean McEvoy, Andrew Omobamidele, Anselmo Garcia McNulty, James Furlong; Joe Hodge, Seamas Keogh(C); Festy Ebosale, Charlie McCann, Conor Carty; Matt Everitt

Substitutes:
Brandon Holt for Keogh 68′
Joshua Giurgi for Carty 75′
Roland Idowu for McCann 85′

                      P  W  D  L  F  A  G/D  Pts
Belgium               2  1  1  0  4  1   3    4
Czech Republic        2  0  2  0  2  2   –    2
Republic of Ireland   2  0  2  0  2  2   –    2
Greece                2  0  1  1  1  4  -3    1

There are four matches scheduled for today, Monday the 6th May, in Match Series Two of the 2019 European U17 Championship Finals.

In Group B, Holland, two nil victors over Sweden in their opening encounter, took on England, who drew one each with France in their opener, at 3pm in Tolka Park where, despite twice falling behind, the Dutch recovered to emerge emphatic winners on a five two score line and guarantee their progress to the knockout stage. The other two Group B sides, France and Sweden kicked-off in Tallaght Stadium at 5pm and echoed the opening match with the Swedes taking the lead
twice before the French responded for a four two victory.

In Group A, Belgium repeated their Elite Qualifying result against  Greece with another three nil victory in the City Calling Stadium, Longford. The Regional Sports Centre in Waterford hosted the second Group A contest between the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic at 7pm. Following one all draws in both opening contests, all four countries had one point and identical goal difference records before the commencement of today’s fixtures.

The deadline for nominations to fill the two vacant positions on the FAI Board has now passed.

There have been two nominations to succeed Michael Cody as Honorary Secretary – Former Finance Director Tony Dignam and Gerry McAnaney the Defence Forces representative on the FAI Council. Dignam left the FAI in June 2014 after three years in the finance role, while McAnanaey is a long time Council Member who would be regarded  as a critic of the former Chief Executive.

The only nomination to replace Eddie Murray as Honorary Treasurer is accountant and former newspaper executive Paul Cooke who fell foul of the former Chief Executive when he sought to raise issues relating to the accounts at a previous AGM.

Provided the current reviews of the Association’s practices and procedures does not result in changes to the electoral procedure the contest for the Honorary Secretary role will be contested  at a Council meeting to be held immediately after the AGM which takes place in Trim on Saturday the 27th July 2019.

 

The regular season in the 2019 Championship came to an end with all twenty four clubs in action early on Sunday afternoon. Norwich City secured top spot with a two one success at fifth place and play-off bound Aston Villa who included Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan in their starting eleven. Sheffield United fill the other automatic promotion position and they completed their season with a two all draw at Stoke City where John Egan, Enda Stevens, who scored again and David McGoldrick all started, with Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan on the substitute bench while James McClean was in the home starting eleven. Leeds United remained in third place despite going down to a three two defeat at relegated bottom side Ipswich Town who included Alan Judge in their starting eleven. The sixth and final play-off position goes to Derby County, skippered by Richard Keogh, who defeated fourth place West Bromwich Albion by three goals to one at Pride Park. Daragh Lenihan started alongside Derrick Williams and scored for Blackburn Rovers in their two all draw with Swansea City at Ewood Park. Brentford defeated Preston North End by three goals to nil at Griffin Park where Alan Browne, Sean Maguire, Joe Rafferty and Callum Robinson all started for the visitors with teenager Adam O’Reilly unused on the substitute bench. Keiren Westwood returned for Sheffield Wednesday following injury but his side went down to a two one defeat by visitors QPR at Hillsborough where Ryan Manning and Olamide Shodipo both started for the victors. John O’Shea, who announced his retirement in midweek, was a ninetieth minute substitute for Reading in their scoreless draw with visitors Birmingham City at the Madejski Stadium where young midfielder Josh Barrett was a starter for the ‘Royals’.

The first legs in the promotion play-offs are scheduled for Saturday the 11th May with Aston Villa hosting West Bromwich Albion at 12.30pm and Derby County entertaining Leeds United at 5.15pm.
In the second legs, West Bromwich Albion will host Aston Villa at 8pm on Tuesday the 14th May and Leeds United will entertain Derby County at 7.45pm on Wednesday the 15th May 2019.

There was bitter disappointment for our U17 starlets, when a last minute equaliser from Group A opponents Greece took the shine off an otherwise excellent opening performance at Tallaght Stadium in the European Championship Finals this Friday evening. On a dry but rather chilly evening the playing surface looked in excellent condition unlike the bumpy Tolka Park surface endured by Belgium and the Czech Republic in the opening Group A match earlier in the day.

Having qualified automatically as hosts, this was the first real competitive test for Ireland and the players certainly embraced the situation with a fine first half performance, playing a controlled possession based game.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was relatively unemployed during the half while the back four of Sean McEvoy, Andrew Omobamidele, Timi Sobowale and James Furlong all looker comfortable in possession. In front of them, captain Seamas Keogh and Manchester City midfielder Joe Hodge controlled the tempo with Hodge particularly catching the eye with his close control and forward movement while Keogh was neat, tidy and efficient, somewhat reminiscent of Glenn Whelan. The attacking midfield trio all made a positive impact with Matt Everitt expounding much energy on the right hand side while Festy Ebosele on the left flank was very prominent but being naturally right footed did favour inside movement when perhaps going outside his marker, who he had the comfortable beating of, might have proven more rewarding. Central attacking midfielder Charlie McCann was prominent early on and might well have scored but his effort was just too high. Up front, Conor Carty was movement personified giving the opposing defenders a torrid time and with improved technical control may prove to be an excellent target man.

Ireland took the lead on fifty seven minutes when a corner kick from Furlong was headed into the danger area by Sobowale and Matt Everitt displayed his predatory instincts by being first to react and score. Ireland continued  to dominate and did create further opportunities but our recurring failure to finish clinically, reared it’s head  again and we suffered the painful consequences with the disputed Greek equaliser coming in the fifth and final minute of added time.

We next travel to the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford where we will take on the Czech Republic at 7pm on Monday evening, while at the same time Belgium and Greece will lock horns in the City Calling Stadium, Longford.

Team: Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City); Sean McEvoy (Ballinamallard United), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Timi Sobowale (Manchester City), James Furlong (Shamrock Rovers); Joe Hodge (Manchester City), Seamas Keogh[C] (Southampton); Matt Everitt (Brighton & Hove Albion), Charlie McCann (Manchester United), Festy Ebosele (Derby County); Conor Carty (Wolverhampton Wanderers

Substitutes:
65′ Anselmo Garcia McNulty (Real Betis) for Sobowale
79′ Ronan McKinley (Derry City) for McCann
89′ Sean Kennedy (Sunderland) for Everitt

 

  

The League One regular season came to an end on Saturday afternoon with all matches scheduled for a 5.30pm kick-off. Luton Town, who were already assured of promotion, won the League Title when they defeated Oxford United by three goals to one at Kenilworth Road. Leading goalscorer James Collins started and was replaced by Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly for the final five minutes. Charlton Athletic readied themselves for the promotion play-off battle with a four nil home victory over Rochdale with West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen in his regular midfield position.  Ronan Curtis was a second half substitute for Portsmouth who were held to a one all draw by visitors Accrington Stanley which saw Charlton replace them in third position while fifth place Sunderland went down to a two one defeat at Southend United with Aiden McGeady rested while Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne was an unused substitute.

In the promotion play-offs, Charlton Athletic will face Doncaster Rovers while Portsmouth and Sunderland will again face each other. Both semi-finals will take place over two legs.