News

There was a full programme played in the Airtricity League Premier Division this Friday evening. Current leaders Shamrock Rovers went down to a two one defeat at Dundalk, the defending champions, in front of the live eirsport cameras. The ‘Lilywhites’ now move up to second place, four points behind the ‘Hoops’ but with a match in hand. Bohemian drop to third place on goal difference following their scoreless draw with visitors Waterford in Dalymount Park  while Derry City defeated struggling Cork City by two goals to nil in the Brandywell. St Patrick’s Athletic secured a two nil success over near neighbours UCD in Richmond Park while the North West derby meeting of Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps in the Showgrounds ended in a one all draw with the hosts needing a last minute penalty to secure a point.

In other news, it has been confirmed that St Patrick’s Athletic will replace Waterford as Ireland’s third representative in the Europa League. This situation arises because the current Waterford club do not meet the UEFA requirements of being formally in existence for three years.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers            14  10  1  3  22   8   14    31
Dundalk                    13   8  3  2  21   8   13    27
Bohemian                   13   8  3  2  13   4    9    27
Derry City                 13   7  3  3  21  13    8    24
St Patrick’s Athletic      13   6  3  4  12  10    2    18
Waterford                  13   4  4  5  17  17    –    16
Sligo Rovers               13   3  4  6   9  16   -7    13
Cork City                  13   3  3  7  10  17   -7    12
UCD                        13   3  1  9  13  24  -11    10
Finn Harps                 14   0  3 11   9  30  -21     3

There were just three series ten contests played in the Airtricity League First Division this Friday evening. Current leaders Cabinteely made the short journey to face Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds where they played out a one all draw. Shelbourne moved up to second place with a three nil defeat of  Galway United in Tolka Park. Wexford leapfrogged Galway United  at the bottom with a two nil success over Athlone Town in Ferrycarrig Park. 

On Saturday evening Cobh Ramblers welcome Drogheda United to St Colman’s Park where kick-off is set for 7pm while Longford Town and Limerick will lock horns in City Calling Stadium at 7.30pm.  

                            P  W  D  L   F   A    G/D  Pts
Cabinteely                 10  6  2  2  17  12     5    20
Shelbourne                 10  6  1  3  17   9     8    19
Longford Town               8  5  3  0  11   2     9    18
Bray Wanderers             10  5  1  4  11   8     3    16 
Limerick                    9  4  3  2   9   7     2    15
Drogheda United             9  4  2  3  14  14     –    14
Cobh Ramblers               9  3  1  5  11  12    -1    10
Athlone Town               10  3  0  7  11  21   -10     9
Wexford                    10  2  1  7  10  24   -14     7
Galway United               9  2  0  7  10  12    -2     6

Matt Doherty scored his eight goal of the season for Wolverhampton Wanderers as they secured a merited three one victory over visitors Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. The result sees the hosts sit in seventh place on the table, one point ahead of eight place Watford whom they face at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Bitter Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers and Bohemian met in a crucial Airtricity League Premier Division contest in front of the live eirsport cameras and 6,414 attendees at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday evening. The visiting ‘Gypsies’ emerged victorious with the only goal in a another fiery encounter shrouded in controversy. The hosts had defender Trevor Clarke dismissed on 27 minutes for a professional foul and ten minutes later fellow defender Lee Grace received  a second yellow card resulting in his dismissal after apparently handling the ball in the area and conceding a penalty kick. Television replays later indicated that the ball hit Grace in the face. The drama did not end there as the resultant spot kick was initially saved by goalkeeper Alan Mannus but Dinny Corcoran reacted swiftly to his miss and steered home the rebound. The result sees Bohemian return to second place on the League Table, five points behind Shamrock Rovers but they do have a match in hand.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers            13  10  1  2  21   6   15    31
Bohemian                   12   8  2  2  13   4    9    26
Dundalk                    12   7  3  2  19   7   12    24
Derry City                 12   6  3  3  19  13    6    21
St Patrick’s Athletic      12   5  3  4  10  10    –    15
Waterford                  12   4  3  5  17  17    –    15
Cork City                  12   3  3  6  10  15   -5    12
Sligo Rovers               12   3  3  6   8  15   -7    12
UCD                        12   3  1  8  13  22   -9    10
Finn Harps                 13   0  2 11   8  29  -21     2

Premier League
Struggling Brighton & Hove Albion made the daunting trip to face Tottenham Hotspur at their new stadium in the Premier League on Tuesday evening. Shane Duffy started for Chris Hughton‘s side who are just three points above the relegation trapdoor and they suffered bitter disappointment as after a magnificent defensive effort, they conceded  the only goal with just two minutes of normal time remaining.  Southampton are another side not absolutely safe from relegation and they included Shane Long in their starting eleven as they journied to take on  FA Cup Finalists Watford at Vicarage Road. Long scored after just seven seconds, becoming the fastest scorer in Premier League history. The Tipperary man suffered a nasty injury on seventy eight minutes forcing his withdrawal and his side conceded a very late equaliser.

League One
League One leaders Luton Town included leading goal scorer James Collins in their starting eleven for the Kenilworth Road visit of AFC Wimbledon this Tuesday evening and he again found the net. His goal helped the ‘Hatters’ secure a point as their visitors scored an added time equaliser for a two all draw. Injury ruled out Alan Sheehan while Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute.

Premier League
Burnley travelled to Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge this Easter Monday evening and came away with a hard fought two all draw. Jeff Hendrick started and scored the opening goal after eight minutes for the visiting ‘Clarets’ while Robbie Brady, Kevin Long and Stephen Ward all remained on the substitute bench.

Championship
The Championship marathon continued on Easter Monday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers duo Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams playing their part in a two nil victory over local rivals Bolton Wanderers and Luca Connell at Ewood Park this afternoon. Derby County, led by Richard Keogh, scored twice deep into added time to secure victory over visitors Queens Park Rangers and Ryan Manning at Pride Park. Sheffield United included their Irish quartet of John Egan, Enda Stevens, David McGoldrick and loanee Scott Hogan in their starting eleven as they consolidated second place with an emphatic three nil success at Hull City where McGoldrick scored twice inside twenty two minutes with Stevens adding the third on forty two minutes. Already  relegated Ipswich Town included Alan Judge and Will Keane in their starting eleven with Corrie Ndaba named on the substitute bench as lost to the only goal from visitors Swansea City. Nottingham Forest dealt promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph a severe blow with an emphatic three nil victory at the City Ground. Stoke City included James McClean in their starting eleven with teenage defender Nathan Collins a late substitute as they twice came from behind to secure a draw with current leaders Norwich City. Preston North End included Joe Rafferty, Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson) in their starting eleven as they went down to a two nil defeat at Wigan Athletic. Seventeen year old midfielder Adam O’Reilly was an unused substitute for North End.

League One
Charlton Athletic had West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen pulling the strings in midfield as they recovered from their Friday night defeat at Oxford United with an emphatic four nil victory over visitors Scunthorpe United at the Valley. Fellow promotion candidates Sunderland included Aiden McGeady and Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne in their starting eleven at Peterborough United where they took the lead very late on only to concede an equaliser in added time against the side currently sitting just outside the play-off positions in seventh place.

There were four Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures completed this Easter Monday afternoon.
First into action at 3pm were UCD and Dundalk, who faced each other at the Bowl where the ‘Lilywhites’ moved up to second place on the League Table with a three one success. One hour later at 4pm, Waterford and Derry City played out a dramatic two all draw in the RSC where the hosts equalised from the penalty spot three minutes into added time after the ‘Candystripes’ had taken the lead with just one minute of normal time remaining. The contest between Cork City and Sligo Rovers in Turner’s Cross has ended scoreless while  St Patrick’s Athletic have defeated Finn Harps by two goals to nil in Finn Park in the 5pm kick-offs.  

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers            12  10  1  1  21   5   16    31
Dundalk                    12   7  3  2  19   7   12    24
Bohemian                   11   7  2  2  12   4    8    23 
Derry City                 12   6  3  3  19  13    6    21
St Patrick’s Athletic      12   5  3  4  10  10    –    15
Waterford                  12   4  3  5  17  17    –    15
Cork City                  12   3  3  6  10  15   -5    12 
Sligo Rovers               12   3  3  6   8  15   -7    12
UCD                        12   3  1  8  13  22   -9    10
Finn Harps                 13   0  2 11   8  29  -21          2

Championship
Aston Villa took the opportunity to put extra pressure on their Championship promotion chasing rivals when they secured three points with a one nil victory over Villa Park visitors Millwall in the early kick-off this Easter Monday afternoon. Conor Hourihane was again on the substitute bench and replaced veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan on the hour mark while the ‘Lions’ included Derby County loanee Alex Pearce in their starting eleven with Aiden O’Brien a sixty fourth minute substitute while Shaun Williams remained unused on the substitute bench.

League One
Promotion chasers Portsmouth introduced Ronan Curtis from the substitute bench at half-time as they recovered from going behind to secure a two one victory over their Fratton Park visitors Coventry City and move up to third position in League One early this Easter Monday afternoon.