News

The Amex Stadium hosted a crucial Premier League contest on Tuesday evening when Brighton & Hove Albion met Cardiff City. Chris Hughton‘s ‘Seagulls’, who suffered a crushing five nil defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday last, went down to another disappointing home defeat as the ‘Bluebirds’ earned a two nil victory with goals in each half. Neither AFC Bournemouth loanee Harry Arter or Greg Cunningham were in the visiting squad but Shane Duffy was in defence for the beaten hosts. The result sees Cardiff, who currently fill the one remaining relegation position, reduce the gap to fourth bottom Brighton to just two points but Brighton do have a game in hand.   

The Board of the FAI met at the Carlton Airport Hotel in Dublin this Monday morning. Following that meeting a sub-committee of the Board met with Executive Vice President John Delaney.
An announcement this evening from the Board of the FAI advised that John Delaney has offered to voluntarily step aside from carrying out his role as Executive Vice President with immediate effect pending the completion of an independent investigation by the Association into issues of concern to the Board.
It was also confirmed that Honorary Secretary  Michael Cody and Honorary Treasurer Eddie Murray had tendered their resignations from the Board.

The four Series Seven Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures postponed during the international break in March took place this Monday evening. Stuttering Dundalk scored the only goal in the fourth minute of added time to defeat Bohemian in Oriel Park while  Derry City leapfrogged the ‘Gypsies’ into second place with a three one victory over St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park. Sligo Rovers and Waterford played out a scoreless draw in the Showgrounds while UCD scored two late goals to defeat visitors Cork City who had taken an early lead at the Bowl. 

                            P  W  D  L   F   A   G/D   Pts
Shamrock Rovers            11  9  1  1  20   5   15    28
Derry City                 10  6  2  2  17  10    7    20   
Bohemian                   10  6  2  2   9   4    5    20
Dundalk                    10  5  3  2  13   6    7    18
St Patrick’s Athletic      10  3  3  4   6   9   -3    12
Waterford                  10  3  2  5  13  15   -2    11
Cork City                  10  3  2  5  10  13   -3    11 
Sligo Rovers               10  3  2  5   7  13   -6    11
UCD                        10  3  1  6  12  16   -4    10
Finn Harps                 11  0  2  9   8  24  -16     2

There is mounting speculation this evening that John Delaney is set to resign his recently instigated position of Executive Vice President of the Football Association of Ireland. It has also been intimated that at least two other members of the FAI Board of Management are set to resign their positions.
It is reported that FAI Honorary President Donal Conway has been in conference at the Association Headquarters in Abbotstown throughout most of the day but it is unclear who else may also have been in residence.

Premier League
Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion find themselves on nervous ground following their crushing five nil home Premier League defeat by AFC Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium this Saturday afternoon. Their defence, which included Shane Duffy, was torn to shreds by the visitors, a sharp contrast to their resilient performance against Manchester City in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final. They now sit just above the relegation positions and play host to Cardiff City on Tuesday evening next in a crucial encounter. Burnley further eased  their relegation fears with a two nil victory over Cardiff City at Turf Moor where Jeff Hendrick completed the full ninety minutes with Robbie Brady, Kevin long and Stephen Ward unused on the substitute bench while AFC Bournemouth loanee Harry Arter started, with Greg Cunningham an unused substitute for the visiting ‘Bluebirds’.
Relegated Fulham defeated visitors Everton and Seamus Coleman by two goals to nil at Craven Cottage where Cyrus Christie was a sixty fifth minute substitute. Shane Long was introduced from the  Southampton bench on sixty one minutes and ten minutes later scored in their three one victory over defeated Cup semi-finalists Wolverhampton Wanderers for whom Matt Doherty was substituted after sixty minutes at St Mary’s Stadium.

Championship
Championship promotion hopefuls Aston Villa and Bristol City met at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon with Conor Hourihane and Glenn Whelan both starting for the hosts but Callum O’Dowda remains an injury casualty for the visitors. The ‘Villians’ prevailed by two goals to one with Hourihane again on the scoresheet. Stuttering Derby County and Richard Keogh defeated relegation bound Bolton Wanderers and Luca Connell by four goals to nil at Pride Park while relegation was confirmed for Alan Judge and Ipswich Town as they could only manage a one all draw with visitors Birmingham City. Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph quelled their recent slide with victory at Bolton on Tuesday evening and maintained their winning form with the only goal at home to Hull City. Nottingham Forest and Daryl Murphy slipped further out of promotion contention following their two one defeat by visitors Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams with Blackburn Rovers. Sheffield United continued their stuttering form as they were held to a one all draw by Bramall Lane visitors Millwall. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started but Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan was an unused substitute. The ‘Blades’ misery was further compounded by the late dismissal of Egan for a penalty area handball offence. Derby County loanee Alex Pearce started for the ‘Lions’ while Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute with Shaun Williams an unused substitute. James McClean was in action for Stoke City who were held to a two all draw by visitors Rotherham United for whom Anthony Forde and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Richie Towell both started. Alan Browne started for  Preston North End in their four one defeat at West Bromwich Albion while Callum Robinson and Sean Maguire were introduced from the substitute bench around the half-time period. The late kick-off saw second place Leeds United score the only goal to defeat Sheffield Wednesday and Keiren Westwood at Elland Road.

League One
The Valley hosted a seminal League One contest between Charlton Athletic and Luton Town on Saturday afternoon. West ham United loanee Josh Cullen maintained his sparkling form for the host ‘Addicks’ in their three one victory over the ‘Hatters’ for whom striker James Collins, named ‘Player of the Year’ by his League One peers last week, was absent through suspension. Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Aaron Connolly was introduced on sixty eight minutes for the visitors. Fellow promotion challengers Portsmouth and Ronan Curtis secured a four one victory over Fratton Park visitors Rochdale. Aiden McGeady was a sixty fourth minute substitute for Sunderland while Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne was unused on the substitute bench as the ‘Makems’ went down to a stunning five four Stadium of Light defeat by visitors Coventry City.

Scottish Cup
The Scottish Cup semi-final between Heart of Midlothian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle kicked off in Hampden Park at 12.15pm this Saturday afternoon. The ‘Jam Tarts’ included Jake Mulraney and Aiden Keena in their starting eleven while Colin Doyle and Leeds United loanee Conor Shaughnessy were unused on the substitute bench as they cruised to a three nil victory. Former underage international Aaron Doran started for vanquished ICT. The second semi-final between Aberdeen and Glasgow Celtic is set for Hampden Park at 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Following their opening one all draw with Scotland at Ayr United FC our Republic of Ireland Schools international side, with Head Coach William O’Connor at the helm, continued their 2019 Centenary Shield involvement when they went down to a two nil defeat by England this Friday evening in Dalymount Park.

We next travel to Belfast where we will face Northern Ireland in Queens University at 6pm on Thursday the 18th April before completing our schedule against Wales at Home Farm FC, Whitehall on Thursday the 25th April at 7pm.

                        P  W  D  L  F  A  G/D Pts
England                 4  2  1  1  4  1   3   7
Northern Ireland        3  2  1  0  2  0   2   7
Scotland                4  1  1  2  3  5  -2   4
Wales                   3  1  0  2  2  3  -1   3
Republic of Ireland     2  0  1  1  1  3  -2   1

The Airtricity League Premier Division continued on Friday evening with all ten clubs in match series ten action. Current eight point leaders Shamrock Rovers maintained their position with a two one victory over visitors Waterford in Tallaght Stadium while second place Bohemian continued their challenge with a one nil victory at Finn Harps. Dundalk also travelled to the North West as they visited Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds where they suffered an unexpected two one defeat. Derry City leapfrogged the ‘Lilywhites’ into third place with a two nil success over UCD at the Bowl. Disappointing Cork City played host to fifth place St Patrick’s Athletic in Turner’s Cross where the visitors were reduced to ten men following a thirty sixth minute red card but still managed a one all draw with an added time equaliser. 

                            P  W  D  L   F   A   G/D   Pts
Shamrock Rovers            11  9  1  1  20   5   15    28
Bohemian                    9  6  2  1   9   3    6    20
Derry City                  9  5  2  2  14   9    5    17 
Dundalk                     9  4  3  2  12   6    6    15
St Patrick’s Athletic       9  3  3  3   5   6   -1    12
Cork City                   9  3  2  4  10  12   -2    11
Waterford                   9  3  1  5  13  15   -2    10 
Sligo Rovers                9  3  1  5   7  13   -6    10 
UCD                         9  2  1  6  10  15   -5     7
Finn Harps                 11  0  2  9   8  24  -16     2

There were four series eight contests played in the Airtricity League First Division this Friday evening. Cabinteely defeated visitors Athlone Town by three goals to two at Stradbrook while Drogheda United and visitors Shelbourne played out a scoreless draw in United Park. Struggling sides, Galway United and Cobh Ramblers locked horns in Eamonn Deacy Park with the visitors emerging victorious by two goals to nil. Limerick were unexpectedly held to a one all draw by bottom side Wexford in the Markets Field.  
Longford Town returned to the summit of the League Table following their two nil victory over visitors Bray Wanderers at the City Calling Stadium on Saturday evening. 

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