News

Championship continues on Friday evening…14/12/2018

The Championship continued on Friday evening with West Bromwich Albion leapfrogging their hosts Sheffield United into third place with a two one victory at Bramall Lane. Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was expected to have followed up on the viewing journey undertaken by Robbie Keane last week when the host quartet of John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick were in action at Reading. All four started again this evening and McGoldrick opened the scoring with a fine strike on twelve minutes. Despite being totally dominant for the great majority of the first half, the ‘Blades’ could not add to their score and carelessly conceded the equaliser just before the half-time break. The roles were reversed in the second half with the visiting ‘Baggies’ holding sway and they secured the winning goal on seventy six minutes.

UEFA Youth League…11/12/2018

With sixteen year old Ireland striker Troy Parrott leading the line, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Barcelona in Spain to qualify for the next stage of the 2019 UEFA Youth League. The match was a must win contest for the visiting Spurs and Parrott set them on their way with an opportunist strike on seventeen minutes. The match was quite open with Parrott leading the line in fine fashion. As with any youngster of his age there are aspects of his game that need to be worked on, but his hold up play, his willingness to work and astute passing range give much hope for the future. Parrott switched to a midfield role in the latter stages, as Spurs sought to retain their one goal advantage, before being substituted in the eighty eight minute. Spurs ensured their progression with a breakaway second goal in added time. 

U21 European Championship draw..11/12/2018

The draw for the qualifying groups in the 2021 Under 21 European Championships took place at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon this Tuesday morning. Ireland have been drawn in Group One alongside Italy, Sweden, Iceland, Armenia and Luxembourg. New manager Stephen Kenny will have awaited the outcome with much interest as he prepares to take command of his first international squad. The finals of the Tournament will be co-hosted by Hungary and Slovenia in June 2021, which means that there are just ten places available for the twelve team finals. The nine group winners will qualify automatically and the final position will be decided by a play-off between the two best runners-up from the groups.

Fixture Schedule

24 March 2019      Ireland v Luxembourg
06 September 2019  Ireland v Armenia
10 September 2019  Sweden v Ireland
10 October 2019    Ireland v Italy
15 October 2019    Iceland v Ireland
14 November 2019   Armenia v Ireland
19 November 2019   Ireland v Sweden
26 March 2020      Ireland v Iceland
31 March 2020      Luxembourg v Ireland
13 October 2020    Italy v Ireland

The Premier League on Monday evening…10/12/2018

Goodison Park hosted this evening’s Premier League match between hosts Everton and visitors Watford which ended in a two all draw. The result was just about fair in a lively contest which saw captain Seamus Coleman contribute to the opening first half goal for the hosts and then concede a fairly unavoidable own goal which levelled matters midway through the second half. Barely two minutes later the visitors took the lead which looked to have earned them three points especially as the ‘Toffees’ had a penalty kick saved just a couple of minutes after they fell behind. With five minutes of added time on the clock, Watford conceded an unnecessary foul at the edge of the penalty area from which Everton equalised with a quite stunning free kick.

Sunday afternoon in the Premier League…09/12/2018

Matt Doherty, playing in his customary right wing back position, scored the winning goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the ninety fourth minute of this afternoon’s Premier League encounter with Newcastle United at St James Park. The hosts included Ciaran Clark in their starting eleven and with the sides level at one goal each appeared to be in command until the fifty seventh minute dismissal of defender Yedlin which swung the balance, although the visitors left things very late.

The Premier League on Saturday afternoon…08/12/2018

Robbie Brady started for struggling Burnley and Jeff Hendrick was an eighty fifth minute substitute as they defeated visitors Brighton & Hove Albion, who were without the suspended Shane Duffy, with the only goal in  their Premier League meeting this Saturday afternoon. Harry Arter was named ‘man of the match’ for Cardiff City who defeated visitors Southampton  by one goal to nil. Greg Cunningham remained an injury absentee while injury also precluded Michael Obafemi and Shane Long from involvement with the visitors. Cyrus Christie was relegated to the Fulham substitute bench as they went down to a four one defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford.  Declan Rice was in midfield action for West Ham United who came from behind to defeat visitors Crystal Palace by three goals to two at the London Stadium.

Saturday afternoon Championship action…08/12/2018

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with fifty eight minute Bristol City substitute Callum O’Dowda providing the assist for the only goal to defeat their hosts Birmingham City. Alan Judge was introduced from the substitute bench for Brentford at half time but could not prevent his side going down to a three two defeat by visitors Swansea City at Griffin Park. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Darren Randolph was seeking to redeem the demons of last weekend but visitors Blackburn Rovers, with Derrick Williams starting and the fit again Darragh Lenihan on the bench, held them to a one all draw at the Riverside Stadium. Millwall included Aiden O’Brien in their starting eleven for the visit of Hull City to the New Den and he scored in their two all draw. Alan Browne started and substitute Graham Burke got three minutes for Preston North End who scored the only goal to defeat  Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Richie Towell started and scored for Rotherham United who earned a point from a two all draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Anthony Forde also started but Ryan Manning remained unused on the bench. James McClean was a seventieth minute substitute for Stoke City who defeated bottom side Ipswich Town by two goals to nil at the bet365 Stadium. Richard Keogh was in the Derby County side which scored the only goal for victory at Wigan Athletic. The late kick-off saw Reading, who dispensed with manager Paul Clement earlier this week, go down to a two nil defeat by visitors Sheffield United who included a quartet of players who may be involved in Mick McCarthy’s first international squad of his second period at the helm. John Egan and Enda Stevens have been in recent squads while David McGoldrick is expected to return to the fold with recently flagged target Jack O’Connell also under consideration. Ireland Assistant Manager Robbie Keane was in attendance at the Madejski Stadium.
League One leaders Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis in their starting eleven for their two nil victory over visitors Southend United.