News

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers, for whom Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams were in defence, scoring a late winner to defeat QPR at Ewood Park. Alan Judge was a very late substitute for Brentford who defeated London rivals Millwall by two goals to nil at Griffin Park. Young defender Canice Carroll was on the home bench while Shaun Williams started for the visitors but Aiden O’Brien was unused on the bench. In-form Derby County had Richard Keogh in defence as they came from behind to defeat visitors Birmingham City by three goals to one at Pride Park. Bottom side Ipswich Town played out a one all draw with visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven. Nottingham Forest defeated visitors Sheffield United, who had John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven with David McGoldrick a fifty fifth minute substitute,with the only goal at the City Ground. Struggling Reading with John O’Shea in defence earned some relief with a three two victory over visitors Bristol City for whom Callum O’Dowda was an unused substitute at the Madejski Stadium. Rotherham United had Richie Towell in their starting eleven but it was half-time substitute Ryan Manning who stole the show as he converted two late penalties to secure a two one victory over visitors Swansea City. The late kick-off saw Stoke City, with James McClean a late substitute, play out a scoreless draw with visitors Middlesbrough for whom Darren Randolph was in his regular goalkeeping position.
In the First Division, Ronan Curtis was in action for leaders Portsmouth who secured a one nil victory at Bradford City while Charlton Athletic had West Ham United loanee Josh Cullen in midfield for their two nil defeat of visitors Doncaster Rovers at the Valley.

Aston Villa secured a deserved two nil victory over visitors Bolton Wanderers in the Championship this Friday evening. Both clubs were  searching for form and while the visitors did have some bright moments, it was the hosts who showed the greater quality and reserve. Conor Hourihane started in an unexpected holding midfield role and performed quite well while Scott Hogan, with fifteen minutes and Glenn Whelan with six were late substitutes. 

Finn Harps will replace Limerick in the Airtricity League Premier Division next season. The Donegal side, leading one nil from the home first leg, secured a two nil victory in the Markets Field this evening for an aggregate three nil success and promotion to the top division. Mark Timlin scored just before the half time break and the second, from Nathan Boyle on eighty minutes set the seal on an excellent performance.

There was some Irish involvement in the fourth round of the Football League Cup on Wednesday evening with Richard Keogh, who conceded  an unfortunate own goal, captaining Derby County in their three two defeat at Chelsea. The Declan Rice debate was again resurrected with reports that he is about to make the anticipated international switch to England, while his West Ham United exited the League Cup following their three one defeat by London Stadium visitors Tottenham Hotspur. Loanees Ben Heneghan and Paudie O’Connor were in central defence for League Two side Blackpool who went down to a two one defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with O’Connor, who was dismissed on eighty four minutes, scoring the ‘Tangarines’ goal. On Tuesday evening, teenage goalkeeper Mark Travers was on the substitute bench for AFC Bournemouth who progressed to the quarter-finals with a two one victory over Norwich City. Cyrus Christie saw just a few minutes of action as a very late substitute for Fulham who went down to a two nil defeat at Manchester City on Thursday evening.
Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunne was again in central defence for current Sottish Premier League leaders Heart of Midlothian who played out a scoreless draw with fierce Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, for whom Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute.   

The first leg of the Airtricity League promotion play-off between in-form First Division side Finn Harps and struggling Premier Division side Limerick took place in Finn Park this Monday evening with the home side scoring the only goal, a thirty sixth minute penalty converted by Paddy McCourt. The second leg is set for the Markets Field at 7.45pm on Friday the 2nd November 2018.

Our Under 17 Women completed their Group Seven Qualifying Round fixtures when they went down to a one nil defeat by mini-tournament hosts Serbia at their National Sports Centre, Stara Pazova early on Sunday afternoon. The hosts had already qualified for the next Elite Stage, where Ireland will join them as our goal difference was much superior to Wales who finished level on points with us following their two nil victory over Albania in the other Group contest.

Burnley went down to a crushing four nil home defeat by Chelsea at Turf Moor in the Premier League early on Sunday afternoon. From an Irish perspective, the return of Robbie Brady to first team action for the first time since injury side lined him in December 2017 is very welcome and he completed the full ninety minutes today. Jeff Hendrick also started while Kevin Long was an unused substitute. Later in the afternoon, Everton and Seamus Coleman went down to a two one defeat by Manchester United at Old Trafford. James McCarthy completed the full ninety minutes for the Everton U23 side in their one nil victory over Manchester City U23 on Saturday evening and is nearing a return to first team action. This was his first competitive match action since his double leg break last January.