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Ireland played out a scoreless UEFA Nations League draw with Denmark in a damp and dispirited Aviva Stadium this Saturday evening. The starting eleven, with just one left sided player, James McClean, selected, provided much room for thought and speculation. Few, if any, anticipated the deployment of Cyrus Christie in a central midfield role, where he delivered a reasonable performance and had Ireland’s only real effort on goal, which forced an excellent save from the Danish goalkeeper. Darren Randolph was much the busier goalkeeper and produced a number of fine saves while Shane Long battled exhaustively in the lone striker role. The half-time introduction of the left footed Enda Stevens for the injured Callum O’Dowda instigated a better balance to the team while the arrival of Calum Robinson on sixty five minutes offered hope as he provided an improved technical element to the attack. Denmark dominated possession and had several efforts on goal but the retention of a clean sheet should give our defenders an element of satisfaction. We now go into Tuesday night’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Wales with  a greater sense of hope, even expectation, of further improvement. 

Following their opening victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, our U19 side took on the Faroe Islands, who lost their opening match against Holland, in their second European Championship Group Ten qualifying contest at the City Calling Stadium, Longford on Saturday afternoon. A difficult first half ended scoreless and it was midway through the second half before the breakthrough came with Troy Parrott scoring from the penalty spot. The Tottenham Hotspur player added a second ten minutes later and completed his hat-trick with another penalty four minutes into added time. Later at 7pm, Bosnia & Herzegovina met Holland and were crushed by six goals to nil in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway. Today’s results mean that both Holland and Ireland progress to the next Elite Stage with their Tuesday afternoon meeting in Longford set to determine who will top the Group and earn a top rank seeding in the Elite Stage draw. 

The third round of the IRN-BRU Scottish League Cup took place this weekend, with Airtricity League representatives Bohemian and Sligo Rovers both in action. The ‘Gypsies’ welcomed English side Sutton United to Dalymount Park where the sides played out a scoreless draw before Bohemian progressed to the quarter-final stage following their 4-3 penalty shoot-out success.  The’Bit o’ Red’ travelled to face Motherwell Colts in Fir Park and exited the competition following a two nil defeat.   

Our Under 21 side played their penultimate Group Five fixture against Israel in Akko on Thursday afternoon, knowing victory was essential if they were to retain any hope of reaching the qualifying play-off stage of these 2019 European Championships. However it was not to be as Ireland slumped to a very disappointing three one defeat. Sadly, once again, there appears little to be excited about at this level with perhaps just goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara, midfield duo Josh Cullen and Ronan Curtis together with Ryan Manning, who missed this afternoon’s match through injury, offering hope for the future. Ireland will travel to face Germany in Heidenmeim on Tuesday afternoon to complete their campaign.

  

With Dundalk confirmed as Champions and Cork City runners-up, together with Bray Wanderers and Limerick filling the bottom two positions, the one remaining situation to be decided in the Airtricity League Premier Division is the third and fourth place standings which are being contested by Shamrock Rovers and Waterford. The ‘Hoops’ made the short trip to Richmond Park this Friday evening where they scored the only goal in added time to defeat St Patrick’s Athletic while Waterford went down to a two one defeat at home to champions Dundalk in the RSC. In the remaining contest, Limerick suffered a three nil defeat by their hosts Cork City in Turner’s Cross.

The first leg of the Airtricity League First Division play-off between Drogheda United and Finn Harps ended in a one all draw in United Park this Friday evening. The second leg, to determine who will face Limerick for the place in the Premier Division next season, is scheduled for Finn Park next Friday evening, the 19th October 2018.

Our Under 19 side, guided by Head Coach Tom Mohan, commenced their 2019 European Championship qualifying campaign this Wednesday afternoon at the City Calling Stadium in Longford where they defeated Bosnia & Herzegovina by three goals to one. After a nervous opening ten minutes, Ireland took command but spurned a couple of scoring opportunities during a scoreless first half. The breakthrough came on fifty six minutes when Will Ferry scored following a pass from Conor Coventry. Ten minutes later, Ireland went two up with Troy Parrott converting from the penalty spot following a foul on Jack James. Ireland went further ahead on seventy four minutes when Adam Idah added the third. While the concession of a late goal will disappoint, the overall performance will not and Ireland now look forward to facing the Faroe Islands on Saturday afternoon, again in Longford. Later this evening in the other Group Ten contest, Holland defeated the Faroe Islands by five goals to nil in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Kian Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders: James Clarke (Burnley), Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Tom Gaston (Bordeaux), Jack James (Luton Town), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Lee O’Connor (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Barry Coffey (Celtic), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), Will Ferry (Southampton), Richard O’Farrell (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Southampton), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Glen McAuley (Liverpool), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Ali Reghba (Bohemian)