News

Martin O’Neill has announced a reduced squad of twenty six for the upcoming UEFA Nations League contests against Denmark and Wales in the Aviva Stadium. Jettisoned are Greg Cunningham, Alan Judge, Daryl Horgan, Richie Towell and Graham Burke while Ronan Curtis links up with the U21 squad for their double header in Israel and Germany.

Revised Squad
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle, Sean McDermott, Darren Randolph
Defenders: Cyrus Christie, Ciaran Clark, Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy, John Egan, Richard Keogh, Darragh Lenihan, Kevin Long, Enda Stevens, Derrick Williams
Midfielders: Harry Arter, Alan Browne, Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane, James McClean, David Meyler, Callum O’Dowda, Shaun Williams
Forwards: Scott Hogan, Shane Long, Sean Maguire, Aiden O’Brien, Callum Robinson

A depleted senior women’s squad travelled to Poland where they suffered a four nil friendly international defeat in Ostroda this Tuesday afternoon. The first half finished scoreless but following the concession of the opening goal from a disputed penalty, the floodgates opened and Ireland slumped to a disappointing defeat. 

Drogheda United will face Finn Harps over two legs with the winners contesting the two legged contest with the ninth placed Premier Division side, almost certainly Limerick, to determine who will play in the Airtricity League Premier Division next season. The County Louth side, trailing one nil from the home first leg, took on Shelbourne in a very eventful second leg at Tolka Park this Monday evening. The hosts had Reece McEnteer (10′) and James English (37′) dismissed in the first half and conceded goals scored by Sean Brennan and Chris Lyons before the nine men scored through Adam Evans to level the aggregate scores. Extra-time could not produce a winner and so it went to a penalty shoot-out where Drogheda prevailed by four goals to two.

Cork City are through to their fourth successive FAI Cup Final following their two one victory over Bohemian in tonight’s semi-final replay in Turner’s Cross. Graham Cummins and Karl Sheppard gave the ‘Rebels’ a two goal half-time lead but a long distance effort from Ian Morris reduced the arrears and led to a nervous end to the contest. City will now face League Champions Dundalk, also in their fourth successive final, at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday the 4th November 2018.

Head Coach Noel King has named a twenty man squad for the final two fixtures of the failed 2019 European Championship campaign. Ireland face Israel in Akko at 3pm (Irish time)next Thursday afternoon and Germany in Heidenheim at 5.15pm (Irish time) on the following Tuesday afternoon.

Goalkeepers: Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest), Kieran O’Hara (Macclesfield Town – Loan)
Defenders: Ryan Delaney (Rochdale), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town), Jimmy Dunne (Hearts – Loan), Danny Kane (AFC Fylde – Loan), Sean McLaughlin (Cork City), Ryan Sweeney (Mansfield Town – Loan), Corey Whelan (Crewe Alexandra – Loan)
Midfielders: Harry Charsley (Everton), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic – Loan), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Ryan Manning (Rotherham United – Loan), Jamie McGrath (Dundalk), Jordan Shipley (Coventry City)
Forwards: Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town), Ronan Hale (Derry City – Loan), Jake Mulraney (Hearts), Joe Quigley (Maidstone United)

 

Our U19 Women completed the qualifying stage of the 2019 European Championship with a three nil victory over the Ukraine to top Group Eight with maximum points. An early goal from Lucia Lobato settled any nerves and second half strikes from Alannah McEvoy and Tiegan Ruddy completed a deserved victory. We now await the December draw for the Elite Stage with qualification for the finals in Scotland the prized target.

Jeff Hendrick was a late substitute for Burnley in their one all Premier League contest with visitors Huddersfield Town while Kevin Long was an unused substitute at Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon. Robbie Brady is close to a return to first team duty but Stephen Ward has joined the casualty list. Matt Doherty scored the only goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers in their defeat of Crystal Palace  at Selhurst Park while Cardiff City had Harry Arter in their sidefor their one nil defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. The late kick-off saw troubled Manchester United come from behind to defeat visitors Newcastle United by three goals to two at Old Trafford where Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for the ‘Magpies’.