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Current Championship leaders Leeds United played out a one all draw with sixth place Brentford in the early kick-off at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon. Alan Judge was a very late substitute for the visiting ‘Bees’. Rotherham United had Ryan Manning in their starting eleven for their three one defeat at Birmingham City while Anthony Forde was an unused substitute and Richie Towell missed out through injury. Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph suffered a surprise two nil home defeat by visitors Nottingham Forest for whom Daryl Murphy was a starter. Millwall had Shaun Williams in their side for the two one defeat of visitors Aston Villa for whom Conor Hourihane was a starter. Aiden O’Brien was a very late substitute for the victorious ‘Lions’. Preston North End had Alan Browne and two goal Callum Robinson in their starting eleven for their resounding four nil victory over visitors Wigan Athletic and Sean Maguire was a late substitute on his return following his lengthy injury absence.  Derby County and Richard Keogh played out a one all draw at QPR while Sheffield United had David McGoldrick to thank for their one nil victory over visitors Hull City as he converted a seventieth minute penalty. Both John Egan and Enda Stevens were in the ‘Blades’ starting eleven at Bramall Lane. West Bromwich Albion came from behind to defeat Reading by four goals to one with Wes Hoolihan an unused substitute at the Hawthorns while the late kick-off saw Bolton Wanderers go down to a two nil defeat by local rivals Blackburn Rovers who had Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams in defence.
League One leaders Portsmouth (Ronan Curtis) suffered a surprise two nil defeat by visitors Gillingham at Fratton Park. 

Martin O’Neill has named a thirty two man provisional squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League home double header against Denmark and Wales. Midfielder Richie Towell receives his first call up while in form Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis retains his place following his late call up to the previous squad. Long term injury victims Scott Hogan and Sean Maguire have just resumed training with their clubs and are included. Injury rules out the experienced trio of Seamus Coleman, Jonathan Walters and Stephen Ward.

Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle (Hearts), Sean McDermott (Kristiansund BK), Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Greg Cunningham (Cardiff City), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers)
Midfielders: Harry Arter (Cardiff City), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Alan Judge (Brentford), James McClean (Stoke City), David Meyler (Reading), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Richie Towell Rotherham United), Shaun Williams (Millwall)
Forwards: Graham Burke (Preston North End), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Shane Long (Southampton), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Callum Robinson (Preston North End)

The RTE 2 cameras were in Oriel Park this Friday evening when Dundalk were confirmed as Airtricity League Premier Division champions for 2018. The ‘Lilywhites’, twelve points clear at the summit, scored a last minute equaliser against a resilient St Patrick’s Athletic side who parted company with manager Liam Buckley a few days ago. Second place Cork City were held to a scoreless draw by third place Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium. Cup semi-finalists Bohemian went down to a three one defeat by fourth place Waterford in Dalymount Park while Limerick suffered a one nil defeat by Markets Field visitors Derry City, which almost certainly sends them into the relegation play-off scenario.

The Airtricity League First Division semi-final play-off process commenced on Friday evening when Drogheda United, who finished fourth in the league campaign, went down to a one nil defeat by Shelbourne who finished third, in United Park this Friday evening. The second leg is set for Tolka Park on Monday the 8th October, with the victors progressing to meet league runners-up Finn Harps, again over two legs. 

Shane Duffy, who earlier in the day signed a five year contract extension, was in his customary centre back position for Brighton & Hove Albion who scored the only goal to defeat visitors West Ham United at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League on Friday evening.

Following their opening match victory over mini-tournament hosts Lithuania, our U19 Women continued their 2019 European Championship Group Eight qualifying campaign when they defeated the Faroe Islands by three goals to nil on Friday afternoon in Marijampole. The hosts went down to a two nil defeat by the Ukraine later in the afternoon which means Ireland and the Ukraine, who meet on Monday afternoon, have both qualified for the next Elite Stage.  

The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Blackburn Rovers, who had Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams in defence, going down to a two nil defeat at home to Sheffield United for whom John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started. Derby County and Richard Keogh were held to a one all draw by Norwich City at Pride Park while Nottingham Forest saw a two goal lead erased by  Millwall following the sixty seventh minute introduction of Aiden O’Brien with starter Shaun Williams scoring the first at the City Ground. Rotherham United had Ryan Manning in their starting eleven with Anthony Forde a sixty ninth minute substitute in their scoreless draw with visitors Bristol City for whom Callum O’Dowda was substituted on sixty one minutes. Sheffield Wednesday saw a two goal lead erased by visitors West Bromwich Albion following the sixty fifth minute introduction of Wes Hoolihan at Hillsborough.