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Airtricity League U19 Champions Bohemian commenced their UEFA Youth League challenge on Wednesday afternoon when they went down to a two one defeat by Danish Champions Midtjylland at the Arena Herning in the first round first leg of the competition. Steven Nolan’s late goal today creates an interesting second leg set for Dalymount Park on the evening of Wednesday the 24th October 2018.

Also in action in this competition was Ryan Nolan, who captained Inter Milan in their two one defeat by PSV in Eindhoven. This also  sets up an interesting second leg in Milan in three weeks time.  

The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with stuttering Aston Villa held to a three all draw at home to bottom side Preston North End. Conor Hourihane started for Villa and was replaced on eighty three minutes by Glenn Whelan, while once touted Ireland goalkeeping target Mark Bunn started for the first time this season. Long time groin injury casualty Scott Hogan was on the Villa bench, also for the first time this season. Alan Browne and Callum Robinson both started for Preston while Graham Burke was an unused substitute. Alan Judge started for Brentford in their one all draw with visitors Birmingham City and Darren Randolph was in action for Middlesbrough in their two nil victory at Ipswich Town. Broken arm victim James McClean returned to action as a sixty eight minute substitute for Stoke City in their two nil victory over visitors Bolton Wanderers who had Marc Wilson in defence. 

Ronan Curtis scored the only goal for First Division leaders Portsmouth in their one nil victory at Coventry City.    

Our U19 Women commenced their 2019 European Championship Qualifying Campaign with a crushing seven nil victory over mini-tournament hosts Lithuania in Alytus this Tuesday afternoon. The hosts presented a barrier of resistance for the opening thirty minutes but once Heather Payne scored on thirty one minutes, the floodgates opened. Alannah McEvoy, Isibeal Atkinson, Tiegan Ruddy, Chloe Singleton, Carla McManus and Payne with her second added to the total. In the other group contest, the Ukraine defeated the Faroe Islands by four goals to nil. In their next encounter, Ireland face the Faroes in Marijampole at 1pm on Friday afternoon.

There was one late change to the travelling squad, with Aoife Thompson of Galway WFC replacing the injured Sion Swifts midfielder Amy Boyle Carr.

The second Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup semi-final between Bohemian and holders Cork City ended in a one all draw at Dalymount Park on Sunday afternoon and will be replayed on Monday the 8th October in Turner’s Cross. This afternoon’s contest seemed to be going the way of the hosts when Dinny Corcoran scored after sixty eight minutes but a penalty kick, converted by Kieran Sadlier, three minutes from time set up the replay for the right to face Dundalk in the final on Sunday the 4th November.

Cardiff City had Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham in their starting eleven for the Sunday afternoon Premier League visit of Burnley who secured a two one victory. Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long were named on the ‘Clarets’ bench with Long introduced on twenty seven minutes. Stephen Ward was not named in the matchday squad while long term injury victim Robbie Brady who completed some eighty minutes of a mid-week behind closed doors friendly is nearing a first team return.

The much debated Declan Rice was in action for West Ham United as they defeated visitors Manchester United by three goals to one in the early kick-off at the London Stadium. Cyrus Christie was an eight minute substitute for Fulham who crashed to a three nil defeat at Everton while Shane Duffy was in action for Brighton & Hove Albion in their two nil defeat at Manchester City. Ciaran Clark and Newcastle United also suffered a two nil defeat by visitors Leicester City at St James Park. Matt Doherty was again in fine form for Wolverhampton Wanderers as they overcame visitors Southampton by two goals to nil at Molineaux.   

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Blackburn Rovers, for whom Darragh Lenihan started but Derrick Williams missed out through suspension, played out a two all draw with visitors Nottingham Forest. Derby County and Richard Keogh went down to a one nil defeat at Bolton Wanderers while Alan Judge was a late substitute for Brentford in their two all draw with visitors Reading who were without the suspended John O’Shea. Hull City held visitors Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph to a one all draw while Millwall duo Aiden O’Brien and Shaun Williams started against visitors Sheffield United whose trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and the re-vitalised David McGoldrick all started with McGoldrick, who may return to the Irish squad to be announced next week, scored twice in a three two victory. Preston North End duo, Alan Browne and Callum Robinson started the three two defeat by visitors West Bromwich Albion with Browne scoring a late consolation goal. Loanees Ryan Manning and Richie Towell both started and scored for Rotherham United in their two all draw with visitors Stoke City.
In League One, Ronan Curtis started for Portsmouth in their three one victory at Rochdale.