News

The London Stadium meeting of West Ham United and Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon ended in a scoreless draw and featured Declan Rice in the holding midfield role for the hosts, which he performed with calm assurance. The nineteen year old has of course been the subject of endless debate and speculation surrounding his international future, the definitive decision on which is awaited.

The final set of regular season fixtures in the Airtricity League First Division took place this Saturday evening with Drogheda United securing the third play-off place following their two nil victory over Cobh Ramblers in St Colman’s Park. Longford Town, their challengers for that prize, came from two goals down against the Champions UCD to secure a draw but it was not enough. Finn Harps, already assured of second place, crushed Cabinteely by seven goals to one in Finn Park while third place Shelbourne defeated Galway United by three goals to nil in Tolka Park.

Drogheda United and Shelbourne will now face each other over two legs with the winner then meeting Finn Harps, again over two legs, to determine who will contest the two legged play-off final with the ninth placed Premier Division side which looks likely to be Limerick with the winners participating in the Premier Division next season.

There were two Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures played this Saturday afternoon with Shamrock Rovers reclaiming third position following a one nil victory over Derry City at the Brandywell while Bohemian continued their excellent vein of form with a three one success against St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park.

Our Amateur International side completed their UEFA Regions Cup campaign with a one all draw against England in Ramnicu Sarat this afternoon. England took the lead after seventeen minutes but Shane Ryan of St Michael’s FC scored the equaliser with just three minutes remining. Slovakia defeated the hosts Romania by four goals to one and go through to the Finals next year.

Craven Cottage hosted the Premier League early kick-off which ended in a one all draw between Fulham, for whom Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute, and visitors Watford. Struggling Burnley had  Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long on the substitute bench but no Stephen Ward in their squad for their four nil victory over visitors AFC Bournemouth while Robbie Brady, who played in a midweek match behind closed doors, may be close to a return to first team action. Cardiff City included Harry Arter and Greg Cunningham in their starting eleven for their crushing five nil home defeat by Manchester City while Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for Newcastle United in their scoreless draw at Crystal Palace. Shane Long started for Southampton who went down to a three nil defeat by Liverpool at Anfield  while the in-form Matt Doherty and his Wolverhampton Wanderers colleagues came from behind to earn a one all draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The late kick-off saw Chris Hughton’s Brighton & Hove Albion go down to a two one defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur despite the efforts of Shane Duffy who performed heroically in his central defensive role. 

The Championship continued on Saturday afternoon with Conor Hourihane starting for Aston Villa with Glenn Whelan unused on the bench as they suffered a surprise two one defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park. Derby County included Richard Keogh in their starting eleven as they recovered from the concession of a first minute goal to defeat visitors Brentford by three goals to one, with Alan Judge an unused substitute. Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph played out a scoreless draw with visitors Swansea City while Nottingham Forest scored the only goal to defeat visitors Rotherham United for whom Ryan Manning and Richie Towell started with Anthony Forde unused on the bench. The Bramall Lane meeting of Sheffield United who included John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven and Preston North End for whom Alan Browne and Callum Robinson started with Graham Burke unused on the bench is believed to have been on the radar of Ireland Assistant Manager Roy Keane. The hosts prevailed by three goals to two with McGoldrick scoring the late winner while Robinson found the net for the ‘Lilywhites’. Stoke City were without the injured James McClean for the visit of Blackburn Rovers for whom Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams both started as their side secured a three two success. Millwall had Shaun Williams in their starting eleven with Aiden O’Brien a seventy second minute substitute at high flying West Bromwich Albion who secured the points with a two nil victory. We also cast an eye at League One where Ronan Curtis was in action for current leaders Portsmouth who were held to a two all draw by visitors Wycombe Wanderers. 

There were just three contests played in the Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday evening. The top two, Cork City and Dundalk met in Turner’s Cross where a goal after just three minutes from Chris Shields proved the winner for the visiting ‘Lilywhites’ and all but ensured the Championship is Oriel Park bound. The basement contest between Bray Wanderers and Limerick at the Carlisle Grounds had a similar ‘all or nothing’ feel to it and the hosts fell further into the relegation abyss as they went down to a two nil defeat leaving them twelve points adrift with just four matches remaining. Waterford leapfrogged Shamrock Rovers into third place with a one nil victory over visitors Sligo Rovers at the Regional Sports Centre.