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Ireland U19 Head Coach Tom Mohan will run the rule over several new additions when he sends his team into friendly international action against Wales in City Calling Stadium, Longford at 3pm on Sunday afternoon. Much interest will focus on Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Johansson whose father is Swedish but his mother was born in Westmeath. Also set to be under the microscope is Girondins de Bordeaux defender Tom Gaston while five members of the U17 squad which performed so well at the European Championship Finals last May are also included. The two sides are set to meet again at noon on Tuesday the 11th September in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway.

Goalkeepers: Brian Maher (St Patrick’s Athletic), George McMahon (Burnley)
Defenders: Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Tom Gaston (Bordeaux) Jack James (Luton Town), Andy Lyons (Bohemian), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Lee O’Connor (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield United), Will Ferry (Southampton), Ryan Johansson (Bayern Munich), Jason Knight (Derby County)
Forwards: Jonathon Afolabi (Southampton), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Brandon Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers), Glen McAuley (Liverpool), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Will Smallbone (Southampton)

The Airtricity League representatives Bohemian and Sligo Rovers were both successful in their Irn-Bru Cup second round contests on Saturday afternoon and evening. Bohemian travelled to face Scottish League Two side Peterhead in Balmoor at 3pm and scored the only goal through Sligoman Kevin Devaney to progress to round three.  Peterhead currently sit second on the league table and are managed by Jim McInally, who by scouting the opposition, assisted the ‘Gypsies’ away goal elimination of Aberdeen from the UEFA Cup in 2000 and originally cut his managerial teeth with Sligo Rovers in 1995. Sligo Rovers welcomed the Colts team of Scottish Premiership outfit Livingston to the Showgrounds where they recovered from the concession of a goal after ninety seconds to secure a comfortable four one victory with Mikey Drennan scoring a hat-trick.

A humbled Ireland squad, comprehensively crushed by a vibrant Wales in Cardiff on Thursday night, were joined in training on Friday morning by youthful Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher who will also participate in Saturday morning’s session. The squad, minus Jon Walters who has returned to his loan club Ipswich Town are preparing to face Poland in a friendly encounter set for Wroclaw on Tuesday evening where, one hopes, they will endeavour to restore some semblance of organisation and pride.

There were three FAI Cup quarter-finals played this Friday evening. The RTE cameras brought live coverage of the fixture between First Division Longford Town and the cup holders Cork City from City Calling Stadium which sadly provided little real excitement as the ‘Rebels’ cruised to a seven nil victory with Kieran Sadlier notching a hat-trick. The Markets Field hosted the meeting of Limerick and Dundalk which again was somewhat disappointing as the ‘Lilywhites’ eased to a comfortable four nil victory. The night’s real excitement arose at the Bowl where First Division leaders and promotion favourites UCD overcame fourth place Premier Division side Waterford by two goals to one. The remaining quarter-final tie between Derry City and Bohemian is scheduled for the Brandywell on Wednesday the 19th September at 7.45pm.

Our U21 side were in European Championship qualifying action early on Friday evening when they played out a one all draw with Kosova in Mitrovica. Ireland currently lie second in qualifying group five, two points behind Germany who visit Tallaght Stadium for a 6pm kick-off on Tuesday evening next. Ireland went behind this evening on sixty four minutes but rescued a point with an eighty second minute equaliser from Ronan Curtis. The Portsmouth striker, who has been in sparkling form for his club, was scoring his first Ireland goal at this level.  

Ireland commenced their UEFA Nations League campaign with a humiliating four one defeat by Wales in Cardiff this evening. The hosts, with several emerging youngsters aligned with their classy established trio of Allen, Bale and Ramsey, were utterly dominant and displayed technical quality far and above that provided by a quite abysmal Ireland. The match, one could not describe it as a contest, was done and dusted by the thirty seventh minute when Wales scored their third goal. The hosts added a fourth on fifty five minutes and continued in cruise control thereafter despite a rather cavalier element of carelessness from the aforementioned Ramsey who presented substitute Shaun Williams with a goal scoring opportunity which the Dubliner accepted with some degree of aplomb on sixty six minutes. Goalkeeper Randolph had a night to forget with poor positioning for two of the goals and while valiant skipper Coleman did strive to offer some semblance of quality effort, his back four colleagues Clark, Duffy and Ward had nights to forget. There were some early right wing forays from Christie but poor delivery of the final ball while the central midfield duo of Hendrick and Hourihane were seemingly invisible. O’Dowda did offer some semblance of hope, showing a certain degree of ability to control and pass the ball and debutant Robinson did not lack for effort but squandered the one clear opportunity set up for him by skipper Coleman. Walters battled valiantly but to no avail and one rather fears that his race may well be run.  Question marks must and will be raised in relation to the five man management team and one must wonder what indeed does each of them contribute to the cause?. 

Manager Martin O’Neill has named his starting eleven for this evening’s UEFA Nations League contest with Wales in Cardiff. Team: D Randolph; S Coleman(C), S Duffy, C Clark, S Ward; C Christie, J Hendrick, C Hourihane, C O’Dowda, C Robinson: J Walters