News

The loan transfer window available to Championship and lower league clubs together with the majority of European Leagues closed on Friday the 31st August 2018. The Irish players listed below have made late loan switches with one, Jack Byrne, permanent transfer.

Jack Bonham – Brentford to Bristol Rovers – End of Season
Andy Boyle – Preston North End to Dundee – to 7/1/2019
Jack Byrne – Oldham Athletic to Kilmarnock – Free
Josh Cullen – West Ham United to Charlton Athletic – End of Season
Joe Mason – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Portsmouth – to 2/1/2019
Chiedozie Ogbene – Brentford to Exeter City – to 7/1/2019
Kevin O’Connor – Preston North End to Crewe Alexandra – to 7/1/2019
Eunan O’Kane – Leeds United to Luton Town – to 10/1/2018
Connor Ronan – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Walsall – to 7/1/2019
Richie Towell – Brighton & Hove Albion to Rotherham United  – Season
Jonathan Walters – Burnley to Ipswich Town – to 7/1/2019
Corey Whelan – Liverpool to Crewe Alexandra – to 7/1/2019

Trailing by three goals to one from the second round first leg in Athens last week, Burnley faced a formidable challenge against Olympiakos in the second leg of the Europa League at Turf Moor this Thursday evening. Despite dominating possession throughout and having a number of excellent chances they were unable to reduce the deficit and indeed fell further behind when conceding a goal very late on which minutes later they negated with a goal of their own, but it was of little use in the closing minutes. Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long completed the full ninety minutes while Stephen Ward was an unused substitute. 

The four remaining EFL Cup second round ties took place this Wednesday evening with Everton defeating Rotherham United by three goals to one. Seamus Coleman was an unused substitute for the ‘Toffees’ while Anthony Forde and Sean Raggett were both in action for the ‘Millers’. Daryl Murphy opened the scoring and had an excellent game for Nottingham Forest who defeated Newcastle United by three goals to one. Ciaran Clark captained the ‘Magpies’, initially from the left back position, where he was very disappointing, before switching to central defence during the second half. Shaun Williams, with a penalty and late substitute Aiden O’Brien with the eighty ninth minute winner helped Millwall to a three two victory over Plymouth Argyle at the new Den. Graham Carey was a very late substitute for the visiting ‘Pilgrims’. John O’Shea started his first competitive match for Reading but was withdrawn on sixty five minutes as the ‘Royals’ went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Watford at the Madejski Stadium.  

Current news headliner Declan Rice was in excellent midfield form for West Ham United who went through to the next round of the EFL Cup with a hard fought three one victory at AFC Wimbledon who played for more than an hour with ten men this Tuesday evening. Our U21 captain Josh Cullen was an unused substitute for the ‘Hammers’. Burton Albion, for whom midweek signing Stephen Quinn played the first half, defeated Aston Villa by one goal to nil. Conor Hourihane was in midfield for Villa while Glenn Whelan and Jake Doyle-Hayes were unused substitutes. Alan Judge completed his first ninety minutes of the season as Brentford defeated Cheltenham Town by one goal to nil. Chiedozie Ogbene was a seventy fifth minute substitute for the ‘Bees’. Greg Cunningham made his Cardiff City debut but suffered disappointment as his side went down to a three one defeat at home to Norwich City. Young defender Conor Shaughnessy started for Leeds United but was substituted at half-time in their two nil home defeat by Preston North End for whom Alan Browne was a late substitute while Graham Burke was unused on the bench.

Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Dundalk suffered an added time defeat by visitors Shamrock Rovers in Oriel Park this evening. With the sides level at one goal each the ‘Hoops’ were awarded a penalty three minutes into added time which was converted by Dylan Watts. The ‘Lilywhites’ remain three points clear of Cork City at the summit with seven matches remaining for both clubs while Shamrock Rovers move to within one point of third place Waterford.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup was made this evening with the ties set to be played on Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th September.
Derry City v Bohemian
Limerick v Dundalk
Longford Town v Cork City
UCD v Waterford

Manager Martin O’Neill has announced a provisional thirty one man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League contest against Wales in Cardiff followed by the friendly encounter in Poland. The most notable absentee and now primary talking point is Declan Rice who, it is reported, has been approached by England and has now requested ‘time’ to consider his position. Sean McDermott of Kristiansund BK in Norway receives his first call-up while fellow netminder Kieran O’Hara is also included but is expected to link up with the U21 squad who have two European Championship qualifiers during the same timeframe. International clearance has been obtained for Preston North End striker Callum Robinson while the uncapped Aiden O’Brien of Millwall is also included in this initial squad. The squad will be revised on Monday the 3rd September following the weekend league fixtures.
Goalkeepers: Colin Doyle (Hearts), Sean McDermott (Kristiansund BK), Kieran O’Hara (Macclesfield Town), Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough).
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Seamus Coleman (Everton), 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), Stephen Ward (Burnley).
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),Shaun Williams (Millwall).
Forwards: Graham Burke (Preston North End), Shane Long (Southampton), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall), Callum Robinson (Preston North End), Jonathan Walters (Burnley).