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The 2018/19 Premier League season sprung into action on Saturday afternoon with AFC Bournemouth defeating promoted visitors Cardiff City by two goals to nil. Summer signing Greg Cunningham was unused on the substitute bench. Harry Arter who joined the ‘Bluebirds’ on a season long loan from the visitors was not eligible to face his parent club. Cyrus Christie and his colleagues with another promoted side, Fulham, went down to a two nil defeat by Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage while the third promoted side, Wolverhampton Wanderers included Matt Doherty in their starting eleven for the visit of Everton and Seamus Coleman to Molineaux, which ended in two all draw. Shane Duffy was in action for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a two nil defeat at  Watford while Ciaran Clark started for Newcastle United who went down to a two one defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at St James Park in the early kick-off but Rob Elliot has slipped down the pecking order and was not in the matchday squad.    

The first round of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup was completed  on Saturday with CIE Ranch scoring an added time winner through Dean O’Brien to defeat fellow non-league side Dublin Bus. Also through to the second round are Maynooth University Town who defeated Leeds FC by two goals to nil. Non-league Blarney United suffered a record breaking twelve two home defeat by Derry City for whom Aistair Roy scored four while Noel Hunt scored a hat-trick for Waterford in their four one success at Skerries Town. Non-league sides Newmarket Celtic and North End United exited the competition following home defeats by Cabinteely (1-2) and Galway United (0-4) respectively. Sligo Rovers have this evening exited the competition following their one nil home defeat by Longford Town in the Showgrounds.   

Following the disappointment of their opening defeat by AFC Ajax on Tuesday afternoon, Wexford WFC resumed their Women’s Champions League campaign at 7.30pm this Friday evening when they took on Thor/KA of Iceland in Seaview. Sadly, further disappointment ensued as they went down to a three nil defeat. The same venue, home of Crusaders FC, hosted the meeting of AFC Ajax and Linfield Ladies earlier this afternoon with the Dutch side emerging as two nil victors.

The first round of the 2018 Irish Daily Mail FAI commenced on Friday evening with Dundalk gaining revenge for their shock EA Sports Cup semi-final defeat by First Division Cobh Ramblers last Monday afternoon, with a three nil victory over their Cork visitors in Oriel Park. Drogheda United of the First Division created the first shock of the competition with the one nil defeat of Shamrock Rovers in United Park with a penalty, which resulted in the dismissal of Lee Grace, converted by Chris Lyons. Richmond Park hosted the local derby meeting of non-league Inchicore Athletic and St Patrick’s Athletic which was scoreless at half-time but became a five nil demolition following the dismissal of Inchicore defender Leon Faney Byrne in the first minute of the second half. The Carlisle Grounds was the setting for the meeting of struggling Premier Division side Bray Wanderers and in-form Finn Harps of the First Division and it was not really a surprise that the Donegal side came from behind to secure a three one victory after extra-time. Shelbourne crushed struggling Athlone Town by four goals to nil in an all First Division clash at Tolka Park while The Bowl was the venue for the meeting of First Division leaders UCD and non-league Pike Rovers with the ‘Students’ emerging as two nil victors. Ferrycarrig Park was the venue for the meeting of First Division hosts Wexford FC and Premier Division Bohemian which resulted in a resounding seven nil victory for the visiting ‘Gypsies’.

Cork City went down to a two nil defeat by Rosenborg of Norway in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Europa League in  Turner’s Cross this Thursday evening and now face a mammoth task in the second leg next week in Trondheim. In the first leg of the same competition, Burnley, with Jon Walters and Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven, secured a scoreless draw against Basakschir of Turkey in Istanbul and will play the second leg next Thursday at Turf Moor. Kevin Long and Stephen Ward were unused substitutes this evening.  

Match Series Two in the new Championship season commenced on Tuesday evening with Middlesbrough (Darren Randolph) scoring three early goals to defeat Sheffield United (John Egan, Enda Stevens), while Nottingham Forest (Daryl Murphy – unused substitute) were held to a one all draw by West Bromwich Albion at the City Ground. 

Our representatives, Wexford WFC, commenced their Group One Women’s Champions League campaign in Belfast when they went down to a four one defeat by  Dutch champions AFC Ajax in Seaview, the home of Crusaders FC, this Tuesday afternoon. The second Group contest, between Thor/KA of Iceland and mini-tournament hosts Linfield Ladies, took place at the same venue this evening with Thor/KA two nil victors.