The £15 million pound weekend signing of Middlesbrough centre back Ben Gibson by Burnley would seem to spell bad news for Ireland defender Kevin Long. The long serving Cork man finally made the breakthrough last season providing a significant contribution to the ‘Clarets’ seventh place Premier League finish and breaking into the Ireland starting eleven where he has performed admirably alongside Shane Duffy. With the much heralded duo of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee still in situ at the club, playing opportunities in the upcoming season may well be limited for Long.
News
Monday evening in the Championship…06/08/2018
Match Series One of the new Championship season was completed on Monday evening with visitors Aston Villa coming from behind to defeat their hosts Hull City by three goals to one at the KCOM Stadium. The visitors included Glenn Whelan, who had an excellent game, and Conor Hourihane in their starting eleven but striker Scott Hogan missed out with a groin injury.
EA Sports Cup on Monday afternoon…06/08/2018
The semi-finals of the 2018 EA Sports Cup took place this Bank Holiday Monday afternoon with First Division Cobh Ramblers creating a huge shock with their one nil victory over Dundalk in St Colman’s Park while Sligo Rovers went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Derry City in the Showgrounds.
Nominated Charities for year ending 30 June 2019
The Club, at our AGM, confirmed Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as our joint nominated charities for the club year ending on 30 June 2019. The Club will seek to raise funds through our meeting raffles, voluntary donations and of course our Annual Charity Quiz Event which is scheduled for Friday the 25th January 2019.
Sunday afternoon in the Championship…05/08/2018
Beloved of Irish rugby icon Tony Ward, Leeds United commenced their new Championship season with an accomplished three one victory over Stoke City at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon. The visitors included summer signing James McClean in their side and while the Derry man expounded the maximum of commitment and energy, his technical shortcomings limited his impact, save for the run and cross which helped create the penalty situation from which the ‘Potters’ scored their goal.
Championship season continued on Saturday afternoon…04/08/2018
The 2018/19 Championship season continued on Saturday afternoon with Bristol City (Callum O’Dowda) playing out a one all draw with Nottingham Forest for whom international retiree Daryl Murphy scored at Ashton Gate.
Newly promoted Blackburn Rovers (Daragh Lenihan, Derrick Williams) secured a two all draw at Ipswich Town while The Den hosted the two all draw between Millwall (Aiden O’Brien, Shaun Williams) and Middlesbrough (Darren Randolph) with O’Brien opening the scoring on twelve minutes.
Preston North End quartet midfielder Alan Browne scored the only goal on fifty minutes against visitors QPR for whom Ryan Manning was a second half substitute. Callum Robinson started with Daryl Horgan a seventieth minute substitute for the ‘Lilywhites’ and Graham Burke unused on the bench.
The late kick-off featured Sheffield United (Enda Stevens, John Egan) who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Swansea City.
Airtricity League action on Friday evening…03/08/2018
There were four Airtricity League Premier Division contests played on Friday evening with the Munster clash of third place Waterford and second place Cork City at the Regional Sports Centre catching the eye as the visitors returned to the summit of the table with a two one success.
Unpredictable Derry City went down to a two one defeat by Sligo Rovers at the Brandywell in a prelude to their EA Sports Cup semi-final meeting in the Showgrounds on Monday afternoon. Bohemian trounced Limerick by five goals to nil in Dalymount Park while Richmond Park was the setting for St Patrick’s Athletic’s three nil deferat of visitors Bray Wanderers.