Match Series Ten in the Airtricity League Premier Division took place this Friday evening with pre-match leaders Cork City going down to a two one defeat at Waterford in an encounter which saw two players from each side dismissed in added time at the RSC. Dundalk moved into top spot with a two one victory over fourth place Shamrock Rovers in front of the RTE 2 cameras in Oriel Park. Bohemian and Limerick played out a scoreless draw in Dalymount Park while St Patrick’s Athletic crushed Bray Wanderers by five goals to nil in Richmond Park.
News
U17 European Championship Finals
The draw for the 2018 European Championship Finals took place this afternoon and sees Ireland drawn in Group C alongside Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark and Belgium. We commence our challenge against Belgium at 5.45pm on Saturday the 5th May at Loughborough University. Our second contest against Denmark is set for 7pm on Tuesday the 8th May at Burton Albion FC and the third Group C encounter with Bosnia & Herzegovina is scheduled for 1pm on Friday the 11th May at St George’s Park, the England National Training Centre. The top two sides in each of the four Groups progress to the knockout Quarter-Final Stage.
U15s defeat the Czech Republic in second contest
Following their two all draw on Tuesday evening, the U15 side is set to again meet the Czech Republic at 1pm on Thursday afternoon at Shanowen Road, the home of St Kevin’s FC.
More Championship action on Tuesday evening
The Championship marathon is entering the final stages with the two automatic promotion places beginning to look the property of Wolves and Cardiff City who are fourteen and eight points clear of the chasing pack. Wolves, without the suspended Matt Doherty, were surprisingly held to a two all draw at home to Hull City this evening with David Meyler starting, earning and scoring a penalty for the ‘Tigers’. Play-off hopefuls Aston Villa, with Conor Hourihane and Scott Hogan both starting and scoring and late substitute Glenn Whelan lending his presence, gained a three nil victory over visitors Reading while third place Fulham continued their excellent form with a two nil victory over visitors Leeds United who lost Eunan O’Kane to injury after just twenty three minutes.
U15s take on the Czech Republic at the NTC
Head Coach Jason Donohue saw Rep. of Ireland U15 fledglings secure a two all draw with the Czech Republic in a friendly contest at the National Training Centre in Abbotstown early this Tuesday evening. The Irish goals came courtesy of Sami Clarke and Oran Crowe. The two sides are set to meet again at 1pm on Thursday afternoon at Shanowen Road, the home of St Kevin’s FC.
Championship action on Easter Monday
The hectic Championship programme continued early on Easter Monday afternoon when Preston North End with skipper Greg Cunningham, Alan Browne and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven, went down to a disappointing one nil home defeat by Derby County for whom Alex Pearce replaced Richard Keogh in their starting eleven. Bristol City, without injury victim Callum O’Dowda, went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Brentford who had John Egan and Alan Judge in their starting eleven while Queens Park Rangers recovered from conceding a Ryan Manning own goal to defeat Norwich City and Wes Hoolihan by four goals to one at Loftus Road with Manning scoring the fourth. Sheffield United and Enda Stevens suffered heartbreak when visitors Cardiff City scored an added time equaliser through late substitute Anthony Pilkington at Bramall Lane this evening.
U19 Women commence Elite Stage challenge in Cork
Our U19 Women, guided by Head Coach Dave Connell, commenced their Elite Stage challenge in the 2018 European Championship when they came from behind to earn a one all draw with Austria in Turner’s Cross on Easter Monday afternoon. The equaliser was scored three minutes into the second half by Cork City WFC striker Saorise Noonan. The second Group 4 contest saw Spain crush Turkey by five goals to nil in the Mardyke.