Waterlogged pitches have put paid to four of the scheduled EA Sports Cup second round contests with just three survivors set for completion on this Easter Monday afternoon. Finn Harps went down to a two one defeat by Derry City in Finn Park while Eamonn Deacy Park was the venue for the clash of Galway United and Sligo Rovers which the visitors won with the only goal. Bohemian and UCD finished level after extra-time in Dalymount Park where the hosts recovered from a two goal deficit to level matters in ninety minutes and then progressed with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out success.
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Saturday afternoon action in the Premier League
Shane Duffy and his Brighton & Hove Albion colleagues went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Leicester City in the Premier League this Saturday afternoon. St James Park witnessed a one nil victory for Newcastle United over Huddersfield Town with Ciaran Clark an unused substitute. James McClean was also an unused substitute as his West Bromwich Albion succumbed to a two one defeat by visitors Burnley who included Stephen Ward in their starting eleven with Jeff Hendrick a sixty ninth minute substitute while Kevin Long was unused on the bench. Declan Rice started and Josh Cullen was a late substitute for West Ham United who defeated visitors Southampton and second half substitute Shane Long by three goals to nil. Seamus Coleman was in the Everton side which went down to a three one defeat to Manchester City in the late kick-off at Goodison Park.
More Championship action on Saturday afternoon
The Championship continued late on Saturday afternoon with a scoreless draw between Hull City for whom David Meyler was an unused substitute and visitors Aston Villa for whom Scott Hogan made a very late substitute entry while Conor Hourihane remained on their bench.
Airtricity League action on Good Friday
Match Series Nine in the Airtricity League Premier Division took place this Friday evening with current leaders Cork City defeating basement side Bray Wanderers by four goals to nil in the Carlisle Grounds. Second place Dundalk overcame Bohemian by three goals to nil in Oriel Park while third place Waterford journied west and secured a two nil success in Limerick. Fourth place Shamrock Rovers defeated Sligo Rovers with the only goal in Tallaght while the RTE 2 cameras brought live action from the Brandywell where Derry City defeated St Patrick’s Athletic by two goals to one.
The Championship on Good Friday
Brentford duo, John Egan and late substitute Alan Judge, who saw some action in Antalya last Friday, played out a one all draw with visitors Sheffield United who included Enda Stevens, unused in Antalya, in their side at Griffin Park in the Championship this Good Friday afternoon. The Preston North End duo of Alan Browne and Sean Maguire saw action in Antalya and they journied to Sheffield Wednesday where thay went down to a four one defeat. Darren Randolph did not journey to Turkey but was in action for Middlesbrough who went down by two goals to one against visiting leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom international debutant Matt Doherty was dismissed on seventy one minutes. Promotion hopefuls Derby County skippered by Richard Keogh suffered a shock four one home defeat by relegation threatened Sunderland for whom skipper John O’Shea and Aiden McGeady found the net while Marc Wilson was a late substitute.
Ireland squad members in League One action
Blackburn Rovers duo Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams, fresh from their first time involvement with the Ireland senior team in Turkey last week, were in League One action on Thursday evening when Bradford City and Colin Doyle, who played in the Turkey friendly, visited Ewood Park. The hosts secured a two nil victory, but at a cost with a back injury curtailing Lenihan’s involvement after just thirty minutes.
Centenary Shield – scorless draw
Having accrued four points from their two opening Centenary Shield away contests in England and Wales, our U18 Schools International side were held to a scoreless draw on home soil by their their Northern Irish counterparts at Monaghan United FC on Thursday afternoon.