Match Series Eight in the Airtricity League Premier Division saw just three contests this Friday evening with the RSC meeting of Waterford and Shamrock Rovers topping the bill on RTE 2. The hosts secured a two one victory in a vibrant encounter which saw the visitors reduced to ten men with the tenth minute dismissal of Ally Gilchrist for two bookable offences in a matter of minutes. Bottom sides, Bohemian and Bray Wanderers met in Dalymount Park with the hosts scoring a two one success while St Patrick’s Athletic scored the only goal to defeat Limerick in Richmond Park.
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Ireland lose tepid affair in Antalya
Nineteen year old debutant Declan Rice was Ireland’s ‘man of the match’ as they went down to a one nil defeat by hosts Turkey in Antalya this evening. Manager Martin O’Neill experimented with a three five two formation, the merits of which remain in question. Rice, starting in the back three, before switching to midfield for the final quarter of the match, was calmness personified throughout and in essence the only real positive to emerge from proceedings. Fellow debutant Scott Hogan did have an early half chance for glory but was unable to convert while Matt Doherty became the third debutant when he replaced skipper Seamus Coleman on sixty two minutes. The winning goal came courtesy of home skipper Mehmet Topal on fifty three minutes, following a poorly defended corner kick. Rice and unused goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara will link up with our U21 squad for their European qualifier against Azerbaijan when they return to Dublin tomorrow morning.
Ireland complete preparations for Turkey clash
Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is expected to hand first caps to a number of players in the friendly international against Turkey in Antalya this Friday afternoon. The match is set to kick-off at 8.30pm local time, 5.30pm Irish time with RTE 2 bringing live coverage from 5pm.
Debut starts for Rice and Hogan
Declan Rice and Scott Hogan make their Republic of Ireland international debuts against Turkey in Antalya at 5.30pm this afternoon. They will be joined in the starting eleven by Alan Browne and Seamus Maguire, both of whom have made just one substitute appearance. Starting eleven:- C Doyle; D Rice, S Duffy, K Long; S Coleman (c), J Hendrick, C Hourihane, A Browne, J McClean; S Maguire, S Hogan.
Airtricity League action on Friday evening
Match Series Eight in the Airtricity League Premier Division sees just three contests scheduled for this Friday evening with the Regional Sports Centre meeting of Waterford and Shamrock Rovers set for live coverage on RTE 2 from 7.30pm. Bottom sides, Bohemian and Bray Wanderers clash in Dalymount Park while St Patrick’s Athletic face Limerick in Richmond Park.
U21s defeat Iceland in friendly international
Rep. Ireland U21 side, under the guidance of Noel King, defeated Iceland by three goals to one in a friendly international played at Tallaght Stadium this Thursday evening. The contest, preparation for their 2019 European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan next Tuesday evening at the Tallaght Stadium saw Derry City debutant Rory Hale open the scoring after just fourteen seconds with QPR midfielder Ryan Manning adding the second, four minutes before the half-time break. Iceland pulled one back on sixty three minutes before late substitute Ronan Hale, brother of Rory and another debutant, scored the third in the final minute.
Republic of Ireland: Liam Bossin (GK), Liam Kinsella, Danny Kane (Jake Doyle Hayes 85), Ryan Sweeney (Ryan Delaney 46) Corey Whelan (James Dunne 72), Josh Cullen, Connor Dimaio, Joe Quigley (Ronan Hale 68), Ryan Manning, Ronan Curtis, Rory Hale (Olamide Shodipo 46).
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK).
Ireland U17: Second-half goals help beat Macedonia
Head Coach Colin O’Brien saw his Ireland U17 side commenced their UEFA Elite Stage campaign on Wednesday afternoon when they defeated FYR Macedonia by three goals to nil in their opening Group Three encounter at the Stadion Chrobrego, Glogow in Poland, while at the same time, the hosts played out a two all draw with Georgia. Ireland took the lead on fifty seven minutes through a penalty converted by Adam Idah and consolidated their position with further strikes on sixty two and sixty nine minutes from Sean Brennan and Tyriek Wright. Ireland next face Georgia at 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon at the same venue in Glogow.
Republic of Ireland: Kian Clarke; Max Murphy, Nathan Collins (capt), Kameron Ledwidge, Luca Connell; Callum Thompson (Troy Parrott 52 (Jordan McEneff 74)), Barry Coffey (Adam O’Reilly 70), Jason Knight, Tyreik Wright; Adam Idah, Sean Brennan
Macedonia: Matej Andov; Bozhidar Mitrevski, Vane Tasevski, Suad Jonuzi (Kristijan Trpchevski 73), Georgije Jankulov; Dimitar Todorovski (Arbi Vosha 60), Emil Skoko; Kire Trpchevski (capt), Jeton Dauti, Ersan Hajdari; Suhejlj Muharem (Kushtrim Tairi 41)
Referee: Boris Marhefka (SVK)
Ireland U19: Connolly penalty earns Slovakia draw
Ireland U19 side, guided by Head Coach Tom Mohan, commenced their UEFA Elite Stage challenge with a disappointing one all draw against Slovakia in Complexo Desportivo, Fao on Wednesday afternoon. Mini-Tournament hosts Portugal crushed Kosova by five goals to nil two hours later in the second Group Five contest. In a fractious encounter, which saw seven Irish players cautioned, we went behind on sixty minutes but earned a point with a seventy sixth minute equaliser through an Adan Connolly penalty.
Slovakia: Frederik Valach; Vladimír Majdan, Dominik Špiriak (capt), Denis Petro, Samuel Kozlovský; Martin Bednár, Jozef Špyrka (Branislav Sluka 43); Michal Tomič, Adam Brenkus (Adam Kopas 90+1), Matej Grešák (Marián Chobot 86); Róbert Boženík.
Republic of Ireland: Mark Travers; Daniel McKenna, Canice Carroll, Dara O’Shea (capt), Tyreke Wilson; Conor Coventry (Rowan Roache 67), Thomas O’Connor, Kian Flanagan; Lee O’Connor, Jonathan Afolabi, Aaron Connolly
Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)