News

Sunday afternoon football action…11/03/2018

Harry Arter, recently out of favour at his club AFC Bournemouth for tactical reasons according to manager Eddie Howe, was recalled to the bench for the four one defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon. The City Ground hosted a scoreless draw in the Championship meeting of East Midland rivals Nottingham Forest and Derby County, which saw retired international striker Daryl Murphy offered just a few substitute minutes in direct opposition to visiting captain Richard Keogh who was not selected in the preliminary international squad announced by Martin O’Neill on Thursday. Somewhat surprisingly his club colleague Alex Pearce, who has only played three senior club matches all season, was named in that initial squad.

Premier League on Saturday afternoon…10/03/2018

Ireland defenders Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy were in opposition when their clubs, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion, met at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, where the hosts prevailed by two goals to nil. Another Ireland duo, Ciaran Clark and Rob Elliot have seen little recent action for their club Newcastle United and that continued this afternoon as their club defeated Southampton by three goals to nil at St James Park, where Shane Long was a second half substitute for the visitors. Declan Rice and Josh Cullen were unused substitutes for West Ham United who went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Burnley who included Jeff Hendrick and Stephen Ward in their starting eleven at the London Stadium while Kevin Kong was an unused substitute.

The Championship on Saturday afternoon…10/03/2018

Much interest focussed on the late Saturday afternoon Championship kick-off between Midland rivals Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers, which saw the hosts emerge victorious by four goals to one. Conor Hourihane started for Villa with Scott Hogan introduced for the final nine minutes while Glenn Whelan missed out through injury. Matt Doherty was in his regular wing back position for Wolves. Greg Cunningham, Alan Browne and Sean Maguire started for Preston North End while Daryl Horgan was an unused substitute in their two one defeat by high flying visitors Fulham for whom Cyrus Christie was a sixty seventh minute substitute. Maguire was again on the scoresheet with the Preston goal. Enda Stevens was in action for Sheffield United who played out a scoreless draw at Ipswich Town. The two all draw at the Madejski Stadium between Reading and Leeds United saw midfielders Liam Kelly and Eunan O’Kane in direct opposition.

Airtricity League resumed on Friday evening

Following last weekend’s weather enforced break, the Airtricity League Premier Division resumed this Friday evening with the Oriel Park meeting of Dundalk and Cork City topping the bill. The match was shown live on EIR Sport and in a fraught affair, the hosts prevailed by one goal to nil to close the gap to just one point behind the leaders. Bohemian went down to a one nil defeat to Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic in Dalymount Park while further south, Tallaght Stadium saw Shamrock Rovers crush Derry City by six goals to one with Graham Burke scoring a quartet. The Markets Field witnessed Limerick score the only goal to defeat visitors Bray Wanderers while Sligo Rovers, playing their fourth straight home match, suffered a two one defeat by second place Waterford in the Showgrounds.

O’Neill announces thirty man squad for Turkey

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has announced his provisional thirty man squad for the friendly international against Turkey in Antalya on Friday the 23rd March 2018. There are five players, Kieran O’Hara, Declan Rice, Enda Stevens, Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams named for the first time while the uncapped trio of Matt Doherty, Scott Hogan and Liam Kelly are also included. Injury ruled out Robbie Brady, James McCarthy, David McGoldrick, Aiden O’Brien, Callum O’Dowda and Jon Walters. Injury doubts also surround Keiren Westwood who has been named in the squad. Senior players Darren Randolph, Richard Keogh, John O’Shea, Stephen Ward, Aiden McGeady and Glenn Whelan have not been named in the squad.

U15s defeat Cyprus in second double header contest

Head Coach Jason Donohue gave match time to those squad members who missed out on Tuesday evening, when our U15 international side took on Cyprus in the AUL Complex early this Thursday afternoon. Goals in the final four minutes from Louie Barry and Calum Kavanagh, son of former senior international Graham Kavanagh, secured another merited victory.

Republic of Ireland: Patrick McGarvey; Gavin O’Brien (capt), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, CJ Egan-Riley, Ronan Kilkenny; Ben McCormack, Evan Caffrey, Bosun Lawal, Val Adedokun; Calum Kavanagh, Louie Barry.

Subs Used: Oran Crowe, Sami Clarke, Kailin Barlow.

More Championship action on Wednesday evening

The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with the Elland Road meeting of Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The visitors ran out comfortable three nil victors to restore their six point lead at the summit of the league table. Matt Doherty was in his season long wing back position for the victors while Eunan O’Kane was an unused substitiute for the hosts.