Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolihan has announced his anticipated retirement from international football. The Dubliner earned forty three caps and scored three goals for Ireland. With his club in a parlous state, one wonders if international retirement may also be on the mind of John O’Shea.
FAI announce June friendly against the USA…
The FAI announced that the USA will visit the Aviva Stadium for a friendly international on Saturday the 2nd June 2018.
Struggling League One side Rochdale scored the only goal to eliminate Millwall from the FA Cup in Tuesday evening’s fourth round replay at the Crown Oil Arena. Prominent in central defence for the victors was Ireland U21 defender and transfer window signing Ryan Delaney who spent last season on loan at double winning Cork City.
The FAI today confirmed that Northern Ireland will visit the Aviva Stadium for a friendly international on Thursday the 15th November 2018. Ireland will also travel to face Poland in another friendly contest on Tuesday the 11th September 2018. A further home friendly is set for June 2018 with the opposition to be confirmed later this week.
From fai.ie news page:
On November 15, Martin O’Neill’s side will welcome Northern Ireland to Dublin for a friendly game that will be the 11th meeting between the two teams and the first since 2011.
As part of the current Season Ticket package, the Northern Ireland game will follow a home friendly in June – the opposition of which will be confirmed later this week.
Ireland will also take on Poland in an away friendly, which is scheduled for September 11 with the venue and kick-off time to be unveiled in due course.
The 28th meeting between Ireland and Poland will take place just five days after O’Neill’s team will have kicked off their UEFA Nations League campaign away to Wales on September 6.
Details of the new FAI Season Ticket campaign, which will include the UEFA Nations League double-header involving Denmark and Wales in October 2018, will be announced in due course.
The spectre of Premier League relegation hangs over a whole plethora of clubs and two of them, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, met at Selhurst Park this Sunday afternoon, where they played out a one all draw. The visiting ‘Magpies’ had Ciaran Clark in their starting eleven and it was he who stupidly conceded the penalty with which the hosts scored their equalising goal. Meanwhile doubts surround the future of fit again goalkeeper Rob Elliot following the transfer window loan acquisition of giant Slovakia netminder Martin Dubravka by Newcastle United.
An evening with Liam Brady Burnley duo Jeff Hendrick and Kevin Long were in Premier League action early on Saturday afternoon when runaway leaders Manchester City were held to a one all draw at Turf Moor. Harry Arter has been confined to the AFC Bournemouth bench in recent matches remained there for the two one defeat of visitors Stoke City. Shane Duffy and Brighton & Hove Albion were three one victors over West Ham United at the Amex Stadium where Declan Rice started with our U21 captain Josh Cullen an unused substitute for the visitors. James McClean was a late substitute for West Bromwich Albion who went down to a three two home defeat by Southampton for whom Shane Long was also a late substitute.
In form Aston Villa had Conor Hourihane and Scott Hogan, who opened the scoring in their starting eleven for the three two Championship victory over visitors Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon. Second place Derby County had skipper Richard Keogh in defence for their three nil defeat of visitors Brentford for whom Alan Judge was a late substitute while Norwich City scored the only goal to defeat Middlesbrough (Darren Randolph) at Carrow Road. Preston North End came from behind, with Greg Cunningham scoring the equaliser and Alan Browne converting a penalty in their two one victory over visitors Hull City for whom David Meyler started with Will Keane a late substitute at Deepdale. Sunderland (John O’Shea and late substitute, Aiden McGeady) went down to a two nil defeat by visitors Ipswich Town (Stephen Gleeson) at the Stadium of Light. The late kick-off saw clear leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers (Matt Doherty) overcome Sheffield United (Enda Stevens) by three goals to nil at Molineaux.
