News

Sunday
Senior Ireland players Matt Doherty and Shane Long were unused substitutes for their respective clubs in this afternoon’s Premier League contests . The Dubliner saw his club Tottenham Hotspur score the only goal, an early penalty, for victory at his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Tipperary man witnessed his Southampton play out a valiant one all draw with St Mary’s Stadium visitors Manchester United.

Midfielder Jake Doyle-Hayes and his Hibernian colleagues played out a two all draw at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership while Heart of Midlothian and Aberdeen played out a one all draw with Aaron McEneff, for the hosts, a 78th minute substitute while Jonny Hayes started at left back for the visiting ‘Dons’ but was withdrawn at half-time.

Zak Elbouzedi completed another 90 minutes for AIK Solna in their two goals to one  Swedish Allsvenskan victory over visitors BK Hacken. AIK currently  sit third on the league table as the season passes the halfway point. 

Saturday
Liverpool defeated Burnley by two goals to nil in the Premier League early this afternoon with  goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher for the hosts and defender Nathan Collins with the visitors  on the substitute bench for their respective clubs. Aston Villa defeated visitors Newcastle United by two goals to nil with Conor Hourihane unused on the substitute bench for the ‘Clarets’ while Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick were also unused on the visitors bench. Seamus Coleman and his Everton colleagues played out a two all draw with a Leeds United side smarting from their opening day defeat.  Adam Idah was joined  by Andrew Omobamidele on the Norwich City substitute bench at Manchester City, another side who suffered an opening day reversal. Both youngsters were unused  as their side crashed  to a five nil defeat. . Aaron Connolly was a half-time substitute with Shane Duffy starting and scoring after 10 minutes for Brighton & Hove Albion who defeated visitors Watford by two goals to nil in the late kick-off with Stephen Kenny in attendance.

Glasgow Celtic crushed St Mirren by six goals to nil in the Scottish Premiership with recent signing James McCarthy not in the matchday squad for the hosts while Jamie McGrath started for the visitors alongside Conor McCarthy, Joe Shaughnessy and Alan Power who was red carded after 19 minutes.

In the Championship, defender Darragh Lenihan was in action with Blackburn Rovers who went down to a two one defeat by West Bromwich Albion who included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their side at Ewood Park. Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny started for AFC Bournemouth who squandered a two goal half time lead and were held to a draw by visitors  Blackpool and the veteran Richard Keogh who was on the substitute bench. Cardiff City introduced James Collins for the final few minutes of their three one victory over visitors Millwall.  Louie Watson was a 71st minute substitute for Derby County who played out a scoreless draw with visitors  Middlesbrough. Striker Scott Hogan started  and scored  twice for Birmingham City in their five nil victory at Luton Town. Sean Maguire started for Preston North End with Greg Cunningham on the substitute bench for their one nil success against visitors Peterborough United. The visiting ‘Posh’ included goalkeeper Christy Pym in their starting eleven while midfielder Sam Szmodics was introduced from the substitute bench, following his injury absence, after 66 minutes. John Egan started for Sheffield United who went down to a two one defeat by Huddersfield Town at Bramall Lane.

Rotherham United included Chiedoze Ogbene and Joshua Kayode in their starting eleven for the League One visit of  Sheffield Wednesday. Ogbene was forced off through injury after 25 minutes and was replaced by Kieran Sadlier as their side went down to a two nil defeat. Mark Sykes started, together with Luke McNally, for Oxford United who went down to a two one defeat at Bolton Wanderers.  Ronan Curtis and loanee Gavin Bazunu started for Portsmouth who plated out a scoreless draw at Doncaster Rovers. Loanee Troy Parrott and defender Warren O’Hora started for MK Dons who played out a two all draw at  Ipswich Town with Parrott withdrawn on 70 minutes. Dennis Cirken was a 72nd minute substitute for Sunderland while Aiden McGeady started their one nil victory over visitors AFC Wimbledon. Daryl Horgan started for Wycombe Wanderers who defeated  visitors Lincoln City and Anthony Scully by one goal to nil. James McClean was named on the substitute bench on his return to Wigan Athletic  where he entered  the fray on 62 minutes and capped his second debut with the second goal in added time as his side ran out two nil victors over their hosts Charlton Athletic.   

 

 

The Airtricity League Premier Division continued on Friday evening with second place St Patrick’s Athletic suffering a surprise three one defeat at Finn Harps. County Louth rivals Dundalk and Drogheda United met in Oriel Park where the visitors prevailed by two goals to one. The bottom two, Waterford and Longford Town,  faced each other in the RSC where the hosts scored  a comfortable four one success.

Out of form Sligo Rovers went down to their seventh successive defeat when visitors  Derry City prevailed by two goals to one in the Showgrounds on Saturday evening.   

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        23 15  5  3  39 18   21   50
St Patrick’s Athletic  25 14  5  6  43 28   15   47
Sligo Rovers           23 11  5  7  28 18   10   38
Derry City             25 10  7  8  31 29    2   37
Bohemian               22 10  4  8  35 24   11   34
Drogheda United        25  9  6 10  37 32    5   33
Finn Harps             24  8  5 11  24 32   -8   29
Waterford              25  9  1 15  22 42  -20   28
Dundalk                23  7  6 10  27 34   -7   27
Longford Town          25  1  8 16  16 45  -29   11

The Airtricity League First Division continued on Friday evening with current leaders Shelbourne playing out a one all draw with third place Bray Wanderers in Tolka Park  Second place Galway United went down to a one nil defeat by hosts Athlone Town who were under the guidance of new manager Paul Doolin. Treaty United played out a one all draw with bottom side Wexford in the Markets Field while Cabinteely and Cork City played out a two all draw at Stradbrook.

The Saturday evening meeting of Cobh Ramblers and UCD went the way of the visitors by two goals to nil  in St Colman’s Park this Saturday evening.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shelbourne             20 12  7  1  38 19   19   43
Galway United          20 10  5  5  30 20   10   35
Bray Wanderers         20  8  9  3  28 18   10   33
UCD                    20  9  6  5  40 25   15   33
Treaty United          20  9  6  5  29 23    6   33
Athlone Town           20  7  4  8  25 31   -6   25
Cork City              20  5  7  8  27 24    3   22
Cabinteely             20  7  1 12  20 32  -12   22
Cobh Ramblers          20  5  4 11  17 35  -18   19
Wexford                20  2  3 15  17 42  -25    9 

 

 

Our U18 side played out a two all draw with hosts Hungary in their second contest played in Budapest this morning. Poor defending cost Ireland a goal after just two minutes but a splendid goal from Southampton striker Luke Pearce levelled matters ten minutes later. The joy was short lived however as the hosts again capitalised on careless defending to regain the lead just minutes later. The remainder of the first half and the early stages of the second half provided little of note with both sides cancelling each other out. Ireland upped the tempo in the closing stages and were awarded a penalty on 83 minutes which Derby County midfielder Cian Kelly-Caprani converted. While the match lacked real intensity there were some admirable performances with midfield captain Ed McJannet of Luton Town catching the eye as did centre back Tommy Fogarty of Birmingham City and goal scorer Pearce up front.

Team: Owen Mason (Mansfield Town); David Toure (Shelbourne), Tommy Fogarty (Birmingham City), Darragh Reilly (Sligo Rovers), Alex Murphy (Galway United); Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers),  Ed McJannet (Luton Town), Cian Kelly-Caprani (Derby County); Jad Hakiki-Filloche (Shelbourne), Billy Brooks (Lincoln City), Luke Pearce (Southampton),
Substitutes:
Cian Coleman (Leeds United) for Ferizaj 59′
Dara McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers) for Hakiki 59′
Rio McEvoy (Bolton Wanderers) for Brooks  69′

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Newly appointed Republic of Ireland U18 Head Coach Colin O’Brien, who also retains his U17 role, led  a 20 player squad to Hungary for two friendly fixtures this week. The first match took place at 5pm on Tuesday afternoon at the BVSC Stadion in Budapest where Ireland secured  a two nil victory. Derby County midfielder Cian Kelly-Caprani opened the scoring on 44 minutes and striker Dara McGuinness of Shamrock Rovers added  the second in the 50th minute. 

Team: Josh Clarke (AFC Bournemouth); Edwin Agbaje (Ipswich Town), Sean Grehan (Bohemian), Cathal Heffernan (Cork City), Alex Murphy (Galway United); Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Cork City), Ed McJannett[C] (Luton Town), Cian Coleman (Leeds United); Dara McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers), Rio McEvoy (Bolton Wanderers), Cian Kelly-Caprani (Derby County)
Substitutes:
Billy Brooks (Lincoln City) for Whitmarsh 61′
Luke Pearce (Southampton) for McEvoy  61′
Tommy Fogarty (Birmingham City) for Grehan 73′

 

Friday
There was Championship action on Friday evening with Bristol City playing host to Swansea City in Ashton Gate. The visiting ‘Swans’ secured  the points with a one nil victory. Ireland manager Stephen Kenny was in attendance with Ryan Manning his watching brief. The surprise positioning of the Galway man in central defence was unlikely to have been of assistance to Kenny whose Ireland are well served in that area but the injury absence of Enda Stevens leaves a gap on the left side of defence.

Striker Ethon Varian, who turned 19 last week, started  the Scottish Championship fixture for Raith Rovers against visitors Dunfermline but the match was short lived with abandonment after just 14 minutes because of floodlight failure. Varian is on loan from Stoke City until January 2022.

Thursday
A  dismal defensive display by Shamrock Rovers in Estonia against Flora Tallinn  in the qualifying round first leg of the Europa Conference League may have cost them dearly as they crashed to a four two defeat. The ‘Hoops’ conceded twice in the first half but reduced the arrears before the break through Graham Burke and matters looked promising. However the careless concession of a third goal set them back. Hopes rose again in the closing stages with a fine goal from Liam Scales to reduce the arrears but within two minutes they once again conceded and now face an uphill, but not impossible, challenge in the second leg set for Tallaght Stadium next Thursday.

Aberdeen started without Jonny Hayes, who suffered injury at the weekend, for their Europa Conference League first leg contest in Azerbaijan against FK Qarabag but injury to his replacement forced the Dubliner into action after just 14 minutes as his side suffered  a one nil defeat. The ‘Dons’ will seek to overturn the scoreline when the sides meet at Pittodrie next week.

Matt Doherty started for a Tottenham Hotspur side showing eleven changes to the starting eleven from last weekend’s opening Premier League victory over Manchester City in tonight’s Europa Conference League first leg play-off defeat in Portugal by one goal to nil against Pacos de Ferreira.

Wednesday
Following his 15 minute cameo on Sunday,  James McCarthy was again introduced  for the final 15 minutes with Glasgow Celtic who defeated Dutch side AK Alkmaar by two goals to nil at Parkhead in the first leg of the Europa League qualifying play-off. 

There was more Championship action completed this evening with Birmingham City, for whom Scott Hogan was a 79th minute substitute,  going down to a two nil defeat by visitors AFC Bournemouth who included Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny in their starting eleven. Troubled Derby County named Louie Watson in their substitute bench for the visit to Hull City where they secured  a one nil victory. Darragh Lenihan was also be on the road as his Blackburn Rovers journied to Nottingham Forest and secured  a two one victory with Lenihan scoring the winning goal on 86 minutes. There was an 8pm kick-off at the Hawthorns where Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson were in action with West Bromwich Albion who crushed visitors Sheffield United by four goals to nil with both O’Shea and Robinson on the scoresheet.

Tuesday
The Championship season continued this evening with Huddersfield Town defeating visitors Preston North End by one goal to nil. The ‘Lilywhites’ included Alan Browne in their starting eleven with  Sean Maguire a late substitute while Greg Cunningham was unused on the substitute bench. Millwall relegated Danny McNamara to their substitute bench for the New Den visit of Fulham which the ‘Cottagers’ won by two goals to one with McNamara introduced for the final ten minutes.  Peterborough United goalkeeper Christy Pym started against visitors Cardiff City, managed by Mick McCarthy, who included James Collins in their starting eleven. The hosts took a two goal lead but were pegged back with the ‘Blues’ scoring two late goals to earn a draw.  Ryan Manning was in action with Swansea City who went down to a three one defeat by visitors Stoke City who have confirmed that out of favour James McClean is available for transfer and is believed  to be on his way to former club Wigan Athletic. 

In League One, Sunderland included new signing Dennis Cirkin together with Aiden MaGeady in their starting eleven with Aiden O’Brien on their substitute bench for their one nil defeat at Burton Albion for whom goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara has not been involved this season to date.  Striker Anthony Scully started for Lincoln City who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Bolton Wanderers at Sincil Bank.  Loanee Troy Parrott together with defender Warren O’Hora were in action with MK Dons who defeated visitors Charlton Athletic by two goals to one. Parrott was again on the scoresheet netting after 18 minutes. Chiedoze Ogbene and Joshua Kayode started with Kieran Sadlier 78th minute substitute for Rotherham United who secured  a one nil victory at Morecambe. Mark Sykes was relegated to the substitute bench but Luke McNally started for Oxford United who defeated visitors Crewe Alexandra by one goal to nil . Loanee Gavin Bazunu together with Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness  and veteran Shaun Williams all retained their starting positions for Portsmouth who overcame visitors Shrewsbury Town with the only goal at Fratton Park. Daryl Horgan was a sixtieth minute substitute for Wycombe Wanderers who who played out a one all draw at Wigan Athletic where James McClean is believed  to have been in attendance. 

Monday
Summer signing Zak Elbouzedi was in action with his new Swedish Allsvenskan club AIK Solna who scored in the final minute to secure a one nil victory at IK Sirius this evening.

The 2021/22 Premier League season kicked-off this weekend with Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and his scouting network on active duty.

Sunday
The Premier League continued on Sunday afternoon with Newcastle United going down to a four two defeat by visitors West Ham United. Ciaran Clark started for the ‘Magpies’ with Jeff Hendrick unused on the substitute bench while Conor Coventry was also unused on the visitors substitute bench. Darren Randolph was not included in the matchday squad. Tottenham Hotspur scored  the only goal to defeat  defending champions Manchester City in their London Stadium. Matt Doherty was introduced  from the substitute bench for the final twelve minutes of the contest.

Recent signing James McCarthy made his Glasgow Celtic debut after 75 minutes of their three two Scottish League Cup victory over visitors Heart of Midlothian for whom Aaron McEneff  was a 68th minute substitute and scored their second goal in added time. Hibernian and Jake Doyle-Hayes defeated Kilmarnock by two goals to nil at Easter Road in the same competition. Jonny Hayes started for Aberdeen against Championship side Raith Rovers who included 19 year old striker Ethon Varian in their starting eleven The young Cork man, on loan from Stoke City, scored an equaliser early in the second half  and his side added  a second to defeat their Premiership visitors and progress to the quarter-finals. Hayes, who was excellent at left back for the ‘Dons’, suffered an injury in added time and was wheeled  away in some discomfort.

Josh Cullen was in midfield action with RSC Anderlecht who recovered from the concession of a first minute goal to defeat their hosts Cercle Bruges by two goals to one in the Belgian First Division this Sunday afternoon.

Saturday
Burnley played host to Brighton & Hove Albion at Turf Moor where new signing Nathan Collins was an unused substitute for the ‘Clarets’ while Shane Duffy started in a back three for the visitors.  Aaron Connolly and Jayson Molumby, who does not appear on the first team squad list, were not included in the ‘Seagulls’ matchday squad. The visitors recovered from the concession of a second minute goal to secure a two one victory. Everton and captain Seamus Coleman succeeded in their first competitive outing under new manager Rafa Benitez when they came from behind to secure a three one victory over visitors Southampton at Goodison Park. Shane Long was not included  in the ‘Saints’ matchday squad. Conor Hourihane was not included in the matchday squad for Aston Villa who went down to a three two defeat at newly promoted Watford. Adam Idah was a 77th minute substitute for Norwich City who went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Liverpool for whom Caoimhin Kelleher was an unused substitute. 

Midfielder Jamie McGrath and his St Mirren colleagues travelled to Livingston in the Scottish League Cup and exited  the competition with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat after a one all draw. Early substitute Conor McCarthy scored the equaliser in normal time for St Mirren and both Jamie McGrath and Joe Shaughnessy converted their shoot-out penalties.  

There was a 12.30pm kick-off for the Championship meeting of newly promoted Peterborough United and Derby County. The hosts included goalkeeper Christy Pym, who has been the subject of recent international call-up conjecture, in their starting eleven while midfielders Sammy Szmodics and  Jack Taylor missed out through injury. The visitors included Festy Ebosele in their starting eleven while Louie Watson was an unused substitute as they went down to a two one defeat.. Veteran defender Richard Keogh started for Blackpool who went down to a two nil defeat by Mick McCarthy‘s Cardiff City at Bloomfield Road with James Collins in the starting eleven for the victors.  Danny McNamara started for Millwall who played out a one all draw with Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan at the New Den. Midfielder Harry Arter, who signed  a three year contract in the summer, is reported to have had a serious falling out with Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton and is understood to be available for transfer. Forest went down to a two one defeat by visitors AFC Bournemouth who included Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny in their starting eleven. Captain Alan Browne and Greg Cunningham started for Preston North End at Reading while Sean Maguire was an 81st minute substitute as they suffered  a two one defeat. Last week’s goal scorers Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson started for  West Bromwich Albion and Robinson again found the net as the ‘Baggies’ defeated visitors Luton Town by three goals to two at the Hawthorns.  The late kick-off saw Swansea City and Ryan Manning playing host to Sheffield United and John Egan with the sides playing out a scoreless draw in a contest of very few chances. Manning, playing at left back,  had a fine game and was named man of the match.

Anthony Scully scored both goals for Lincoln City who came from behind to defeat visitors Fleetwood Town in League One. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott was  on the scoresheet for MK Dons but it was in vain as visitors Sunderland secured  a two one success. Defender Warren O’Hora started for MK Dons while Sunderland  included midweek signing Dennis Cirkin in their starting eleven alongside the veteran Aiden McGeady. Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness, Shaun Williams and loanee Gavin Bazunu in their starting eleven for their two nil victory over  visitors Crewe Alexandra with Harness scoring one of the goals.  Rotherham United included Chiedoze Ogbene and Joshua Kayode in their starting eleven with Kieran Sadlier an unused substitute as they lost to the only goal at Wigan Athletic. Daryl Horgan was not in the Wycombe Wanderers squad which secured a three one victory at Cheltenham Town.

 

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The Airtricity League Premier Division continues over this weekend with the Friday evening meeting of second place St Patrick’s Athletic and much improved Waterford in Richmond Park setting the ball rolling. The ‘Saints’ gained the points with a hard fought two one victory.

The bottom two, Longford Town and Finn Harps, met in Bishopsgate on Saturday evening in a contest which was crucial to the hosts if they hoped to avoid  the pain of automatic relegation at the season end. It was not to be for them as they suffered a three nil defeat which makes their league position perilous.

The remaining contests involving the three clubs involved  in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday evening took place on Sunday afternoon. Bohemian defeated Sligo Rovers with the only goal in Dalymount Park while Dundalk went down to a one nil defeat in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium against Derry City. Leaders Shamrock Rovers made the short journey to Head in the Game Park and secured  the points with a one nil success over hosts Drogheda United.  

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        23 15  5  3  39 18   21   50
St Patrick’s Athletic  24 14  5  5  42 25   17   47
Sligo Rovers           22 11  5  6  27 16   11   38
Bohemian               22 10  4  8  35 24   11   34
Derry City             24  9  7  8  29 28    1   34
Drogheda United        24  8  6 10  35 31    4   30
Dundalk                22  7  6  9  26 32   -6   27
Finn Harps             23  7  5 11  21 31  -10   26
Waterford              24  8  1 15  18 41  -23   25
Longford Town          24  1  8 15  15 41  -26   11

The Airtricity League First Division continued on Friday evening with current leaders Shelbourne going down to a three one defeat, their first of the current league season,  at second place Galway United while Bray Wanderers scored in the final minute to defeat visitors Treaty United in the Carlisle Grounds and leapfrog their opponents into third place on goal difference. Turner’s Cross hosted the ‘Derby’ meeting of Cork City and Cobh Ramblers with the home side securing an emphatic four nil victory.  UCD hit visitors  Athlone Town for six without reply while Wexford defeated visitors Cabinteely by two goals to one in Ferrycarrig Park.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shelbourne             19 12  6  1  37 18   19   42
Galway United          19 10  5  4  30 19   11   35
Bray Wanderers         19  8  8  3  27 17   10   32
Treaty United          19  9  5  5  28 22    6   32
UCD                    19  8  6  5  38 25   13   30  
Athlone Town           19  6  4  8  24 31   -7   22
Cork City              19  5  6  8  25 22    3   21
Cabinteely             19  7  0 12  18 30  -12   21
Cobh Ramblers          19  5  4 10  17 33  -16   19
Wexford                19  2  2 15  16 41  -25    8 

Our senior international manager Stephen Kenny will have been disappointed by the scarcity of senior international Irish players involved in the first round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening last and again in the League this weekend.  He must be concerned and will be anxious that most of his likely squad members will see some competitive action in the coming weeks.

With just three weeks to the fixture against Portugal in Faro-Louie on Wednesday the first of September we have already suffered some injury setbacks with Jason Knight, Callum O’Dowda and Enda Stevens all set to be absent.  Robbie Brady is still without a club following his exit from Burnley. James McCarthy has joined Glasgow Celtic from Crystal Palace on a four year deal but has had just 15 minutes of competitive action. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, on loan at Portsmouth, has also been confined to the substitute bench in their opening two fixtures but started last weekend. Aaron Connolly and Jayson Molumby were not in the Brighton & Hove Albion matchday squad for their opening Premier League fixture at Burnley. Shane Long was not in the Southampton squad at Everton while Conor Hourihane was not included in the Aston Villa squad at Watford. James McClean is out of favour at Stoke City and has been made available for transfer.

Stephen Kenny has confirmed  the appointment of Stephen Rice as Opposition Analyst and Head Scout to replace the departed Ruadhri Higgins who has taken on the Managerial role at Derry City. The 36 year old Rice had a very successful domestic playing career with Bohemian and Shamrock Rovers while Kenny was in charge of those clubs. Following his progression into the coaching arena he has been working with the underage squads at Crystal Palace.