News

2021 Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures…01/02/2021

The Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures have been released by the FAI this afternoon with the season scheduled to commence on Friday the 19th March 2021.

The League Season will be preceded by the Presidents Cup contest between the reigning League Champions Shamrock Rovers and the FAI Cup Winners Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium at 7.45pm on Friday the 12th March 2021.

Match Series One
Friday 19 March   19.45 Drogheda United v Waterford   United Park
Friday 19 March   20.00 Finn Harps   v    Bohemian    Finn Park 
Friday 19 March   20.00 Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick’s Athletic
Saturday 20 March 19.30 Longford Town v Derry City    Bishopsgate
Saturday 20 March 19.45 Sligo Rovers v Dundalk        Showgrounds

The First Division fixtures are set to be released next week with the final composition of the Division yet to be confirmed. 

January 2021 Transfer Window…01/02/2021

The January 2021 transfer window in the UK commenced on Saturday the 2nd January and will conclude on Monday the 1st February 2021. There has already been an amount of activity involving Irish players which we detail below. On the Irish domestic scene, the move of Jack Byrne from Shamrock Rovers to Cypriot club APOEL Nicosia on a 21/2 year deal has been the highlight while teenager Kevin Zefi who will be sixteen on the 11th February will join Inter Milan from Shamrock Rovers this summer. Ireland U21 midfielder Danny Grant joined Huddersfield Town from Bohemian during December last on a 31/2 year contract. Shelbourne winger Jaze Kabia has joined Livingston of the Scottish Premiership. St Patrick’s Athletic centre back Luke McNally is the latest player to make a cross channel move having joined League One side Oxford United for an undisclosed fee. Deadline day news sees Shamrock Rovers midfielder Aaron McEneff joining Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Championship for a fee reported to be £200,000.

NAME FROM TO DETAILS
Niall Canavan Plymouth Argyle Bradford City 18 Month Deal
Barry Coffey Glasgow Celtic Cliftonville EoS Loan
Greg Cunningham Cardiff City Preston North End EoS Loan
Jamie Devitt Blackpool Barrow Free
Zack Elbouzedi Lincoln City Bolton Wanderers EoS Loan
Rob Elliot Unattached Watford EoS Contract
Sam Foley St Mirren Motherwell  Undosclosed
Conor Grant Sheffield Wednesday Rochdale Undisclosed
Conor Hourihane Aston Villa Swansea City EoS Loan
Richard Keogh MK Dons Huddersfield Town Undisclosed
Peter Kioso Luton Town Northampton Town EoS Loan
Shane Long Southampton AFC Bournemouth EoS Loan
Conor Masterson QPR Swindon Town EoS Loan
Jayson Molumby Brighton & Hove Preston North End EoS Loan
Eddie Nolan Crewe Alexandra Motherwell EoS Loan
Warren O’Hora Brighton & Hove MK Dons Undisclosed
Troy Parrott Tottenham Hotspur Ipswich Town EoS Loan
Simon Power Norwich City Harrowgate Town Undisclosed
Stephen Quinn Burton Albion Mansfield Town EoS Loan
Conor Shaughnessy Leeds United Rochdale 18 Mth Contract
Mark Travers AFC Bournemouth Swindon Town EoS Loan
Corey Whelan Unattached Wigan Athletic EoS Contract
Tyreik Wilson Aston Villa Walsall EoS Loan

Weekend Cross Channel action…31/01/2021

Sunday
Burnley followed their midweek Premier League victory over Aston Villa with a trip to face Chelsea in Stamford Bridge at noon where they went down to a two nil defeat. Robbie Brady was again in the starting eleven while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused on the substitute bench. Later at 4.30pm West Ham United faced Liverpool in the London Stadium where goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was an unused substitute for the visitors who secured an excellent three one victory. Aaron Connolly was introduced from the Brighton & Hove Albion substitute bench in the 79th minute of their one nil victory over visitors Tottenham Hotspur for whom Matt Doherty was an unused substitute. 

Saturday
Everton and Seamus Coleman suffered a two nil Premier League defeat  by Newcastle United at Goodison Park in today’s early kick-off.  Jeff Hendrick started for the ‘Magpies’ while Ciaran Clark, on his return following injury, was introduced from the substitute bench on 54 minutes of a fully deserved victory. James McCarthy started for  Crystal Palace and was having a fine match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park before injury struck again and forced his withdrawal at half-time. His Palace side scored  the only goal in the second half for victory.  Sheffield United were not expected to replicate their result of Wednesday last when they returned to Manchester where current table toppers City were their hosts and so it was. The ‘Blades’ conceded a very early goal which proved to be the winner as they defended stoutly thereafter. John Egan returned following his suspension while David McGoldrick was introduced from the substitute bench on 62 minutes. West Bromwich Albion included Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson in their starting eleven for the visit of Fulham but O’Shea was withdrawn on 24 minutes despite not showing any sign of injury with Robinson withdrawn at half-time as the sides played out a two all draw. The 8pm kick-off sees Southampton welcome Aston Villa to St Mary’s Stadium with Shane Long likely to be on the home substitute bench.

Current Championship leaders Norwich City were held to a scoreless draw by Middlesbrough at Carrow Road in the early kick-off. Teenage striker Adam Idah returned on the substitute bench following his lengthy injury absence and was introduced for the final six minutes of the contest. Scott Hogan and his Birmingham City colleagues played out a one all draw with their temporary tenants Coventry City.  Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan defeated Luton Town by one goal to nil at Ewood Park where James Collins started for the ‘Hatters’ but was withdrawn on 64 minutes. Having faced hometown and first love Barnsley in his maiden outing as Cardiff City manager, Mick McCarthy saw his side secure a one all draw with visitors Millwall, the club at which he cut his managerial teeth as player manager. The visiting ‘Lions’ included Danny McNamara in their starting eleven with Troy Parrott unused on their substitute bench alongside veterans Alex Pearce and Shaun Williams. Midfielder Jason Knight started for Derby County with Louie Watson on the substitute bench for their one nil victory over visitors Bristol City at Pride Park. Richard Keogh started for Huddersfield Town who played out a one all draw with visitors Stoke City and their Irish duo Nathan Collins and James McClean. The City Ground hosted the meeting of Nottingham Forest and Barnsley where Cyrus Christie was in action with the hosts as the contest finished scoreless. Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane started and scored after 28 minutes for promotion chasing Swansea City who defeated hosts Rotherham United by three goals to one. Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for the ‘Swans’. Keiren Westwood started for Sheffield Wednesday in their one nil Hillsborough victory over visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne and loanee Jayson Molumby in their starting eleven while another loanee, Greg Cunningham was a 78th minute substitute. 

First into League One action on Saturday afternoon were Sunderland and Gillingham who played out a two all draw in the Stadium of Light. The hosts included Aiden McGeady and Aiden O’Brien in their starting eleven. Crewe Alexandra played out a one all draw with visitors Ipswich Town for whom Alan Judge and Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness started with Stephen Ward and Aaron Drinan on the substitute bench. Drinan made quite an entry, scoring the equaliser within seconds of his 75th minute introduction. Swindon Town went down to a one nil defeat at league leaders Hull City where loanees Mark Travers and Conor Masterson were in their starting eleven. Anthony Scully was a 77th minute substotute for Lincoln City who suffered a one nil defeat by visitors Doncaster Rovers. Midfielder Jack Taylor started for Peterborough United at Shrewsbury Town but was forced off through injury on 43 minutes with his side conceding twice in the second half for a two nil defeat.

Loanee Joshua Kayode was a 55th minute substitute for Carlisle United in their one nil League Two victory over visitors Exeter City. Another loanee, Zack Elbouzedi was a 79th minute substitute for Bolton Wanderers who defeated visitors Leyton Orient by two goals to nil with Eoin Doyle again on the scoresheet. 

 

European U21 Championship Draw and Updates…28/01/2021

The draw for the qualifying stage of the 2021/23 European U21 Championship took place at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon this morning and sees Ireland drawn in Group F. The Championship Finals will be hosted by Georgia and Romania and are scheduled for June/July 2023.

Group F
Italy
Sweden
Republic of Ireland
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Montenegro
Luxembourg

Waterford, our representatives in the UEFA Youth League, have been drawn away to Hammarby FC of Sweden with the single leg knock-out tie set for Stockholm on the 2nd March 2021.

Dean Kiely has been appointed as our new senior goalkeeping coach to replace the departed Alan Kelly.  Capped 11 times at senior level, Kiely is currently goalkeeping coach at Crystal Palace, a position he will retain.

More midweek cup and league action…29/01/2021

Thursday
Tottenham Hotspur went down to a three one home defeat by Liverpool this Thursday evening in a Premier League clash vital to both sides. Matt Doherty started in an unusual left wing back position but was switched to a right back position in the second half but to little avail as his side were completely outclassed. Caoimhin Kelleher was again an unused substitute for the victorious visitors.

Wednesday
The Premier League continued on Wednesday evening with Burnley twice coming from behind to secure a three two victory over visitors Aston Villa at Turf Moor. Robbie Brady started for the ‘Clarets’ and was withdrawn on 60 minutes while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused on the substitute bench. Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham played out a scoreless draw with Aaron Connolly unused on the substitute bench for the hosts. Goodison Park hosted the meeting of Everton and Leicester City with Seamus Coleman a very late substitute as the sides played out a one all draw. Sheffield United produced the shock result of the season with a two one victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford where the ‘Blades’ were without suspended captain John Egan and the injured Enda Stevens while David McGoldrick did start and completed 80 minutes.

There was Championship action at St Andrew’s Stadium at 7pm with temporary tenants Coventry City defeating Sheffield Wednesday by two goals to nil. The visiting ‘Owls’ included Keiren Westwood in their starting eleven but young centre back Ciaran Brennan was unused on the substitute bench. Aston Villa Loanee Conor Hourihane started and scored the equaliser for Swansea City in their one all draw with fellow promotion aspirants Brentford. Ryan Manning was introduced from the ‘Swans’ bench for the final six minutes. New manager Mick McCarthy took charge of Cardiff City for the first time at his home town club Barnsley, with whom he commenced his professional football career, and saw his side recover from a two goal deficit to earn a point in a two all draw.

There was something of an Irish Gala Night at Tannadice in the Scottish Premiership where visitors St Mirren, managed by Jim Goodwin, crushed their hosts Dundee United by five goals to one. Joe Shaughnessy opened the scoring on 30 minutes with an assist from fellow centre back Conor McCarthy while Jamie McGrath scored twice from the penalty spot just before the interval. Substitute Dylan Connolly also joined the scoresheet following his seventy first minute introduction. Glasgow Celtic included Shane Duffy in their side for the two nil victory over Mamilton Accademical at Celtic Park. There should be an interesting encounter on Saturday next when St Mirren are the visitors.

Tuesday
The one remaining FA Cup fourth round tie between AFC Bournemouth and Crawley Town took place in the Vitality Stadium this Tuesday evening with the hosts progressing on a two one scoreline. Young midfielder Gavin Kilkenny was unused on the host’s substitute bench.

The Premier League resumed on Tuesday evening with Crystal Palace welcoming West Ham United to Selhurst Park where James McCarthy was an unused substitute for the hosts while Mipo Odubeko was unused on the visitors substitute bench as they secured a three two victory. Ciaran Clark was an injury absentee for struggling Newcastle United who went down to a two one defeat by Leeds United at St James Park where Jeff Hendrick was in the starting eleven for the defeated ‘Magpies’. Southampton went down to a three one home defeat by Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium where Shane Long and teenage midfielder Will Ferry were unused substitutes for the hosts. Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson started for West Bromwich Albion in their crushing five nil defeat by visitors Manchester City with Robinson withdrawn at half-time.

Millwall included Danny McNamara in their starting eleven with Troy Parrott unused on the substitute bench as they played out a scoreless Championship draw with visitors Watford. Goalkeeper Max O’Leary was an unused substitute for Bristol City who defeated Huddersfield Town, who include Richard Keogh in their starting eleven, by two goals to one at Ashton Gate.

Jack Taylor was in midfield action for League One promotion chasers Peterborough United who were held to a scoreless draw by London Road visitors Bristol Rovers. Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their starting eleven as they went down to a one nil defeat by Fratton Park visitors Lincoln City who included Anthony Scully in their starting eleven. Loanees Mark Travers and Conor Masterson were in the Swindon Town side which suffered a two nil home defeat by visitors Plymouth Argyle. Ipswich Town included Mark McGuinness and Stephen Ward in their starting eleven while Aaron Drinan was s 55th minute substitute as they lost to visitors Sunderland who included Aiden McGeady and Aiden O’Brien in their starting eleven for their one nil victory.

 

Weekend Cup and League action…24/01/2021

Sunday
The FA Cup fourth round continued on Sunday afternoon with Chelsea defeating Championship side Luton Town by three goals to one. James Collins was a 60th minute substitute for the defeated ‘Hatters’. Burnley included Kevin Long in their starting eleven for their three nil victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Long had a fine match and capped it by scoring the third goal. Young defender Jimmy Dunne was also introduced for the final seven minutes. Caoimhin Kelleher was on the substitute bench for Liverpool who went down to a three two defeat at Manchester United. Goodison Park hosted the meeting of Everton and Sheffield Wednesday with Seamus Coleman starting for the ‘Toffees’ who secured  a comfortable three nil victory. 20 year old Ciaran Brennan filled a centre back position for the visiting ‘Owls’ and was excellent throughout.

There was a Championship outing for Preston North End and Reading at 12.30pm with Alan Brown and Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Jayson Molumby starting for the hosts as the sides played out a scoreless draw. Darragh Lenihan and his Blackburn Rovers colleagues travelled to Miidlesbrough and secured three points from a one nil victory. 

Saturday
There was FA Cup fourth round action in St Mary’s Stadium early on  Saturday afternoon when Southampton defeated visitors Arsenal by one goal to nil. Shane Long started their hard fought two nil victory over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night but was a very late substitute this afternoon. There were a number of all Championship ties with Barnsley defeating Norwich City with the only goal at Oakwell. The ‘Canaries’ included eighteen year old Andrew Omobamadele on their substitute bench. Danny McNamara was an unused substitute while Troy Parrott started for Millwall who crashed to a three nil defeat by visitors Bristol City who included goalkeeper Max O’Leary in their starting eleven. Midweek loan signing Conor Hourihane started for Swansea City alongside Ryan Manning as they crushed visitors Nottingham Forest by five goals to one. Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute for the visitors. Sheffield United included John Egan and Enda Stevens in their starting eleven as they progressed to round five with a two one victory over League One side Plymouth Argyle.   

There was Premier League action on Saturday evening with Aston Villa comfortably defeating visitors Newcastle United by two goals to nil. Jeff Hendrick was in midfield action with the defeated ‘Magpies’ but injury ruled out Ciaran Clark.

The Championship saw QPR go down to a one nil defeat by Derby County and Jason Knight at Loftus Road where young Louie Watson was an unused substitute for the victorious ‘Rams’.

Loan signings Mark Travers and Conor Masterson were in the Swindon Town side which drew two each with Charlton Athletic at The Valley in League One. Loanee Thomas O’Connor and his Gillingham colleagues were held to a two all draw by vicirors Rochdale who included loanee Gavin Bazunu in their starting eleven alongside Jimmy Kwho scored both of their goals. The Ipswich Town quartet of Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness, Stephen Ward, Alan Judge and Aaron Drinan started as they went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Peterborough United and Jack Taylor. Joint leaders Lincoln City included Anthony Scully in their starting eleven and he scored in their two one success over visitors Northampton Town. Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness started for Portsmouth who crashed to a four nil defeat by visiting joint leaders Hull City.

Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright and Liam Kinsella were in the Walsall side for their three one League Two victory at Port Vale while Tranmere Rovers defeated visitors Bolton Wanderers by two goals to one. Loanee Zack Elbouzedi together with Eoin Doyle and Ryan Delaney started for the visitors with Elbouzedi withdrawn at half time and Delaney dismissed on 75 minutes. 

 

 

Midweek Cup and League action…22/01/2021

Friday
Stoke City went down to a two one home defeat by visitors Watford in the Championship this Friday evening. Both Nathan Collins and James McClean started for the hosts who were probably deserving of a draw at least.

Former Ireland U21 striker Simon Power was a 74th minute substitute for League Two side Harrowgate Town whom he joined on Wednesday from Norwich City, as they played out a two all draw at Salford City for whom Richie Towell was a 57th minute substitute.

Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi was a 39th minute substitute for Dundee in their one all Scottish Championship draw at Arbroath.

Thursday
The 68 match unbeaten home league record of defending Premier League champions Liverpool came to an end at Anfield this Thursday evening when visitors Burnley scored the only goal for victory. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was an unused substitute for the hosts while Robbie Brady completed 65 minutes for the victors with Kevin Long unused on the substitute bench. 

Wednesday
The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with Birmingham City going down to a one nil defeat by Preston North End at St Andrew’s where Scott Hogan started for the hosts, but was forced off through injury on 60 minutes, while Alan Browne and loanee Jayson Molumby started for the visitors. Molumby provided the assist for the winning goal on 61 minutes. High flying Brentford defeated Luton Town and James Collins with the only goal at their new Community Stadium home. New signing Richard Keogh started for Huddersfield Town who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Millwall for whom Danny McNamara started and provided the assist for the winning goal while loanee Troy Parrott was unused on the substitute bench. Current leaders Norwich City included young Andrew Omobamadele on their substitute bench for their two nil success over visitors Bristol City. Chris Hughton‘s Nottingham Forest failed to continue their upward movement when they suffered  a two one defeat by visitors Middlesbrough at the City Ground. Cyrus Christie was again in their starting eleven.

Tuesday
The one remaining FA Cup third round contest saw Southampton defeat League One side Shrewsbury Town by two goals to nil in a hard fought contest at St Mary’s where Shane Long started for the hosts while Will Ferry was an unused substitute.

Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson were in the West Bromwich Albion side which suffered a two one Premier League defeat at West Ham United on Tuesday evening. Darren Randolph was an unused substitute for the victorious hosts.

Derby County, again captained by nineteen year old Jason Knight, defeated visitors AFC Bournemouth by one goal to nil in Pride Park to move out of the Championship bottom three. Nathan Collins was in action with Stoke City who played out a three all draw at Rotherham United where James McClean was a 73rd minute substitute and provided the assist for a late equaliser.

In League One, Peterborough United came from behind to defeat visitors Charlton Athletic by two goals to one at London Road where Jack Taylor was again in midfield action with the hosts. Ronan Curtis resumed action with Portsmouth as a 64th minute substitute and provided an assist in their four nil victory over AFC Wimbledon at Fratton Park. Marcus Harness was also in fine form for ‘Pompey’.