News

Monday
The Premier League continued on Monday afternoon with Burnley defeating Turf Moor visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers by two goals to one. Robbie Brady was again in the starting eleven for the ‘Clarets’ while Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were unused substitutes. Brady suffered a knock and was withdrawn on 69 minutes.

Sunday
There was something of a ‘High Noon’ feeling in the Sheffield United camp as they prepared to enter the AMEX Arena where Brighton & Hove Albion were their Premier League hosts for a 12pm shoot-out. The ‘Blades’ appeared to shoot themselves in the foot with the violent contact dismissal of John Lundstram on 40 minutes but the 10 men responded positively and took an unexpected lead on 63 minutes with David McGoldrick the creator. Sadly for them, they were unable to hold out and conceded the equaliser with three minutes of normal time remaining.  The hosts included Aaron Connolly in their starting eleven with Jayson Molumby unused on the substitute bench while the  visitors named John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick in their starting eleven. Matt Doherty has recently been little used by new club Tottenham Hotspur and was again on the substitute bench for today’s home contest with Leicester City which the visitors won by two goals to nil. Anxiety may also have been uppermost in the thoughts of Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson as their West Bromwich Albion, under the guidance of new manager Sam Allardyce, played host to Aston Villa this evening. O’Shea started with Robinson an 83rd minute substitute as the ‘Baggies’, who lost skipper Livermore to a red card after 30 minutes, went down to a three nil defeat. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for the victors.

The deferred 2019/20 Scottish Cup Final kicked off at 2.15pm this afternoon in Hampden Park with Glasgow Celtic, who named Shane Duffy in their starting eleven, seeking to complete the quartet of last season’s domestic trophies against Heart of Midlothian. They achieved their aim, but only just. A two goal half time lead was squandered with the ‘Jam Tarts’ scoring twice to send the contest into extra-time where Celtic again took the lead only for the Edinburgh side to equalise again and send the tie to a penalty shoot-out where finally the Glasgow side prevailed on a 4-3 penalty scoreline.

Saturday
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was on the Liverpool substitute bench for their crushing seven nil Premier League victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. James McCarthy returned on the ‘Eagles’ substitute following the recent death of his father. Shane Long was an unused substitute for Southampton who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Manchester City. Everton captain Seamus Coleman returned to action following his five match injury absence as an 83rd minute substitute in their two one victory over Goodison Park visitors Arsenal. Ciaran Clark started while Jeff Hendrick was an unused substitute for Newcastle United who were held to a one all draw by visitors Fulham at St James Park.

Current Championship leaders Norwich City included teenage defender Andrew Omobamadeli on their substitute bench for their two nil victory over visitors Cardiff City for whom Greg Cunningham completed the full ninety minutes. Luton Town played out a scoreless draw with visitors AFC Bournemouth at Kenilworth Road where James Collins led their line while Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were again unused on the visitors substitute bench. Midweek substitute Troy Parrott was introduced from the substitute bench of loan club Millwall on 72 minutes of their one all draw with New Den visitors Nottingham Forest who included Cyrus Christie in their starting eleven while Harry Arter was an unused substitute. Teenage defender Nathan Collins started while veteran midfielder James McClean was a 66th minute substitute for Stoke City who defeated their visitors Blackburn Rovers and Darragh Lenihan with the only goal of the game. Recent signing Ryan Manning was an unused substitute for Swansea City who defeated visitors Barnsley by two goals to one while Daryl Horgan was in the Wycombe Wanderers side for their one all draw with visitors QPR for whom Conor Masterson was an unused substitute.

Southampton loanee and U21 international Thomas O’Connor was in the Gillingham side which journied to Rochdale and secured a four one  League One victory. Watford loanee Ryan Cassidy was an unused substitute for Accrington Stanley who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Blackpool. 

Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was a very late substitute for Tranmere Rovers who secured a three nil League Two victory at Bolton Wanderers while Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in the  Carlisle United side which went down to a one nil defeat at Forest Green Rovers.

Ireland U21 defender Danny McNamara was in action with loan club St Johnstone who went down to a three two Scottish Premiership defeat at St Mirren the midweek Scottish League Cup conquerors of Glasgow Rangers.  

 

Friday
There was Championship action on Friday evening with Preston North End defeating visitors Bristol City with the only goal at Deepdale. Alan Browne and Sean Maguire both started for the hosts with young Adam O’Reilly an unused substitute with Callum O’Dowda prominent for the defeated ‘Robins’.

Portsmouth leap frogged Hull City at the summit of League One with a two nil victory at the KCOM Stadium. Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness started for ‘Pompey’ as did Ireland eligible defender Sean Raggett who gave an excellent performance.

Thursday
The Premier League featured Aston Villa play out a scoreless draw with visitors Burnley this Thursday evening. Conor Hourihane was unused on the substitute bench for the hosts while Robbie Brady started for the visitors with Kevin Long an unused substitute. The 8pm kick-off saw beleaguered Sheffield United go down to a three two Bramall Lane defeat by visitors Manchester United. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for the ‘Blades’ with McGoldrick scoring both their goals.

Wednesday
Newcastle United included Ciaran Clark and Jeff Hendrick in their starting eleven for the meeting with Leeds United at Elland Road and they both scored but it was not enough as the ‘Magpies’ conceded three late goals for a five two defeat. Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute for Brighton & Hove Albion who played out a scoreless draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Caoimhin Kelleher was on the Liverpool substitute bench for their two one victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield but Matt Doherty was not in the visitors matchday squad.

Jason Knight was in the Derby County side which earned their first home win of this Championship season with a two nil victory over visitors Swansea City for whom Ryan Manning was a second half substitute. Weekend hat-trick hero James Collins suffered disappointment as his Luton Town went down to a one nil defeat at Middlesbrough. Blackburn Rovers included Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven for their two one victory over visitors Rotherham United. Teenage defender Andrew Omobamadele was again on the Norwich City substitute bench for their two one victory at Reading.

St Mirren inflicted a shock three two defeat on Glasgow Rangers in the quarter-final of the Scottish League Cup to end their 27 match unbeaten record. The visitors took an early lead but Jamie McGrath equalised from the penalty spot just before the half-time break. He then gave them the lead eight minutes into the second half but the visitors equalised in the 88th minute and extra-time looked very much on the cards, but no, Corkman Conor McCarthy popped up with the winner two minutes into added time. McGrath and McCarthy were joined in the starting eleven by fellow Irishmen Joe Shaughnessy, Dylan Connolly and Jake Doyle-Hayes while Sam Foley was an unused substitute. Manager Jim Goodwin from Waterford did get somewhat over excited in the closing minutes and was red carded.      

Tuesday
Beleaguered West Bromwich Albion emerged from the daunting Premier League task of meeting Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium with a one all draw on Tuesday evening. Dara O’Shea was in excellent form at the heart of the ‘Baggies’ defence while Callum Robinson was an unused substitute.

Millwall loanee and U21 international Danny McNamara was an unused substitute for St Johnstone in their Scottish League Cup quarter-final assignment at Dunfermline. The visiting ‘Saints’ prevailed in a penalty shoot-out following a one all draw after extra-time.

First into Championship action at 5.30pm on Tuesday afternoon were e QPR and Stoke City who played out a scoreless draw at Loftus Road. Conor Masterson was unused on the home substitute bench while fellow U21 international defender Nathan Collins together with James McClean started for the visitors. Preston North End included Alan Browne and Sean Maguire in their starting eleven for the contest with Barnsley at Oakwell and Maguire opened the scoring after just two minutes. However it was not enough as the hosts scored twice for victory. Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny were unused substitutes for AFC Bournemouth who secured a one nil victory over visitors Wycombe Wanderers for whom Daryl Horgan was a 70th minute substitute. Ashton Gate hosted the meeting of Bristol City and Millwall which saw the visitors emerge victorious by two goals to nil. Callum O’Dowda was a 59th minute substitute for the ‘Robins’ while Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott was an unused substitute for the ‘Lions’. Chris Hughton‘s Nottingham Forest secured a two nil victory over fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at the City Ground. Cyrus Christie started for the victors but Harry Arter was an unused substitute.

U21 international Anthony Scully was in the Lincoln City side which suffered a disappointing one nil home defeat by Shrewsbury Town while Zak Elbouzedi was an unused substitute. Arsenal loanee and U19 international Mark McGuinness started for Ipswich Town together with veterans Alan Judge and Stephen Ward while U21 striker Aaron Drinan was a late substitute in their two one victory over visitors Burton Albion and Kieran O’Hara. Southampton loanee Warren O’Hora was in the MK Dons side which played out a one all draw with visitors Peterborough United and Jack Taylor. Portsmouth included Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their starting eleven for the scoreless draw with visitors Fleetwood Town.

U21 international Joshua Kayode, on loan at Carlisle United from Rotherham United, was in the side which secured  a one nil League Two victory over visitors Mansfield Town.  

 

Sunday
Struggling Sheffield United went down to a three nil defeat at Southampton in the Premier League early this afternoon. Enda Stevens returned to action alongside John Egan while Shane Long was not in the ‘Saints’ matchday squad. Selhurst Park hosted the meeting of Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur with Matt Doherty an unused substitute for the visitors who were held to a one all draw. Goalkeeper Alisson returned to action for Liverpool with Caoimhin Kelleher named on the substitute bench for the match with Fulham which ended in a one all draw at Craven Cottage. Robbie Brady was in the Burnley side which defeated an ill disciplined Arsenal with the only goal at the Emirates Stadium  Kevin Long and Jimmy Dunne were both unused on the substitute bench. Aaron Connolly was a 62nd minute substitute for Brighton & Hove Albion who went down to a three nil defeat at Leicester City.

Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Shane Duffy scored for Glasgow Celtic in their two nil Scottish Premiership defeat of visitors Kilmarnock this Sunday afternoon.

Saturday
Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who kicked-off the weekend action in the Premier League when they made the short journey to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in Molineaux and collected all three points with an added time penalty kick. Newcastle United and their Irish duo of Ciaran Clarke, who started, and unused substitute Jeff Hendrick returned to action following their short Covid related break and defeated visitors West Bromwich Albion by two goals to one. Dara O’Shea and Callum Robinson both started for the ‘Baggies’ but Robinson was withdrawn at half-time. 

U21 international and Millwall loanee Danny McNamara continued his impressive form with Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone despite their two one home defeat by Livingston on Saturday afternoon.

The Championship action kicked-off at 12.30pm with the ‘Welsh Derby’ meeting of Cardiff City and Swansea City where the two left sided Galway born wing backs Greg Cunningham and Ryan Manning were unused substitutes for their respective sides with the visiting ‘Swans’ victors by two goals to nil. Jason Knight retained his starting position with Derby County who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Stoke City and Nathan Collins. Luton Town striker James Collins scored all three goals in their victory over visitors Preston North End who included Alan Browne in their starting eleven with Sean Maguire a 57th minute substitute. Tottenham Hotspur loanee Troy Parrott started for Millwall but was withdrawn after 59 minutes of  their three nil defeat at Middlesbrough. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for Nottingham Forest with Arter withdrawn at half-time in their three one defeat by visitors Brentford. Conor Masterson is again an unused substitute for QPR who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Reading. Callum O’Dowda was in the  Bristol City side which suffered  a two nil defeat at Rotherham United. Daryl Horgan started for Wycombe Wanderers but was withdrawn on 58 minutes of their two one defeat by visitors Coventry City. Darragh Lenihan returned from suspension alongside Derrick Williams for Blackburn Rovers who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Norwich City for whom Andrew Omobamadele was an unused substitute.  

U19 defender Mark McGuinness, on loan at Ipswich Town from Arsenal, started alongside colleagues Alan Judge, Stephen Ward and substitute Aaron Drinan in the two nil League One defeat by visitors Portsmouth who had Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness in their side. Southampton loanee Warren O’Hora was in action with MK Dons who played out a one all draw with visitors Burton Albion and Kieran O’Hara. London Road hosted the meeting of Peterborough United and Rochdale where U21 international Jack Taylor was again in action for the hosts who secured  a four one victory. Watford loanee Ryan Cassidy was a half-time substitute for Accrington Stanley who suffered a four three defeat at Wigan Athletic.

U21 striker Joshua Kayode on loan at Carlisle United from Rotherham United scored in their four nil League Two victory over visitors Stevenage while Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor started for Tranmere Rovers who crashed to a five nil defeat at Exeter City.

 

Thursday
FAI Cup winners Dundalk returned to the Aviva Stadium to complete their season with a signing off Europa League encounter with Arsenal which ended in a four two defeat. Shane Duffy started for Glasgow Celtic in their final European fixture of this season against French side Lille which they won by three goals to two. Matt Doherty was in the Tottenham Hotspur side which defeated visitors Royal Antwerp of Belgium by two goals to nil as they progressed to the next stage.

Wednesday
The final contests in the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League take place this week with already qualified Liverpool travelling to face FC Midtjylland of Denmark where the sides finished level on one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has excelled in the ‘Reds’ last two contests, started again this evening and conceded the penalty from which the hosts scored but otherwise was again in fine form.

The Championship continued this evening with Preston North End defeating visitors Middlesbrough by three goals to nil at Deepdale.  Alan Browne started for the ‘Lilywhites’ while Sean Maguire was a 74th minute substitute with youngster Adam O’Reilly unused on the substitute bench.  Daryl Horgan started with Wycombe Wanderers who went down to a two one defeat at Barnsley. Jason Knight was in the  Derby County side which played out a scoreless draw at Brentford. Callum O’Dowda and his Bristol City colleagues scored  alate winner to defeat visitors Blackburn Rovers, who were without the suspended Darragh Lenihan who was replaced by Derrick Williams at Ashton Gate. Teenage defender Andrew Omobamidele was an unused substitute for Norwich City who defeated Nottingham Forest by two goals to one at Carrow Road. Harry Arter and Cyrus Christie both started for the visiting ‘Reds’. Birmingham City included Scott Hogan in their side for their two one victory at Reading.

Tuesday
The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with James Collins and Luton Town playing out a scoreless with Coventry City at their temporary home St Andrews in Birmingham. Ireland U21 striker Troy Parrott started for Millwall while defender Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for QPR at the sides played out a one all draw at the New Den. U21 defender Nathan Collins, started alongside James McClean for Stoke City who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Cardiff City for whom Greg Cunningham was an unused substitute after his lengthy injury absence. Transfer window signing Ryan Manning has yet to nail down a regular starting role with Swansea City and was again an unused substitute for the scoreless draw with visitors AFC Bournemouth who included Mark Travers and Gavin Kilkenny on their substitute bench.

 

The Republic of Ireland have been drawn in Group A of the European qualifying section for the 2022 World Cup alongside Portugal, Serbia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan.

In a late unexpected move the Final Tournament hosts Qatar will participate in Group A on a friendly basis.

The match schedule will commence on Wednesday 24 March 2021 with a trip to Serbia.

Match Schedule
24 March      Serbia v Republic of Ireland
27 March      Republic of Ireland v Luxembourg
30 March      Republic of Ireland v Qatar (Friendly)
1 September   Portugal v Republic of Ireland
4 September   Republic of Ireland v Azerbaijan
7 September   Republic of Ireland v Serbia
09 October    Azerbaijan v Republic of Ireland
12 October    Qatar v Republic of Ireland (Friendly in Europe)
11 November   Republic of Ireland v Portugal
14 November   Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland

The 2022 World Cup European qualifying draw takes place live from FIFA HQ in Zurich at 5pm this Monday afternoon.

The 55 European nations will be drawn into 10 groups to compete for the 13 European spots available for the Finals in Qatar.

There will be six pots with 10 nations in each of pots 1-5 while pot 6 will contain the remaining 5 nations. The draw will provide five groups of five(A-E) and five groups of six (F-J).

The fixtures will take place between March and November 2021 with the 10 group winners qualifying for the finals. The 10 runners-up together with the two best ranked, but otherwise unqualified, sides in the Nations League will be split into three play-off paths in March 2022 to settle the final three places.

The latest world rankings determine the pot location of each nation and are as follows:-
Pot 1: Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Holland
Pot 2: Switzerland, Wales, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Slovakia, Romania
Pot 3: Russia, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Finland
Pot 4: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Belarus, Georgia, Luxembourg
Pot 5: Armenia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Andorra
Pot 6: Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, San Marino

   

Dundalk have won the 2020 FAI Cup following an action packed contest in the Aviva Stadium early this Sunday evening. League champions Shamrock Rovers dominated the first half and took the lead four minutes into the second half. As the half progressed a much improved Dundalk stunned the ‘Hoops’ with two goals in a three minutes spell from David McMillan. The Tallaght side recovered their poise and scored an equaliser following a corner kick which exploited an obvious aerial weakness in the Dundalk defence. The match finished level at the end of the regular 90 minutes and once again an FAI Cup Final    went to extra-time. Despite the rigours of their Europa League trek to Norway last Thursday evening, Dundalk looked the stronger team in extra-time and so it proved as goals from substitute Sean Hoare and a third for ‘man of the match’ David McMillan secured the trophy for the ‘Lilywhites’.