Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has announced his starting eleven for this evening’s friendly international against England in Wembley Stadium.
Injury rules out Seamus Coleman and Harry Arter while James McCarthy is unavailable for family reasons.
Team: Darren Randolph; Cyrus Christie, Shane Duffy(C), John Egan, Matt Doherty; Jeff Hendrick, Conor Hourihane; Callum O’Dowda, Alan Browne, Daryl Horgan; Adam Idah.
Nottingham Forest loanee Cyrus Christie has been called in to the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming trio of internationals following the withdrawal of Enda Stevens through injury.
Following on from the above withdrawal Aaron Connolly suffered a hamstring injury in training and is out of the three match squad. He has been replaced by Sean Maguire.
It has also been confirmed that Callum Robinson has tested positive for Covid-19 and he too will miss all three matches. Ryan Manning will link up with the squad for the Wales and Bulgaria fixtures.
There has also been a change to our U21 squad with Accrington Stanley loanee Ryan Cassidy replacing the injured Jonathan Afolabi.
The 2020 Airtricity League entered it’s final stages with Match Series 18 in the Premier Division completed on Monday evening. With the title already in the grasp of Shamrock Rovers and second place assured for Bohemian, the focus was on the race for third place and the guarantee of European participation next year together with the challenge to avoid ninth place and the battle to avoid relegation in the play-off contest with First Division side Longford Town who defeated Galway United by two goals to one in the First Division Play-Off Final on the evening of Friday 6 November.
Dundalk retained their hold on third place despite going down to a two nil defeat by Oriel Park visitors Sligo Rovers to guarantee European involvement next year. Finn Harps started the evening two points adrift of Shelbourne and Derry City and anything less than victory over visitors Waterford would condemn them to that play-off role. The Ballybofey side rose to the challenge and defeated Waterford by one goal to nil. Shelbourne were the most vulnerable should the Donegal side succeed and the ‘Reds’ find themselves in the relegation play-off following their two nil defeat by champions Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park. Derry City were able to breathe a sigh of relief with a one all draw against already relegated Cork City in Turner’s Cross. The Richmond Park meeting of St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemian ended in a two one success for the visiting ‘Gypsies’.
Shelbourne will now face Longford Town in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final on Saturday the 14th November 2020.
Last Saturday afternoon, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City played the previously postponed match in Tallaght Stadium with the hosts comfortable two nil victors.
P W D L F A G/D Pts
Shamrock Rovers 18 15 3 0 44 7 37 48
Bohemian 18 12 1 5 23 12 11 37
Dundalk 18 7 5 6 25 23 2 26
Sligo Rovers 18 8 1 9 19 23 -4 25
Waterford 18 7 3 8 17 22 -5 24
St Patrick’s Athletic 18 5 6 7 14 17 -3 21
Derry City 18 5 5 8 18 18 – 20
Finn Harps 18 5 5 8 15 24 -9 20
Shelbourne 18 5 4 9 13 22 -9 19
Cork City 18 2 5 11 10 30 -20 11
Sunday
The Premier League continued on Sunday with Callum Robinson being joined by fit again Dara O’Shea in the West Bromwich Albion starting eleven for the noon visit of Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty. The contest went the way of the visitors who scored the only goal in the 88th minute. Conor Hourihane was an unused substitute for Aston Villa who stunned Arsenal with a three nil victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
Shane Duffy lost his starting position for Glasgow Celtic who visited Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership at noon on Sunday. To date the Derry man has not enjoyed a successful tenure in Glasgow following his loan transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion. Celtic eased to a four one victory with Duffy introduced for the final twelve minutes
Saturday
Having recovered from his injury, Seamus Coleman was in the Everton side for their three one Premier League defeat by Manchester United early this Saturday afternoon in Goodison Park. James McCarthy was another restored to fitness and was a 77th minute substitute for Crystal Palace who defeated visitors Leeds United by four goals to one in Selhurst Park. The 5.30pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge saw hosts Chelsea defeat visitors Sheffield United by four goals to one. John Egan, Enda Stevens and international retiree David McGoldrick all started for the visiting ‘Blades’ with McGoldrick scoring the opening goal after nine minutes.
The early Championship kick-off saw Stoke City defeat pre-match leaders Reading by three goals to nil at the Madejski Stadium. James McClean was in the victors starting eleven while young Nathan Collins was a 72nd minute substitute. Daragh Lenihan was in the Blackburn Rovers side which defeated visitors QPR by three goals to one in Ewood Park. Conor Masterson was an unused substitute for the visitors. Jason Knight was in the Derby County side which suffered a two nil home defeat by Barnsley which sees them drop to the foot of the League Table. Chris Hughton continues to see his Nottingham Forest follow an upward curve as they defeated visitors Wycombe Wanderers by two goals to nil. Cyrus Christie started for the hosts with Harry Arter a 76th minute substitute while Daryl Horgan was in the visitors starting eleven. Kieran Sadlier started for Rotherham United who defeated visitors Preston North End by two goals to one. Alan Browne was in action with the defeated ‘Lilywhites’ but Sean Maguire was an unused substitute.
The first round of the FA Cup saw Ipswich Town exit the competition following a three two extra-time defeat by visitors Portsmouth at Portman Road. Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness was in action for the ‘Tractor Boys’ while Alan Judge was a 102nd minute substitute. The visiting victors included Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Sean Raggett in their side with both Curtis and Raggett finding the net. Anthony Scully started and scored twice for Lincoln City who crushed visitors Forest Green Roveres by six goals to two. Sean Roughan also started for the victorious ‘Imps’ while Zak Elbouzedi was a 77th minute substitute. Anthony Forde, Liam Kelly, Olamide Shodipo and Mark Sykes all started for Oxford United who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Peterborough United for whom Jack Taylor scored the winning goal. U21 goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was in action with Rochdale who suffered a two one home defeat by visitors Stockport County while another loanee, Lee O’Connor, was in the Tranmere Roveres side which progressed to round Two with a two one victory over visitors Accrington Stanley.
Head Coach Jim Crawford has announced his 24 player Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming European U21 Championship qualifiers against Iceland in Dublin and Luxembourg in Beggen.
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu(Rochdale-Loan) Ed McGinty(Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Nathan Collins(Stoke City), Darragh Leahy(Dundalk), Conor Masterson(QPR), Mark McGuinness(Ipswich Town-Loan), Danny McNamara(St Johnstone-Loan), Lee O’Connor(Tranmere Rovers-Loan), Thomas O’Connor(Gillingham-Loan), Liam Scales(Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Luca Connell(Glasgow Celtic), Conor Coventry(West Ham United), Will Ferry(Southampton), Jason Knight(Derby County), Daniel Mandroiu(Bohemian), Connor Ronan(Grasshopper Zurich-Loan), Anthony Scully(Lincoln City), Jack Taylor(Peterborough United)
Attackers: Jonathan Afolabi(Dundee-Loan), Zachery Elbouzedi(Lincoln City), Danny Grant(Bohemian), Joshua Kayode(Carlisle United-Loan), Michael Obafemi(Southampton), Troy Parrott(Millwall-Loan)
Fixtures:
Sunday 15 November RoI v Iceland Tallaght Stadium 12.30pm
Wednesday 18 November Luxembourg v RoI Beggen 4.30pm .
The AMEX Stadium hosted the Premier League meeting of Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley which ended scoreless on Friday afternoon. Aaron Connolly was an 86th minute substitute for the hosts while Robbie Brady was in the visitors starting eleven. The return of club captain Ben Mee ended Kevin Long‘s stint in central defence for the ‘Clarets’ and he was unused on the substitute bench alongside young Jimmy Dunne. The late kick-off saw Southampton defeat visitors Newcastle United by two goals to nil at St Mary’s Stadium where Shane Long was a very late substitute for the hosts while Jeff Hendrick started and Ciaran Clark was an unused substitute for the visitors.
In the Championship, Bristol City included Callum O’Dowda in their starting eleven and he had a fine match in a central midfield role as they scored the only goal after just two minutes to defeat their hosts Cardiff City.
The Scottish Premiership saw Millwall loanee Danny McNamara score the only goal for St Johnstone and again receive the ‘man of the match’ accolade in their victory over visitors Kilmarnock. Ireland U21 defender Conor McCarthy was in action with St Mirren who played out a scoreless draw with visitors Dundee United. Further North, Aberdeen included Tommie Hoban in their side for the two nil defeat of visitors Hibernian at Pittodrie.
Ireland U21 striker Jonathan Afolabi, on loan from Glasgow Celtic, was forced off through injury after forty minutes as his loan club Dundee scored two late goals to earn a three all draw at Alloa Athletic in the Scottish Championship.
Manager Stephen Kenny has announced his 26 man Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming friendly international against England in Wembley Stadium followed by Nations League contests against Wales in Cardiff and Bulgaria in Dublin.
Recent injury victim Seamus Coleman is named in the squad while Ronan Curtis and Daryl Horgan, late call-ups to the October squad, retain their places. James Collins has been added to the striking options at the expense of Shane Long. Jack Byrne will remain with his club for their two concluding Airtricity League fixtures and link up with the squad later in the week.
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher(Liverpool), Darren Randolph(West Ham United), Mark Travers(AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman(Everton), Matt Doherty(Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy(Glasgow Celtic-Loan), John Egan(Sheffield United), Kevin Long(Burnley), Dara O’Shea(West Bromwich Albion), Enda Stevens(Sheffield United)
Midfielders: Harry Arter(Nottingham Forest), Robbie Brady(Burnley), Alan Browne(Preston North End), Jack Byrne(Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick(Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane(Aston Villa), James McCarthy(Crystal Palace), Jayson Molumby(Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: James Collins(Luton Town), Aaron Connolly(Brighton & Hove Albion), Ronan Curtis(Portsmouth), Daryl Horgan(Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Idah(Norwich City), James McClean(Stoke City), Callum O’Dowda(Bristol City), Callum Robinson(West Bromwich Albion)
Fixtures:
Thursday 12 November England v RoI London 8.00pm
Sunday 15 November Wales v RoI Cardiff 5.00pm
Wednesday 18 November RoI v Bulgaria Dublin 7.45pm
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