News

The Sunday afternoon and evening fixtures in the Airtricity League Premier Division saw Shamrock Rovers defeat Finn Harps by two goals to nil in Ballybofey while St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk played out a one all draw in Richmond Park.

With Cork City already consigned to relegation, the battle to avoid involvement in the relegation play-off is now the primary focus at the foot of the Airtricity League Premier Division. The long time candidates to fill that role, Finn Harps, have made valiant strides in recent weeks to avoid that scenario and last Wednesday evening in Finn Park took another step in the right direction with a three two victory over St Patrick’s Athletic.

The finale to the league season is building to quite a climax with only the top two, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemian together with already relegated Cork City already assured of their final position while three of the remaining seven could find themselves in the relegation play-off position.

St Patrick’s Athletic removed any slight concerns that they might find themselves in the play-off position when they held champions Shamrock Rovers to a scoreless draw in Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Remaining Fixtures:
Wednesday 4 November
19.45 Shamrock Rovers 0-0 St Patrick’s Athletic
Sunday 8 November
19.45 Cork City v Derry City
19.45 Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
19.45 Finn Harps v Waterford
19.45 St Patrick’s Athletic v Bohemian
19.45 Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers

Tbc – Shamrock Rovers v Derry City

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        16 13  3  0  40  7   33   42
Bohemian               17 11  1  5  21 11   10   34
Dundalk                17  7  5  5  25 21    4   26
Waterford              17  7  3  7  17 21   -4   24
Sligo Rovers           17  7  1  9  17 23   -6   22
St Patrick’s Athletic  17  5  6  6  13 15   -2   21  
Derry City             16  5  4  7  17 15    2   19
Shelbourne             17  5  4  8  13 20   -7   19
Finn Harps             17  4  5  8  14 24  -10   17
Cork City              17  2  4 11   9 29  -20   10 

Drogheda United have won the Airtricity League First Division and promotion to the Premier Division for next season. Their two nil victory at Cabinteely guaranteed their success while their only challengers Bray Wanderers were also victorious with the only goal at Athlone Town. The Wicklow club will be joined in the play-offs by UCD and Longford Town while Cabinteely currently sit in the fourth ply-off position. However, an Arbitration Committee is set to meet on Wednesday to hear an appeal brought by Wexford who were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player in the match in which they defeated Cabinteely and should their appeal succeed then Cabinteely will lose three points and sixth place Galway United will supercede them in fifth position.

The arbitration committee has upheld the appeal by Wexford FC and the original scores are re-instated. This means that Galway United move up to fifth position and will participate in this weekend’s play-off semi-finals. 

Play-Off Semi-Finals – Saturday 31 October – 3pm
Bray Wanderers v Galway United – Carlisle Grounds
UCD v Longford Town – The Bowl

Play-Off Final – Friday 6 November 2020

                     P  W  D  L   F  A  G/D  Pts
Drogheda United     18 12  3  3  39 17  22   39
Bray Wanderers      18 12  2  4  30 13  17   38
UCD                 18  9  3  6  44 29  15   30
Longford Town       18  9  2  7  26 23   3   29
Galway United       18  7  6  5  26 19   7   27
Cobh Ramblers       18  8  3  7  22 20   2   27
Cabinteely          18  8  2  8  22 33 -11   26
Shamrock Rovers II  18  4  3 11  21 28  -7   15
Athlone Town        18  3  3 12  21 43 -22   12
Wexford             18  3  3 12  13 39 -26   12

Wednesday
The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with AFC Bournemouth scoring the only goal to defeat visitors Bristol City. Mark Travers remained on the ‘Cherries’ substitute bench, while Callum O’Dowda completed the full match for the visiting ‘Robins’. Jason Knight has been a constant in the Derby County midfield and was again in action as his side played out a one all draw with visitors Cardiff City at Pride Park. Chris Hughton and his Nottingham Forest side recovered from being a goal and a man down at half-time to score an equaliser and earn a point at Luton Town where loanee Cyrus Christie completed another 90 minutes for Forest. Alan Browne was in the Preston North End side which suffered  a two nil home defeat by Millwall at Deepdale where Sean Maguire was an unused substitute.

Tuesday
Conor Masterson was a 31st minute substitute for QPR following an early dismissal at Barnsley who ran out three nil victors in the Championship on Tuesday evening. Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams were both in the starting eleven for Blackburn Rovers who went down to a four two defeat by current leaders Reading at Ewood Park. Ryan Manning got his first taste of action with new club Swansea City as he started their two nil success against visitors Stoke City who included James McClean in their starting eleven. Struggling Wycombe Wanderers included Daryl Horgan in their side as they garnered their first point of the season in a one all draw with visitors Watford.

In League One, Arsenal loanee Mark McGuinness made his Ipswich Town debut at Portman Road in their one nil defeat of Gillingham. U21 midfielder Jack Taylor started for Peterborough United who were held to a two all draw by visitors Burton Albion and Kieran O’Hara to London Road. Ronan Curtis reclaimed his starting role for Portsmouth who defeated visitors Northampton Town by four goals to nil with Curtis scoring the third. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu was in action for loan club Rochdale who played out a two all draw with Sunderland.

Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor was relegated to the Tranmere Rovers substitute bench for their League Two visit to Crawley Town but was introduced to the action after just 26 minutes, at which time they were already three goals down. The final score was four nil. U21 striker Joshua Kayode started for loan club Carlisle United who defeated visitors Morecambe by three goals to one.

 

The Airtricity League Premier Division edged closer to it’s finale on Friday evening with Derry City defeating Shelbourne by two goals to nil in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Struggling sides Sligo Rovers and Cork City met in the Showgrounds at 5pm on Saturday afternoon where the hosts gained a fortuitous  two one victory. Later at 7.30pm, Bohemian went down to a two nil defeat by Finn Harps in Dalymount Park.

These two results ensured that Shamrock Rovers are the League Champions while Cork City are relegated to the First Division. With three home fixtures still to play, Finn Harps could yet escape from the promotion/relegation play-off position, with the five clubs immediately above them all capable of being caught.

Following their Europa League exertions on Thursday evening, Dundalk travelled to Waterford on Sunday afternoon where they suffered  a one nil defeat.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Shamrock Rovers        14 12  2  0  38  7   31   38
Bohemian               17 11  1  5  21 11   10   34
Dundalk                16  7  4  5  24 20    4   25
Waterford              17  7  3  7  17 21   -4   24
Sligo Rovers           17  7  1  9  17 23   -6   22 
Derry City             15  5  4  7  17 15    2   19
St Patrick’s Athletic  14  5  4  5  10 11   -1   19
Shelbourne             16  5  4  7  13 20   -7   19
Finn Harps             15  3  5  7  11 20   -9   14
Cork City              17  2  4 11   9 29  -20   10  

The penultimate Airtricity League First Division fixtures were played this Saturday afternoon and saw Drogheda United go top of the League Table following their two nil victory over Wexford in United Park while overnight leaders Bray Wanderers went down to a one nil home defeat by Galway United in the Carlisle Grounds.

The contest to win the League and gain automatic promotion to the Premier Division rests between Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers who are separated by one point. The unlucky side from the above duo will be joined in the divisional play-offs by the teams finishing third, fourth and fifth with five clubs, UCD, Longford Town, Cabinteely, Galway United and Cobh Ramblers still in contention for those three positions.

The final series of League Fixtures are scheduled for 7.45pm this Tuesday evening and are as follows:-
Athlone Town v Bray Wanderers
Cabinteely v Drogheda United
Cobh Ramblers v Shamrock Rovers II
Galway United v UCD
Wexford v Longford Town

                     P  W  D  L   F  A  G/D  Pts
Drogheda United     17 11  3  3  37 17  20   36
Bray Wanderers      17 11  2  4  29 13  16   35
UCD                 17  9  2  6  42 27  15   29
Longford Town       17  9  2  6  25 21   4   29
Cabinteely          17  9  1  7  25 31  -6   28
Galway United       17  7  5  5  24 17   7   26
Cobh Ramblers       17  8  2  7  22 20   2   26
Athlone Town        17  4  3 10  23 39 -16   15
Shamrock Rovers II  17  4  2 11  22 28  -6   14
Wexford             17  1  2 12   8 44 -36    5

Monday
The Premier League continued on Monday afternoon with Brighton & Hove Albion being held to a one all draw by visitors West Bromwich Albion. Aaron Connolly was an unused substitute for the hosts while Callum Robinson entered the fray on 63 minutes for the ‘Baggies’.  Kevin Long started for Burnley who suffered a disappointing one nil defeat by visitors Tottenham Hotspur who included Matt Doherty in their starting eleven. Robbie Brady and Jimmy Dunne were unused substitutes for the host ‘Clarets’. 

Sunday
Shane Long remained unused on the Southampton substitute bench for the Premier League visit of Everton to St Mary’s Stadium where the hosts ran out comfortable two nil winners against very lack lustre opponents. Injury ruled Seamus Coleman out of the visiting ‘Toffees’ squad. Jeff Hendrick was in the Newcastle United side which scored an added time equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineaux. Ciaran Clark played a full 90 minutes in midweek with the ‘Magpies’ U23 side and is nearing a return to first team action.

The Scottish Premiership meeting of Aberdeen and Glasgow Celtic ended in a three all draw at Pittodrie where Jonny Hayes and Tommie Hoban started for the hosts while Shane Duffy was in action with the visitors. Hayes had an excellent game for the ‘Dons’ but both Hoban and Duffy were quite some way below par.

Saturday
The Premier League continued at 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon with Darren Randolph an unused substitute for West Ham United who played out a one all draw with visitors Manchester City. There is an 8pm kick-off for the Anfield meeting of Liverpool and Sheffield United where John Egan and Enda Stevens start for the ‘Blades’ with David McGoldrick named on the substitute bench.

U21 full back Danny McNamara, on loan at St Johnstone from Millwall, was again in fine form as his side played out a scoreless Scottish Premiership draw with visitors Dundee United in McDiarmid Park.

Glasgow Celtic loanee Jonathan Afolabi scored the only goal after five minutes to earn his Dundee side the points from the Scottish Championship visit of Greenock Morton.

In the Championship, Callum O’Dowda was a 65th minute substitute for Bristol City who played out a one all draw with visitors Swansea City for whom new signing Ryan Manning was an unused substitute. Coventry City went down to a four nil defeat by visitors Blackburn Rovers for whom Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams formed the central defensive partnership. Alan Browne started for Preston North End and scored both goals in their two one victory at Huddersfield Town while Sean Maguire was an 85th minute substitute. Adam Idah was a 58th minute substitute for Norwich City in their two one Carrow Road victory over visitors Wycombe Wanderers who included Daryl Horgan in their starting eleven. Idah was red carded in the fifth minute of stoppage time for violent conduct. Midweek red card recipient Nathan Collins, having appealed his dismissal, was in the Stoke City side alongside James McClean for their three two victory over visitors Brentford. McClean scored the second goal and set up the third for the ‘Potters’. 

Southampton loanee Thomas O’Connor was forced off after just 24 minutes as his loan club Gillingham went down to a two nil home defeat by visitors Fleetwood Town in League One. The victors included Glenn Whelan and Paddy Madden in their starting eleven with Madden scoring the opening goal. U21 midfielder Jack Taylor was in the Peterborough United side which gained the points with a two one victory over their hosts Hull City. Manchester City loanee Gavin Bazunu was in fine form with loan club Rochdale who defeated their hosts Shrewsbury Town by two goals to one. Ronan Curtis was a 55th minute substitute for Portsmouth who defeated their hosts Sunderland by three goals to one at the Stadium of Light.

Rotherham United loanee Joshua Kayode was in the Carlisle United side for their one all League Two draw at Grimsby Town while Glasgow Celtic loanee Lee O’Connor had to be substituted on 30 minutes as his Tranmere Rovers secured a two nil victory over visitors Southend United.  

Friday
Aston Villa lost the only remaining Premier League 100% record this Friday evening when visitors Leeds United defeated them by three goals to nil at Villa Park. One time Ireland target Patrick Bamford scored all three goals for the victors. Conor Hourihane remained unused on the substitute bench for the hosts.

New manager Chris Hughton saw his Nottingham Forest side collect a valuable Championship point when they came from behind to secure a one all draw with bitter rivals Derby County at the City Ground on Friday evening. Cyrus Christie and Harry Arter were both in the Forest side while Jason Knight was again in the visiting eleven. 

   

Our senior women suffered a very disappointing one nil defeat in a crucial 2022 UEFA European Championship Qualifier against the Ukraine in Kiev this Friday afternoon. Ireland had marginally the greater number of shots but just over 25% were on target while the hosts had a 60% on target ratio. The winning goal on 25 minutes was the result of a mix-up involving goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and defender Aine O’Gorman who put the ball in the net. Eight minutes later, Ireland had a golden opportunity to equalise but captain Katie McCabe struck her penalty kick off the crossbar. Ireland pursued an equaliser with vigour throughout the match but our finishing efforts were quite poor.

A draw would have ensured second place in Group I behind Germany and guaranteed at least a play-off place. Victory would have enhanced the chance of snatching one of the three Group Runners-Up places which offer automatic qualification for the finals. Ireland must now await the outcome of the contest between Greece and the Ukraine in four days time and will hope for a home victory which would take the Ukraine out of the second place equation and make Greece our primary challengers. Both Greece and ourselves are set to meet Germany in our respective final encounters with neither of us expected to gain any points which would ensure our second place finish and a play-off place.

Team:
Courtney Brosnan; Aine O’Gorman, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Harriet Scott; Heather Payne, Ruesha Littlejohn, Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe(C); Denise O’Sullivan; Rianna Jarrett
Substitutes:
Amber Barrett for Jarrett 86′
Ellen Molloy for Scott 86′

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan(West Ham United), Grace Moloney(Reading), Niamh Reid-Burke(Peamount United)
Defenders: Diane Caldwell(SC Sand), Keeva Keenan(Glasgow Celtic), Aine O’Gorman(Peamount United), Claire O’Riordan(MSV Duisberg), Louise Quinn(Fiorentina), Harriet Scott(Reading)
Midfielders: Megan Connolly(Brighton & Hove Albion), Niamh Fahey(Liverpool), Niamh Farrelly(Peamount United), Jamie Finn(Shelbourne), Ruesha Littlejohn(Leicester City), Ellen Molloy(Wexford), Alli Murphy(London City), Hayley Nolan(London City), Denise O’Sullivan(Brighton & Hove Albion-loan from NC Courage)
Forwards: Amber Barrett(FC Koln), Kyra Carusa(HB Hoge), Rianna Jarrett(Brighton & Hove Albion), Leanne Kiernan(West Ham United), Katie McCabe(Arsenal), Heather Payne(Florida State University)