News

Airtricity League First Division…26/03/2022


Match Series Seven in the Airtricity League First Division took place this evening. The Carlisle Grounds hosted the meeting of Bray Wanderers and Wexford which ended scoreless. In form Cork City defeated bottom side Athlone Town by four goals to one in Turner’s Cross while Treaty United overcame Waterford in the Markets Field by two goals to one.
Galway United lost their unbeaten record when they went down to a two one defeat by Longford Town in Bishopsgate.

                        P  W  D  L   F  A   G/D  Pts
Cork City               7  5  1  1  18  2   16   16
Galway United           6  4  1  1  11  7    4   13
Waterford               6  3  1  2  11  9    2   10
Longford Town           4  2  1  1   6  3    3    7
Treaty United           5  2  1  2   8  8    –    7
Wexford                 6  2  1  3   7 13   -6    7
Bray Wanderers          6  2  1  3   4 11   -7    7
Cobh Ramblers           5  1  1  3   5  8   -3    4
Athlone Town            5  0  0  5   7 16   -9    0

U19s exit with comfortable victory…29/03/2022


Our U19 side completed  their involvement in the 2022 European Championship with a commanding four nil victory over Armenia in St George’s Park on Tuesday evening. First half goals from Andrew Moran and Cian Hayes put Ireland comfortably in command and second half strikes from Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and substitute Evan Caffrey set the seal on a comprehensive success.

Team:  Josh Keeley; Sean Grehan, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Sean Roughan, Tayo Adaramola ; Baba Adeeko, Ed McJannet; Glory Nzingo, Kian Corbally, Andrew Moran; Cian Hayes
Substitutes: 
Bosun Lawal for Roughan 46′
Evan Caffrey for Nzingo 62′
Jack Henry-Francis for Adeeko 69′
Alex Murphy for McJannet 85′

Our U19 side faced Portugal in St George’s Park this Saturday evening in their second contest at the Elite Stage of the 2022 European Championship. Despite a promising start, with the opening goal from Jonny Kenny on 25 minutes, our side conceded four goals in the closing stages to end their hopes of progressing to the Finals.

Team: Dan Rose; James Abankwah, Bosun Lawal (c),  Sean Roughan; Evan Caffrey, , Jack Henry-Francis, Ed McJannet, Alex Murphy; Cian Hayes, Jonny Kenny, Andrew Moran
Substitutes:
Glory Nzingo for Hayes 82′

Our U19 side suffered a three one defeat by hosts England in this evening’s opening European Championship Elite Stage contest played in Walsall. The hosts opened the scoring after just five minutes but Ireland responded and  the contest was finely balanced until we suffered  a double blow, with injury forcing the withdrawal of strikers Sinclair Armstrong on 20 minutes and Jonny Kenny fifteen minutes later. Despite the disruption, Ireland equalised on 39 minutes through James Abankwah.  Just three minutes later the hosts regained the lead and two minutes into the second half they scored  the third. Ireland battled to the end but were unable to convert any of the chances they created. 

Team: Dan Rose; Bosun Lawal (c), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, Sean Roughan; James Abankwah, Jack Henry-Francis, Ed McJannet, Tayo Adaramola; Jonny Kenny, Sinclair Armstrong. Ollie O’Neill
Substitutes:
Evan Caffrey for Armstrong 20′
Cian Hayes for Kenny 35′
Glory Nzingo for Adaramola 87′

U17 Women suffer another defeat…29/03/2022

 

Our U17 Women suffered another defeat and exited the European Championship qualifiers following their four one loss  to Iceland in Tallaght Stadium early this afternoon. As they did against Finland on Saturday,  Ireland took the lead with a fifth minute goal from captain Abbie Larkin but we never really looked  like retaining the advantage and so it was as the Group winners eased to victory.

Team: Summer Lawless; Meabh Russell, Kate Thompson, Heidi Macken, Tara O’Hanlon;  Orlaith O’Mahony, Michaela Lawrence, Aoife Kelly; Katie McCarn, Abbie Larkin (c), Lia O’Leary
Substitutes:
Aoibhe Fleming for Macken 46′
Joy Ralph for Lawrence 46′
Claudia Keenan for Lawless 58′
Chloe Atkinson for McCarn 58′
Jodie Loughrey for O’Leary 58′

Our U17 Women suffered  a stunning two one defeat by Finland in this afternoon’s European Championship qualifier. Ireland took the lead on 58 minutes through captain Abbie Larkin and looked set for victory but two goals in added time ended hopes of qualification for the Finals.

Team; Summer Lawless; Kate Thompson, Heidi Macken, Tara O’Hanlon (c); Orlaith O’Mahony, Meabh Russell, Michaela Lawrence, Katie McCarn; Jodie Loughrey, Lia O’Leary, Keri Loughrey
Substitutes:
Katie McCarn for K Loughrey 46′
Aoife Kelly for Lawrence 56′
Ellen Dolan for J Loughrey 56′
Joy Ralph for O’Leary 79′

A goal in the 88th minute from midfielder Michaela Lawrence salvaged a one all European Championship draw for our U17 women against Slovakia in Tallaght Stadium this evening. Ireland had been dominant for much of the contest but were unable to find the net and the concession of a 72nd minute penalty enabled Slovakia to take the lead. 

The earlier Group A contest between Finland and Iceland also finished as a one all draw leaving all four sides with equal records.

Team; Summer Lawless; Kate Thompson, Eve Dossen, Aoibhe Fleming, Tara O’Hanlon (c); Orlaith O’Mahony, Michaela Lawrence, Katie McCarn; Jodie Loughrey, Lia O’Leary, Joy Ralph
Substitutes:
Heidt Macken for Fleming 62′
Aoife  Kelly for Loughrey 76′
Abbie Larkin for McCarn 77′

U17s exit European Championships…29/03/2022


Our U17 side ended  their involvement in the 2022 European Championship with a two all draw against Bulgaria in Portugal this Tuesday afternoon. A disappointing first half saw us trail by two goals at the interval. The second period brought improvement  and goals from substitute Rocco Vata and Sam Curtis secured a deserved draw. RISSC London club member James McManus completed the full ninety minutes in midfield.

Team: Fintan Doherty; Ivan Savshak, Cathal Heffernan (c), Sam Curtis, Sean McHale; Gideon Tetteh, Justin Ferizaj, James McManus; Thomas Bloxham, Mark O’Mahony, Kevin Zefi
Substitutes:
Rocco Vata for Savshak 46′
Caden McLoughlin for O’Mahony 46′
Luke O’Brien for McHale 59′
Franco Umeh for Tetteh 59′

Despite taking the lead twice, our U17 side conceded two late goals leading to a three two defeat by Finland which ends our hopes of qualifying for the finals of the 2022 European Championship. Cork City striker Franco Umeh scored  both of our goals while his club team mate Mark O’Mahony missed a 21st minute penalty which would have given us a two goal advantage.

Team: Fintan Doherty; Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ivan Savshak, Luke O’Brien; Senan Mullen, Adam Murphy, Rocco Vata; Franco Umah, Mark O’Mahony, Kevin Zefi
Substitutes:
Thomas Bloxham for Umeh 65′
Darius Lipsiuc for Murphy 71′
Sean McHale for Mullen 79′

Our U17 side suffered a disappointing four one defeat by mini-tournament hosts Portugal in their opening European Championship Elite Stage contest in Viseu this afternoon. The hosts took a 19th minute lead and doubled  their advantage in the fourth minute of added time at the end of the first half. Mark O’Mahoney reduced the deficit on 72 minutes but Ireland were unable to find an equaliser and suffered cruelly with the concession of two further goals in the fourth and seventh minutes of added time. 

The other Group 8 contest saw Bulgaria defeat Finland by one goal to nil earlier in the day.

Team: Conor Walsh; Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan (c), Ivan Savshak, Luke O’Brien; Darius Lipsiuc, Justin Ferizaj, Adam Murphy; Rocco Vata, Mark O’Mahony, Kevin Zefi 
Substitutes:
Sean McHale for Heffernan 59′
Franco Umeh for Lipsiuc 59′
Dan McHale for Savshak 83′
Caden McLoughlin  for Vata 90’+8′

Underage Elite Stage action…29/03/2022

Under 19
Head Coach Tom Mohan has announced his 20 player U19 squad for the Elite Stage of the 2022 European Championship which is being hosted by England.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Josh Keeley (St Patrick’s Athletic), Dan Rose (Schalke 04)
Defenders: James Abankwah (St Patrick’s Athletic on loan from Udinese), Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Sean Grehan (Unattached), Bosun Lawal (Glasgow Celtic), Anselno Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg), Alex Murphy (Galway United), Sean Roughan (Drogheda United on loan from Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic), Evan Caffrey (UCD), Kian Corbally (St Patrick’s Athletic), Cian Hayes (Fleetwood Town), Jack Henry-Francis (Arsenal), Ed McJannet (Luton Town), Glory Nzingo (Stade Reims)
Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Johnny Kenny (Glasgow Celtic), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham)

Fixtures
Wednesday 23 March
13.00 Portugal v Armenia
19.30 England v Republic of Ireland – Bank’s Stadium, Walsall
Saturday 26 March
14.00 England v Armenia
19.30 Portugal v Republic of Ireland – St George’s Park, Pitch 4
Tuesday 29 March
19.30 England v Portugal
19.30 Armenia v Republic of Ireland – St George’s Park, Pitch 4

Under 17
Head Coach Colin O’Brien has announced his 20 player U17 squad for the Elite Stage of the 2022 European Championship which is being hosted by Portugal.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Sam Curtis (St Patrick’s Athletic), Cathal Heffernan (AC Milan), Dan McHale (UCD), Sean McHale (St Patrick’s Athletic), Luke O’Brien (St Patrick’s Athletic), Ivan Savshak (Honved Budapest)
Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Darius Lipsiuc (St Patrick’s Athletic), James McManus (Bohemian), Senan Mullen (Dundalk), Adam Murphy (St Patrick’s Athletic), Rocco Vata (Glasgow Celtic)
Forwards: Thomas Bloxham (Tottenham Hotspur), Caden McLoughlin (Villarreal), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Gideon Tetteh (Shamrock Rovers), Franco Umeh (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)

Fixtures
Wednesday 23 March
11.00 Bulgaria v Finland
15.00 Portugal v Republic of Ireland – Fontelo Municipal, Viseu
[Live FAITV You Tube]
Saturday 26 March
16.00 Bulgaria v Portugal
11.00 Finland v Republic of Ireland – Penalva Castelo
Tuesday 29 March
15.00 Finland v Portugal
15.00 Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland – Santa Combo Dao

Under 17 Women
Head Coach James Scott has announced his 20 player U17 Women’s squad for the Round Two League A Stage of the 2022 European Championship which is being hosted by Ireland.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Claudia Keenan (Wexford WFC), Summer Lawless (Peamount United)
Defenders: Eve Dossen (Galway WFC), Aoibhe Fleming (Peamount United), Heidi Macken (Cork City), Tara O’Hanlon (Peamount United), Meabh Russell (Wexford WFC), Kate Thompson (Galway United WFC)
Midfielders: Aoife Kelly (Shelbourne), Michaela Lawrence (Treaty United), Jodie Loughrey (Donegal WL), Sophie Morrin (Liverpool), Orlaith O’Mahony (Shamrock Rovers)
Forwards: Chloe Atkinson (Cork City), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Keri Loughrey (Donegal WL), Katie McCarn (Shelbourne), Lia O’Leary (Shelbourne), Heidi O’Sullivan (Treaty United), Joy Ralph (DLR Waves)

Fixtures
Wednesday 23 March
14.00 Finland v Iceland – UCD Bowl
19.00 Slovakia v Republic of Ireland – Tallaght Stadium
Saturday 26 March
12.00 Iceland v Slovakia – Richmond Park
14.00 Finland v Republic of Ireland – Tallaght Stadium
Tuesday 29 March
12.00 Slovakia v Finland – UCD Bowl
12.00 Iceland v Republic of Ireland – Tallaght Stadium

 

Centenary International…26/03/2022

 

Following three disappointing defeats at competitive underage level today our senior side raised spirits with a rewarding two all draw against Belgium. Ireland started brightly in the opening stages but were rocked on 12 minutes when the visitors scored  against the run of play. Stunned by the concession of the goal Ireland were outplayed for the next twenty minutes or so before recovering their composure and settling into a more positive pattern which brought it’s reward with the equaliser on 36 minutes from a spectacular overhead strike from Chiedoze Ogbene.

Ireland  set the pace in the early stages of the second half only to again concede the lead with the very poor defending of a corner kick. The response on this occasion was more positive with Ireland being the more dominant side and creating three scoring opportunities which went begging. Undaunted they continued to press  for the equaliser and reaped  their reward on 86 minutes with a powerful header from substitute Alan Browne following an excellent cross from the  ‘man of the match’ Ogbene.

While the contest lacked  the absolute intensity of a competitive encounter there were some quality passages of play from Ireland which augur well for the future. In his post match interview manager Stephen Kenny alluded to this point whilst offering a fair   assessment of the performance.

Team: Caoimhin Kelleher; Seamus Coleman (c), Shane Duffy, John Egan; Matt Doherty. Jeff Hendrick, Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, James McClean; Chiedoze Ogbene, Callum Robinson
Substitutes:
Alan Browne for Hendrick 76′
Will Keane for Knight 76′
Ryan Manning for McClean 80′
Troy Parrott for Robinson 90’+2′

Our Republic of Ireland senior international side take on FIFA Number One seeds Belgium at 5pm on Saturday afternoon in the Aviva Stadium as we celebrate the Centenary of our foundation.

The squad assembled in Dublin today and is joined by new Assistant Coach John Eustace who replaces the departed Anthony Barry. The 42 year old Solihull native is currently Assistant Manager at QPR where he has been in place for four years and he will retain that role. During his playing career, midfielder Eustace played for Coventry City, Derby County, Stoke City and Watford.

Gavin Bazunu, Darragh Lenihan and Mark Travers have been forced to withdraw from the squad through illness and  injury and will be replaced by Max O’Leary, Jimmy Dunne and James Talbot.

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Republic of Ireland Manager Stephen Kenny has announced a 25 player squad for the upcoming friendly internationals against Belgium and Lithuania. Injury had already ruled out James Collins, Adam Idah, Andrew Omobamidele, Callum O’Dowda and Enda Stevens while Cyrus Christie, Aaron Connolly, Daryl Horgan, Jamie McGrath and Michael Obafemi have not been selected in this squad.

The omission of Obafemi will be a talking point given he has recently found some goal scoring form for Swansea City but his refusal to accept a call up to the U21 squad earlier this week, citing his interest in the senior side only, has backfired and rightly so. When you are invited  to represent your country at any level there is no decision to be made. Later in the day, manager Stephen Kenny advised  that Obafemi was never under consideration for the seniors or the U21s  because of  concerns relating to his hamstrings. Hmmmm.

The two newcomers to the squad, Connor Ronan and Mark Sykes, have both been in fine form with their clubs and are excellent technical players. 

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Portsmouth on loan from Manchester City), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City), James Talbot (Bohemian)

Defenders:  Seamus Coleman (Everton), Nathan Collins (Burnley, Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Jimmy Dunne (QPR)

Midfielders: Alan Browne (Preston North End), Josh Cullen (RSC Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (QPR on loan from Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane (Sheffield United on loan from Aston Villa), Jason Knight (Derby County), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Connor Ronan (St Mirren on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Mark Sykes (Oxford United)

Forwards: Scott Hogan (Birmingham City), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Chiedoze Ogbene (Rotherham United), Troy Parrott (MK Dons on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion)

 

Overseas action this weekend…20/03/2022

 

Sunday
The remaining sixth round FA Cup ties took place on Sunday afternoon with Crystal Palace defeating Everton and Seamus Coleman by four goals to nil at Selhurst Park. Shane Long started for Southampton who suffered  a four one defeat by visitors Manchester City. 

Tottenham Hotspur and Matt Doherty defeated West Ham United by three goals to one in the Premier League at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

The Championship meeting of QPR and Peterborough United saw Jimmy Dunne and emergency goalkeeper signing Keiren Westwood starting for the hosts with loanee Jeff Hendrick a 57th minute substitute while Sam Szmodics and Jack Taylor started for the visitors who, despite conceding an early goal, recovered  to secure a shock three one victory.

Josh Cullen and RSC Anderlecht travel to KAA Gent in the Belgian First Division for a 5.30pm kick-off on Sunday afternoon. 

Saturday
Current Scottish Premiership leaders Glasgow Celtic cruised to a four nil victory over visitors Ross County with James McCarthy confined to the substitute bench. Daniel Cleary started with John Mahon unused on the St Johnstone bench for their two one victory over visitors Motherwell for whom Ross Tierney was an unused substitute  while Jake Carroll started. Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Connor Ronan was in the St Mirren side where he was joined by Joe Shaughnessy, Charles Dunne and Alan Power with Conor McCarthy a 66th minute substitute in their two one defeat by visitors Dundee United.

There was a 12.30pm kick-off for the Championship meeting of troubled Derby County and Coventry City. The hosts included Eiran Cashin in their starting eleven and he was replaced on 61 minutes by Festy Ebosele as the ‘Rams’ came from behind to earn a one all draw. Jason Knight was an unused  substitute for the hosts. There was also an early kick-off at Bramall Lane where Sheffield United defeated neighbours Barnsley by two goals to nil. John Egan and loanee Conor Hourihane were both in action with the ‘Blades’. Bristol City held West Bromwich Albion to a two all draw at Ashton Gate where Max O’Leary returned on their substitute bench following injury while Callum Robinson started for the ‘Baggies’ with Dara O’Shea and loanee Jayson Molumby unused on their substitute bench. Mark Travers and his AFC Bournemouth colleagues travelled to Huddersfield Town where they secured  a three nil victory. Sean McLoughlin and Hull City went down to a three one home defeat by visitors Luton Town and Peter Kioso who was withdrawn early in the second half. Darragh Lenihan started and James Brown was on the Blackburn Rovers bench for their one nil defeat at Reading. Goalkeeper Jack Bonham and his Stoke City colleagues defeated visitors Millwall and Danny McNamara by two goals to nil. In form striker Michael Obafemi together with loanee Cyrus Christie were in the Swansea City side which was held to a scoreless draw by visitors Birmingham City and Scott Hogan.

The veteran Wes Hoolihan was a 71st minute substitute for Cambridge United who went down to a one nil League One defeat by visitors MK Dons and their trio of Warren O’Hora who scored  the goal and loanees Conor Coventry and Troy Parrott. Lincoln City, for whom Anthony Scully was an unused  substitute,  played out a scoreless draw with visitors Sunderland and Denis Cirkin. Oxford United included Mark Sykes and Luke McNally, who scored the added time equaliser,  in their side for the one all draw with visitors Ipswich Town. Loanee Gavin Bazunu together with Sean Raggett and Marcus Harness were in the Portsmouth side which played out a scoreless draw with visitors Wycombe Wanderers and Daryl Horgan with Bazunu named ‘Player of the Match’. Loanee Aiden O’Brien and Ronan Cutis were on the ‘Pompey’ substitute bench. Rotherham United included Joshua Kayode in their starting eleven and he was replaced at half-time by Chiedoze Ogbene for their three nil defeat by visitors Shrewsbury Town. In form striker Will Keane together with James McClean started for Wigan Athletic who defeated visitors Morecambe by four goals to one with Keane netting his 20th goals of the season..

Loanee Jake O’Brien and Swindon Town went down to a three one defeat at Crawley Town who include loanee Will Ferry in their side while Lee O’Connor and Tranmere Rovers played out a one all draw at Sutton United in League Two.

Middlesbrough went down to a two nil defeat by Chelsea in the sixth round of the FA Cup late on Saturday afternoon in the Riverside Stadium. Loanee Aaron Connolly started  but was withdrawn on 58 minutes.