News

Our Senior Women’s National Team Manager Vera Pauw has announced a 24 player squad for the upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO 2021 qualifier against Greece. The match is scheduled for the Nea Smyrna Stadium, Panionios, Athens at 1pm(Irish time)on Tuesday the 12th November.

Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihane(SC Brags), Grace Moloney(Reading), Niamh Reid-Burke(Peamount United)
Defenders: Diane Caldwell(SC Sand), Keeva Keena(Glasgow Celtic), Chloe Mustaki(Shelbourne), Eabha O’Mahoney(Cork City), Claire O’Riordan(MSV Duisberg), Louise Quinn(Arsenal), Claire Walsh(Peamount United)
Midfielders: Niamh Fahey(Liverpool), Jamie Finn(Shelbourne), Hayley Nolan(University of Hartford), Denise O’Sullivan(North Carolina Courage), Stephanie Roche(CF Florentia), Tyler Toland(Manchester City), Jessica Ziu(Shelbourne)
Forwards: Amber Barrett(FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett(Wexford WFC), Leanne Kiernan(West Ham United), Katie McCabe(Arsenal), Julie-Ann Russell(Sydney University), Clare Shine(Glasgow City), Emily Whelan(Shelbourne) 

West Bromwich Albion regained pole position in the Championship with a two nil victory over bottom side Stoke City in the Bet365 Stadium this Monday evening. The return to fitness of some senior defenders has seen Ireland U21 centre back Dara O’Shea lose his matchday squad position with the ‘Baggies’ and he may seek another loan move in the January window similar to his successful stint with Exeter City last season. Stoke have had a dreadful start to their season resulting in their manager Nathan Jones being dismissed last week. Their three man coaching team led by Rory Delap took charge of this evening’s contest. The hosts included Stephen Ward in their starting eleven with James McClean introduced from the bench on 61 minutes while Nathan Collins was an unused substitute. There was a very late withdrawal for Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan who sustained an ankle injury during the warm-up.

After an agonising wait of 32 years, Shamrock Rovers finally lifted their 25th FAI Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory over League Champions Dundalk in front of an attendance of 33,111 at the Aviva Stadium this Sunday afternoon.

The contest was quite an intense affair with the ‘Hoops’ looking the more likely to prevail for much of the afternoon. The breakthrough did not arrive however until the 89th minute when Aaron McEneff scored from the penalty spot for what seemed to be the winning goal. Dundalk however remained defiant and in the final minute of added time, Michael Duffy scored to send the contest into extra-time. The additional period remained scoreless and the destiny of the Trophy was decided by a penalty shoot-out from which the ‘Hoops’ emerged victorious by four goals to two.

The So Hotels FAI Women’s Senior Cup Final between newly crowned League Champions Peamount United and cup holders Wexford WFC kicked off at 12.05hrs and provided an entertaining encounter which ebbed  and flowed with Wexford WFC retaining the Trophy on a three two scoreline. Lauren Kelly gave them a 3rd minute lead but Peamount equalised through Karen Duggan on 32 minutes. Just two minutes later, Kelly restored the Wexford lead which they held until seven minutes into the second half when Eleanor Ryan-Doyle scored another equaliser for Peamount. The holders were not to be denied as captain Kylie Murphy burst forward to calmly slot the third and winning  Wexford goal after 64 minutes.

 

Premier League
James McCarthy started on the Crystal Palace substitute bench for the Selhurst Park visit of high flying Leicester City in the Premier League this Sunday afternoon. McCarthy has had very little match time with the ‘Eagles’ and his introduction on 78 minutes of their two nil defeat this afternoon may mean his likely exclusion from the revised Ireland squad. Definitely out of the Irish squad is suspended captain Seamus Coleman and he too found himself on the substitute bench for Everton who played host to Tottenham Hotspur. The match was of a very poor quality and ended in a one all draw with a serious leg injury to Everton midfielder Andre Gomes casting a shadow over the affair.

On a more positive note, young Troy Parrott was named on the Spurs substitute bench, but while he and Coleman were unused today, the young Dubliner may soon be given a Premier League introduction.

Championship
Loanee Josh Cullen was in midfield for Charlton Athletic who went down to a one nil defeat by visitors Preston North End at the Valley on Sunday afternoon. Alan Browne, Sean Maguire and Joe Rafferty all started for the ‘Lilywhites’ who move top of the Championship table. None of the Irish quartet were particularly impressive with Brown‘s policing of Cullen making their respective contributions essentially negligible. Maguire, playing wide on the left offered glimpses but his ball control was generally disappointing. Rafferty, playing out of position at left back, was reasonably steady.

Scottish League Cup
Struggling Heart of Midlothian had a break from league action on Sunday afternoon when they faced Glasgow Rangers in the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup but there was no respite from their pitiful form this season as they went down to a three nil defeat. Glenn Whelan started in midfield for the ‘Jam Tarts’ but suffered an early injury and was substituted after just 27 minutes.

Premier League
Matt Doherty and his Wolverhampton Wanderers colleagues travelled to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and earned a deserved one all draw. There are concerns however surrounding Doherty who limped off after 71 minutes. Conor Hourihane was sent on from the Aston Villa substitute bench on 73 minutes as his side led leaders Liverpool, who recovered to score twice in the closing minutes for a two one victory at  Villa Park. Shane Duffy was introduced from the Brighton & Hove Albion substitute bench after 36 minutes and proceeded to score their second goal in a two nil victory over visitors Norwich City. Aaron Connolly started up front for the victorious ‘Seagulls’ and completed eighty six minutes before being substituted. Shane Long was an unused substitute for Southampton who went down to a two one defeat at Manchester City. Ireland Assistant Manager Terry Connor was expected to be at Bramall Lane for the contest between Sheffield United and Burnley which the host ‘Blades’ won by three goals to nil. John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick started for the victors but Callum Robinson was an unused substitute while  Jeff Hendrick started with Robbie Brady a 59th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Clarets’. There will be Irish concerns surrounding Egan who was forced off through injury  after 79 minutes. Ciaran Clark retained his starting position for Newcastle United and opened the scoring after 16 minutes as the ‘Magpies’ secured a three two victory over their hosts West Ham United at the London Stadium.   

Championship
Derrick Williams started for Blackburn Rovers who came from behind to defeat visitors Sheffield Wednesday and Keiren Westwood by two goals to one in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Manning started for QPR who went down to a two nil defeat by Leeds United at Elland Road. James Collins returned to the starting eleven for Luton Town who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Nottingham Forest at Kenilworth Road. Loanee Jayson Molumby and Shaun Williams started for Millwall who went down to a two one defeat by hosts Reading at the Madejski Stadium where Aiden O’Brien was an unused substitute. 

League One
In League One, loanee goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara and his Burton Albion colleagues played out a two all draw with hosts Doncaster Rovers for whom Kieran Sadlier was on the scoresheet. U21 candidate Trevor Clarke started for Rotherham United but was substituted at half-time as his side secured a three nil victory over their hosts Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium while Ronan Curtis was in the Portsmouth side held to a one all draw by visitors Oxford United at Fratton Park.

 

The finals acts of the 2019 Airtricity League season took place in Ballybofey this Friday evening where Finn Harps retained their Premier Division status with a two nil extra-time victory over First Division side Drogheda United in the second leg of the play-off final. 

Drogheda held a one nil advantage from last week’s first leg in United Park but Harps levelled matters after just seven minutes this evening through Mark Russell. There were no further goals during the regular ninety minute period and so the contest went to extra-time where Harry Ascroft scored the winning goal two minutes into the second period of extra-time.

Bristol City may have felt somewhat aggrieved that they were forced  to  travel to face Barnsley in the Championship on Friday evening having played their previous league fixture against Wigan Athletic just five days ago on Sunday afternoon. Callum O’Dowda has been in fine form since his return to first team action and was again in the starting eleven. O’Dowda was played in a central midfield role and showed some neat touches without being particularly impressive as his side conceded an equaliser in the final seconds of added time for a two all draw.