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Despite a valiant effort Bohemian U19s exited the Europa Youth League following a one nil second leg defeat by Greek side PAOK in Thessalonika this Wednesday evening.
The first leg had finished in a one all draw at Dalymount Park three weeks ago.

The Championship continued on Tuesday evening with Birmingham City scoring the only goal to defeat Blackburn Rovers at St Andrew’s. Daniel Crowley, whose Irish eligibility status has become something of a mystery, started for the ‘Blues’ but was withdrawn on 73 minutes while Derrick Williams, who received a few minutes of competitive action for Ireland last week, started for the visitors. Our U21 captain Jayson Molumby, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, was an unused substitute for Millwall who played out a two all draw with visitors Cardiff City at the New Den. Aiden O’Brien and Shaun Williams both started for the ‘Lions’. Alan Browne and Joe Rafferty started for Preston North End while Sean Maguire was a 72nd minute substitute as they played out a one all draw with second place Leeds United at Deepdale. Ryan Manning has been receiving very positive press for his performances in his new left back role for QPR and he was under observation by Mick McCarthy when Reading visited Loftus Road where the sides played out a two all draw. Injury prone Keiren Westwood was again absent for Sheffield Wednesday who scored the only goal to defeat Stoke City at Hillsborough. The visitors included Stephen Ward in their starting eleven with loanee Scott Hogan introduced from the bench on 69 minutes while James McClean was unused on the substitute bench. U21 centre back Dara O’Shea continued his substitute role for current leaders West Bromwich Albion who were held to a shock two all draw by bottom side Barnsley at the Hawthorns.  

The Irish international trio of John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick all started for Sheffield United who defeated Arsenal by one goal to nil in the Premier League at Bramall Lane this Monday evening. All three performed with distinction as did all of their colleagues for what was a deserved victory. David McGoldrick, on his return from injury, was excellent in the linkman/striker role for the 78 minutes he was on the pitch. His absence from Ireland’s two European Championship contests last week was sorely felt and we must now hope that he remains fit and is available for the upcoming contest with Denmark. Our fourth ‘Blade’ Callum Robinson was an unused substitute this evening.

Our Republic of Ireland U15 Squad, guided by Head Coach Jason Donohue, has won the UEFA Quadrangular Development Tournament hosted by Ireland in Mayo this week. Donohue selected a 20 player squad and we were joined in the tournament by the Faroe Islands, Latvia and Luxembourg with matches taking place in Ballina, Castlebar and Westport.

Our final group contest took place in Ballina this Monday morning when Luxembourg were crushed by eight goals to nil. Luxembourg had also won their opening two matches against the Faroe Islands and Latvia. Striker Caden McLoughlin, who is attached to CF Malaga in Spain, scored a hat-trick with Adam Murphy, Kevin Zefi, Gideon Tetteh, Adam Nugent and captain Sam Curtis adding to the total.

In his post match review, Jason Donohue paid tribute to his squad of players and the progress they have and are continuing to make. He also made special mention of FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dockter, the driving force behind the revised and much cultured style of play being effected by Ireland at underage level. Mention was also made of Emerging Talent Programme leader Niall Harrison, who RISSC London members may recall did outline the progress being made when he was our guest a few years ago. Members may even recall some of the emerging players namechecked by Niall that night who are currently underpinning Stephen Kenny‘s U21 side.

Our second engagement took place in Westport on Saturday afternoon when we secured a comfortable four nil victory over the Faroe Islands. Local lad Adam Nugent opened the scoring in the first half and second half goals from Sam Curtis, an O.G. and the fourth, two minutes before the end, from another local lad and captain Daniel Kelly set the seal on victory. Our own James McManus started in midfield this afternoon.

Ireland commenced our challenge on Thursday afternoon last with a three one victory over Latvia in Solar 21 Park, Castlebar. Ireland were the dominated side throughout the first half but were unable to translate their superiority into goals. The goal drought position was remedied in the second half with Belvedere forward Adam Murphy firing home on 49 minutes. Murphy was replaced four minutes later by Westport lad Adam Nugent and he certainly made an impact, scoring twice in the next ten minutes. The visitors did score a goal twelve minutes before the end but Ireland were always in command. RISSC (London) member James McManus was introduced from the substitute bench on 70 minutes and is expected to see more match time in the next two fixtures.

Team v Luxembourg 21.10.2019
Conor Walsh; Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Daniel Kelly, Sam Curtis(C), Finn Cowper-Gray; Justin Ferizaj, James McManus; Adam Murphy; Kevin Zefi, Caden McLoughlin, Giddeon Tetteh

Substitutes:
Shay O’Leary for Walsh 41′
Cathal Heffernan for Cowper-Gray 41′
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh for McManus 41′
Murray for Tetteh 41′
Trisden Wholey-Hughes for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 49′
Cian Barrett for Ferizaj 49′
Adam Nugent for McLoughlin 49′
Eanna Fitzgerald for Murphy 56′
Mark Tansey for Zefi 56′

Team v Faroe Islands 19.10.2019
Conor Walsh; Trisden Wholey-Hughes, Daniel Kelly(C), Cathal Heffernan, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh; Eanna Fitzgerald, Cian Barrett, James McManus; Murray, Adam Nugent, Mark Tansey

Substitutes:
Sam Curtis for Heffernan 41′
Finn Cowper-Gray for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 41′
Kevin Zefi for Tansey 56′
Giddeon Tetteh for Barrett 64′
Adam Murphy for Murray 64′
Caden McLoughlin for Nugent 64′
Justin Ferizaj for McManus 65′

Team v Latvia 17.10.2019
Shay O’Leary; Finn Cowper-Gray, Luke O’Brien, Cathal Heffernan, Sam Curtis; Justin Ferizaj, Adam Murphy, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh; Kevin Zefi, Caden McLoughlin, Giddeon Tetteh

Substitutes:
Mark Tansey for Tetteh 49′
Cian Barrett for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 53′
Adam Nugent for Murphy 53′
James McManus for Ferizaj 70′
Murray for McLoughlin 71′

Premier League
The Villa Park meeting of Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion saw the hosts score a late winner for a two one victory. Teenager Aaron Connolly started for the visiting ‘Seagulls’ but was withdrawn at half-time while Shane Duffy was introduced from the bench in the 70th minute. Conor Hourihane retained his starting position for the host ‘Villans’ but was withdrawn after 63 minutes. Ciaran Clark did not receive an international call-up last week, which surprised many, but he retained his starting position for Newcastle United who went down to a one nil defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. High flying Leicester City defeated visitors Burnley by two goals to one. Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady started for the ‘Clarets’ with Kevin Long an unused substitute. Matt Doherty was a half-time substitute  for Wolverhampton Wanderers who were held to a one all draw by visitors Southampton at Molineaux where Shane Long was an unused substitute. The late kick-off saw Crystal Palace go down to a two nil defeat by Manchester City at Selhurst Park where James McCarthy was an unused substitute.

Championship
Derrick Williams started for Blackburn Rovers who were held to a two all draw by Ewood Park visitors Huddersfield Town in the Championship early on Saturday afternoon. Our U21 captain Jayson Molumby started for loan club Millwall alongside Shaun Williams as they made the short journey to face Brentford in Griffin Park. The ‘Lions’ held a two goal lead when Molumby was substituted on 74 minutes but then conceded three times in the final ten minutes to suffer defeat. Midfield loanee Josh Cullen started for Charlton Athletic who defeated visitors Derby County by three goals to nil at the Valley. Ryan Manning, continuing in his new left back role, scored for QPR who made the journey to face Hull City at the KCOM Stadium and secured a three two success. Luton Town defeated visitors Bristol City by three goals to nil at Kenilworth Road where James Collins started  for the victors while Callum O’Dowda was a 58th minute substitute for the visitors. Darren Randolph and his Middlesbrough colleagues suffered another home defeat as visitors  West Bromwich Albion scored a late winner. U21 defender Dara O’Shea was again on the substitute bench for the victors. Reading scored the only goal in the 8th minute of added time to defeat visitors  Preston North End at the Madejski Stadium. Sean Maguire started for the ‘Lilywhites’ while Alan Browne was a 58th minute substitute.    Stoke City continued their revival with a two nil victory over visitors Fulham at the bet365 Stadium where loanee Scott Hogan was a 76th minute substitute while James McClean was an unused substitute. Harry Arter started for Fulham but was withdrawn on 64 minutes while Cyrus Christie was an unused substitute.

League One
Manchester United loanee Kieran O’Hara was on goalkeeping duty for Burton Albion but suffered bitter disappointment as his side went down to a four one defeat at Fleetwood United. in League One on Saturday afternoon. U21 defender Trevor Clarke who has recovered from injury was an unused substitute for Rotherham United who went down to a two one defeat by visitors Oxford United. Alan Judge started for Ipswich Town but was withdrawn after 66 minutes of their two nil defeat at Accrington Stanley on Sunday afternoon.

Scottish Premiership
Glenn Whelan, Jake Mulraney and Adrian White started for Heart of Midlothian who played out a one all draw with Glasgow Rangers at Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership early on Sunday afternoon. Aiden Keena and Colin Doyle were unused substitutes for the hosts.  

The Airtricity League Premier Division entered it’s closing stages on Friday evening with penultimate Match Series 35. Champions Dundalk travelled to face toiling Cork City, and went down to an unexpected one nil defeat. Second place Shamrock Rovers made the very short journey to the Bowl where they secured a comfortable  three nil victory over relegated UCD.  The RTE 2 cameras brought live coverage of the Dublin Derby meeting of fifth place St Patrick’s Athletic and third place Bohemian which ended scoreless, guaranteeing the ‘Gypsies’ a place in Europe next season. The Inchicore side now trail fourth place Derry City, who play tomorrow, by just two points and the sides are set to meet in the Brandywell next Monday evening. Relegation play-off bound Finn Harps scored the only goal to defeat visitors Waterford in Finn Park.

On Saturday evening, Derry City consolidated their fourth place position and a place in Europe next season when they came from behind to defeat Sligo Rovers by two goals to one in the Showgrounds.

The postponed fixture between Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic took place in the Brandywell on Monday the 22nd October and saw the ‘Candystripes’ go down to a three one defeat despite taking an early lead. With just one set of fixtures remaining, the Inchicore side now trail Derry City by two points. The pressure is now on for Friday night’s concluding fixtures when Derry City host Finn Harps while St Patrick’s Athletic visit champions Dundalk with that fourth place providing European Football next season.
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                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D   Pts
Dundalk [Champions]        35  26  5  4  69  18   51    83
Shamrock Rovers            35  22  6  7  59  21   38    72
Bohemian                   35  16  9 10  45  27   18    57
Derry City                 35  14 12  9  52  34   18    54
St Patrick’s Athletic      35  14 10 11  29  31   -2    52
Sligo Rovers               35  10 12 13  37  45   -8    42
Waterford                  35  11  7 17  42  51   -9    40
Cork City                  35   9 10 16  29  46  -17    37
Finn Harps                 35   7  7 21  26  60  -34    28
UCD                        35   5  4 26  23  78  -55    19

The Airtricity League Promotion/Relegation play-off series continued at Stradbrook this Friday evening with Cabinteely playing host to Drogheda United in the first leg of their play-off semi-final which ended in a one all draw. The second leg is set for United Park on Friday the 25th October 2019.

The English Championship resumed after the international break on Friday evening with Cardiff City playing out a one all draw with visitors Sheffield Wednesday. Goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was selected to start for the visiting ‘Owls’ but was injured during the warm-up and withdrawn. His all too frequent withdrawals from Ireland squads and his recent replacement by emerging net minding duo Mark Travers and Kieran O’Hara together with U21 goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher may signal the end of his international career.