News

With progress to the next Elite Stage already assured for both sides, our U19 Ireland Women went down to a crushing six nil defeat by mini-tournament hosts Holland in Gravenzande early this Tuesday evening.

Despite a valiant effort the team was no match for the hosts who rank amongst the highest echelons of women’s football.

            P  W  D  L   F   A   Pts
Holland     3  3  0  0  19   1    9
Ireland     3  2  0  1   5   6    6
Ukraine     3  1  0  2   4   8    3
Montenegro  3  0  0  3   2  15    0  

Republic of Ireland U19 Head Coach Tom Mohan has named a twenty seven player squad for two international friendly contests with Denmark, which will take place in the Sligo Showgrounds on Friday the 11th October at 7pm and Monday the 14th October at 1pm.

The squad includes several new faces, many aligned with Premier League clubs and testament to the groundwork done by our scout par excellence, Mark O’Toole.

Much attention will focus on Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Conor Noss and Manchester United midfielder Harvey Neville, son of former United, Everton and England defender Phil Neville.

Goalkeepers: Sean Bohan(Bohemian), Jimmy Corcoran(Preston North End), Bobby Jones(Wigan Athletic)
Defenders: Ronan Boyce(Derry City), Ben Greenwood(AFC Bournemouth), Oisin McEntee(Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness(Arsenal), Mazeed Ogungbo(Arsenal), Andrew Omobamidele(Norwich City), Lewis Richards(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Timi Sobowale(Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jamie Bowden(Tottenham Hotspur), Barry Coffey(Glasgow Celtic), Dawson Devoy(Bohemian), Conor Grant(Sheffield Wednesday), Donal Higgins(Galway United), Harvey Neville(Manchester United), Armstrong Oko-Flex(Glasgow Celtic), Tyreik Wright(Aston Villa)
Forwards: Tom Cannon(Everton), Ryan Cassidy(Watford), Festy Ebosele(Derby County), Alex Gilbert(West Bromwich Albion), Conor Noss(Borussia Monchengladbach), George Nunn(Chelsea), Thomas Oluwa(Shamrock Rovers), Ross Tierney(Bohemian)

Injury has ruled out Greg Cunningham, Darragh Lenihan and Ronan Curtis from our senior international squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers in Georgia and Switzerland. Manager Mick McCarthy has summoned Brighton & Hove Albion forward Aaron Connolly from our U21 squad and Blackburn Rovers defender Derrick Williams to join the squad. McCarthy also indicated that he has not yet entirely ruled out the possibility of Shane Duffy and David McGoldrick being available to link up with the squad should they recover from their current injury setbacks.

U21 manager Stephen Kenny has summoned Ross County loanee Simon Power to replace Connolly in the U21 squad.

Premier League
First into Premier League action on Saturday afternoon were Brighton & Hove Albion who welcomed Tottenham Hotspur to the Amex Stadium. Nineteen year old Galway man Aaron Connelly started his first Premier League fixture for the hosts and emerged with all the plaudits following two goals in a ‘man of the match’ performance as the ‘Seagulls’ dismantled their visitors in a comfortable three nil victory. Jeff Hendrick scored  the only goal for Burnley in their victory over Turf Moor visitors Everton who had captain Seamus Coleman dismissed after 56 minutes. Robbie Brady and Kevin Long were unused substitutes for the host ‘Clarets’. Conor Hourihane was on the scoresheet for Aston Villa who crushed their hosts Norwich City by five goals to one at Carrow Road where Adam Idah was an unused substitute for the vanquished hosts. John Egan, Enda Stevens and Callum Robinson all started for Sheffield United who played out a scoreless draw at Watford. James McCarthy got his first start and completed 81 minutes for Crystal Palace who defeated their hosts West Ham United by two goals to one at the London Stadium.

On Sunday afternoon, Ciaran Clark started his first Premier League match of the season for Newcastle United who defeated their visitors Manchester United with the only goal at St James Park. Matt Doherty was a 68th minute substitute for Wolverhampton Wanderers who shocked hosts Manchester City with a two nil victory at the Etihad Stadium. Shane Long started for Southampton and was replaced by Michael Obafemi after seventy three minutes of their four one defeat by Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium.

Championship
Midfielder Daniel Crowley caught the eye for Birmingham City who defeated visitors Middlesbrough and Darren Randolph by two goals to one in the Championship at St Andrew’s on Friday evening.

Fulham and Charlton Athletic shared the spoils in a two all draw at Craven Cottage early on Saturday afternoon where Harry Arter started for the hosts but was substituted at half time while Josh Cullen was again in splendid form for the visitors. Callum O’Dowda started for Bristol City who defeated visitors Reading with the only goal at Ashton Gate where Josh Barrett was a 74th minute substitute for the visiting ‘Royals’. Jason Knight was an unused substitute for Derby County who defeated visitors Luton Town and James Collins by two goals to nil at Pride Park. Loanee Jayson Molumby started for Millwall and Shaun Williams was an early substitute as the ‘Lions’ defeated visitors Leeds United by two goals to one at the new Den. Alex Pearce and Aiden O’Brien were unused substitutes for the hosts. Alan Browne, Sean Maguire and Joe Rafferty all started  for Preston North End who crushed visitors Barnsley by five goals to one at Deepdale. Ryan Manning was again in fine form for QPR who defeated visitors Blackburn Rovers by four goals to two at Loftus Road. Greg Cunningham and Darragh Lenihan were both forced off through injury but Derrick Williams survived to the end and was summoned to replace his two colleagues in the Ireland squad. Scott Hogan was a 65th minute substitute for Stoke City who stunned pre match leaders Swansea City with a two one success at the Liberty Stadium where Hogan scored the late winner. Dara O’Shea was an unused substitute for new leaders West Bromwich Albion who defeated visitors Cardiff City by four goals to two at the Hawthorns.

League One
Alan Judge was an unused substitute for Ipswich Town who extended their lead at the League One summit with the only goal at Fleetwood Town. Loanee goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara kept a clean sheet for Burton Albion who secured a three nil victory at MK Dons.

Scottish Premiership
Glenn Whelan was in action for Heart of Midlothian who went down to a one nil Tynecastle defeat by vistors Kilmarnaock in the Scottish Premiership. Jake Mulraney also started for the hosts and was replaced by Aiden Keena after eighty minutes while Colin Doyle was unsed on the substitute bench. The victorious visitors had former underage internationals Gary Dicker and Alan Power in their side.

 

Matt Doherty was in Europa League action on Thursday evening when his Wolverhampton Wanderers travelled East to Turkey where they secured a one nil victory over Besiktas in Besiktas Park, Istanbul  in their second Group K contest. Wolves went down to a disappointing one nil home defeat by Sporting Braga in their opening Group K contest.

Also in Europa League action were Glasgow Celtic who played host to CFR Cluj of Romania who defeated the Scottish Champions in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round three during August by four goals to three at Celtic Park following a one all draw in Romania the previous week. The hosts gained revenge with a two nil victory. Jonny Hayes was an 85th minute substitute in this evening’s encounter. Celtic opened their Group E campaign with a one all draw against Rennes in France.

The Championship continued on Wednesday evening with U21 midfielder Jason Knight a 79th minute substitute for Derby County who were held to a two all draw at Barnsley. Callum O’Dowda was introduced from the Bristol City substitute bench on 74 minutes of their one all draw at Brentford. Ryan Manning started for QPR but Conor Masterson, was unused on the substitute bench as they crashed to a three nil defeat at Cardiff City. Josh Cullen started for Charlton Athletic who went down to a two one defeat by Swansea City at The Valley.  James Collins started for Luton Town who scored a late equaliser to draw one each with visitors Millwall who included loanee Jayson Molumby in their starting eleven. Aiden O’Brien was an 82nd minute substitute for the ‘Lions’ while Alex Pearce and Shaun Williams were unused on the substitute bench. 

Our U19 Women, guided by Head Coach Dave Connell, commenced their 2020 European Championship Group Nine qualifying campaign with a two nil victory over the Ukraine in Alphen aan den Rijn last Wednesday afternoon. Goals in either half from Jessica Ziu and Aoife Slattery set the seal on victory. In the other Group Nine contest, mini-tournament hosts Holland crushed Montenegro by nine goals to nil.

A first half hat-trick from Alannah McEvoy earned Ireland a three nil success over Montenegro in their second European Championship Group Nine qualifying contest in Gravenzande early on Saturday afternoon. Mini-tournament hosts Holland  defeated Ukraine by four goals to one in the other fixture.

With both sides having already qualified for the next Elite Stage, Holland and Ireland will face each other at 6pm on Tuesday evening in Gravenzande to decide who tops the Group.

            P  W  D  L   F   A   Pts
Holland     2  2  0  0  13   1    6
Ireland     2  2  0  0   5   0    6
Ukraine     2  0  0  2   1   6    0
Montenegro  2  0  0  2   0  12    0