The knee injury sustained by Richard Keogh following a car accident in the early hours of this morning is expected to rule him out for the remainder of the season. This, coupled with the calf injury which forced Shane Duffy off in last night’s EFL Cup match and is reported to rule him out of action for three weeks, means that Ireland will almost certainly be without their regular centre back pairing for next month’s crucial European Championship qualifiers against Georgia and Switzerland.
Manager Mick McCarthy will now face a dilemma with John Egan of Sheffield United, the only regular Premier League starter, being more comfortable in a back three formation and Kevin Long seeing very little action with Burnley. The only other experienced centre back is Ciaran Clark, but he too has seen little or no senior action this season.
Eighteen year old Nathan Collins was named in the last provisional squad but these contests are not the arenas in which to debut a novice. Blackburn Rovers duo Daragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams were also named in the previous provisional squad and may survive the cut on this occasion. They also may be more comfortable in a back three system.
The Carabao Cup third round was completed on Wednesday evening with the all Premier League contest between Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa going the way of the visitors at the Amex Stadium. Ireland U21 striker Aaron Connolly started for the hosts while Shane Duffy also returned to first team action, with 20 year old centre back Warren O’Hora named on the substitute bench. Conor Hourihane started and scored for the victors. Connolly was substituted after 58 minutes while Duffy was an injury withdrawal on 72 minutes. Recent international debutant goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara started for League One Burton Albion who defeated Premier League AFC Bournemouth by two goals to nil. Fellow international debutant Mark Travers and U21 midfielder Gavin Kilkenny both started for the ‘Cherries’. Ireland U21 goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher started for Liverpool who won by two goals to nil at League One MK Dons. Premier League side Sheffield United included Callum Robinson in their starting eleven with Enda Stevens unused on the bench for their one nil defeat by League One visitors Sunderland. Reading included Ireland U21 midfielder Josh Barrett in their starting eleven at Wolverhampton Wanderers who included Matt Doherty in their starting eleven. The hosts progressed to the next round with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out success after a one all draw.
The Scottish League Cup quarter-finals also took place this evening with Jonny Hayes starting for Glasgow Celtic who defeated Partick Thistle by five goals to nil at Celtic Park. Glenn Whelan and Jake Mulraney started for Heart of Midlothian who defeated Aberdeen in a penalty shoot-out after the sides finished level at two each after extra-time. Whelan scored the opening ‘Jam Tarts’ penalty in the shoot-out and 75th minute substitute Aiden Keena converted the winning spot kick.
Ireland v Scotland – Yokohama, Japan – Sunday 22 September 2019
Mt Fuji in the distance
Boarded flight ANA608 on Friday morning from Miyazaki to Tokyo Haneda. As usual I was the only foreigner on board. This time it felt stranger than usual. I was going to an Ireland Rugby World Cup match!
I spotted a few Japan shirts in the terminal. One local lad was clocking my Leinster rugby jacket and trying to work out where I was from. We had a short chat in the security queue. He was going to the opening ceremony while I was off to the Ireland match in Yokohama. But, I had some other business before.
Birthday present
Friday night was the opening ceremony and Japan’s first game so I headed to the “Hub” (British style pub chain) in Kamata early doors, to get a seat. Was not just fortunate to get a prime seat, but also got a free glass of red as a belated birthday present from the bar manager. My birthday was early June.
Kodai san (right)
Japan started nervously and had the mainly local crowd in the bar seriously worried. But as yer man with the hair, Kotaro, started running in the tries, the roars and cheers were deafening! A chance meeting and conversation with a new acquaintance, Kodai san, led to him taking my spare tickets for the Ireland Scotland match, I didn’t tell him he was going to have to sit with John McGinley and Paul Boyle, I didn’t want to put him off!
I was up at sparrow’s fart on Saturday morning, down to Yokohama to find Paul Boyle, to give him his rugby tickets, because I was off to the Bloodaxe Festival in Kawasaki. A full day of local hardcore metal bands and a few travelling over from America. One of the bands I wanted to see was on at the ungodly hour of 2pm, so I was watching the clock.
Kawasaki
On the way, I was planning to go to a standing bar, also in Kawasaki. I had seen it featured on a television programme hosted by Yoshida Rui san, who travels the country finding interesting pubs and bars. This standing bar is very unique, selling booze, tinned fish & meats, nuts & snacks, and…..retro model aeroplane kits, tanks, ships, etc. There is room to fit five customers at the bar, any more would be a squeeze. The other three customers when I arrived were drinking cheap cans of beer. Panicking slightly (don’t drink beer), I was relived to see, out of the corner of my eye, “ワイン” scribbled on a poster above one of the fridges. So I ordered a glass of red, or three!
As 2pm fast approached I was on my toes over to Club Citta, in the very European looking part of Kawasaki. I knew the gig was sold out but did not expect to find it rammed just before 2pm. Maybe there were more than just me wanting to see the band Varials? Not a rugby fan in sight. The next bands I wanted to see were not on until 8pm so a quick exit for a “break”. Stumbled across another “Hub” and went in to see if there was anyone in there I knew. It was not an Ireland away soccer match so, alas, no familiar faces! Nevertheless I met another three great people that I hope to meet again, from Edinburgh, Laois, and North Wales.
timekeeping!
Sunday arrived and I arranged to meet Kodai san, Joe Loughran, and John McGinley at a cheap restaurant chain (Saizeriya) near Shin Yokohama station. I texted the Irish lads at 10am and gave them location and said I would be there about 11:30am. Got the usual responses: on my way, be there in about an hour, etc. Joe and Gemma arrived at 1pm and John at 2pm! I texted Kodai san and arranged to meet him at same place at 2pm – he arrived at 1:55pm – I rest my case.
(L-R) me, Paul, John
Seventeen years ago I was lucky to have been to the Ireland vs Saudi Arabia match in Yokohama. It was great to return to the same stadium. Paul Boyle was waiting for me and he had loads of stories from the night before. You can ask him all the details! What a fantastic person to sit beside. Paul reads the game like a professional. The comments, reactions, and exclamations from him during the game are better than some radio commentators.
Kodai san and his fiancée, Tomo san, are a truly wonderful couple. They arrived in matching green shirts and had the tricolour painted on their always smiling faces. They are to be married on November the 1st. Should Ireland make the final scheduled for the next day, John McGinley has threatened to gate crash their wedding! I hope they misheard that bit of the conversation.
(L-R) Kodai san, me, Paul, John, Tomo san
of all the bars….
Tommy (right!)
After the final whistle we decided to go to the bar Garvan Hickey was in pre-match to see if he’d be there again. Garvan wasn’t there but Tommy Feeley was, and Emelda. She had arrived the night before and was smiling, despite the 27 hour journey. We found Garvan in the bar next door. In reality, Shin Yokohama really is quite small! Tommy was in great form, planning trips, buying drinks, and of course reminiscing.
The world cup continues on for Ireland in a southerly direction to Shizuoka, Kobe, and Fukuoka. And then a quarter-final in Tokyo. After that the semi-final and final are back in Yokohama, we would love two more trips back here. Can the dream become a reality? We live in hope.
The third round in the Carabao Cup commenced on Tuesday evening with the seven Premier League clubs participating in Europe entering the competition at this stage.
Troy Parrott started for Tottenham Hotspur who travelled to League Two side Colchester United and were held to a scoreless draw over 90 minutes and then exited the competition in the penalty shoot-out on a 4-3 scoreline. Parrott was withdrawn on sixty six minutes. There was more disappointment for struggling Championship side Stoke City and their Irish trio of Nathan Collins, Stephen Ward and loanee Scott Hogan as they too exited the competition losing a penalty shoot-out 5-3 after a one all draw at League Two side Crawley Town. Collins was red carded for a bad foul on 62 minutes and Hogan was withdrawn two minutes later. Former U21 international Reece Grego-Cox completed the full match for the victors. Fratton Park hosted the South Coast meeting of Portsmouth and Southampton with Ronan Curtis starting for the hosts while Michael Obafemi started for the visiting ‘Saints’, who secured a comfortable four nil victory. Obafemi provided an excellent assist for the second goal but was otherwise ineffective and withdrawn on 72 minutes. Shane Long was introduced from the substitute bench on 83 minutes. The Preston North End duo of Alan Browne and Joe Rafferty completed the full 90 minutes at Deepdale as their side went down to a three nil defeat by visitors Manchester City. Seamus Coleman was unused on the Everton substitute bench for their two nil defeat of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Dundalk have won the Airtricity League Premier Division for the fifth time in six years. Their three two victory over second place Shamrock Rovers, their only challengers, in Oriel Park this Monday evening secured the title with four matches to spare.
James McCarthy was a very late substitute for Crystal Palace who conceded an added time equaliser to visitors Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon. Matt Doherty started for the visitors but was withdrawn on 57 minutes. Conor Hourihane was an 85th minute substitute for Aston Villa who conceded two late goals to suffer a three two defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
In the Championship, Ireland U21 defender Dara O’Shea was an unused substitute for West Bromwich Albion who twice came from behind to defeat Hawthorns visitors Huddersfield Town by four goals to two.
The regular season in the Airtricity League First Division was completed on Saturday evening with confirmed Champions Shelbourne celebrating their promotion with a seven nil defeat of Limerick in Tolka Park. Drogheda United, despite a four one defeat at Bray Wanderers finish in second place, with Longford Town, three one victors at Cobh Ramblers and Cabinteely who defeated Wexford by two goals to one in Ferrycarrig Park occupying third and fourth place respectively. The remaining contest between Athlone Town and Galway United ended in a two all draw and did not impact their respective finishing positions.
The promotion play-off series commences on Friday the 4th October with Cabinteely hosting Longford Town in Stradbrook at 7.45pm with the return leg in the City Calling Stadium on the following Friday.
The victors will then host Drogheda United on Friday the 18th October with the second leg set for United Park on Friday the 25th October 2019.
The victors will then host the 9th placed Premier Division club on Monday the 28th October in the first leg of the promotion decider, with the second leg set for Friday the 1st November at the home of the Premier Division club, which currently looks likely to be last year’s promotion play-off victors Finn Harps.
