News

FAI Cup
Shamrock Rovers are through to the semi-final of the 2019 Extra.ie FAI Cup. They were given quite a battle by their First Division hosts Galway United who took a first half lead in Eamonn Deacy Park this Friday evening. The ‘Hoops’ recovered in the second period for a two one success with their winning goal not arriving until the 90th minute.

The second quarter-final tie to be completed took place in the Showgrounds at 7.45pm on Saturday evening where Sligo Rovers defeated visitors UCD by four goals to nil.

Waterford and Dundalk are scheduled to meet in the RSC at 7.45pm on this coming Monday evening while non-league Crumlin United and Bohemian will complete the quarter final stage when they face each other on Monday the 16th September.

Airtricity Premier Division
Defending champions and current leaders Dundalk extended their lead over Shamrock Rovers at the summit of the Airtricity League Premier Division to ten points with a hard fought one nil victory over Cork City in Oriel Park tonight.

St Patrick’s Athletic, with new manager Stephen O’Donnell at the helm, came from behind to secure a two one victory over Finn Harps in Finn Park and are now just one point behind fourth place Derry City.

Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Scottish League Cup
Airtricity League representatives Waterford defeated Heart of Midlothian Colts by three goals to one in the second round of the Tunnocks Caramel Wafer Cup in the RSC this Friday evening.

The second Airtricity League representative Bohemian travelled to Scotland where they went down to a three two defeat by Airdrie in the Penny Cars Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

 

Injury victims David McGoldrick (Shoulder) and Callum Robinson (Hamstring) have been ruled out of Tuesday evening’s friendly encounter with Bulgaria and have returned to their respective clubs for treatment.

The players involved in last night’s encounter with Switzerland, rested today while the remainder of the squad took part in a training session at Abbotstown.

Manager Mick McCarthy is expected to make a number of changes to the starting eleven for the Bulgaria encounter. With Enda Stevens suspended for the next European Championship qualifier in Georgia, Mick may choose to play Seamus Coleman or Cyrus Christie in the left back position.

The surviving squad now numbers 22.

Goalkeepers: Kieran O’Hara(Burton Albion), Darren Randolph(Middlesbrough), Mark Travers(AFC Bournemouth)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie(Fulham), Seamus Coleman(Everton), Shane Duffy(Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan(Sheffield United), Richard Keogh(Derby County), Kevin Long(Burnley), Enda Stevens(Sheffield United)
Midfielders: Alan Browne(Preston North End), Jack Byrne(Shamrock Rovers),  Josh Cullen(Charlton Athletic), Ronan Curtis(Portsmouth), Jeff Hendrick(Burnley), Conor Hourihane(Aston Villa), Alan Judge(Ipswich Town), James McClean(Stoke City), Callum O’Dowda(Bristol City), Glenn Whelan(Heart of Midlothian)
Forwards:  James Collins(Luton Town), Scott Hogan(Stoke City) 

Stephen Kenny‘s Republic of Ireland U21 side continued their 2021 European Championship qualifying campaign with a one nil victory over Armenia in Tallaght Stadium this Friday evening.

The winning goal came after 30 minutes and was scored by Troy Parrott following some scintillating play from Aaron Connolly.
Ireland were dominant throughout, with the only concern being the lack of further goals to emphasise the fact.

There were excellent performances from several players with midfield captain Jayson Molumby named ‘man of the match’ but Aaron Connolly or Lee O’Connor might easily have garnered the award.

In this evening’s other Group One contest, hosts Iceland defeated visitors Luxembourg by three goals to nil.

Ireland next travel to Sweden where they will face the hosts in a 6.30pm kick-off in Kalmar on Tuesday evening.

Team: Caoimhin Kelleher; Lee O’Connor, Conor Masterson, Dara O’Shea, Darragh Leahy; Jayson Molumby, Conor Coventry; Gavin Kilkenny, Troy Parrott, Aaron Connolly; Adam Idah

Substitutes:
Zack Elbouzedi for Idah 65′
Dan Mandroiu for Kilkenny 65′
Jonathan Afolabi for Parrott 80′
Jason Knight for Connolly 89′

Our U18 side, with Andy Reid at the helm, commenced their challenge in the mini-Tournament hosted by Sweden with a disappointing four nil defeat by Austria in Kubikenborgs this Thursday afternoon.

Team: J Corcoran(Preston North End); Sean McEvoy(Ballinamallard), Andrew Omobamidele(Norwich City), Timi Sobowale(Manchester City), James Furlong(Brighton & Hove Albion); Jaden Charles(Derby County), Seamas Keogh(Southampton)[C], Alex Dunne(Shamrock Rovers); Brandon Holt(St Patrick’s Athletic), Conor Carty(Wolverhampton Wanderers), Charlie McCann(Manchester United)

Ireland will next face hosts Sweden, again in Kubikenborgs, at 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

Mick McCarthy‘s Republic of Ireland team garnered a valuable European Championship qualifying point with a late equaliser against Switzerland in the Aviva Stadium this Thursday evening.

The visitors dominated possession for large swathes of the match and eventually made the breakthrough on 74 minutes through Fabian Schar. Ireland responded, putting pressure on the visitors which saw Glenn Whelan strike the crossbar with a thundering 25 yard shot.

Moments later however, Ireland drew level with the energetic James McClean battling to recover the ball before crossing for David McGoldrick to head home his first goal for Ireland.

Team: D Randolph; S Coleman(C), S Duffy, R Keogh, E Stevens; C Robinson, J Hendrick, G Whelan, C Hourihane, J McClean; D McGoldrick
Substitutes:
Alan Judge for  Robinson 58′
Scott Hogan for Hourihane  82′
Alan Browne for McGoldrick  90’+2′

 

Head Coach Colin O’Brien has named a 20 player U17 squad for two friendly contests with Russia in Spain this weekend.

Goalkeepers: Josh Keely(St Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel Rose(Everton)
Defenders: Fionnan Coyle(Finn Harps), Oisin Hand(Shamrock Rovers), Anselmo Garcia McNulty(Wolfsburg), Gavin O’Brien(Bohemian), Daragh Reilly(St Patrick’s Athletic), Adam Wells(Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Kailin Barlow(Sligo Rovers), Colin Conroy(Bohemian), Oran Crowe(Cork City), Olabosun Lawal(Watford), Robert Mahon(Bohemian), Kyle Martin-Conway(St Patrick’s Athletic), Ben McCormack(St Patrick’s Athletic), Andrew Moran(Bray Wanderers),
Forwards: Sinclair Armstrong(Shamrock Rovers), Evan Ferguson(Bohemian), Daniel Gildea(Finn Harps), Calum Kavanagh(Middlesbrough)

Friday 6 September v Russia – La Nucia 4pm
Monday 9 September v Russia – La Nucia 11am

 

The FAI have appointed Vera Pauw as the new manager of our Senior Women’s team. The 56 year old Dutch woman was capped 89 times by Holland during an illustrious playing career.

She was among the early group of women to play professional football when she moved to Italy where she played for Modena.

Following her playing retirement Vera entered the world of coaching and management where she has taken senior management roles with Scotland, her native Holland, Russia and South Africa. She has also spent a period as an advisor to the Thailand FA.

More recently, Vera spent one season in club football at the helm of Houston Dash in the USA.

Vera will be in charge of Ireland for our next European Championship qualifier against Ukraine in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday the 8th October 2019.