News

Relegated Huddersfield Town began their challenge to return to the top flight on Monday evening with a home contest against Derby County which ended in a two one defeat. Captain Richard Keogh was in his regular centre back position for the victorious ‘Rams’ while teenager Jason Knight was introduced from the substitute bench for the final seven minutes.

Bristol City included Callum O’Dowda in their starting eleven as they played host to promotion favourites Leeds United in Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon. The visitors were very impressive and dominant throughout and while O’Dowda did show some neat touches and provided a couple of dangerous crosses he, like most of his colleagues, could make little impact against their vibrant visitors. Leeds won the match by three goals to one with the second goal scored by Patrick Bamford who has been the subject of much debate in relation to his international football aspirations. On today’s performance, he does look to have the necessary quality. 

 

Our senior women took on the World Champions USA in a friendly international at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday the 3rd August. The match kicked-off at 7.25pm local time (3.25am Sunday morning in Ireland)and the hosts ran out comfortable three nil winners. The goals all came in the first half but Ireland did baton down the hatches and produced a much more resilient second half performance. 

Following the recent departure of former Head Coach Colin Bell, his coaching assistant Tom O’Connor took temporary charge of the side for this encounter.

There is growing speculation that the hugely successful Germany U19 and U20 coach Maren Meinert is set to be appointed as the new Republic of Ireland Senior Women’s Head Coach. Meinert has an impressive record at underage level with Germany where she has led the U19 side to three European Championships and the U20 side to two World Cups.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan(SC Braga), Grace Moloney(Reading)
Defenders: Diane Caldwell(SC Sand), Lauren Dwyer(Wexford WFC), Niamh Fahey(Liverpool), Eabha O’Mahony(Cork City), Claire O’Riordan(MSV Duisburg), Louise Quinn(Arsenal), Harriet Scott(Birmingham City)
Midfielders: Niamh Farrelly(Peamount United), Jess Gargan(Shelbourne), Alex Kavanagh (Shelbourne), Eleanor Ryan-Doyle(Peamount United), Claire Walsh(Peamount United)
Forwards: Amber Barrett(FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett(Wexford WFC), Katie McCabe(Arsenal), Heather Payne(Florida State University), Emily Whelan(Shelbourne)

 

 

Both the English Championship and League One swung into full new season action on Saturday afternoon.

Championship
Promotion play-off winners Charlton Athletic travelled to Blackburn Rovers, who included Darragh Lenihan in their starting eleven but a calf injury ruled out Derrick Williams, and secured a two one victory. New signing Daniel Crowley made his competitive debut for  Birmingham City in their surprise one nil victory at Brentford. There was also a one nil success for Millwall who defeated Preston North End at the Den where Aiden O’Brien, Alex Pearce and Shaun Williams all started for the hosts while Sean Maguire and Alan Browne started for the visitors. Josh Barrett, another U21 squad member, started for Reading who went down to a three one home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday for whom goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was red carded on eighty minutes. A disappointing start for John O’Shea as a new first team Coach with the ‘Royals’. Eighteen year old centre back Nathan Collins started for Stoke City alongside James McClean while visitors QPR included Ryan Manning in their starting eleven with Olamide Shodipo a seventy second minute substitute as they secured a two one victory. Cyrus Christie was introduced from the substitute bench for Fulham after thirty three minutes as they went down to a one nil defeat at newly promoted Barnsley. The late kick-off between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion at the city Ground ended in a two one victory for the visiting ‘Baggies’ for whom Ireland U21 defender Dara O’Shea was an unused substitute.

League One
Goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara who is on loan at Burton Albion from Manchester United and new signing John Joe O’Toole both started the one nil defeat by visitors Ipswich Town for whom Alan Judge was a sixty third minute substitute. Another young goalkeeper Max O’Leary is on loan at Shrewsbury Town from Bristol City and started in their one nil victory over visitors Portsmouth who included Ronan Curtis and new signing Marcus Harness in their starting eleven. 

 

There were just three Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures played this Friday evening. Relegation threatened sides Finn Harps and UCD both had home matches, with the Donegal side defeating  third place Bohemian with the only goal in Finn Park while UCD went down to a three one defeat by Derry City at The Bowl. The third contest between Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic took place in Turner’s Cross where the visitors scored the only goal in added time.  

                            P   W  D  L   F   A   G/D  Pts
Dundalk                    25  18  5  2  47  13   34    59
Shamrock Rovers            26  16  4  6  43  16   27    52
Derry City                 28  12 10  6  44  26   18    46
Bohemian                   28  13  7  8  31  22    9    46 
St Patrick’s Athletic      28  11  7 10  22  26   -4    40
Sligo Rovers               27   7 11  9  26  34   -8    32
Waterford                  25   7  6 12  30  37   -7    27
Cork City                  26   6  9 11  19  30  -11    27 
Finn Harps                 28   6  5 17  24  50  -26    23
UCD                        26   5  2 19  19  50  -31    17

With just five sets of fixtures remaining before kick-off time this Friday evening, Shelbourne held a commanding eight point lead at the summit of the Airtricity League First Division. Their closest challengers Drogheda United and Longford Town were both on the road and maintained their challenge with emphatic victories against Galway United (3-1)and Athlone Town(5-1) respectively. Fourth place Cabinteely hosted Limerick at Stradbrook and maintained their challenge with a three nil success. Bray Wanderers travelled to  Ferrycarrig Park where they crushed hosts Wexford by five goals to one.

Leaders Shelbourne suffered a shock one nil defeat by Cobh Ramblers in St Colman’s Park on Saturday evening. The only goal was scored on ninety minutes by Matthew Lambe.

                            P   W  D  L   F   A    G/D  Pts
Shelbourne                 23  16  2  5  38  18    20    50
Drogheda United            23  14  3  6  49  29    20    45         
Longford Town              23  14  3  6  35  18    17    45
Cabinteely                 23  12  7  4  33  24     9    43
Bray Wanderers             23  12  2  9  35  21    14    38
Limerick                   23   9  5  9  26  29    -3    32 
Cobh Ramblers              23   8  5 10  32  36    -4    29
Athlone Town               23   5  3 15  27  53   -26    18
Galway United              23   4  3 16  22  38   -16    15
Wexford                    23   2  5 17  20  51   -31    11

The 2019/2020 English Championship season kicked-off on Friday evening when promoted League One champions Luton Town played out a three all draw with visitors Middlesbrough at Kenilworth Road. James Collins started in a wide left position before switching into a more central role during the second half. The move paid dividends with Collins, who was named ‘man of the match’, scoring the third and equalising goal for the hosts in the 85th minute. Last season’s Championship goalkeeper of the year Darren Randolph was in his regular custodial position for the visitors and produced an excellent, from Collins, in the final minute to preserve a point.  The visiting dugout was of course occupied by new Assistant Manager, Robbie Keane, who will have had a first hand opportunity to run the rule over Collins.

The second legs in the second preliminary round of the European Cup competitions are set for this week.

Champions League

Glasgow Celtic, five nil up from the first leg, were first into action when they travelled to Estonia to face Nomme Kalju on Tuesday in what was a straightforward second leg with the Scottish champions, for whom Jonny Hayes was an unused substitute, securing a two nil victory for an aggregate seven nil success. Glasgow Celtic will next face CFR Cluj of Romania in the third qualifying round with the first leg set for Romania next week. The Romanian side is managed by former Chelsea player Dan Petrescu.

Dundalk made the lengthy journey to Azerbaijan where they exited the Champions League  following a three nil defeat by FK Qarabag. The sides drew one each in the first leg played in Oriel Park last week. The ‘Lilywhites’ can have no complaints as they were very much second best this evening. Dundalk will now drop into the Europa League where they will travel to face Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia in the first leg of qualifying round three next week.

Welsh champions The New Saints travelled to face FC Copenhagen in Denmark where they went down to a one nil defeat and elimination on a three nil aggregate scoreline. The Welsh side also drop down to the Europa League and will travel to face Ludogorets of Bulgaria. 

Europa League

Our Airtricity League representatives Shamrock Rovers exited the Europa League following a three one defeat by Apollon Limassol in the second leg this evening. The ‘Hoops’ took a two one first leg lead to Cyprus but conceded twice before Aaron Greene scored to level the aggregate score and send the contest into extra-time. There was to be no glorious ending though as the hosts scored the deciding goal to go through to the next round.

Also in second round second leg action on Thursday were:-
18.30 Progres Niederkorn(Lux) [0] 0-0 [2] Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
19.45 Aberdeen (Scotland) [1] 5-0 [1] Chikhura Sachkhere (Georgia)
19.45 Linfield (N Ireland) [2] 1-0 [2] HB Torshavn (Faroe Islands)
20.00 Crusaders (N Ireland) [0] 1-4 [2] Wolverhampton Wand (England)
20.00 Partizan Belgrade (Serbia) [1] 3-0 [0] Connah’s Quay (Wales)

The Annual General Meeting of the FAI took place in Trim this Saturday afternoon. Donal Conway was elected unopposed to the role of President with 134 votes in favour, 5 against and 1 abstention.

The role of Vice President was contested by Paul Cooke of Waterford FC and Gerry McAnaney of the Defence Forces with the incumbent Noel Fitzroy withdrawing prior to the vote. Cooke defeated McAnaney by 80 votes to 57 with 2 votes spoiled.

As previously announced, all of the existing board members had tendered their resignation letters and they will be replaced by a new interim board comprising Dick Shakespeare (UCD), Martin Heraghty (Sligo Rovers), Joe O’Brien (Colleges & Referees), Dave Moran (Leinster Senior League), John Finnegan (Munster Football Association) and previous board member John Earley (Schoolboys Leagues).

Four independent members will be appointed in due course by a nominations committee, chaired by Donal Conway. At least two of these directors must be female.

Acting General Manager Noel Mooney confirmed that he would return to his position with UEFA following completion of his six month temporary secondment.